General Information
Below is a list of AICAD and International non-AICAD exchange programs, Otis College offers for possible semester-long exchange opportunities to students in good academic standing.
AICAD exchange:Through the AICAD Exchange program, full-time students who are attending one of the 31 participating AICAD schools, have the unique opportunity to attend a participating school within AICAD for one semester at no additional cost or loss of credit. The AICAD Exchange offers students the experience and benefit of studying at a different school and living in a different geographic area. By sharing resources and facilities, AICAD colleges offer unparalleled educational opportunities to students at AICAD schools.
Deadlines: Applications for AICAD Exchange must be received by the host school no later than: March 15 (Fall Term) and October 1 (Spring term)
International non-AICAD exchange: This exchange provides an opportunity for students to study for one semester with one of our international partner institutions. The college also maintains an agreement withEWHA University in Seoul, South Korea, as well as with theSeoul National University in South Korea.
Application Process
Through the AICAD Exchange program, full-time students who are attending one of the participating AICAD schools, have the unique opportunity to attend another school within AICAD for one semester at no additional cost or loss of credit. The AICAD Exchange offers students the experience and benefit of studying at a different school and living in a different geographic area. By sharing resources and facilities, AICAD colleges offer unparalleled educational opportunities to students at AICAD schools.
Step 1
Research the exchange institution of interest. Find a program that you're interested in, and look into what classes you would like to take.
Step 2
Meet with your department Chair and present the institution and the classes that you're interested in. Ask the Chair if those classes will work with the Otis College curriculum. The Chair needs to approve the courses you would like to take. If you can't find information on the available courses, please talk to Travel and External Study (travelstudy@otis.edu)
Step 3
Once you receive approval from the Chair of your department, please meet with an Academic Advisor. They will also need to approve the courses that you would like to take at the host institution.
Step 4
Contact Travel and External Study (travelstudy@otis.edu) to discuss the application process and complete this form.
Step 5
Once the form is submitted, and we receive a confirmation of approval from your department Chair and the Academic Advisor, Travel and External Study will nominate you to the host institution. If you're applying to an AICAD institution, you will not need a nomination and you may proceed to Step 6.
Step 6
Fill out the application provided by the host institution.
Step 7
If accepted to do the exchange, enroll in a special course with Registration that signifies that you're participating in an exchange.
Step 8
Work with the host institution on acquiring a visa and securing housing. Purchase flights and prepare for departure.
Step 9
After completing your program make sure to order official transcripts from the host institution to be sent to the One Stop. Contact the One Stop if you have questions about how to order transcripts.
Housing
Housing is the responsibility of each student. Host Schools have no obligation to provide housing and their dorms are often full. A student wishing to live in a Host School's dorm should make this known at the time of application. Fees for Room and Board are billed by and payable directly to the Host School. If dorms are full, off-campus housing information may be obtained from the student services or housing office of the Host School. Students should plan ahead and investigate all housing options at the time of application.
Health Insurance
Nearly every AICAD college requires students to obtain or furnish proof of medical insurance. Check with your Host School to determine its policies. If you have no insurance you will most likely be expected to purchase it from the Host School. If you have insurance, be sure to obtain proof of insurance from your Home School before you depart.
Tuition
Tuition is payable to Otis College of Art and Design. The Host School agrees not to charge the student tuition. A voucher indicating that tuition has been paid is issued by Otis College to the student and must be presented to the Host School at registration. The student will receive the regular financial aid award, if any, to which they are entitled. Laboratory fees, student service fees and other fees may be charged to the student by the Host School. These are billed by and payable directly to the Host School, and must be paid before registration. These fees vary by institution and program, so students should contact the Exchange Coordinator of the Host School to determine which fees will be required at registration.
Grading
Grades received from the Host School during the semester exchange will become a part of the student’s official record at Otis College. Outgoing exchange students are registered in a block of 15 units to be distributed by the advisor in the application and following the student’s portfolio review upon return to Otis College of Art & Design. Students are responsible for providing Otis College with an official academic transcript from the host school. Exchange units will be recorded as Pass/Fail on the student’s permanent record.
List of Exchange Colleges
About
As one of Canada’s four innovative universities dedicated to art, craft and design, we’re proud to play an important role in our country’s visual culture. AUArts graduates have gained significant national and international reputations as artists, designers and creative leaders.
Our talented community of emerging creatives learns from the best – experts who are among the country’s most acclaimed practicing artists and academics, across a diverse range of degree programs and disciplines. Formerly Alberta College Art + Design (ACAD), AUArts is a place where students can continue their education, earn an undergraduate degree or achieve their MFA.
