Apply to Global Summer Studies

The application deadline for Global Summer Studies 2023 has now passed.

COVID-19 Update: RISD Global is committed to doing everything possible to ensure these programs can take place, but please note RISD continues to monitor and work with ever-changing travel regulations and COVID protocols. We will keep the community informed if significant changes or alerts come up.

RISD in Rome: Artistic Practice in Public Space
Rome, Italy 2018
France: Gastronomie + Printmaking in Richelieu
Richelieu, France 2016

How to Apply

The application deadline for Global Summer Studies 2023 has now passed.

RISD Students, when you click on the Online Application Portal link, you will be directed to the RISD Admissions application portal. All RISD students should have an account from when they applied to RISD. If you have not applied for a RISD Global program it is likely your email address is the address you used to apply to RISD. If you don’t know your password, click “forgot password” to reset. If you are unsuccessful accessing your account, please contact global@risd.edu.

Non-RISD students who have not previously applied, please click "create an account" under "First-time users".

You will continue to revisit this portal often throughout your application process, and beyond your acceptance, so it’s a good idea to bookmark it for future use!

COVID-19 Update: RISD Global is committed to doing everything possible to ensure these programs can take place, but please note RISD continues to monitor and work with ever-changing travel regulations and COVID protocols. We will keep the community informed if significant changes or alerts come up.

What is the deadline to apply?

Application opens between March 1 - April 24, 2023

Global Summer Studies have a limited capacity of 12 students per course. The application runs on a first-come-first-serve basis and closes once the maximum number of applications per course is received. The last day to apply to a course (that still has open seats) is April 24, 2023. Please keep in mind, your preferred course may fill up before this final application deadline.

Am I eligible?

If you are a RISD student in any year of study with a GPA of 2.5 and up, or you are a recent RISD graduate, you are eligible to participate. If you are a Brown University student or a college student currently enrolled at another art and design college/university around the world, you are eligible too!

  • RISD Students: All Global Summer Studies students enrolled at RISD must remain in good standing, in terms of conduct and finances, up until and throughout your time on the course. Failure to remain in good academic standing can lead to removal from the course, either before or during the course. If you are a RISD student and your cumulative GPA is lower than 2.5 at the time of registration, you must contact the Registrar at registrar@risd.edu to seek an exception to this academic policy.
  • Students Not Currently Enrolled at RISD: In order to register for RISD Global Summer Studies, you are expected to have a high level of English (speech, writing, and comprehension) as all coursework and critique is delivered in English. For your participation, we will require a recommendation/support form from your institution/workplace.

Attendance Policy

RISD Global Summer Studies comply with the RISD class attendance policy. In case of unexcused or multiple absences, you may be removed from the course, given a grade of “W" (withdrawal) or a grade of “F” (fail).

The application process will be completed using RISD's online application portal.

Step 1: Research

Prior to starting your application, read about each unique and Global Summer Studies course or join an info session hosted by RISD faculty and the RISD Global team. Stay updated on these events here!

Step 2: Reserve your seat with a deposit

Submit your online application and your $500 non-refundable deposit with your debit/credit card. The payment of the course balance will be due April 1, 2023. If you apply on or after April 1, 2023, full payment is required that day.

Step 3: Apply for a scholarship (only if you are a RISD student)

If you’re a RISD or Brown | RISD Dual Degree student in high financial need, you are encouraged to apply for the available RISD Scholarship. Brown University students, as well as students enrolled at other colleges/universities around the world, are not eligible to apply for RISD Scholarships. Learn more – RISD Scholarship.

You may be eligible, too, for external, Non-RISD scholarships. Check the External Scholarships Opportunities page for some available resources.

Step 4: Pay the course balance

Once you have submitted the $500 deposit, you will receive, within a few days, an email confirmation from RISD Student Financial Services with a payment link. Upon receiving the payment link, your payment of the course balance will be due April 1, 2023. If you apply on or after April 1, 2023, full payment is required.

Are there students I can talk with about their experiences?

Throughout the pages on this website, you’ll find quotes and testimonials from RISD students who have participated in our Global Summer Studies. If you still have questions, you can schedule a 1:1 advising appointment with our Global Learning Advisor.

How many students apply? How many students attend?

