SELECTION PROCESS

FOR CANDIDATES 2015

GOBELINS, l'cole de l'image - 73 boulevard Saint Marcel - 75013 PARIS

tl. 01 40 79 92 12 - info-concours@gobelins.fr - www.gobelins.fr

GENERAL INFORMATION 2015

To be read carefully!
WARNING!
All correspondence concerning the selection procedure is carried out by
email. Be sure to check your inbox frequently (including spam folders)!

CANDIDATE SELECTION PROCEDURE

The selection of candidates at GOBELINS is carried out through one or several
stages: selection by portfolio, written tests, technique tests and interviews. Each
of these tests is eliminatory. The process is given in more detail below.

1. Application Form
After having requested the application form on the schools website
(www.gobelins.fr/fi/S-inscrire ) the candidate will receive a document by email
within approximately 8 days. The application form must be returned to the
school and received by the fixed deadline at the latest, for reception of
applications. On receipt of the document, confirmation will be sent to the
candidate by email. The deadline for this differs depending on the course being
applied to and is outlined on each of the courses pages on the schools website
(www.gobelins.fr) as well as in the application guidelines that follow. The school
takes no responsibility for postage costs. All applications received after the
deadline will be refused. It is possible to submit the form directly to the school,
by hand.
The contents of an application form may vary from one course to another. It is
important to refer to the individual application procedures for each of our courses
(outlined in the following pages).
The school will refuse applications from candidates who do not comply with age
and qualification criteria. Candidates who do not hold the required qualification
but who can prove that they hold an equivalent qualification may request an
exception. This must be addressed to Service Information Promotion
Concours, presenting the candidates case and accompanied by substantiating
documents: a confirmation of the level of a course taken, a report card (High
School and other studies), a CV, a training programme, a letter of
recommendation, personal work (copies, Pdf files, photo prints etc.) at least 10
days before the application deadline. These documents will not be returned to
the candidate.
Candidates may apply for the same course several times, although only once for
any given year.

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2. Examination Procedure/Organisation
3.

a) Providing a Portfolio
A personal and/or professional portfolio is required for several courses. It must
comprise photocopies of original work. It is retained by the school along
with any other tests taken as part of the application procedure with the exception
of the scrapbook, requested of photography applicants, which is brought along
during written tests and taken back at the end of the selection procedure.
During interviews, the candidate must bring their portfolio of original work and
take it away with them after.
Please refer to the individual application procedures of each course for more
detailed information.

b) Written tests/ Portfolio based selection (specific to each

course)
A notification is sent by email around 8 days before the date of the tests.
The grading (anonymous) of these tests will be used for the first round of
selection: those who successfully pass this stage will be admitted to interview
stage.
The list of successful candidates will be published on the date outlined on the
schools website www.gobelins.fr/fi/resultatconcours as well as the dates and times
of the interviews. A notifying email will be sent to each participant.

c) Interviews
A jury comprising teachers and professionals will welcome each admitted
candidate in order to evaluate their aptitude in relation to the course, their
motivation, their past education and their professional experience. The candidate
will present their portfolio of personal work and/or professional work.
One or two short tests, oral or written, are also required for certain courses.
The grades received from the written tests and/or selection based on the
application form are used for admittance to interviews. Only the grades received
from the interviews are used to determine the final result of applications to the
courses.
All the interviews take place at GOBELINS Paris site.
Foreign candidates or candidates applying from outside of France.
Exceptional conditions may be proposed to candidates living in DOM/TOM or
abroad, with the exception of Spain, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland,
Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands:
1 Concerning the interviews for the photography courses, we will endeavour to
organise the interview the same day as the written tests, or possibly the
day before or after. Candidates interested by this arrangement must submit a
request, along with evidence (proof of address, proof of overseas studies) as
soon as possible and at least 10 days before the written tests, addressed to
Service Information Promotion Concours de GOBELINS. The outcome of this

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interview will only be assessed providing the written test is successfully passed
and after having interviewed all other candidates.
2 - Concerning the course Character animation and animated film making as well
as Direct admission into 3rd year Character animation and animated film making,
interviews through videoconferencing may be proposed, in exceptional
circumstances. The possibility of this will be examined case by case.
Candidates interested by this method must include a request for it, along with
evidence (proof of address, proof of overseas studies), in their application form.
These interviews will take place during the same period as those for the other
candidates.
To do this, we will organise test call, prior to the video interview, to check the
technical feasibility of this method for those interested.
However, we strongly recommend that candidates come, in person, to
GOBELINS to be interviewed.
It is imperative that candidates print their notification and bring it with
them to each of these tests along with their national identity card or
passport.
4.

