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Spend a semester immersed in the lively creative scene of Paris! The SAI semester program at PCA is geared toward students interested in art and design, and is open to students both with and without previous experience. Visiting students select from a variety of art and design concentrations, usually aligned with their major, and select any elective courses from the array of art, design, management, and humanities offerings for a total of 12 - 19 US credits.
Application: closed
Application Requirements
Complete online application
Personal statement (300-500 words)
Official transcript
Portfolio (see Academics)
Passport scan (photo page)
Digital photo (passport style)
EU privacy consent form
NOTE: Due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak in France, SAI will not be reopening Spring 2021 programs in Paris. Please reach out to SAI Admissions to discuss your options.
Program Dates
January 8, 2021 – May 14, 2021
Age: 18+
Academic Year: Sophomore (2nd year) or above.
Cumulative GPA:* 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale)
* contact SAI if you don’t meet requirements
This undergraduate painting course aims to enable each student to pursue their ideas in and around painting in all its forms in the most committed, imaginative and experimental way. Work may manifest itself in a wide variety of different mediums and materials. This course engages with and contributes to the change and development in the expanded field of art. Although its core concern is with practice, it promotes the hybrid nature of current art practices by exploring the boundaries of, and the interface between, art and critical ideas. Furthermore this class aims to develop the individualization of the students' pictorial language.
The aims of the course are to extend advanced and technical knowledge, to encourage a broad range of unfamiliar materials, process and to facilitate experimentation. Research methods will be introduced to support your projects and to encourage a critical approach/response to ideas. Instruction is delivered through studio sessions, site work, teaching events and demonstrations, and coordinates thematically with other coursework in the sophomore year curriculum.
The aim of the studio concept course is to encourage and enable students to create an individual and critical approach/response to ideas and tasks, spanning all disciplines and to assure an underlying connection to the student's construction and deconstruction of their chosen areas and personal practice.
The program is set up to help each student to develop a personal vision through sculpture and installation in clay: - By discussing their motivations and contextualizing their work. - By developing their abilities to choose the most suitable technique and the most appropriate medium to use for a project.
The course as a whole intends to provide students with a comprehensive and thorough overview of the numerous aspects and characteristics which need to be considered when developing an interior design project. Bridging with Project Fundamentals 1 and 2, the course will allow students to understand how these components and systems co-exist and interface within the built environment.
Students are free to participate in as many visits as they wish, however a minimum of 5 visits are required to pass the course. A 1-page essay will be written for each visit, and must be submitted within two days of the visit, along with either a photo or an illustration. The professor will regularly select an essay that will be published in LOOP. At the end of the semester, students will be asked to present in class a personal work inspired by one of the visits during the semester.
This is a pass/fail course.
Applied Volunteer Opportunities
Visiting semester students at PCA have the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of short non-credit volunteer activities. This includes assisting at gallery events, fashion week, and working with individual artists in the city. Students return home with a unique and diverse resume of hands-on experience. Further details are provided to students upon arrival.
Course Concentrations & Portfolio Requirements
PCA offers the concentrations below. Students applying for Studio Concentrations should be able to demonstrate some prior experience in their chosen concentration.
Studio Concentrations – portfolio required at application: 10-20 images, submitted via dropbox/web link
Other Concentrations – portfolio required at application (see detail):
Courses & Schedule
PCA courses run Monday – Friday. SAI students are free to enroll in any combination of elective courses, but prerequisites for specific classes must be demonstrated through students’ transcripts.
Course Registration
Students choose their elective courses after they have been accepted into the program. As soon as the PCA semester schedule is confirmed, students are asked to complete a Course Approval form, which is used to specify first-choice and alternate-choice courses. Students are free to enroll in any available courses, but most should be within their determined concentration. All posted schedules of classes are tentative and subject to change unless otherwise noted. After registration is complete, any schedule changes must be made during the add/drop period at PCA, which is typically the first week of classes.
