P ACCEPTANCE PACKETAC
Bonjour!
WELCOME TO PCA
we can’t wait to see you in Paris!
Congratulations on being accepted to our Film Art program. We received many excellent applications and are thrilled to welcome you to our global community.
We are eager to welcome you here to our centrally-located Paris campus where you will get the chance to engage with a thriving community of filmmakers, artists, musicians, etc., whilst also having access to some of the greatest museums in the world and more independent art house cinemas than any other city!
À bientôt!
Harald HutterPREPARATION CHECKLIST
It is time to prepare for moving to Paris and becoming a PCA student. This packet will help you get ready. If you have questions, we are here to help.
q Read and sign PCA Terms and Conditions in your apply.paris.edu status portal.
q Apply for your student visa! Staff at Emerson are on hand to help you with the process.
q Once you have received your visa you need to provide a copy to both Emerson and PCA.
q Healthcare coverage: Emerson will take care of this.
q Submit the mandatory Health History Information form.
q Read and submit acceptance of the Les Estudines housing license.
q Gather together your must-have documents (see list in the Documents section).
q Then, it’s time to pack your bags, because you’re off to Paris! Check out our Paris-pascher articles on the website for pre-arrival tips and advice.
Join our Discord group and get to know your future classmates virtually!
WANT MORE INFO?
FRENCH VISA
how to extend it after your first year ?
INITIAL VISA
Overview of the process
Emerson handles all initial French visa applications while you're in Boston. Once in France, you will be in touch with PCA's Student Life Office to make sure that you maintain legal residency throughout your stay.
• Year 1 - Summer: Apply for your initial visa from Boston
• Year 1 - Fall: Activate your visa from Paris at Orientation during the visa session
• Year 1 - Spring: Renew your visa with Student Life from Paris and receive your residency card upon successful renewal
• Year 2 and Year 3: Renew your residency card from Paris, depending on your card's expiration date and only if it will expire before you graduate
Enrolling in French Social Security
While you are covered by GeoBlue insurance for the entirety of the program, you are required to register with the French social security like other PCA students. Having a French social security number will allow you to get reimbursed for most of your medical expenses in France, and eventually apply for CAF, a government housing aid, which can help offset your living cost in year 2 and 3.
You can only sign up after you arrive in France and you have all the documents listed on the right. The Student Life Office will help you complete your application at Orientation during the healthcare session. Once you fill in the application on etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr, you’ll be immediately assigned a temporary Social Security number, and you will be able to visit doctors, and get reimbursements with this number*. Once your permanent number is ready, you will receive a letter in the mail prompting you to order your "carte vitale."
*Until you get your Carte Vitale, you will have to make a copay and then you will be reimbursed by social security. PCA's Student Life will provide you with further guidelines when you arrive in Paris.
Documents required to register with the French Social Security
• Proof of enrollment letter
Provided by the Student Life office. It is not the same document as the Acceptance Letter you get after being accepted at PCA.
• Copy of your Passport & Visa
• Proof of housing
This document will be provided once you sign the Estudines Housing license.
• Birth certificate
All but those issued in English or Spanish must be translated by a certfied translator. You can find many translation services online.
• Confirmation d'Enregistrement de Validation de VLSTS
Required if your visa needs validation (see Student Visa section Step 4).
• IBAN (French bank account details)
This will be given to you when you open a French bank account.
You must open a French bank account, as you will need it to be reimbursed by French Social Security. Waiting time: between 2-4 weeks upon successful enrollment.
STUDENT LIFE
what is it like being a student in Paris and at PCA ?
Meals
Paris is renowned for its food, and most PCA students take advantage of the city’s vast culinary offerings by preparing meals at home, eating in local restaurants or ordering from take-away shops in the neighborhood of the school. Additionally, through the CROUS, a public establishment of the French Ministry of Education, students have access to four restaurants and twenty university cafeterias where they can have a three-course meal for lunch for as little as 3.10 euros. For more information about university cafeterias see the CROUS website (crous-paris.fr). All CROUS restaurants and cafeterias are open during lunch time everyday of the week, and some of them are open for dinner and brunch on Saturdays as well. However, note that these restaurants are not close to PCA.