3 Publication of Results and Confirmation of Admission

The list of successful candidates and a waiting list are published on the
GOBELINS website www.gobelins.fr/fi/resultatconcours on a given date.
A letter is sent in the following days, only to successful candidates and to those
on the waiting list.
Successful candidates must confirm their enrolment in writing, following the
instructions given (reading the rules of procedure, down payment on the tuition
fees).
To confirm their enrolment, successful candidates entering an apprenticeship
course must have signed an apprenticeship contract with a company before the
deadline specified in the letter.
The school draws up a waiting list. In the eventuality of successful candidates not
enrolling (choosing a different course, lack of apprenticeship...), the school may
provide a place on the course to the strongest candidates on the waiting list (see
each courses individual arrangements).

4. Financial Aid
The school provides financial aid which takes form as a reduction in tuition fees
paid by students. Financial aid like this is means tested. Bursaries (GOBELINS,
Odon VALLET) can cover up to 80% of tuition fees.
Candidates wishing to benefit from this aid are invited to bring their completed
request form, if they are admissible, to the interviews.
Students applying to the Character Animation and Animated Film Making course
may also benefit from higher education bursaries. To do this, they must contact

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CROUS to obtain le Dossier Social Etudiant known as DSE which must be set up
between 15th January and 30th April on the CROUS website.
To learn more about this, please consult our site www.gobelins.fr/fi/Guidepratique-financer-ses-etudes.

FOREIGN CANDIDATES
Foreign candidates who are likely to require a visa can get more information
on the website Campus france.

1. Non-francophone students
90% of the teaching at GOBELNS is in French. It is therefore imperative that non
francophone students master the French language to the point where they can
hold a discussion with the jury during the selection interviews. Then the admitted
candidates will be able to follow the classes.
Special conditions for interviews: refer to page 2.

2. Recognition of foreign qualifications in France

Candidates possessing a foreign qualification must produce a document
confirming, at least, its equivalence to the French qualification required by
GOBELINS.
Contact the CIEP (Centre International dEtudes Pdagogiques) and the ENIC
(European Network of Information Centres) Centre NARIC (National Academic
Recognition Information Centres) France:
1 avenue Lon Journault - 92318 Svres Cedex - FRANCE
Phone: +33 1 45 07 63 21
Fax: +33 1 45 07 63 02
Email:
enic-naric@ciep.fr
websites : www.ciep.fr/
www.ciep.fr/enic-naricfr/dossier.php

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CINEMA DANIMATION

CHARACTER ANIMATION AND ANIMATED

FILMMAKING (4 years)
The candidate must choose to apply for either Character Animation and Animated
Filmmaking as the complete four year course, or Direct entry into the third year (they
may not apply for both).

PRE-REQUISITES
Maximum Age of 25 years.
Holder of, at least, a general or technical high-school diploma.
More information at www.gobelins.fr/fi/animation

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS

The deadline for applications to GOBELINS: Saturday 7th March 2015

Contents of the application portfolio

Completed application form (4 pages)

Photocopies of qualifications or proof of preparation for them.
Photocopies of national identity card (front and back) or passport
Transcript of marks from previous two years of study as well as for the current year
Curriculum vitae
Cover Letter
For those interested in an interview by videoconference, a valid reason must be provided in
writing along with substantiating evidence (detail on page 2).

SELECTION PROCESS AND CALENDAR

1. WRITTEN TESTS
Date

Wednesday 1st April 2015

Times

From 8 a.m. to around 5.30 p.m.

Place

Espace Charenton - 323 bis rue de Charenton

75012 Paris - Mtro : Porte de Charenton

Publication of the
results of the written
test*

(Lunch break of around 1hr 15 mins)

Friday 17th April 2015 at 6 p.m.

