Study Abroad at PCA

Your Gateway to the Parisian
World of Art & Design

Discover the original city of fashion, investigate textiles and the history of French costume.
Photograph on the streets of the city where the medium was born.
Develop your artistic vision while being exposed to classical and contemporary art.
Expand your knowledge of design by being exposed to European design sensibilities and approaches.
Experience French design business realities first-hand.
Paris College of Art offers an extraordinary study abroad program for college sophomores and juniors, or those with undergraduate degrees who wish to spend a semester or year experiencing the art, design, and culture of Paris.

Paris, the PCA campus

For the students of Paris College of Art the city around them is their campus, library, research center and laboratory. Every art and design discipline finds expression in the streets, shops, and cultural centers of Paris and moving through the city each day is an opportunity to observe new trends and find inspiration.

Student Life at PCA

Study Abroad at PCA students enjoy the intensely creative environment of the studios and classrooms of Paris College of Art and develop relationships with students from PCA as well as those from the many other prestigious art and design schools that are part of our exchange network.

Learn more about Student Life at PCA.

Matt Sinclair from Edinburgh College of Art, Photographed by Megan Wickens, Study Abroad at PCA Student from OCAD.

PCA EOY Fashion Show '16 © Pascal Montary

Study Abroad at PCA Student Solange Ting backstage preparing for the show. Solange won the Lace Prize '16 from the Dentelles Darquer on the project: Lace for a Man’s World.

3 Ways to Join the Program

Exchange Students

PCA has exchange agreements with many schools around the world. Students from these schools may, upon nomination of the study abroad coordinator of their home school, come to PCA on exchange. Talk to your home school study abroad coordinator for more information.

Students From Study Abroad Partner Schools

PCA has study abroad agreements with many schools around the world;
to learn if your school is on this list contact studyabroad@paris.edu. Students from these schools may, upon nomination of the study abroad coordinator of their home school, come to PCA on study abroad.

Free Movers

Students from schools outside of our exchange and study abroad network can also join the Study Abroad at PCA program. These students will pay their tuition directly to PCA and are eligible to apply for PCA Financial Assistance. For more information on our programs, and applying, contact studyabroad@paris.edu.

Unique to Study Abroad at PCA

Paris Inside / Out

To initiate students to Paris’ thriving contemporary gallery scene and give them backstage access to the city’s art and design community, we offer a one-credit course composed of excursions and guided visits to art exhibits and design workshops throughout Paris. Recent visits have included Hotel Martin Margiela, Jeu de Paume, Foundation Louis Vuitton, Gaîté Lyrique and La Maison Rouge.

Paris Inside/Out not only offers a great choice and variety of visits, but is also an opportunity to learn more about the city we live in and is a passe-partout (master key) for places we would not have the chance to see otherwise.

—Emilia Petrarca, Study Abroad at PCA Student from Vassar College, USA

Internship Opportunities

I worked for Alexander Wang and for 3.1 Phillip Lim Menswear during the Paris Fashion Week. I got to see firsthand how a company prepares for a fashion show and how to interact with potential buyers. Doing these internships has helped me think about my career and has gotten me excited about my future in fashion.
— Ailis Mara, Study Abroad at PCA student from National College of Art and Design, Ireland

Study Abroad Student Exhibition

Each semester, the Study Abroad at PCA students curate an exhibition of their work held in a professional gallery. Organizing the show with the help of the Study Abroad at PCA office, students learn how to create an exhibition and sell their artwork as well as gain an important addition to their professional CV.

The highlight of my experience at Paris College of Art was the Study Abroad at PCA Student Exhibition. The faculty were more than helpful and very supportive. Everyone was so enthusiastic!
— Justin de Lima, Study Abroad at PCA Student from Ontario College of Art and Design, Canada

French Instruction and Individual Tutoring

PCA offers four levels of French language courses that include outings such as French wine tasting and visits to sites unique to Paris like the passages couverts – enclosed shopping areas dating from the early 19th century. These outings not only help to improve student’s language skills, but also their general cultural knowledge. To help enrich student’s everyday life in Paris and accelerate their acquisition of the language, PCA also provides free individual French tutoring.

Cassandra Baez

University of the Arts student from Philadelphia

Cassandra Baez is a University of the Arts student from Philadelphia. She came to PCA to improve her artwork and challenge herself in another country. She explains how she sees her work progress since she came to Paris.