AUArts is located in Calgary, Alberta. Close to stunning mountain parks and full of arts and culture, Calgary is a safe, sunny city with a small-town heart. As Calgary’s economy becomes increasingly diverse, the potential for finding meaningful employment and a market for work is high – for both students and graduates.
Learn more about Alberta College of Art & Design
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
ArtCenter College of Design offers a new model for art and design education in the 21st century. Our visionary approach is based on the College’s conservatory-like approach to teaching and learning; a desire for rich, intercultural and transdisciplinary dialogue; and a mandate to provide students innovative learning and making spaces.
Deadline to Apply
Deadline for the fall semester: May 1
Deadline for the spring semester: November 1
Student Visa
Students are highly encouraged to act as soon as possible when applying for a student visa- this cannot be stressed enough. Consulate visa application appointments can be difficult to schedule and can be booked solid for a month in advance, so please begin the scheduling process at least a month before your desired appointment date. The visa processing time is usually between 2 - 4 weeks. Collecting the documents for the application can also be a long and arduous process. It is recommended to start learning about the application process as soon as you apply for the exchange. Each country has a specific procedure, and you can learn about it on the host country’s embassy website. The Host Institution is also an excellent resource for assistance with acquiring a visa. You are welcome to contact the Travel and External Study office for support at any time during this visa procurement and exchange process.
About
The Art Academy is one of the smallest four-year art colleges in the country, and that’s one of our greatest strengths: It means our students really get to be themselves. They receive individualized attention from faculty, the freedom to develop their personal vision, and a unique opportunity to carve out their identity.
You won’t just get an education at AAC; you’ll begin to discover who you are, personally and artistically. At the end of your four years here, you won’t be the same person you were at the beginning.
Learn more about Art Academy of Cincinnati
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
Bezalel has a vibrant student exchange program with 100 leading art institutions worldwide. Students from our partner academies are welcome to study at Bezalel for one or two semesters, usually during their third year of studies. Applications for exchange are submitted through the exchange coordinator at the respective academy. The institutions agree to recognize each other’s study programs, grades and accreditation systems. Exchange students pay tuition to their home institution and are exempt from such fees at Bezalel.
Learn more about Bezalel Academy
Requirements
Students who wish to study for a semester must:
- be current, degree-seeking, full-time students
- have a minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA)
- be a junior
- have completed at least two semesters at Otis College
- otherwise meet the eligibility requirements of their specific program
- Students need to be proficient in their media and independently motivated
- Students with a disciplinary action or placed on probation in the year preceding the intended year of travel are ineligible to participate
Deadlines to Apply
Fall Semester: April 1st
Spring Semester: October 1st
Fall semester Lectures: mid/end October – end January/beginning February Presentations: during the last week of the semester. Spring semester Lectures: end February/beginning March – end June beginning July Presentations: during the last week of the semester. **Subject to change according to the Jewish calendar.
About
Guided by President Stephen Beal, our private nonprofit college offers a rich curriculum of 22 undergraduate and 11 graduate programs, and is noted for its curricular interdisciplinarity, breadth of programs, and commitment to social responsibility. Spread across two distinct campuses in the Bay Area, students experience immersive, interdisciplinary exposure that emphasizes theory and practice, helping them to gain the creative confidence and entrepreneurial skills needed for contemporary creative practice.
Learn more about California College of the Arts
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
The Cleveland Institute of Art is one of the nation's leading accredited independent colleges of art and design. Since 1882, the college has been an educational cornerstone in Cleveland, Ohio, producing graduates competitive as studio artists, designers, photographers, contemporary craftsmen, and educators.
With approximately 600 students, CIA offers a personal educational experience with the benefits of a larger institution. Students choose from 15 majors and live and work in Cleveland’s University Circle, one of the country’s most unique cultural centers – recently named by Forbes Magazine as one of the ten prettiest communities in the country.
Learn more about Cleveland Institute of Art
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is a nonprofit, private college authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. CCS, located in midtown Detroit, strives to provide students with the tools needed for successful careers in the dynamic and growing creative industries. CCS fosters students’ resolve to pursue excellence, act ethically, engage their responsibilities as citizens, and learn throughout their lives. With world-class faculty and unsurpassed facilities, students learn to be visual communicators who actively use art and design toward the betterment of society. The College is a major supplier of talent to numerous industries, such as transportation, film and animation, advertising and communications, consumer electronics, athletic apparel, and many more. Its graduates are exhibiting artists and teachers, design problem solvers and innovators, as well as creative leaders in business.
