As one of the world's most prestigious art schools, we have been welcoming international students to campus since our founding in 1866. We greatly value the diversity of opinions that students from across the globe bring to our community. International students come to SAIC to pursue their undergraduate and graduate degrees, post-baccalaureate certificates and even pre-college courses while still in high school.
SAIC defines an international student as a non-US Citizen, or non-US Permanent Green Card Holder. International students usually need an F-1 Student Visa, or J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa to study in the United States.
Why Choose SAIC?
- Rankings compiled by U.S. News & World Report consistently place SAIC among the top graduate fine arts programs in the U.S.
- SAIC has been ranked among the top three schools for Fiber Arts, Visual Communication Design, Painting and Drawing, Photography, and Sculpture
- Ranked the #9 Art and Design school in the world by QS University Rankings
- We were named the "most influential art school in the United States" by Columbia University's National Arts Journalism Survey.
- The Global Language Monitor ranked SAIC as the #5 college in the U.S. This is the highest ever general college ranking for an art school.
Welcoming, Diverse and Culturally Rich
Chicago, the United States' third largest city, is one of the most important cultural and artistic cities in the world. The School of the Art Institute is located in its vibrant downtown. You will feel right at home in a city that regularly hosts over half a million college students from around the world.
Our campus, comprised of nine buildings, is in the middle of Chicago's tourist district, just steps away from Millennium Park, miles of lakefront, the city's museums, and a luxurious stretch of shopping better known as the Magnificent Mile.
Like many cities around the world, Chicago has an easy-to-navigate public transportation system that includes a subway, elevated trains, and buses that will bring you out to experience any of our 77 culturally diverse neighborhoods. Unlike U.S. coastal cities, Chicago is a very affordable place to live.
As you explore, you'll find that our city is very welcoming to young creatives through pop-up spaces, apartment galleries, and artist collectives, which often co-exist with centuries-old cultural institutions and established galleries. And, of course, as the birthplace of the skyscraper, we are known for our architecture. Beyond the arts, Chicago is a foodie's paradise, a music lover's Nirvana, and, if you don't know who the Cubs and the Bears are now... you will.
The Art Institute of Chicago is the school's museum and it holds the third-largest collection of art in the world. TripAdvisor ranked the Art Institute of Chicago as the top museum in the world- the only museum to be top-ranked four years in a row, and "Best of the Best" for 2022!
Also, see SAIC Admissions Events for all prospective students, and request more info!
International One-on-One Meetings
Date and Time | Address | RSVP Link |
---|---|---|
March 21-24, 2023 RSVP to see available times |
L'Escape Hotel 67 Toegye-ro Jung-gu Seoul, South Korea |
RSVP |
Saturday, April 22, 2023 2-4 p.m. local time |
Ruby Mimi Zurich 4 Beatenpl. Zürich, ZH, 8001 Switzerland |
RSVP |
Sunday, April 23, 2023 4-6 p.m. local time |
Hotel Eden Genève 10 Rue de Lausanne Geneva, GE 1202 Switzerland |
RSVP |
Watch Past Events
Date and Time | Event Title | Description | RSVP Link |
---|---|---|---|
Wednesday, August 17, 2022 | SAIC Presents: Art School 101 | Join the International Admissions Team for an overview on understanding the benefits of attending an art school over a traditional college. | Watch Recording |
Wednesday, August 24, 2022 | SAIC Presents: SAIC Overview | Join the International Admissions Team for an overview of the school, the programs and many more reasons why the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is regarded as “the most influential art college in the United States." | Watch Recording |
Sunday, September 25, 2022 | Virtual Portfolio Day: China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan | Meet with SAIC International Admissions and get feedback on your portfolio for both admission and merit scholarship consideration. | Watch Recording |
International SAIC Days and One-on-One Meetings
SAIC Days are special events that take place in select cities around the world from August - December. These events are a perfect opportunity to get one-on-one feedback on your portfolio, meet with SAIC faculty and staff, and learn more about our interdisciplinary curriculum.
We'll also be available in select cities for one-on-one meetings with our admissions representatives. You are welcome to bring your work for feedback, or just ask any questions you may have.
