Study Abroad
STUDY ABROAD For international artists planning to study in the US. Guides for MFA applications, funding, portfolios, visas, and graduate art school life in the US.
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Art School vs Design School in the US — Which Career Path Is Right for You?
The choice between art school and design school in the US is one of the most common dilemmas for creative students considering graduate study. Both involve making things, developing a visual sensibility, and spending time in a studio — but the educational philosophy, the kind of work you will make, and the career paths that
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Complete MFA Application Guide — What Really Works (2026)
This complete MFA application guide for international students covers every stage of the US art school application process — from building your portfolio to securing a student visa. Applying to an MFA program in the United States involves more moving parts than most applicants expect: a portfolio, a statement of purpose, recommendation letters, an interview,
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US Student Visa Guide for Art School — 6 Essential Steps to Stress-Free F-1 Approval
Congratulations — getting into a US art school is no small thing. The portfolio reviews, the application essays, the waiting — and now you’re here. If you’re reading this US student visa guide for art school, it means you’ve already done the hardest part. What comes next is paperwork, and paperwork has a process. This
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How International Students Pay for US Graduate School — 6 Proven Options
Getting accepted to a US graduate program is one thing. Figuring out how to pay for it is another — and for international students, the options look very different than they do for domestic applicants. Federal financial aid is off the table. Loan options are limited. And the cost of attendance at many programs, once
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MFA Portfolio vs Residency Portfolio — Critical Differences Explained
When preparing both an MFA portfolio and a residency portfolio, one of the most common questions artists ask is this: can I use the same portfolio for both? The short answer is no. Residency portfolios and MFA portfolios are evaluated by different people looking for different things. Even if you are drawing from the same
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How Much Does an MFA Cost in 2026? — Full Breakdown
Understanding how much does an MFA cost is the first step every applicant needs to take before applying. When people start researching MFA programs, tuition is usually the first number they look at. It’s also usually the most misleading one. In reality, tuition is often only half of what you actually spend. Many applicants underestimate
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Best UX and HCI Graduate Programs in the US — Top 12 Programs Compared
The best UX and HCI graduate programs in the US share one thing in common: they prepare graduates for very different careers. When researching UX and HCI graduate programs in the US, the sheer number of options can make it hard to know where to start. Program names vary, degree types differ, and the direction
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CMU MHCI vs UW HCDE vs Parsons MDes — Which Is Right for You?
Choosing between CMU HCDE Parsons UX program options is one of the most common dilemmas for designers applying to graduate school — and for good reason. Carnegie Mellon’s MHCI, University of Washington’s HCDE, and Parsons’ MDes all carry strong reputations, but they point in very different directions. There’s no objectively better program here — the
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How to Build a UX Portfolio for Graduate School Applications
Building a strong UX portfolio for graduate school starts long before you open Figma. Whether you’re applying to an HCI, Information Science, UX Design, or MDes program, a UX portfolio graduate school reviewers actually notice works differently from what most applicants expect. Choosing the right projects, deciding the order, and figuring out how to present
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MFA vs HCI Master’s — Which Degree Is Better for Designers?
MFA vs HCI Master’s — Which Degree Is Better for Designers? MFA vs HCI master’s is one of the most common questions designers face when considering graduate school — especially when deciding between creative and tech-focused careers. The truth is, neither degree is objectively better. What matters is the direction you want to grow in