PCA’s 6 week summer program offers students an intensive environment to deepen their understanding and sharpen their skills in art and design. Courses expose students to Paris in a unique way, by combining classroom time with excursions to various sites around the city. Students enroll in three back-to-back 2 week classes, one from “Session A,” one from “Session B,” and a third from “Session C” for a total of 9 credits.
Application open until: March 15, 2025
Apps accepted on a rolling basis, and after closing as space permits
Application Requirements
Complete online application
Personal statement (300-500 words)
Official transcript
Passport scan (photo page)
Digital photo (passport style)
EU privacy consent form
Highlights
- Select from a range of courses in Fine Arts, Design, and Liberal Arts.
- Popular courses include: “Paris Through its Museums” and “Photography in Paris.”
Program Dates
June 12, 2025 – July 26, 2025
Eligibility Requirements
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
Fashion Design
Film Studies | Film Studies
Fine Arts
Interior Design
Liberal Studies
Liberal Studies or Fashion Design
Photography
In this multidisciplinary course, you will deepen your understanding of how sensorial perception shapes our emotions and interactions with space. Through an exploration of the physiology of the senses, psychology of space, and mindfulness, you will learn to heighten your awareness of sensory details such as touch, smell, hearing, sight, and taste, as well as emotions and environmental elements like materials, light, and proportions. This course will guide you to develop a refined presence in space, allowing you to better analyze architectural environments, appreciate the cultural and historical richness of Paris, and approach design with an open and attentive mindset.
Explore the A-to-Zs of what goes into garment construction and development; introduction to sewing and finishing techniques in order to create a foundation of understanding of technical side of fashion; building an understanding of vocabulary synonymous with the garment industry; elaborated draping techniques (from the fluid aspect of draping to technical methods such as Tomoko Nakamichis pattern magic) as well as the translation to patterns; translation between 2D ideas to 3D volumes to appropriate textiles manipulations and fabric to create a final look
This interdisciplinary course will provide an overview of the creation of a fashion editorial for a magazine. With a main focus on art direction, you will be introduced to all the steps and aspects involved in a fashion editorial photo-story, from initial research and mood board construction to styling, photography and magazine. The course will consist of individual and collective projects to address the necessary skills for the conception of a fashion photo-story such as storytelling, concept development and experimental styling. The practice-based approach of the course will be inspired and supported by various lectures covering topics such as: fashion media, surveys of key fashion photographers, stylists and art directors, genres of fashion editorials, significance of the fashion magazine and its role in contemporary culture.
Pre-requisite: Level: Open to All and Pre-college.
This Fashion Illustration course draws inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of Paris. Students will create fashion illustrations influenced by the city’s art and architecture. Students will learn the fundamentals of fashion illustration, with a focus on capturing the movement of the silhouette and the proportions of garments on the human body. This course emphasizes illustrating creativity, textures, and garments while encouraging students to develop their unique style. A key aspect of the course is experimenting with diverse media and techniques, showcasing the wide-ranging possibilities in fashion illustration.
Pre-requisite: Basic sewing machine techniques. Course open to Pre-College, Undergraduate, Graduate, & Young Professionals.
This course offers to carry out creative explorations of both traditional and contemporary textile surface design skills. Special focus is made both on innovation, personal expression and on circular economy, by using vintage or dead-stock materials to ensure a second life for fabrics. Various experimentations will lead to a folio gathering a variety of innovative textile design propositions. Field trips are planned to couture crafts studios, museums, galleries to give an overview of the richness of arts and crafts in Paris, and stimulate the curiosity of students.
Students will thus encounter multiple facets of material manipulation and surface treatments to translate their individuality, concept, and design vision through textile media.
In this course, you will explore and experiment with the creative and practical choices that shape lens-based narrative expression. Through a combination of in-class and out-of-class exercises, assignments, and process journaling, you will gain an understanding of the techniques used by filmmakers and visual artists. Key topics include framing and optical perspective (lenses and camera placement), lighting, shot progression, and editing, as you delve into the fundamental concepts of time, space, and action in cinema. Additionally, you will experience the collaborative nature of filmmaking and complete a short film as your final project. A visit to the cinema and a special museum-based exercise will further connect you to the vibrant cinematic culture of Paris, inspiring your creative journey.
In this course, you will: express and sketch basic plant anatomy in traditional form, Expand visual culture and have references of traditional and contemporary illustration and European landscaping, explore projects through printmaking techniques, observe and create exciting compositions while sketching in outside spaces, extrapolate and create an interesting composition from imagination.
