California College of the Arts
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Study Abroad FAQ


I'm interested in study abroad. What should I do?
Pick up an information packet in the Student Records or International Exchange Office. Review the program sites that are appropriate for your major and visit their websites. Information is also available at the Open House each semester. Study abroad courses are listed in the CCA summer schedule.

If I meet the criteria for study abroad, will I definitely be able to go to the school I choose?
The International Exchange Committee makes every effort to send applicants to an appropriate study abroad school, but acceptance is conditional and there are no guarantees that students will be approved for their first choice school. In some instances, the committee will recommend a school other than what the student has chosen.

I'm considering study abroad, but I don't speak a foreign language. What should I do?
For International Exchange, we encourage you to enroll in a language course as soon as you have decided where you would like to study. Many students who participate have only a basic comprehension of the host language. The studio nature of the exchange semester—in which students primarily create in the media and with the tools they are accustomed to working with—helps overcome language problems. You should see language not as a barrier, but as a doorway opening onto a new world of experiences. Summer study abroad courses are a good option for students who want to go abroad without foreign language study.

Where will I live during study abroad?
Most of our partner schools have dorm rooms available for exchange students. When this is not the case, the housing office at the host school will recommend alternative housing options. Housing is included in the cost of summer study abroad courses.

Can I contact the foreign schools I'm interested in?
CCA asks that International Exchange applicants not contact the host school directly until they are accepted.

Will I need a visa? How do I get one?
You will need a visa for most International Exchange sites. If you are approved by the CCA exchange committee and the host school, the host school will send a letter of acceptance. Once you have received your letter, you should bring it to your host country's nearest embassy or consulate to request a student visa. Some International Exchange sites and most summer study abroad courses require only a passport.

I'm interested in study abroad, but I receive financial aid and am worried about the cost.
Students who participate in study abroad or International Exchange are eligible to receive the same level of financial aid they would normally qualify for. Tuition is paid to CCA only.

How can I be sure the credits I earn at school abroad will transfer to my CCA degree requirements?
During the International Exchange application process, you will meet with your academic advisor to review your study abroad plan in relation to your remaining CCA requirements. When you return from your exchange semester, you will meet with your advisor again for a portfolio review of work completed at the host school. Specific credits are placed at that time.