Pre-Departure Calendar | |
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October 1 2020 |
Application Closes Applications accepted after closing as space permits. |
Within 1 week of acceptance |
SAI Deposits Due $500 Confirmation Deposit (applied toward program fee) $300 Security Deposit (refundable) |
November 1 2020 |
50% of Total Program Fee Due Students who are accepted and submit SAI deposits after this date will have an amended pay schedule. Either 50% or 100% of Program Fee will be due within 5 business days, based on the deposit payment date. |
November 15 2020 |
SAI Financial Aid Verification Deadline Students wishing to defer payment until financial aid disbursement must submit the financial aid verification forms to SAI by this date. |
December 1 2020 |
Balance of Total Program Fee Due |
On-Site Calendar | |
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January 8 2021 |
Arrival & Housing Check-in Students arrive into Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport. SAI airport pickup is provided between 9:00am and 12:00 noon, and students are transferred to SAI housing. |
January 9 2021 |
SAI Orientation Mandatory SAI orientation is held at the SAI Paris office and introduces students to their city while covering safety, policies, housing, and culture. |
January 12 – 14 2021 |
PCA Academic Orientation PCA orientation introduces students to their school and professors, and includes activities to get to know classmates. |
January 18 2021 |
PCA Classes Begin |
May 13 2021 |
Final Exams End |
May 14 2021 |
Program End & Housing Check-out Students must move out of SAI housing by 10:00am to return home or pursue independent travel. |
SAI Program Fees* | USD |
---|---|
Application Fee | $120 |
Security Deposit Refundable at the end of the term. |
$300 |
Program Fee Includes tuition, standard housing and SAI 360° Services (see What’s Included). |
$22,700 |
Optional / Additional Fees: | |
Optional Private Room Housing Supplement Private room in a shared apartment, with a shared bathroom. |
$3,400 |
Optional Homestay Housing Supplement Homestay housing in a private room. Includes daily breakfast and 3, 5 or 7 dinners/week. |
3 dinners – TBA 5 dinners – TBA 7 dinners – TBA |
French Social Security enrollment (mandatory) Paid to PCA upon arrival |
Euro 230 |
International Mailing Supplement When applicable, students are charged an international mailing supplement to ensure visa paperwork arrives in a timely manner. |
$90 |
*prices are subject to change
Note: certain SAI-affiliated US universities require specific payment arrangements. These may require that some fees are paid by the student directly to SAI, and other fees are paid to SAI by the affiliated university on behalf of the student. If you attend an SAI-affiliated university please contact your study abroad office or speak with your SAI Admissions Counselor for details.
Budget | Low Est. | High Est. |
---|---|---|
Airfare to/from Paris |
$900 | $1,200 |
Visa |
$350 | $450 |
Books, Supplies & Course Fees |
$100 / course | $450 / course |
Meals Includes groceries and eating out. |
$400 / month | $800 / month |
Personal Expenses | $350 / month | $450 / month |
Transportation within Paris Public transportation with some taxi rides. |
$125 / month | $150 / month |
Weekend Travel Cost varies greatly by student. |
$300 / month | $1,000 / month |
This is an SAI 360° Services Program; it includes our full services!
Pre-departure and Re-entry services
SAI offers all students the Viva Experience: frequent cultural activities, at no extra cost, for participants to get to know their community, city and country. Following is a sample of the activities included in this program. Please note that actual activities may differ.
Welcome Walking Tour
Students are welcomed to their new city through a walking tour of the many Parisian sites, including the Eiffel Tower and the Champs de Mars.
River Seine Boat Tour
Students take a boat tour on the Seine river catching a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and Paris’s other famous sights. Following the tour the group takes a stroll along the Champs Elysées and coffee break.
Visit Musée Carnavalet & Walk Through the Marais
Students visit the Musée Carnavelet, a museum devoted to the history of Paris, followed by a stroll through the Marais: the Jewish district of Paris.
Virtual Finding Your Feet Workshop
Meet with a local counselor who will shares tips for adjusting to life in a new culture.
Night at the Theater
Students have the opportunity to see a ballet at the historical Palais Garnier.
Day Trip to Reims in the Champagne Region
Students travel as a group by private shuttle to the city of Reims where they visit the numerous Maisons de Champagne in the region along the Route Touristique de Champagne. Students have the chance to taste and purchase Champagne directly from the producer. The trip includes lunch in a local French restaurant.
Farewell Dinner
Students celebrate the end of a successful semester abroad and say their goodbyes over a delicious French meal.
Standard Housing: Student apartment
SAI student apartments are convenient and well equipped, with shared occupancy bedrooms (option to upgrade to private bedroom, if available). Typical residences house 2 – 8 students and contain a combination of private and shared bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom and living areas. Furnishings, a washing machine, basic kitchen supplies, bed linens and towels are provided. All apartments are equipped with wireless Internet. Housing assignments are single gender; other housing configurations may be available under limited circumstances. SAI on-site staff is available to respond to any maintenance needs that may arise.
Optional Housing: Family homestay (suspended in Spring 2021)
Students choosing the homestay option will be placed with a local family, which could be an older couple or a family with children. SAI homestay families are thoroughly screened and are accustomed to welcoming visiting students into their homes. Homestays provide a private bedroom in the family home with basic furnishings. Wifi is included, as is access to laundry facilities. Students opting for this more immersive housing get breakfast included as well as the option of a certain number of dinners per week (cost varies).
Passports
Passports should be valid for 3 months after planned departure from France.
Student Visas
In accordance with French law students studying in France for 91 or more days are required to obtain a student visa. Those with French/EU citizenship are exempted. Non-US nationals should consult their local Consulate for information on student visa requirements.
Students must appear in person at a VFS Visa Processing Center to present their student visa application. Visa applicants living in the United States are able to set up their appointment at one of the nine visa centers regardless of their location. VFS Global Centers are located in Washington DC, Boston, New York, Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. In some cases the nearest processing center may be in a neighboring state, which might necessitate air travel. Please plan and budget accordingly. Our Student Visa Office is available to assist students in getting ready for their appointment; SAI provides student visa consulting for all our students at no cost.
SAI is dedicated to providing academic and cultural learning experiences abroad that enhance global awareness, professional development and social responsibility. We concentrate our programs in Europe, with a focus on in-depth learning of individual European countries and their unique global role in the geopolitical economy, humanities, and in the arts.