Learn more about College for Creative Studies
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
CCAD is a top art and design college in the U.S., with a 141-year tradition of helping emerging artists and designers harness their talents and create work that will change their lives, and the world, for the better.
At CCAD, you’ll get access to the tools and the people who will help you make your vision real. That means state-of-the-art facilities. It also means access to our talented faculty, practicing artists and designers with deep and broad industry connections and a love for helping students grow. It means being part of a student body of artists and designers who have a creative drive, talent, and an ambition to improve culture and commerce in Columbus and around the world. It means being in a place where you’ll be supported holistically, with healthy practices (think sleep, mental and physical health, and more) at the core of your development.
Learn more about Columbus College of Art and Design
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
The mission of Cornish College of the Arts is to provide students aspiring to become practicing artists with an educational program of the highest possible quality, in an environment that nurtures creativity and intellectual curiosity, while preparing them to contribute to society as artists, citizens, and innovators.
Learn more about Cornish College of the Arts
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: March 15 / Spring term: October 1
About
The École Nationale Supérieure Des Beaux-Arts, Located Across the Seine from The Musée Du Louvre in The Heart of Saint-Germain-Des-Prés, Is Heir to The Académie Royale De Peinture Et De Sculpture, Founded in The 17th Century by Louis Xiv. History, Long Preserved State Art Collections and Contemporary Artistic Creation Come Together in This Institution, Which Occupies an Essential Place on The World Stage of Art and Culture. the Exchange Program Provides Otis College Students the Opportunity to Study for One Semester at Another Art College. the Program Offers Personal Enrichment Through Study in A New Context, New Environment and With Different Faculty.
The Beaux-Arts De Paris Is a Public Institution Under the Responsibility of The French Ministry of Culture. It Is a Place of Artistic Instruction and Experimentation, Exhibitions and Conservation of Historical and Contemporary Collections, as Well as A Publishing House. the School Has 650 Students (20% Foreign Students) Spread Over 5 Years. the Course Is Studio-Based Under the Guidance of Renowned Artists/teachers and Is Supplemented by A Range of Theoretical and Technical Teaching.
Learn more about École Nationale Supérieure Des Beaux-Arts
Deadline to Apply
Nomination Deadline : May 15
Application Deadline : June 1st
About
The Emily Carr experience engages authenticity and connectivity. Our passion and dedication attract like-minded individuals and groups, fused by a shared and genuine commitment to interdisciplinary education, research, collaboration and excellence in visual arts, media arts and design. By placing students at the center of our mission and vision, we commit to ensure that our degrees, programs and projects are relevant, agile and responsive to the changing and diverse needs and interests of both students and society.
Learn more about Emily Carr University of Art and Design
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
KCAI provides a rigorous, diverse curriculum and an immersive studio experience for students who are passionate about the realization of their ideas. Of all the schools you’ll explore, we’re confident that none offers more personal guidance, artistic tools and resources, or opportunities for creative stimulation than you’ll find here.
Learn more about Kansas City Institute of Art
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
Karel de Grote University College (KdG) is a catholic university college that has over 11.000 enrolled students and employs about 1.300 staff members. The department of Art & Design is located on the St Lucas School of Arts Antwerp campus with 400 enrolled students and 80 staff members. The main focuses of this department are education, research and social engagement in three domains: Graphic Design (graphic, illustration, advertising and data), Jewellery & Silversmithing, Fine Arts (photo/video, spatial art, open studio, painting and graphics). St Lucas School of Arts Antwerp is a member of the European Art Colleges Association ELIA and Cumulus (International association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media).
Learn more about Karel de GroteUniversity College
Deadline to Apply
May 1 for nomination Fall semester / May 15th Online registration and upload documents
November 1 for nomination Spring semester / November 15th Online registration and upload documents
Student Visa
Students are highly encouraged to act as soon as possible when applying for a student visa- this cannot be stressed enough. Consulate visa application appointments can be difficult to schedule and can be booked solid for a month in advance, so please begin the scheduling process at least a month before your desired appointment date. The visa processing time is usually between 2 - 4 weeks. Collecting the documents for the application can also be a long and arduous process. It is recommended to start learning about the application process as soon as you apply for the exchange. Each country has a specific procedure, and you can learn about it on the host country’s embassy website. The Host Institution is also an excellent resource for assistance with acquiring a visa. You are welcome to contact the Travel and External Study office for support at any time during this visa procurement and exchange process.
