Study Abroad & Exchange

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Study Abroad 101 Weekly Information Sessions

Benefits to Studying Abroad

Studying abroad offers numerous academic, personal, and professional benefits for artists and designers. As emerging practitioners, MICA students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in new cultures, develop a global perspective, and expand their understanding of art and design. Gaining critical thinking skills and adapting to new concepts and lifestyles adds significant depth to the MICA educational experience. Additionally, forming international connections and friendships can lead to exciting career opportunities and create lasting professional relationships and networks. To begin your global journey and to learn about the types of programs and services available through our office, please visit these pages:

Spring 2026 Study Abroad

Application Deadline: September 15, 2025

The deadline for applications for the Spring 2026 study abroad semester is approaching fast! To give the Office of International Education enough time to review applications, make decisions, and nominate prospective students for one of our approved programs of study, all applications must be submitted by Monday, September 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Students who need assistance with starting and developing their applications can reach out to Mike Rini at mrini@mica.edu to schedule an appointment.

Study Abroad 101: Weekly Information Sessions

Studying abroad will challenge and inspire you. Like many emerging artists and designers, you will likely view your experience abroad as one of the highlights of your undergraduate journey at MICA. If you have a desire to connect with new cultures and explore novel ways of learning about yourself as both an artist and individual, studying abroad can provide these opportunities and so much more!

The Office of International Education will host information sessions twice a week to provide details about the two types of study abroad programs:

Summer Faculty-Led Global Pathways

When: Every Wednesday, starting September 17, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Last session of the fall semester: Wednesday, November 19.

Where: Bunting Center, room 208 (conference room)

Semester Study Abroad

When: Every Thursday, starting September 18, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Last session: October 30.

Where: Bunting Center, room 208 (conference room)

Featured Programs & Info

Explore the 19th Biennale of Architecture in Venice with MICA Faculty.

Summer 2025 Program Dates: JUNE 3-30, 2025
Application and Need-Based Scholarship Deadline: FEBRUARY 15, 2025

About the Progam
Explore the 19th Venice Biennale of Architecture, the premier international exposition of contemporary architecture, which has been part of the greater Biennale project since 1968 although formally its own event since 1980. In this interdisciplinary summer program, you will visit historical national pavilions in the Biennale Gardens and the nearby Arsenale as you witness first-hand the magical transformation of these spaces, including the work of The Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, University of Arkansas, in partnership with Design Connects and Crystal
Keep Reading about the Program

Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina. It is a vibrant port city with rich architecture and dynamic city life, and it has a deep history of cultural contributions to the visual arts.

Summer 2025 Program Dates: May 24-June 14, 2025
Official Program Application Opens: December 1, 2024
Application and Need-Based Scholarship Deadline: February 15, 2025
Photography/Illustration Credit: PH 375: Narrative Strategies & IL 313: Sketchbook Intensive

About the Progam
Based in Buenos Aires, this program explores the local culture(s), Argentine history, cuisine, connections with local artists, and the production of new artistic fieldwork onsite. In the best visual storytelling tradition, students will traverse and explore the city of Buenos Aires, connecting with the people, music, social fabric, and urban landscape and, most importantly, reflecting on their positionality in the global community. We will meet with Argentinian artists, photographers, and illustrators to learn about their work through artist talks and studio visits. We will build our cultural competencies through visits to area museums, art galleries, and cultural centers, including the Fundación Larivière Fotografía Latinoamericana, Museo de Arte Moderno, Fundación Proa, and Centro Cultural Recoleta. Of course, we will also create flexible time for individual and small-group city exploration.
Keep Reading about the Program

Explore Salvador, a vibrant 475-year-old city and UNESCO World Heritage site located in the state of Bahia.

