fbpx Study Abroad Program at PCA — PCA

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.

How to join the Study Abroad program at PCA?

Students from all around the world may apply to PCA for a semester or a year abroad.

PCA partners with the best study abroad options to provide you with the best experience while getting ready to join us, and once settled in Paris. Depending on where you are matriculated, you will apply to PCA following different instructions.

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

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.

Bella McGoldrick

RMIT University

Bella McGoldrick from RMIT in Melbourne talks about her experience studying at PCA, and how it benefited her work process and career.