About
Copenhagen School of Design and Technology (KEA) offers practice-oriented, higher education developed in close cooperation with the business community and educational institutions in Denmark and abroad. KEA has 32 full time programs of which 11 are international programs taught entirely in English. Incoming exchange students become part of regular full degree classes (semester level according to their academic experience and current availabilities), and they become an integral part of the existing class structure and project groups. Incoming exchange students have their own International Coordinator, assisting them in signing learning agreements, finding accommodation and getting settled in Copenhagen in general.
Learn more about KEA Semester Exchange
Deadline to Apply
Deadline for application:
15 April for the following autumn semester15 October for the following spring semester
About
Laguna College of Art & Design prepares individuals for careers as creative artists and designers in a culturally and ethnically diverse world through a curriculum that emphasizes acquiring skills based on observation, representation, and concept development, while embracing challenges of new, innovative technologies. The College is committed to offering its curriculum through accredited degree programs that imaginatively combine studio work with academic studies, and to sharing its resources with the broader community through continuing education and exhibition programs.
Learn more about Laguna College of Art and Design
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
LASALLE College of the Arts offers 30 diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programs in fine arts, design communication, interior design, product design, film, animation, fashion, dance, music, theater, arts management, arts pedagogy and practice, art therapy, Asian art histories and creative writing.
LASALLE provides a nurturing, interdisciplinary learning environment to inspire the next generation of forward-looking, globally engaged artists, designers and leaders of creative industries.
Learn more about La Salle College of the Arts
Student Visa
Students are highly encouraged to act as soon as possible when applying for a student visa- this cannot be stressed enough. Consulate visa application appointments can be difficult to schedule and can be booked solid for a month in advance, so please begin the scheduling process at least a month before your desired appointment date. The visa processing time is usually between 2 - 4 weeks. Collecting the documents for the application can also be a long and arduous process. It is recommended to start learning about the application process as soon as you apply for the exchange. Each country has a specific procedure, and you can learn about it on the host country’s embassy website. The Host Institution is also an excellent resource for assistance with acquiring a visa. You are welcome to contact the Travel and External Study office for support at any time during this visa procurement and exchange process.
About
LUCA School of Arts is a conglomerate of five art campuses, located in different cities in Flanders (Brussel, Gent, Genk, Vorst, Leuven). LUCA offers BA and MA programs in the field of Visual Arts, Visual Communication, Interior Design, Audio-visual Arts, Music, Performing Arts, Teacher Training in in the Arts. LUCA cooperates with KULeuven in the field PhD degrees in the art and the development of research projects in the arts. The focus is on the disciplines offered by the association’s art institutes, namely architecture, audiovisual arts, fine arts, music, performing arts, and product design. LUCA offers BA and MA degree programs to 3300 student and has about 320 staff members.
Learn more about Luca School of Arts Semester Exchange
Deadline to Apply
Fall semester April 1
Spring semester: October 1
Student Visa
Students are highly encouraged to act as soon as possible when applying for a student visa- this cannot be stressed enough. Consulate visa application appointments can be difficult to schedule and can be booked solid for a month in advance, so please begin the scheduling process at least a month before your desired appointment date. The visa processing time is usually between 2 - 4 weeks. Collecting the documents for the application can also be a long and arduous process. It is recommended to start learning about the application process as soon as you apply for the exchange. Each country has a specific procedure, and you can learn about it on the host country’s embassy website. The Host Institution is also an excellent resource for assistance with acquiring a visa. You are welcome to contact the Travel and External Study office for support at any time during this visa procurement and exchange process.
About
Maine College of Art delivers a transformative learning experience within an intimate and demanding educational environment by preparing students in the areas of artistic excellence, creative entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.
Learn more about Maine College of Art
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
Acknowledged nationally as a premier leader in art and design education, MICA is deliberately cultivating a new generation of artist – one that is capable of seamlessly integrating innovation, entrepreneurship and creative citizenship with contemporary approaches to art, design and media. MICA is redefining the role of the artists and designers as creative, solutions-oriented makers and thinkers who will drive social, cultural, and economic advancement for our future.
Learn more about Maryland Institute College of Art
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
At MassArt, we’ve always believed that art is an igniting force for positive change. From our earliest days, we’ve offered a bright gate where access to a world-class art education isn’t defined by economics or privilege. We’re committed to providing an education and the promise of a future based on talent, ambition, and drive. As the first publicly supported freestanding visual arts college in the US, we take great pride in our ability to nurture and support students with extraordinary creative promise, regardless of limitations in college prep opportunities, or financial status.