Date and Time | City | Address | RSVP Link |
---|---|---|---|
Saturday, August 20, 2022 2-5 p.m. IST |
Hyderabad, India One-on-One Meetings |
Vivanta Hyderabad, Begumpet 1-10-147 & 148, Begumpet Hyderabad, Telengana, 500016 INDIA |
Event Passed |
Saturday, August 27, 2022 2-5 p.m. IST |
Mumbai, India SAIC Day |
Taj Lands End Byramji Jeejeebhoy Road, Bandstand, Bandra (West), Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400050, INDIA |
Event Passed |
Saturday, September 3, 2022 2-5 p.m. IST |
New Delhi, India SAIC Day |
Hyatt Regency Delhi Bhikaji Cama Place Ring Road New Delhi 110607, INDIA |
Event Passed |
Friday, September 9, 2022 6-9 p.m. IST and Saturday, September 10, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. IST |
Bengaluru, India One-on-One Meetings |
*Changed to Virtual Meetings | Event Passed |
Sunday, September 18, 2022 2-5 p.m. SGT |
Singapore, Singapore SAIC Day |
Royal Plaza on Scotts 25 Scotts Road 228220 Singapore |
Event Passed |
Tuesday, September 27, 2022 6-9 p.m. ICT |
Bangkok, Thailand One-on-One Meetings |
Shangri-La Hotel 89 Soi Wat Suan Plu, New Road Bangrak, Bangkok, 10500, Thailand |
Event Passed |
Sunday, October 2, 2022 2-5 p.m. ICT |
Hanoi, Vietnam One-on-One Meetings |
Apricot Hotel 136 Hang Trong Hoan Kiem Dist Hanoi, Vietnam |
Event Passed |
Saturday, October 8, 2022 2-4 p.m. ICT |
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam One-on-One Meetings |
The Myst Dong Khoi Hotel 6-8 Ho Huan Nghiep Street Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |
Event Passed |
Wednesday, October 12, 2022 6-9 p.m. WIB |
Jakarta, Indonesia One-on-One Meetings |
The Orient Jakarta, Jl. Jend Sudirman Kav 36 Bend. Hilir, Kecamatan Tanah Abang Kota Jakarta Pusat, Jakarta, Indonesia, 10210 |
Event Passed |
Saturday, October 22, 2022 2-5 p.m. TRT |
Istanbul, Turkey SAIC Day |
Wyndham Grand İstanbul Kalamış Marina Hotel Fener Kalamis Caddesi No 38 Kalamis, Kadikoy, İstanbul 34726, Türkiye |
Event Passed |
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 6-9 p.m. KST |
Busan, Korea One-on-One Meetings |
Lotte Hotel 772 Gaya-daero, Bujeon-dong, Busanjin-gu Busan, South Korea |
Event Passed |
Wednesday, October 26, 2022 6-9 p.m. KST + Saturday, October 29 + November 5, 2-4 p.m. KST |
Seoul, Korea SAIC Day (10/26/22)) + One on One Meetings (10/29 + 11/5/22) |
Lotte Hotel Seoul 30 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu Seoul, Korea 04533 |
Event Passed |
*NEW DATE: Saturday, October 29, 2022 7-9 p.m. KST |
Jeju-Do, Korea One-on-One Meetings |
Lotte City Hotel Jeju 83 Doryeong-ro, Jeju-si Jeju-do, South Korea |
Event Passed |
Saturday, November 5, 2022 3-6 p.m. CT |
Mexico City, Mexico SAIC Day |
Kurimanzutto Gallery Cda. Gobernador Rafael Rebollar 94 San Miguel Chapultepec 11850 Ciudad de México, CDMX |
Event Passed |
Sunday, November 6, 2022 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. CT |
Mexico City, Mexico One-on-One Meetings |
MX Grand Suites Hotel Calle Río Lerma 275 Cuauhtémoc Mexico City, Mexico 06500 |
Event Passed |
Wednesday, November 16, 2022 6-9 p.m. COT |
Bogota, Colombia One-on-One Meetings |
BOG HOTEL Carrera 11 86- 74 Chapinero, 11001 Bogotá, Colombia |
Event Passed |
Saturday, November 19, 2022 2-5 p.m. BRT |
Sao Paulo, Brazil One-on-One Meetings |
Grand Hyatt São Paulo Avenida das Nacoes Unidas 13.301 Sao Paulo, Brazil, 04578-000 |
Event Passed |
Saturday, December 3, 2022 12-4 p.m. BST |
London, United Kingdom One-on-One Meetings |
citizenM London Bankside Hotel 20 Lavington St. London, UK SE1 0NZ |
Event Passed |
Saturday, December 10, 2022 11 - 5 p.m. TST |
Taipei, Taiwan One-on-One Meetings |
citizenM Taipei Hotel No. 3 Section 1 Zhonghua Rd. Zhongzheng District Taipei, Taiwan |
Event Passed |
International students are reviewed for merit-based scholarships during the admissions process. No additional application is necessary.
International students are eligible to work on-campus up to 20 hours per week during the Fall and Spring semesters, and 40 hours per week during the Summer and Winter sessions, without authorization from our International Affairs office. International students may not be employed off-campus unless authorized by an international student advisor (this includes unpaid and volunteer employment).
Students may review job listings at the careers and internships website, and apply directly to each office.
A listing of international scholarships and informational websites is available on the SAIC International Affairs website under Financial Resources.
Alternative/private loans are available to international students who can secure a co-signer who is a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and is considered creditworthy by the lender. Students may find helpful information on understanding the alternative/private loan process at finaid.org, or edupass.org. Students are encouraged to check with their home country for student loans before applying for alternative/private loans.
Our International Affairs team will help guide you through the immigration process. The two most common types of visas for our students are:
- The F-1 Student Visa, which is used by most students.
- The J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa (Student Category), which is designed for non-privately sponsored students, such as those whose funding comes from their government, the Fulbright Commission, or those who are SAIC exchange participants.
Canadian Citizens
While Canadian citizens also enter as F-1 students on SAIC-issued immigration documentation, Canadian students are exempt from the actual visa application process.
Certificate of Eligibility (I-20)
The US government requires that all international applicants provide SAIC with evidence of your ability to pay a full year of tuition and living expenses before a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) may be issued. To apply for your I-20, you will need to prepare the following documents:
- Completed immigration and financial matters packet
- Bank statement showing a full year of available funding
- Copy of your passport biographical page
- International declaration of intent
Learn more about immigration and visas on the International Affairs website.
The Office of International Affairs is highly experienced in supporting the needs and interests of students from diverse cultural backgrounds. We will assist you in meeting new friends, connecting to the community, and adjusting to a new culture. Our goal is to help turn Chicago and SAIC into your home.
Services we provide:
- Orientations for new students held prior to each semester
- Assistance with visas, pre-arrival and arrival concerns
- Workshops on topics ranging from immigration regulations to resources for achieving academic, financial, and personal goals
- Advice on Optional Practical Training after graduation
International Affairs
Phone: 312.629.6830
Fax: 312.629.6831
Email: intaff@saic.edu