AICAD Extended Opportunities

AICAD Exchange

Through the AICAD Exchange program, full-time students who are attending one of the 20 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.

Students Apply for AICAD Exchange HERE

DEADLINES: Applications must be received by the host school no later than: March 15 (Fall Term) and October 1 (Spring term)

Please note: The Spring 2025 term application is now OPEN.

Eligibility: The AICAD Exchange is open primarily to full‑time students who are in good standing and who otherwise meet eligibility requirements of their specific program. Students choose which school they wish to attend in the AICAD Exchange. However, the Host School retains sole discretion to accept or decline an application or selection of courses.

Tuition and Fees: Tuition is payable to the student's Home School. The Host School agrees not to charge the student tuition. A voucher indicating that tuition has been paid is issued by the Home School to the student and must be presented to the Host School at registration. If a student has made the required payment to the Home School but has not received a voucher, she/he must contact the Home School Exchange Coordinator immediately. 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.

Grades: Grades received from the Host School during Exchange study will become a part of the student's official record at their Home School, in accordance with the Home School's policies for such study. Host Schools should not count Exchange students in their registration statistics. While at the Host School, the student will be governed by the academic regulations of the Host School and will not be eligible for student aid or employment from the Host School. The Host School is responsible for notifying the Home School of any deficiencies during the semester.

Medical 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.

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.

Participating AICAD Schools

Alberta University of the Arts
Art Academy of Cincinnati
ArtCenter College of Design
California College of the Arts
Cleveland Institute of Art
College for Creative Studies
Columbus College of Art & Design
Cornish College of the Arts
Emily Carr University of Art & Design
Kansas City Art Institute
LASALLE College of the Arts (Singapore)
Laguna College of Art & Design
Maine College of Art & Design
Maryland Institute College of Art
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Minneapolis College of Art & Design
NSCAD University
OCAD University
Otis College of Art & Design
Pacific Northwest College of Art
Ringling College of Art & Design
School of the Art Institute of Chicago


Foundation Year

Many AICAD schools have a compulsory first year curriculum which is sometimes referred to as Foundation Year. During this first year, students follow the same course of study - which introduces the institution's pedagogical approach - before they move on to studio majors as sophomores. The Foundation Year curriculum is designed to instruct all students (regardless of abilities, skills and interests) on the basic tenants of art and design, and usually includes general 2D and 3D studio courses and opportunities to explore various departmental majors.


International Affiliates

In addition to the 39 full member schools in the US & Canada within the network, AICAD has seven International Affiliate schools in Japan, China, Ireland, Israel, Singapore, and the UK. Through the International Affiliate program, AICAD has broadened its membership and enhanced the dialogue at the Executive level, which in turn brings greater global opportunity to the students of all AICAD schools.

BURREN COLLEGE OF ART
Located Ballyvaughan, Ireland, the Burren College of Art offers students an intimate community with a maximum enrollment of 55 undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, there are specific study abroad opportunities available to AICAD students who are interested in studying at the Burren College of Art. Through a range of programs, faculty and visiting artists at Burren College of Art create an exciting platform for discussion, artistic collaboration and cross-disciplinary study.

BEZALEL ACADEMY OF ARTS AND DESIGN

Located in Jerusalem, the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design enrolls over 2000 students studying towards undergraduate degrees in the following departments: Fine Arts, Screen Based Arts, Architecture, Ceramics and Glass Design, Industrial Design, Jewelry and Fashion Design, Photography and Visual Communication. In addition, Bezalel offers graduate degrees in the fields of Fine Arts, Urban Design, Industrial Design and Policy and Theory of the Arts. Each department preserves the traditional knowledge, tools, materials and workshops collected over many decades, while using state-of-the-art software and cutting-edge technologies.

CHINA ACADEMY OF ART

The China Academy of Art is a premiere fine arts institute of higher learning located in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province in the vicinity of Shanghai. The International College of China Academy of Art is a subsidiary of the China Academy of Art in charge of academic programs for overseas non-resident students and international artistic exchanges. It has three teaching units, which offer quality courses in Chinese painting, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese culture and language. It also provides international students with courses in oil painting, print-making, inter-media art, sculpture, art history, design art and architecture art.

OSAKA UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS

Founded in 1964, Osaka University of Arts (OUA) offers 14 undergraduate majors in the fine arts, design, architecture, Literature, Broadcasting, Photography, Crafts, Visual Concept Planning, Theatrical Arts, Art Planning, Character Creative Arts, Musicology, Music Performance, Art and Primary Education. Additionally, there are specific study abroad opportunities available to AICAD students interested in studying at OUA.

LASALLE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS

LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore is a leading tertiary institution in cutting edge contemporary arts and design education and practice. The College offers more than 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.

NANJING UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS

Nanjing University of the Arts is the only comprehensive arts institute in Jiangsu Province, as well as the earliest art academy established in China. After the development of more than one hundred years, Nanjing University of the Arts has become one of the most distinguished art universities in China and has enjoyed high reputation in China and the world. Boasting over 10,000 students, the university offers 27 majors over its 14 schools that include fine arts, music, design, media, movie and television, dance, popular music, humanities, industrial design, and cultural industry.


Academic Symposia

AICAD coordinates an annual Symposium each fall that is hosted by one of the member schools. This three-day meeting brings together educators, administrators and students to engage in rich conversations on a timely academic topic.

These symposia are primarily intended to benefit faculty and academic staff such as department chairs, though many senior level administrators and college presidents attend as well.

UPCOMING SYMPOSIUM

November 2-4, 2022
Design for Adaptation
Joint Cumulus Conference/AICAD Symposium

PAST SYMPOSIA

November 4-6, 2021
Must Give Us Pause: Sustainability and Diversity
OCAD University/Virtual Conference

February 18-20, 2021
2020: A Year Refocused
Virtual Conference

November 7-9, 2019
INCLUDE ME!
Otis College of Art and Design

November 7-9, 2018
Artists/Designers/Citizens
School of the Art Institute of Chicago

November 3-6, 2016
Beyond the BFA
Ringling College of Art and Design

2015: Exploring Science in the Studio
California College of the Arts

2013: AICAD Conference at Maryland Institute College of Art
New Paradigms in Teaching and Learning
Seminar Descriptions, sessions and presentations

2012: AICAD Conference at Emily Carr University of Art and Design
REMAKING RESEARCH
Sessions and Presentations


AICAD Post MFA Teaching Fellowship

The AICAD Post MFA Fellowship offers eligible candidates a one-year teaching position at a participating AICAD institution and provides significant professional practice opportunities to high-achieving graduate alumni. In contributing to the goal of increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of our faculty, AICAD aspires to create a climate that recognizes and values diversity as central to excellence.


Global Ecologies Program

The Global Ecologies Studio at Burren College of Art is a fantastic opportunity for art students, independent artists or interested researchers from adjacent fields within the humanities and natural sciences to explore art making while examining various concepts found in ecology and earth systems. This 4-week class (July 20th - August 16th, 2019) is based at the Burren College of Art, located in the Burren of Western Ireland, which provides a unique experiential and observable location with which to explore the relationships between landscape and the social sphere.

Applications for 2019 Global Ecologies Program have now closed