Study Abroad at PCA
Your Gateway to the Parisian
World of Art & Design
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Discover the original city of fashion, investigate textiles and the history of French costume.
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Photograph on the streets of the city where the medium was born.
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Develop your artistic vision while being exposed to classical and contemporary art.
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Expand your knowledge of design by being exposed to European design sensibilities and approaches.
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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.
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
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
With the internships we offer, Study Abroad at PCAstudents have the opportunity to go home with international work experience on their resumes. Students recently completed internships at the following companies: Alexander Wang | Architecture Bush | Diane von Furstenberg | Kenzo | Oscar de la Renta | Phillip Lim | Reed Krakoff | Paris Design Week/Maison et Objets | Seymour Projects | Muzéo Interior Design
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
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.
Bella McGoldrick
Bella McGoldrick from RMIT in Melbourne talks about her experience studying at PCA, and how it benefited her work process and career.
PCA Virtual Open House
Register online to get access to PCA virtual Open House!More

Study Abroad Alumni: Exhibition in Copenhagen
Sebastian Thorsted, who studied Photography at PCA in spring 2018, is exhibiting in Copenhagen. His work, Heterotopia, examines the relationship between the bodily and the artificial.More

Study Abroad Alumni works with Vogue Italia!
Study Abroad Alumni Sebastian Thorsted has had his work published by Vogue.More

Study Abroad Student Exhibition
Exhibition showcasing the work of our current visiting students from May 2-4.More

Where are they now? Updates From Study Abroad Alumni.
We hear from some of our past study abroad students to find out what they are up to now, and how their time at PCA has affected them.More

Catching up with Our Study Abroad at PCA Students
We chat to one of our current visiting students to find out how their study abroad experience at PCA is going.More

A Day in the Life
Check out what "a day in the life" is like as a PCA student!More

Coming Soon...Visiting Students' Exhibition at Le Pavé d'Orsay
Study Abroad Gallery Show 26-28 AprilMore

Essentials for Visiting Students
Find out what essentials students on study abroad brought with them to Paris!More

Congratulations to Ana Helena Arevalo and Madeline Hickey
Our students delivered a successful presentation at the PCA/Terra Foundation.More

5 Reasons You Shouldn't Study Abroad in Paris
Thinking of studying abroad in Paris? Don't. Here's why:More

What Have I Learnt About Paris as a Study Abroad Student?
Ryan Mormelo studied abroad at PCA last Fall semester. Here's what he learned about living in Paris.More

Study Abroad at PCA Student Tina Stefanou Participates in Performance Piece at the Kadist
Tina Stefanou from Sydney College of the Arts went for an open casting call for a performance piece 'Parthenon Marbles' by artist Alexandra Pirici, and was selected to participate!More

PCA Study Abroad Students Intern at Paris Fashion Week
Find out what our study abroad students got up to during Paris Fashion Week!More

When PRATT Met PCA
Jennifer Minniti, Chair of Fashion at the PRATT institute, speaks to PCA students about studying abroad in New York.More

PCA Talks: Raina Lampkins-Fielder
Raina Lampkins-Fielder joined the Mona Bismarck American Center in 2014 in the newly created position of Artistic Director, in which she oversees the institution’s exhibitions and programming.More

PCA Study Abroad student show to be held at Pavé d'Orsay!
Located in the swanky Saint-Germain area in the 7th arrondissement near the Musée d'Orsay, Le Pavé d'Orsay gallery will host our PCA Study Abroad students' exhibition from October 27 to October 29, 2016.More

Talking Study Abroad at PCA with Ida Otterstrøm
PCA sits down with Study Abroad at PCA student Ida Otterstrøm to discuss living abroad, user-centered design and friendly Parisians.More