Summer 2025 Program Dates: JUNE 7-28, 2025
Application and Need-Based Scholarship Deadline: FEBRUARY 15, 2025
Undergraduate: 3 studio credits (ESJ); 3 liberal arts credits (HSCI or HMST); all credits at the 400-level
Graduate: 3 studio credits (GST); 3 liberal arts credits (GLA); all credits at the 5000-level

About the Progam
Explore Salvador, a vibrant 475-year-old city and UNESCO World Heritage site located in the state of Bahia. Salvador, the first capital of Brazil and entry point for enslaved Africans, is known for it’s rich Afro-Brazilian culture and Portuguese colonial architecture. Engage in ecological fieldwork in surrounding coastal communities. In this studio art, environmental science, and social science integrated STEAM course, we will visit art and history museums, beaches, and ecological field sites and hold discussions about eco-racism with community members, artists, scholars, and activists. Through independent exploration of the environment, students will develop visual ethnography maps and design artistic works (artist’s books, zines, posters, etc.) to raise awareness, garner broad community support, and/or develop sustainability plans in an effort to mitigate further harm. Classes are held in both the classroom and on location throughout the program.
Keep Reading about the Program

Apply for a Passport NOW

Processing Time 12 Weeks or More...

If you intend to study abroad at some point during your academic career, obtaining a passport and academic advising should be at the top of your to-do list. According to the U.S. Department of State, ordering a passport for the first time could take more than 12 weeks to process due to limited staffing and operations at passport centers. Order your passport today!

Planning and Preparing for Study Abroad

Mandatory Information About the European Travel Information and Authorization System (EITAS) for Fall 2025 and beyond:

ETIAS travel authorization, a convenient entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals, is your gateway to 30 European countries. It's seamlessly linked to your passport, valid for up to three years or until your passport expires. If you get a new passport, simply obtain a new ETIAS. The application process is a breeze, a simple online transaction that produces a travel document for a nominal fee. This document, along with your passport, is all you need to present to customs officials when you arrive in your host country.

The ETIAS document itself
Valid, unexpired passport
Visa/consulate letter provided to you by the MICA Office of International Education – our office will offer you this shortly after being accepted to your program – more details to come
Acceptance letter, email, offering admissions from your study abroad/exchange program

With a valid ETIAS travel authorization, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays - generally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions. Again, these documents include (as stated directly above):

The ETIAS document itself
Valid, unexpired passport
Visa/consulate letter provided to you by the MICA Office of International Education – our office will offer you this shortly after being accepted to your program – more details to come
Acceptance letter, email, offering admissions from your study abroad/exchange program

The MICA Office of International Education (OIE) is here to support you. We require all students to try to acquire the ETIAS before traveling. In some cases, authorization can take up to 4 weeks, so timing might be challenging for those traveling in mid-January. We encourage you to email your program in the European Union for advice after you've been accepted and to inquire about the visa and immigration services they offer. Remember, your first question should be about the ETIAS and your entry to their country for study.

Staying updated on the ETIAS website is crucial. The timing of the site going live is uncertain, and all students should be extremely mindful of this between now and January 1, 2024. Regularly checking for updates to the ETIAS program is a must. Failing to obtain the ETIAS promptly could jeopardize your semester abroad. Remember, all MICA F1 international students must have their I-20 document signed by the OIE before they depart from campus for their study abroad/exchange program.

The ETIAS website says the E.U. will open applications "from 2024." An exact date has yet to be announced. The Office of International Education (OIE) will require all students to begin checking to see if they can register for the ETIAS starting January 1, 2024. You must check every day before departing from your home country to see if the ETIAS website has begun the ETIAS registration service. Once you are issued your ETIAS, which should occur directly after registering on the site, the OIE will require you to upload a copy of the purchase receipt.

Please get the ETIAS authorization to avoid refusal to enter the host country of your study abroad site. You will be sent home, and your semester will be lost; all applicable cancellation fees through your program or your exchange program, including MICA, will be charged back to you. The ETIAS is required for travel – this rule has no exceptions. It is the student's responsibility to obtain the ETIAS, and there is very little the OIE can do if you forget to get it and are deported back to your home country.

Start researching today to learn more about the ETIAS. Remain mindful of any announcements regarding the date in 2024 when the authorization website officially opens for issuance of the ETIAS. The OIE will also send notifications as soon as we learn more. Check your MICA Gmail account throughout the semester to learn more.

