École Supérieure Nationale des Beaux-Arts (ENSBA)

The École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts is a vast architectural complex, opposite the Louvre Museum, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, between the quai Malaquais and rue Bonaparte. Public establishment with an administrative nature, under the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the ENSBA's primary mission is the education of students intending to artistic high level creation.

Heir to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture founded in the XVIIe century by Louis XIV, it remains a top meeting place for the creation, heritage and history, and plays an essential role in the artistic and cultural scene.

At-A-Glance

What
Global Exchange School
Where
  • Paris, France
When

Final dates announced on exchange school's website.

Spring Semester

January — May

Fall Semester

September — January

Who
Open to RISD students

Juniors + Seniors. Minimum 3.0+ GPA required.

Eligible RISD Departments
  • Painting
  • Sculpture
Links

Exchange Website
Exchange Courses
Exchange Studios
Fact Sheet
Exchange Handbook

Spring Semester Application Deadlines
RISD Deadline: Apr 12, 2020
School Deadline: May 1, 2020
Fall Semester Application Deadlines
RISD Deadline: Apr 12, 2020
School Deadline: May 1, 2020
Academic Credits
Minimum 12 RISD credit equivalency
Instruction Language
  • French

No English instruction

About ENSBA

Academic Credits

ENSBA utilizes the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to award academic credit for coursework. For transfer to RISD, 2ECTS is equivalent to 1 RISD credit.

Exchange studies will participate in the common course programme and must take 4 course units (unités de cours, "UC") in the semester spent at Beaux-Arts for a total of 30 ECTS credits (15 RISD credits):

  • Studio - Artistic Practice Department: 14 ECTS
  • Technical skills: 6 ECTS
  • Elective Course: 6 ECTS
  • French Language Course: 4 ECTS

French classes are given for three hours per week and are compulsory for non-French speaking students.

Instead of French Language course, French-speaking students must take a Theoretical Study UC (4 ECTS).

Semester Availability

Differently from most other partner schools, the deadline for admission to the ENSBA Exchange Program for incoming students for either semester (Fall/Spring) in the upcoming academic year is May 1st. This will be strictly adhered to due to the large number of applicants received each year.

National Institute of Design (NID)

Apply for Global Exchange & AICAD

Ready to Apply? Applications for Fall 2020 Global Exchange and AICAD Exchange are now open! Deadlines vary per partner school and are listed on each partner school's page.
If your host school is an Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design Exchange partner (typically based in North America), apply to RISD Global by March 10.

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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

Events

Global Exchange Infosession
RISD Global via Zoom
Global Exchange: Drop-in Advising Hours
RISD Global via Zoom

All Events and Announcements

Announcements

No announcements for this program.