Pre-requisite: Course level: Open to All and Pre-college. Some art experience, as intensive drawing and critical thinking is required.
This course develops the basic knowledge of contemporary drawing with an acute Paris angle, through demonstrations, workshops, field trips and studio sessions. We will dissect Paris through the lens of drawing: its distinct urban energy, the storied clichés, the rich art culture and food culture. We will also incorporate personal narrative to visually understand the student’s personal relationship to the city while also improving core drawing technique and building student’s portfolio. Museum visits, visiting lectures by professional artists and hands-on assignments will create rich research opportunities to develop a strong artistic practice and sketchbook. The first week will include morning sessions focused on technique and studio work which will then be taken to the streets of Paris in independent drawing in the afternoon. The second week will introduce the final project, an intensive research project in a specific street or neighborhood in Paris. Students are encouraged to explore different techniques and mediums (including sound recording, Instagram Stories, video, gifs, collage, etc) to create a densely researched final project that can be shared through social media.
How to strengthen your ability to sketch and quickly record information; learn what makes the identity of famous Parisian buildings through sketches and photos; develop your cultural understanding and knowledge of the history of Parisian architecture; provide inspiration for future designers projects; improve your capacity to see and feel.
Pre-requisite: A love of opulence and craftsmanship, no pre-requisites in terms of knowledge or skills. Course open to Pre-College, Undergraduate, Graduate, & Young Professionals.
You love wearing jewelry and would like to learn the traditional techniques to create a jewelry collection?
With Paris and its splendors as a background, we will explore jewelry making and learn how to handcraft beautiful pieces using base metals and silver. With visits to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and its jewelry galleries, we will meet actors of the Parisian and French jewelry world and go to the famous Place Vendôme, home to many iconic jewelry houses, such as Van Cleef and Arpels, Cartier and more. We will gather inspirations in different places of Parisian life and design a small collection of objects and wearable art.
Prerequisites
You must bring your laptop with Adobe Creative Suite (including Premiere Pro), and smartphone. Open to all levels.
This course explores the intersection of traditional painting, photography, and digital media. Students will examine how the physical and digital worlds merge, creating new possibilities for artistic expression. Through hands-on projects, participants will use new technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) tools like Artivive and 3D modeling software like Vectary, to transform their artwork. Discussions will center around the role of randomness, glitch, and the implications of AI in contemporary art. By the end of the course, students will have created both physical and digital works that blur the lines between these mediums.
Pre-requisite: Some working knowledge of the vocabulary used within interior design, a strong sense of perspective, measurement, style, and spatial awareness. Course open to Pre-College, Undergraduate, Graduate, & Young Professionals.
Through a series of playful exercises, discover interior design and Paris together.What you will learn: You will explore interior design within the immense art and design scene of Paris. You will explore the fundamentals of interior design through a hands-on approach including drawing, model making, look and feel collages, mood board making and more.Where you will visit: Through a series of playful exercises, often starting with iconic visits to important design icons and exemplary destinations in Paris, you will discover interior design and Paris together. Whether you are considering more advanced studies in interior design but beforehand or you would like to experience a just a taste of it, studying this course in Paris is the answer.
Pre-requisite: Participants should be openminded, flexible and bring a minimum of sketchbook/journal, paper, pen, glue, or tape. Other favorite art supplies will be useful and welcome, such as string, pencils, crayons/colored pencils, small paint set, cardboard folder, or tube for rolling up paper. Course open to Pre-College, Undergraduate, Graduate, & Young Professionals.
Drawing from life, movement, perspective, architecture, land art, collage, writing as exploration, and several other two-and three-dimensional techniques, you will learn and develop skills to open creative sensibility and inspirational valves. Using the world around you to create, not just physically but through translating observation and being inspired, fluidity and self-respect in creative terms will also unfold.
Overview of the rich artistic and historical tradition of Paris from the Middle Ages to the present day through dynamic visits to various cultural and historical sites; solid visual literacy regarding major artists and periods of art history; interpretation of art in relation to historical, political, social, technological, and cultural contexts.
Pre-requisite: Open to all
This course will employ an interdisciplinary approach to explore Paris as a literary hub, for both French and foreign writers, throughout history. Students will examine literary depictions of Paris through close readings and in-class discussions of key texts, as well as the relationship between literature and other artistic media, such as film, photography, and fine arts. The course will give a particular focus to the 20th century: the rise of modernism and postmodernism as literary movements; the vibrant interplay between art and literature, including their parallel experimentalism; and the role of Paris as a refuge for writers from all over the world, especially those facing discrimination in their home countries (e.g. African-American, LGBTQ+, and Jewish communities). Students may also have the chance to depict Paris in their own words through creative writing exercises.