Any national of the visa-exempt countries to the E.U. looking to travel to an E.U. country for a short-term stay must apply for ETIAS authorization. These visa-exempt countries include the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Mexico.

The European Union defines a short-term stay as any stay (or combination of stays) up to 90 days within 180 days. Stateless people living in and with a travel document from one of the visa-exempt countries or Ireland will also be required to apply for ETIAS authorization.

ETIAS can also be used in place of a visa for certain nationals of visa-required countries. The complete list of those eligible for this exception includes students on a school trip who are nationals of visa-required countries but reside in any of the visa-exempt countries, Switzerland or Liechtenstein.

The complete eligibility requirements can be found on the ETIAS website.

The online application for ETIAS authorization incurs a fee of 7 euros, or approximately $8. This authorization remains valid for three years or until the travel document used for the application expires. Once used, it is only valid for short-term stays or 90 days of travel within a 180-day period. After making the payment online, it is advisable to print several copies of the transactional paperwork and carry them with you at all times during your journey to your host country. Keep a small copy with you as an additional form of passport validation, especially if you plan to travel between EU and cooperating countries.

When you pay for the authorization online, print several copies of any transactional paperwork and carry them with you at all times while in transit to your host country. Fold up a small copy and carry it with you as a form of additional passport validation should you engage in inter-country travel throughout the E.U. and E.U. cooperating countries.

To apply, prospective travelers must provide personal information, including their name, date of birth, nationality, address, parents' names, email address, and phone number. They will also be asked to share their current occupation and level of education, as well as details about their intended travel and stays in E.U. countries. Applicants must also include details of the document they will be used to travel, such as a passport. There are special requirements for eligibility for travel documents from some countries (not including the U.S.). ETIAS applicants will also be asked to provide details about any criminal convictions, among other personal information.

Once the system is up and running, ETIAS applicants will receive an email confirming that their application has been submitted. This email will have an application number that is important to keep for future reference. Once an application has been processed, travelers will receive a second email with the authorization decision.

Most applications are processed within minutes of applying, but prospective travelers should expect to receive an application decision within four days. Exceptions are if additional documentation or information is needed or applicants are asked to be interviewed. If approved, travelers should confirm that all their personal information is correct; if a mistake isn't corrected before travel, the authorization will not be valid to cross into the E.U. If an approval is, for some reason, rejected, applicants can appeal the decision.

SStarting in 2024, prospective travelers should apply for ETIAS certification at least a month before their planned travel date and ideally before that. If you're flagged for an interview, it could take an additional 30 days beyond the normal turnaround time. In the case of a rejected application, an appeals process would be necessary to travel.

Travelers must have their ETIAS authorization throughout their entire stay in the E.U. Although authorization is necessary to enter the E.U., it does not guarantee entry at border control. Travelers must still meet established E.U. entry requirements, which include having a passport or other travel document valid for their stay and at least three months afterward.

YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR PASSPORT TODAY AND VERIFY WITH CERTAINTY THAT YOU CAN MEET THIS 3-MONTH RULE. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RULE COULD CAUSE YOUR ETIAS TO BE DENIED, OR WORSE IF IT IS OVERLOOKED, YOU MIGHT BE DENIED ENTRY TO YOUR HOST COUNTRY.

Because ETIAS authorization is a new process, it could slow down the line at passport control, potentially creating problems for tight flight connections. Right now, if a U.S. traveler is flying to one country in the Schengen zone through a connecting flight in another country, they will have to go through passport control before getting on their connecting flight.

According to the European Union, "dozens" of unofficial ETIAS sites offer information on the upcoming system, with some illegally using the E.U. logo and publishing inaccuracies.

Though the E.U. does allow commercial intermediaries to apply for ETIAS authorization on behalf of customers, these third parties could be operated by scammers who want to misuse the personal information required in the application.

To avoid scams, travelers should prioritize applying through the official ETIAS website once it becomes available in 2024.

Study Abroad Advising

Our study abroad advising sessions are designed to be flexible and accommodating to your needs. Whether you prefer to attend in person or via Zoom, we've got you covered. We're here to provide you with all the information you need, so don't hesitate to join us - we'll see you there!

Study Abroad & Exchange