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.
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, Prada 24 hour Museum, Foundation Louis Vuitton, the Museum Ateliers 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 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
New Student Exchange Partnership between Kyoto Seika University & PCA
PCA is pleased to announce the start of a new student exchange partnership between Kyoto Seika University and Paris College of Art, furthering exchange and study abroad opportunities for both PCA and Seika students alike.More
End of Year Fashion Show Highlights
Paris College of Art presented its annual fashion show at the PCA Campus on May 19. Ece Ege, founder and art director of Dice Kayek, presided over the PCA Fashion Show 2016 jury of industry leaders (see their bios below).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
KEA Students Attend Master Class with Fashion Chair Donald Potard at PCA
Over spring break, Paris College of Art hosted a group of fashion students from partner institution KEA (Copenhagen Institute of Design and Technology) for a campus visit and a master class from Donald Potard, Fashion Chair and head of PCA’s new Masters...More
Paris Voted Best Student City in the World for Fourth Consecutive Year
Paris Voted Best Student City in the World for Fourth Consecutive YearMore