Pre-requisite: This is a university level screenwriting course; writers of all levels are welcome, but students should expect a rigorous pace that is conducive to completion of a solid second draft of a short film screenplay by the end of the course. Course level: Open to undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students.
Explore what makes an engaging story; identify structure and learn how to apply it effectively in your script; develop and write complex characters; draft a synopsis, outline and script in industry format; gain confidence in the expression of your ideas; improve your constrictive feedback and critique skills; strengthen your craft and understand your own writing process.
Prerequisites
A laptop with video editing software of your choice installed and a DSLR/Mirrorless camera. Passion for fashion, filmmaking, and visual storytelling. A desire to experiment and learn, along with strong teamwork ethics.
Recommend Editing Software
Adobe Premiere pro, Final Cut Pro X, DaVinci Resolve, Imovie, CapCut, Filmora
Students will explore the essentials of fashion videography against the iconic backdrop of Paris. The curriculum covers fundamental camera techniques, the art of storytelling, and practical video editing skills. The goal is to equip students with the knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to create compelling fashion films and build a standout portfolio.
Pre-requisite: Students must bring their own DSLR camera and laptop. Course open to Pre-College, Undergraduate, Graduate, & Young Professionals.
Through a series of workshops held around Paris, you will be introduced to hands-on experience in street style fashion portraiture. Students of this course will develop refined camera craft skills in lighting, composition, retouching and building a portfolio.
Pre-requisite: Level: College & Continuing Education, Open to All, and Pre-college.
Bring the City of Light to life in the darkroom! What you will learn: How B&W photography makes us see differently; techniques in exposure and camera function; processing film in a darkroom; developing a personal concept; comparing 19th and 20th century photography to contemporary B&W practices.
Prerequisites: DSLR, SLR, or Mirrorless Camera; Laptop; Hard drive; Notebook; and Adobe Creative Suite.
“The Art of Documentary Photography” is an engaging exploration into the world of visual storytelling
through the lens. This course is designed to immerse you in the rich and dynamic realm of documentary
photography, where art and storytelling converge to create powerful narratives that capture the essence of the human experience. We will explore how documentary photography intersects with artistic expression, pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling.
Courses & Schedule
SAI students are free to enroll in any available course, but prerequisites must be demonstrated through students’ transcripts. Students choose three back-to-back 2 week courses (one from session A, one from session B, and one from session C). Courses are intensive and meet 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday.
Course Registration
Students choose their courses after they have been accepted into the program. As soon as the PCA schedule is confirmed, students are asked to complete a Course Approval form, which is used to specify first-choice and alternate-choice courses. All posted schedules of classes are tentative and subject to change unless otherwise noted. SAI’s Paris Admissions Counselor will guide students through this process.
| Pre-Departure Calendar | |
|---|---|
| March 15 2025 |
Application Closes Applications accepted after closing as space permits. |
| Within 1 week of acceptance |
SAI Deposits Due $500 Enrollment Deposit (applied toward program fee) $300 Security Deposit (refundable) |
| March 14 2025 |
50% of Total Program Fee Due Students who are accepted and submit SAI deposits after this date will have an amended pay schedule. 50% of the Program Fee will be due within 5 business days, based on the deposit payment date. |
| March 14 2025 |
Financial Aid Agreement & Financial Aid Program Deposit Deadline Students wishing to utilize SAI financial aid payment deferment must complete the Financial Aid Agreement form and submit the Financial Aid Program Deposit by this date. Students whose deposit payment date is on or after this date will have a deadline of 5 days after the deposit. |
| March 15 2025 |
SAI Scholarship Application Deadline Students wishing to apply for a SAI scholarship must have all application items submitted by 11:59pm Pacific Time on this date. |
| March 28 2025 |
SAI Financial Aid Verification Deadline Students wishing to defer payment until financial aid disbursement must submit the financial aid verification form to SAI by this date. |
| March 29 2025 |
Enrollment Closes Students must complete their enrollment, including paying deposits, by this date. |
| April 13 2025 |
Balance of Total Program Fee Due (For students utilizing SAI financial aid payment deferment, any balance not covered by aid is due) |
| On-Site Calendar | |
|---|---|
| June 12 2025 |
Arrival & Housing Check-in Students arrive at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport. SAI airport pickup is provided between 9:00am and 12:00 noon, and students are transferred to SAI housing. |
| June 13 2025 |
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. |
| June 16 2025 |
PCA Academic Orientation & Session A Classes Begin PCA orientation covers academic policies, and provides opportunities for students to meet one another. Following orientation, classes begin. |
| June 27 2025 |
Session A Classes End |
| June 30 2025 |
Session B Classes Begin |
| July 11 2025 |
Session B Classes End |
| July 15 2025 |
Session C Classes Begin |
| July 25 2025 |
Session C Classes End |
| July 26 2025 |
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). |
$13,400 |
| Optional / Additional Fees: | |
| Optional Private Room Supplement Private room in a shared apartment, with a shared bathroom. |
$1,020 |
| Optional Homestay Housing Supplement Homestay housing in a private room. Includes daily breakfast and 3 dinners/week. |
Coming soon |
| 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
Please see SAI Policies for SAI cancellation & withdrawal deadlines.