Support and Accomodations
Students who have a documented learning disability are encouraged to seek accommodations in order for PCA to better meet their specific educational needs.
Academic accommodations for students with a documented learning disability, including accommodations for exams, can be considered only after a student has submitted a Support and Adaptations form (available on the student portal - mon.paris.edu) indicating the nature of the disability and the recommended accommodations. All support and accomodation requestions are co-ordinated through the Office of the Registrar and Student Success.
Counseling Services
PCA has teamed up with English speaking and multilingual mental health professionals. If you are in need, you can access 5 paid-for sessions with one of our partnered psychologists. Listed on mon.paris.edu, you also have access to other mental, as well as general health resources and centers in Paris.
As part of the MonPsy initiative, students with French Social Security will have access to 8 additional paid-for sessions of counseling when referred by their general practicioner. Contact us at studentlife@paris.edu to sign up for Social Security or for help finding a doctor in Paris.
Student Activities
The Student Life office works closely with the Student Council to organize a range of student activities both on campus and off campus throughout the year. Students can take part in the various student groups, we encourage all initiatives coming from our student community, whether it's an exhibition, screening, workshops...
Internships & Career Services
Internships and professional projects are an integral part of our art and design education and through which students further their creative capabilities, are introduced to the professional aspects of their chosen areas of study, and develop into leaders in the creative industries.
The Career Services office works in coordination with the school’s academic leaders to help all students fine-tune the skills needed to prosper in today’s most challenging markets. PCA stresses the value of professional experiences while in school as well as the development of networking skills and job search techniques in preparing students to start their careers.
We develop relationships in the creative industries to create internship opportunities and develop corporate projects for students. Like any PCA student, you will be able to benefit from the internship year after you graduate and upon good academic standing.
Diversity & Inclusion at PCA
Paris College of Art is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment, and prohibits discrimination against and harassment of any student, applicant, employee, or community member because of race; national or ethnic origin; age; religion; disability; sexual orientation; gender; gender identity and expression; genetics; veteran status; and any other status protected under applicable law. We expect all PCA employees, students, and community members to join with and uphold this commitment.
DOCUMENTS
keeping track of all you need to do to get ready
DOCUMENT CHECKLIST
Use this handy checklist to keep track of the items you have sent to PCA and what you still need to send!
q Read and sign Les Estudines Housing License
q Complete the Health History and Emergency Contact Form
q Upload a copy of your Passport
q Upload a copy of your Visa (if applicable)
q ID Photo (so we can make your student card!)
q Birth certificate (translated into French - unless it is in English or Spanish)
ORIENTATION
a week of completing important tasks and making new friends
Check your acceptance letter for the start date of Orientation.
Orientation week is designed to familiarize you with Paris College of Art's services and procedures as well as life in Paris.
You will meet with your academic advisor, register for courses and meet with the Business Office regarding your billing and health insurance.
Students who needed a visa to come to France will meet with the Student Life office to complete the formalities to obtain your legal residency status.
As well, information sessions about life in Paris will cover how to go about getting phone and internet service; how to use the Paris public transportation system; etc...
You will also have numerous opportunities to socialize with your new classmates during museum excursions, lunches, a boat trip on the Seine, and more.
The Orientation Schedule will be posted in your PCA portal as soon as it is finalized.
