International Student Life

With a calendar that includes cross-cultural events, exhibitions, and educational programming, SCAD celebrates international student life and prepares students with the global perspective needed to pursue world-spanning career paths.

On campus and online, the SCAD International Student Services Office (ISSO) guides students to professional success. ISSO programs, resources, and mentoring begin before studies at SCAD and continue long after graduation. Eligible F-1 students may obtain Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization for 12 months following the completion of any SCAD degree program and an additional 24 months following the completion of a STEM degree.

Students from more than 100

countries call SCAD home.

SCAD prepares non-native English speakers to succeed in their studies and beyond. Students in the art-and design-focused SCAD English as a Second Language (ESL) program, offered through the SCAD Language Studio, prepare for the university’s immersive academic environment. ESL students enjoy access to an online database of virtual resources and video guides on academic culture, design vocabulary, and more. SCAD ensures students are deeply engaged in the university community. ESL students participate in virtual lectures, networking events, studio experiences, and classroom instruction that advance English language proficiency and ease the transition to life at SCAD.

SCAD had events and workshops that were wonderful, plentiful opportunities to practice English. I became a better communicator, capable of explaining what I do. CHERLENE CHEN

As SCAD Language Studio students progress through ESL levels, they work closely with accomplished and credentialed professors with advanced degrees in ESL education, applied linguistics, foreign language education, and related fields. Individual English language tutoring is available to all SCAD Language Studio students at no additional cost, including those not required to take English as a Second Language coursework. All SCAD Language Studio courses are preparatory and do not carry credit toward a degree program.

Associate designer, The Estée Lauder Companies SCAD M.F.A., motion media design, 2022 Guangzhou, China

Students in the pre-orientation SCAD Cultural and Academic Preparation Program explore vibrant SCAD locations, meet other new Bees, and take part in design challenges and workshops to deepen their understanding of SCAD academic expectations and coursework. Each quarter, ISSO hosts lively cross-cultural events and networking sessions, including a dinner series where local SCAD alumni host students from abroad. Through a wide-ranging series of events and workshops offered after studies begin, students learn success strategies to excel in advanced SCAD coursework, improve communication, and acclimate to university life. Held throughout the year, these workshops cover topics including creative thinking, storytelling, travel, immigration, student life, the U.S. job market, housing, and more.

Encounter global perspectives at SCAD with events like the Chinese Lantern Festival.