Address: 292 rue Saint-Martin, 75003 Paris, Île-de-France, France
Engineering (various fields via EiCNAM), Computer Science, Construction & Energy
The Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (Cnam) was created in Paris in 1794, during the French Revolution, as a place to keep machines, models and instruments and to teach applied science and technology. It was installed in the former priory of Saint-Martin-des-Champs in the 3rd arrondissement, and its Paris headquarters still stands on that site.
Its teaching differs from that of a conventional university because many of its learners are working adults: employees and job seekers who study alongside their jobs, online, in regional classes or in work-study programmes. Courses are given in Paris and through regional centres in metropolitan France, in overseas territories and abroad, including China and Lebanon. The Cnam awards degrees from bachelor’s to doctorate in science, engineering, management, law and the humanities.
Engineering degrees are delivered through EiCNAM, the institution’s engineering school. The Cnam also looks after the Musée des Arts et Métiers, which holds the historical collection of machines and instruments; machines by Jacques de Vaucanson were among the institution’s first collections. In the early nineteenth century it created chairs in applied mechanics (Charles Dupin), applied chemistry (Nicolas Clément) and industrial economics (Jean-Baptiste Say).
Domains taught:
Aerospace, AI and Machine Learning, Automation, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Ergonomics and UX, Fluid Dynamics, Food Science, Geotechnics, Industrial Design, Life Sciences, Logistics, Manufacturing, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Metrology, Microbiology and Genetics, Nanotechnologies, Optics, Physics, Process Control, Project Management, Quality, Robotics, Signal Processing, Software Engineering, Sound Engineering, Statistics, Structural Engineering, Telecommunications, Thermodynamics, Transportations
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Certificate, Diploma, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Grand Établissement. Extensive network of regional centers across France and internationally. Numerous professional partnerships.
Research:
Digital transformation and AI, Sustainable construction and energy transition, Mechanics and materials science, Health and safety at work.
Arts et Métiers is a public engineering institution with a Paris campus, working in mechanical, industrial and energy engineering.
Télécom Paris, a public school at Palaiseau, covers digital technologies, data science and AI, and cybersecurity.
École Pratique des Hautes Études is a public Paris institution centred on life and earth sciences.
Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, a public institution in Paris's 5th arrondissement, concentrates on evolutionary biology, biodiversity and earth science.
ESTP Paris is a private school teaching civil engineering and construction.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
The Open University, a public university in the United Kingdom based in Buckinghamshire, teaches all subjects by distance learning, which parallels the Cnam's online provision.
FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany, is a public distance university with computer science, information technology and electrical engineering.
Open Universiteit in Heerlen, the Netherlands, is a public open university with computer science and environmental sciences.
In Canada, British Columbia Institute of Technology in Burnaby, public, combines trades and apprenticeships with engineering technologies.
Denmark's Technical Education Copenhagen is a public college teaching electrical engineering, IT and data, and construction.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Why do working adults choose the Cnam?
The institution is organised around people who work or are between jobs, with courses that can be followed online, in regional centres or through work-study. Employees and job seekers make up a large share of its learners.
Where is the headquarters?
It is in Paris, on rue Saint-Martin in the 3rd arrondissement, on the site of the former priory of Saint-Martin-des-Champs. The museum belonging to the institution is on the same Paris site.
Does the Cnam teach outside Paris?
Yes. It runs regional centres in metropolitan France and in overseas territories, as well as centres abroad that include China and Lebanon. Each centre sets its own timetable within the Cnam's programmes.
What qualifications can be earned there?
Degrees run from bachelor's to master's and doctorate in fields such as science, engineering, management and law. Engineering diplomas are awarded through EiCNAM.
What is the Musée des Arts et Métiers?
It is the museum of the Cnam and keeps the historical collection of machines, models and instruments. Machines by Jacques de Vaucanson were among the institution's first collections.
How many learners does the institution have?
Published figures range from about 50,000 to about 70,000 depending on the source and the year. For a current number, consult the Cnam's own annual figures.
Who held the first chairs in the nineteenth century?
Early chairs went to Charles Dupin for applied mechanics, Nicolas Clément for applied chemistry and Jean-Baptiste Say for industrial economics. They show the institution's early link between industry and teaching.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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