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 a 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 |
| Books, Supplies & Course Fees Course fees are sometimes imposed to cover field trips. |
$25 / course | $125 / 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 a SAI 360° Services Program; it includes our full services!
- Program tuition and U.S. academic credit
- Accommodation in carefully selected student housing
- Airport pickup on arrival day
- Welcome reception and events
- Orientation to the host city and school
- On-site staff who foster a welcoming community for you and provide assistance when needed
- SAI Viva Experience: cultural engagement, excursions & wellness activities
- Student health insurance providing full coverage and medical emergency evacuation
- 24-hour on-site emergency support
- Farewell event
Pre-departure and Re-entry services
- Knowledgeable Admissions Counselor dedicated to you, providing friendly assistance
- Helpful pre-departure tools and resources
- Parent & family resources
- Online student groups to acquaint you with other SAI students
- Student visa advising
- Assistance with financial aid processing
- Need-based SAI scholarships
- Alumni Ambassador Program, with paid internship opportunities
- SAI alumni network
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 Lunch & Walking Tour
Students are welcomed to their new city with a delicious lunch and walking tour of the many Parisian sites, including the Eiffel Tower and the Champs de Mars.
Le Marais Walking Tour & Dinner
Students take a guided stroll through one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in Paris: Le Marais! The district is known for much more than its colorful vintage shops and food, but also for its rich history and culture.
Bateaux Mouches
On this activity, SAI students explore the heart of Paris by boat! Students enjoy a cruise on one of the city’s iconic Bateaux Mouches and take in Paris’ beautiful architecture from the water.
Visit to the St. Chappelle & the Conciergerie
Students visit two incredible feats of Parisian architecture. The St. Chappelle was the chapel to the kings of France and is known for its remarkable stained glass, which remains some of the most intricate in Europe. Just a few steps away from St. Chapelle students also visit the Conciergerie, which once imprisoned Marie Antoinette.
Day Trip to Deauville
Students take a 2 hour train ride to the beautiful coastal city of Deauville. Founded in the 19th century by the Duke of Morny, Deauville was meant to be the “elegant kingdom” close to Paris, and is known for its architecture and beautiful beaches.
Open Market Tour with Tastings
Le marché, or outdoor market, is a tradition at the heart of Parisian life, providing the city with a focal point for social interaction and culinary inspiration. Students take a tour of the celebrated market, and learn about its neighborhood and history. Students also receive tips on how to select the best fruits and vegetables, according to the season.
Farewell Evening Picnic
Students celebrate the end of a successful summer abroad and say their goodbyes over a typical French picnic along the Seine.
Standard Housing: Student apartment
SAI student apartments are convenient and well equipped, and include a shared occupancy bedroom in a shared student apartment (option to upgrade to private bedroom, if available). Typical residences house 2 – 8 students and contain a combination of kitchen, bathroom(s) and living areas. Furnishings, a washing machine, basic kitchen supplies, bed linens and towels are provided. All apartments are equipped with wireless Internet. Housing configurations are designated as female, male, and in some locations, gender-inclusive. SAI on-site staff is available to respond to any maintenance needs that may arise.
Optional Housing: Family homestay (additional fee applies)
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 3 dinners per week.
Passports
Passports should be valid for 3 months after planned return from France.
Student Visas
In accordance with French law, U.S. students studying in France for 90 days or less are not required to obtain a student visa. Therefore all U.S. students do not require a student visa for this program. Non-US nationals should consult their local Consulate for information on student visa requirements.