Art & Design at PCA
Application Procedure
Art & Design at PCA
Applications are considered for acceptance as they are received. Applying early is highly recommended. Late applications will be considered if space allows.
October 1, 2023: deadline for Spring 2024 semester applicants.
March 31, 2024: deadline for Fall 2024 semester applicants.
Via our online application form, you will provide us with the information we need in order to review your candidacy. Fill in this form carefully and completely. Please note that you can save your application while in progress, and return to finish it later.
As part of the online application, you will be asked to submit a variety of additional materials (personal statement, ID photos, portfolio, etc.). Before starting your application, read through the list below to be aware of what documents you will be asked to upload.
Application Fee: $50
Apply now!
Application Materials
Transcript
Required for all applicants
You will be asked to upload a transcript from your current university (if you are a transfer student, please also upload your transcript from your previous university). We accept unofficial transcripts as long as they include the following information:
- Name and address of the school
- Student’s name
- Dates of attendance
- Names of individual courses completed
- Number of contact hours per week for each course
- Length of the term
- Grade or evaluation received for each course
- Grading scale (i.e.: A = Excellent, F = Failure) or a description of the grading system.
- Courses currently enrolled in (which will of course, not have a grade yet)
Please make sure that your upload is in PDF format, and that it shows your academic record sequentially by semester (not by graduation requirements, or requirements fulfilled/not fulfilled).
If your school is sending your transcript directly to our Admissions Office, please upload a place-holder document with your name, and the name/contact information of the office submitting the transcript
Official paper transcripts sent directly from your school should be sent to the following address:
CUPA – U.S.A.
P.O. Box 9611
North Amherst, MA 01059
Official e-transcripts should be sent to : cupa@cupa.paris.edu
Portfolio
Required for all applicants
You will be asked to upload a portfolio of 10 to 20 items containing any combination of media including drawing, painting, sculpture, installation art, video, photography, sound, motion graphics, communication design, fashion design, illustration, etc.
Portfolio Examples
Portfolio 1
Portfolio 2
Applicants are encouraged to submit their best and most recently completed work showing a range of technical skills and creativity. Applicants are also encouraged to carefully edit their portfolio considering the arrangement and order of their work. The admissions committee is particularly interested in how applicants research and communicate their ideas. Works should be clearly labeled.
Recommendations
Required for all applicants
You will be asked to fill out the contact information for two recommenders:
- Major/Advisor
- Study Abroad Office approval
An email will be sent to these three individuals with a link to a recommendation form. Please be sure to double check your recommender name and email address, as the email will be sent as soon as you input/confirm that information (not after you have completed the entire application).
Study Proposal
Required for all applicants
An important part of your study abroad experience will be choosing your courses. Your initial study proposal will let us know which requirements you will need to fulfill.
Final course selection takes place in Paris. Note that all CUPA Art & Design students are required to take one French language course. Please select a course that you think best reflects your current level of French. You will take a placement exam upon arrival in Paris, and the French language course will be adjusted accordingly.
To complete this section of the application, students may use the Paris College of Art Course Offerings. NB: Course offerings are modified from semester to semester, and some courses many have pre-requisites. For this reason, and because scheduling conflicts may arise, students must consider alternate course selections.
It is each student’s responsibility to follow home institution credit approval policies.