Learn more about Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) is Wisconsin’s only four-year, private college of visual art and design, offering a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Communication Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture and Design, and New Studio Practice: Fine Arts.
Learn more about Milwaukee College of Art and Design
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
Since 1886, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design—a private, nonprofit four-year and postgraduate college—has been the preeminent art and design educator in the region.
Today MCAD is a h3 national leader in fine arts, design, entrepreneurship, and sustainability education. Through degree programs, continuing education courses, exhibitions, and a number of other community programs and events, MCAD transforms the world through creativity and purpose.
Learn more about Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
NSCAD has a long history of progressive art-making, dating back to the mid-1960’s when our campus was a haven for the conceptual art movement in North America. Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia – a coastal city with a highly diverse art scene – today the NSCAD community is filled with internationally recognized artists, designers, researchers, and scholars.
Learn more about NSCAD University
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
Founded in 1876, OCAD University (OCAD U) is dedicated to art and design education, practice and research and to knowledge and invention across a wide range of disciplines. OCAD U continuously builds on its traditional, studio-based strengths, adding new approaches to learning that champion cross-disciplinary practice, collaboration and the integration of emerging technologies. In the Age of Imagination, members of the OCAD U community are uniquely qualified to act as catalysts for the next advances in culture, technology and quality of life for all Canadians.
Learn more about OCAD University
Application Deadlines
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
Pacific Northwest College of Art is the leading professional arts and design school in the Northwest; we are the heartbeat of learning and experimentation in Portland’s vibrant cultural ecosystem. We spark curiosity and sharpen skills so students can build creative careers anchored in innovation, justice and civic imagination.
We believe that creative work is built in studios, labs and galleries but also in community centers, start-ups, watersheds and in the public square. Our relationships with the other colleges at Willamette University, give our students a unique opportunity to build rigorous studio practice and experimentation alongside opportunities to connect art and design to science, business, and social justice
At the creative heart of Portland, PNCA is a center for communities of artists, designers, and scholars, presenting more free public programs and exhibitions in a given year than any other arts institution in the city. We are part of the offbeat, challenging and constantly evolving cultural scene in the Northwest.
Learn more about Pacific Northwest College of Art at Willamette University
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
Ringling College of Art and Design has cultivated the creative spirit in students from around the globe. The private, not-for-profit, fully accredited college offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in eleven disciplines and the Bachelor of Arts in two. The College’s rigorous curriculum employs the studio model of teaching and immediately engages students through a comprehensive program that is both specific to the major of study and focused on the liberal arts. The Ringling College teaching model ultimately shapes students into highly employable and globally aware artists and designers.
Learn more about Ringling College of Art and Design
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), one of the most historically significant accredited independent schools of art and design in the nation located in one of the greatest American cities. Our accolades are many, including recognition by Columbia University’s National Arts Journalism survey as “the most influential art college in the United States” and our consistent ranking among the top graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
Learn more about School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Deadline to Apply
Applications must be received by the Host School no later than:
Fall term: April 12 / Spring term: October 1
About
You can find Willem de Kooning Academy right at the heart of the design city of Rotterdam. The academy is part of the multi-sectoral Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (RUAS for short). RUAS is a dynamic knowledge institute for higher professional education.
Students not only choose a particular major course – let’s say Advertising & Beyond – but also a professional context or what we call a ‘practice’. We offer three of these practices or graduation profiles:Autonomous,Social andCommercial.
Students can also enter an honors program and/or complete their graduation specialization by choosing an exchange program at an academy or university abroad. This gives them the opportunity to adapt the academy’s education program to their own preferences and to the development of your own talent.
Learn more about Willem de Kooning Academy
Deadline to Apply
Deadline for the fall semester: May 1Deadline for the spring semester: November 1
Student Visa
Students are highly encouraged to act as soon as possible when applying for a student visa- this cannot be stressed enough. Consulate visa application appointments can be difficult to schedule and can be booked solid for a month in advance, so please begin the scheduling process at least a month before your desired appointment date. The visa processing time is usually between 2 - 4 weeks. Collecting the documents for the application can also be a long and arduous process. It is recommended to start learning about the application process as soon as you apply for the exchange. Each country has a specific procedure, and you can learn about it on the host country’s embassy website. The Host Institution is also an excellent resource for assistance with acquiring a visa. You are welcome to contact the Travel and External Study office for support at any time during this visa procurement and exchange process.