2. INTERVIEWS
Dates

18th to 22nd May 2015

Duration

Around 1 hour

Publication of admissions *

3rd June 2015 around 6 p.m.

* Publication of results on the internet: www.gobelins.fr/fi/resultatconcours

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CONTENTS OF TESTS
WRITTEN TESTS*
TEST
1Characterisation
through
movement and
perspective

DURATION

POINTS

3 hrs 30
mins

40

CONTENTS
After being given a model of a character in a
certain graphic style (semi-realist or cartoon) and
scenery, candidates are asked to draw several
dynamic sketches of the character, respecting for
each action proposed :

The style of the model

The composition

Perspective

The candidates proposition for the scenery must

be in line with the perspective asked for, and
based on the scenery that is initially provided.

2- Visualising a
text through
drawing

3 hrs 30
mins

40

Starting from a given text, candidates must

propose their personal interpretation of the miseen-scene as well as the characters and scenery.
There are no restrictions on style.
The session will be comprised of two parts: one
part to contrive the characters and scenery
separately, the other part to produce a series of
penciled sketches that serve to convey the
participants personal interpretation of the text.
The evaluation of this exercise will take into
account:
1. The quality of the design of the characters and
scenery
2. The cutting, the framing and the visualisation in
respect to perspective. The number of sketches is
not important.

TOTAL

7 hrs

80

*The subjects are given to each candidate in both French and English.

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INTERVIEWS*
The interviews are divided up into 3 parts:
1- Evaluation of the graphic portfolio by the jury, without the candidate, for around 30 mins.
2- The candidate presents their animation film project to the jury.
3- Interview with candidate and discussion based on the graphic portfolio.
Interviews will take place in French. The expected level of French should allow for non-francophone
candidates to complete a 45 minute discussion with the jury.

SECTION

DURATION POINTS

CONTENTS AND EVALUATION

Contents of the portfolio :

1- Evaluation of
Graphic
portfolio

30 mins

50

Maximum of 4 pages including original work and

sketchbooks, rough work
No restriction on formats: the work may vary from
the original (scanned or printed if it is hard to
transport the originals)

The candidate is
asked to wait
outside during
this section.

Optional: the work can be put on a single DVD

with videos (in Quicktime format only), not
exceeding 3 minutes.
An ideal graphic portfolio will meet the
follwing characteristics :
- Shows a sense of observation and good
technical drawing: volume, structure,
perspective, strength and quality of line, image
composition, framing, adaptability to different
tools, formats, genres (nude sketches, sketches
of animals, architecture, interior and exterior
spaces)
- Place as much emphasis possible on movement
throughout the sketches using motion lines,
through the choice of the characters dynamic
poses and the expression of their emotions.
- Develops a personal universe showing the
ability to create a climate (using colour, light
and style), exhibiting a personal touch and the
practice of other fine and digital art (modeling,
sculpture, photography, painting, architecture,
engraving, puppets..)
Shows competence in narration and storytelling
(travel diaries, illustration for short stories)

1- Animated
film project

10 mins

30

In the run-up to the interviews, the candidate is

expected to come up with an animated film
project, specifically for the test
Contents of the project:
- Short summary of the concept or the story in a
few sentences.
- Thoughts about how to illustrate the climate of
the film in coherence with the project.
Considerations on how the directional intentions
are portrayed through the mise-en-scene of the
project.
Must be presented in paper format only.
Project specifications :
- Project completed alone
Emphasis on the artistic personality of the
cadidate and their narrating potential.
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Oral presentation :
The candidate will present their project in front of
the jury.
It will be evaluated by the quality of its delivery
-

2- Discussion

20 mins

30

Discussion about the graphic portfolio which will

have been marked beforehand by the jury.
The candidate will be evaluated on :

TOTAL

1 hr

Their general interaction with culture

Their experience
Their tests
Their oral expression
Their dynamism
Their open-mindedness
Their motivation for the course project
Their ability to apply themselves to projects
and work in teams

110

MARKING PROCEDURE AND SELECTION

The average of all scores obtained from the written tests determines the list of admissible candidates
the interviews. After that, only the average of the scores obtained at the interviews is taken into
consideration for the final result of admissibility to the course.

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