Global Summer Studies have a limited capacity of 12 to 14 students per course. Application is first-come-first-serve and closes once the maximum number of applications per course is received.

Will there be a waiting list?

Typically Global Summer Studies do not have a formal waitlist as the application is first-come-first-serve and closes once the course has reached capacity. The Registrar’s Office will manage a notification list, however, so please inform RISD Global if you are interested in a course that has been filled, to be notified if spaces become available.

Once I apply, can I defer or withdraw?

Deferral is not possible as Global Summer Studies are different every academic year. Learn more – Withdrawing from a RISD Off-Campus Global Learning Program

Global Summer Studies 2023

Canada | Remapping Relations: Imagining Futurities with the Wabanaki Visual Arts Program

Remapping Relations is a multidisciplinary course in which students will engage with storytelling, cultural production, theorizing, activism, and art-making focused on imagining and enacting transformative futurities. We have been granted permissions from the Wolastoqewi Grand Chief for the opportunity to work on Wolastokuk land with the Wolastoqiyik people and the Wabanaki Visual Arts program on the theme of remapping relations (human and non-/more-than-human) as an act of planetary kinship. Please be mindful that this course is structured around community-style learning with an emphasis on respectfully following protocol.

Denmark | Design Seminar and Workshop

This course, based in the heart of Copenhagen, is a three-week immersion into the world of Scandinavian design, with a focus on Denmark.

This course has reached maximum capacity.

Italy | Perspectives on Piranesi

This drawing course will explore the work of Giovanni Battista Piranesi, the engraver widely known for his picturesque illustrations of eighteenth-century Rome, and his essential contribution to our contemporary understanding of antiquity.

This course has reached maximum capacity.

Italy | Stones of Venice: A Critical Geology

This 3 credit 3 week interdisciplinary studio course provides the opportunity to explore Venice by land and by water to creatively engage with its culture, architecture and urbanism, geology, and key climate issues. Students will investigate events such as acqua alta and interface with diverse perspectives on climate emergency, flood mitigation, material transformations, and possible futures of the city.

Japan | Design Culture: From 263 Years of Isolationism to International Influence

This class is a broad-based exploration of the remarkable contemporary international influence of Japanese art and design and its sources, including: the architecture of Pritzker Prize winning architects, as well as historic temples; the historic illustrations of Katsushika Hokusai and those of internationally popular anime (cartoons) and manga (graphic novels); and the minimalist and masterful landscape rock and moss garden designs.

This course has reached maximum capacity. If you would like to be placed on a waitlist please email global@risd.edu.

Mexico | Knowledge from the Land: Collaborative Art + Research

This course will take students to Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, and Oaxaca City to meet a vast array of collective and collaborative projects: art workshops and studios, interdisciplinary research projects, food sovereignty initiatives, ecotourist centers, and self-governed communities. From different social, political and ecological approaches, these projects seek to maintain or repair the connection of human beings with their land and territory. The course also aims at making visible the challenges that globalization, gentrification (including international), violence, corruption, and migration bring to the inhabitants of these Mexican cities (as well as many others in Latin America).

This course has reached maximum capacity.

Next Steps for Registered Students

Don’t have a Passport?

US Citizens can visit travel.state.gov to apply. International Citizens, contact your local embassy or consulate to renew.

Passport expired or will expire shortly?

Begin the renewal process immediately! US Citizens can visit travel.state.gov to renew. International Citizens, contact your local embassy or consulate to renew.

You are responsible for maintaining your own legal status and applying for your visa (if applicable). Upon request, RISD Global will provide you with a registration letter in support of your visa application. Don’t delay the process of checking your travel documents for validity and applying for your visa. The visa application process can take in excess of 4-8 weeks following your acceptance and your failure to possess valid travel documents may jeopardize your ability to participate in Global Summer Studies.

You are responsible for checking the portal frequently and completing these tasks in a timely manner once accepted to your course.

Scholarships

Increasing financial aid is a central pillar of RISD’s equity, inclusion and diversity commitment. Through partnership with other campus offices, we are working to provide greater support and access to students interested in pursuing global learning experiences at RISD.

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1:1 Advising Session

Have questions? The RISD Global team is available to meet for a 1:1 advising session. We can give you more information about your study options, help you figure out which program makes sense for you, and assist you with the application process.

Schedule an Appointment