DIRECTORY
who's who and how to reach them
Registrar - Room 205
Alana Manga Director of Student Success & Registrar alana.manga@paris.edu +331.45.77.11.77
Business Office - Room 405
Christopher Bouchard VP Finance & Administration christopher.bouchard@paris.edu +331.45.77.04.40
Student Life - Room 407 +331.45.77.19.99
Verena Thomson Student Life Coordinator verena.thompson@paris.edu
Simba Kamuriwo Student Life Coordinator simba.kamuriwo@paris.edu
Academic Leadership +331.45.77.39.66
Linda Jarvin, PhD- Room 404 President linda.jarvin@paris.edu
Michael Meere, PhD Provost & VP of Academic Affairs michael.meere@paris.edu
Steve Bisson - Room 204 Chair of Photography steve.bisson@paris.edu
Chloe Briggs Head of Online Foundation chloe.briggs@paris.edu
Ophir Darki - Room 204 Art & Design Lab Technician ophir.darki@paris.edu
Alix de Mercey - Room 209 Chair of Interior Design alix.demercey@paris.edu
Véronique Devoldere - Room 104 Chair of Fine Arts and Drawing veronique.devoldere@paris.edu
Harald Hutter - Room 004 Chair of Film harald.hutter@paris.edu
Joe Johnson - Room 204 Chair of In-Person Foundation joe.johnson@paris.edu
Jessica Macor - Room 206 Film Coordinator jessica.macor@paris.edu
Lucas Maethger- Room 209 Chair of Fashion Design lucas.maethger@paris.edu
Barbara Montefalcone, PhD - Room 209 Chair of Liberal Arts barbara.montefalcone@paris.edu
Lucrezia Russo - Room 209 Chair of Communication Design lucrezia.russo@paris.edu
Annelies Schubert - Room 104 Fine Arts Coordinator & Printmaking Tech annelies.schubert@paris.edu
Photography & Film Equipment Hub Room 005 +331.45.77.39.66
Alok Rajoo Equipment Hub Coordinator alok.rajoo@paris.edu
Theo Gautier Equipment Hub Assistant theo.gautier@paris.edu
IT Office - Room 207 Tarun Kumar IT Adminstrator tarun.kumar@paris.edu
Admissions & Communications - Room 408 +331.45.77.19.99 admissions@paris.edu
Sara Krauskopf Vice-President of Enrollment Management sara.krauskopf@paris.edu
Hela Al Sharkas Admissions Counselor for Special Programs hela.alsharkas@paris.edu
Kaamna Patel Alumni and Career Services Coordinator kaamna.patel@paris.edu
Léa Ponchel Admissions Counselor for International Program lea.ponchel@paris.edu
Meredith Chadwick Alumni Ambassador for North America meredith.chadwick@paris.edu
Zainab Affejee Communications Officer zainab.affejee@paris.edu
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
all the important dates you need to know
FALL 2024
Monday, August 26
Wednesday, August 28 – Thursday, August 29
Monday, September 2
Monday, September 2 – Tuesday, September 10 (17:00)
Monday October 14 - Friday October 18
Thursday, October 31
Friday, November 1
Monday, November 11
Saturday, November 16
Friday, December 13
Saturday December 14 - Friday January 3
SPRING 2025
Tuesday, January 7
Wednesday, January 8 – Thursday, January 9
Monday, January 13
Monday, January 13 – Tuesday, January 20 (17:00)
Monday, February 24 - Friday, February 28
Monday, March 3 - Friday, March 7
Saturday, March 15
Friday, March 21
Monday, April 21
Thursday, May 1
Friday, May 2
Thursday, May 8
Monday, May 5 - Thursday, May 8
Friday, May 9
SUMMER 2025
Monday, June 16
Friday, June 27
Monday, June 30
Friday, July 14
Tuesday, July 15
Friday, July 25
Orientation begins
Academic advising and registration
First day of class
Add/drop week
Midterm evaluation week
Last day to withdraw from class
School closed* (All Saints' day)
School closed* (Armistice day)
Online Open House
Last day of class
School closed to faculty and students
Orientation begins
Academic advising and registration
First day of class
Add/drop week
Midterm evaluation week
Spring break
Open House
Last day to withdraw from class
School closed* (Easter Monday)
School closed* (Labor day)
Last Day of class
Victory Day* School closed
Degree shows and critiques
Graduation
Summer session 1 starts
Summer session 1 ends
Summer session 2 starts
Bastille Day* School closed
Summer session 3 starts
Summer session 3 ends
* Classes will be rescheduled by the faculty in coordination with department chairs