RIT in NYC

The NYC Study Away Experience is a unique opportunity for Photography students to live in New York City, the center of the Creative Industry, for one semester. Students will be exposed to a broad view of photography and creative industries, making connections in a wide variety of potential job markets for a behind-the-scenes look. They will also work on a custom-designed creative project that uses the city as the source of inspiration. Meetings will be held with photographers, art directors, artists, designers, photographer agents, and RIT alumni each week. Excusions include creative agencies, photography studios, galleries, and museums. During the semester, students will research and discuss the industry, the city, their fears, inspiration and create their career plan. 

The Study Away NYC program allows Photo majors (or minors) the option to spend a semester in NYC working on a significant photo project, networking with alumni, and immersing you in the photo industry and New York City. You will take a minimum of 12 credits, participate in an internship/professional experience, and engage in weekly excursions. Students will all live in a dorm together with other university students from around the world.

• Get inspired in an immersive and hands-on study away experience exploring the creative industry focused on photography. This will include the advertising photography industry, the fine art world, the photojournalism field, designers, and many more photography-related creative career paths in NYC.
• Connect with RIT's extensive network of alumni in NYC who are working professionals in the photo industry at organizations like The New York Times, The Mill, Aperture, DotDash, Meredith Studios, and more.
• Take tailored RIT courses taught by industry professionals.
• Gain substantial experience through an industry internship/professional experience.
• Hear from guest lecturers, take studio tours, and participate in other activities that give you insight into working in the creative industry in NYC.
• Participate in excursions and activities in the dynamic city of NYC, including visits to museums, cultural institutions, landmarks, and more.

Program Details

• Term: Spring 2026
• Location: New York, NY, USA
• Program dates: Housing is available Jan. 3 - May 16, 2026
  Classes follow the normal RIT academic calendar beginning on Jan. 12, 2026. Travel dates are subject to change. Do not make travel plans until you are accepted to the program and receive instructions to make travel arrangements from the professor.

Application deadline: Sunday, April 13, 2025

Program Eligibility
Open to all undergraduate Photography majors and Photo minors (Students of other majors should inquire with faculty member Laurie O'Brien lcofaa@rit.edu)

• FA and PJ students must be 2nd years at the time of program (spring 2026)
• AD students must be 2nd or 4th years at the time of program (spring 2026)
• VM students can be in their 2nd, 3rd, 4th year at the time of travel (spring 2026)
• Photo Sciences majors - 3rd-year status at the time of the program (spring 2026) with approval from your CAD program director.
• Photo minors should work with your academic advisor to see how courses would fit into your degree program.
• Must be in good academic standing
• Have a cumulative 2.5 GPA (or above) at the time of application and at the end of Spring 2025 (students under the minimum GPA may be considered on a case-by-case basis).

Course Details

• Total Credits: Minimum 12
• Term credits earned: Spring
• Pre-requisite: All students participating in the program must take a 3-credit Internship Boot Camp course in the Fall of 2025 to prepare for your internship search. This course will likely be held on Friday mornings.

Applicants should discuss with their academic advisor how credits will count towards their degree program.

Required anchor courses: All students will be required to take these courses.

• PHAR 303 - New York City Career Research (3 credits): An exploration of the interconnected careers of the Photography, Design, Art, and the general Creative Industry in New York City for a behind-the-scenes look. Students will live in NYC during the term. During the course, students will research and discuss the industry and the city and create their own career plan.
   
• PHAR 403 - New York City Creative Project (3 credits): The class requires students to imagine, research, and create a project that could only take place in New York City. The semester-long creative project could be in photography, design, video, or a variety of other mediums. The class will combine classroom learning, ongoing project discussion, and critique combined with hands-on experience with field trips to visit NYC creatives, alums, and cultural institutions. Classes will often take place in museums, galleries, artist studios, or sites of cultural significance.

You cannot register for these courses in SIS. The RIT Global office or CAD will register you for classes.

Required Internship/Professional Experience

• PHAR 498 - Photography Internship (6 credits) - 16-20 hours a week of work/professional experience
  
  An internship or professional experience with NYC-based companies, studios, and organizations will help you gain new skills, meaningful industry contacts, and an insider's perspective on the photo and creative industry. A wide range of NYC-based companies hire photo interns, including advertising and creative agencies, art institutions, publications, photo and video production studios, and more. You can pursue one formal internship experience that meets the minimum weekly hours, or you can piece together a few smaller professional experiences like job shadows, networking, projects, etc., to meet the minimum weekly hours. Either way, a NYC-based RIT faculty member will oversee your professional experience.
  
  It is ultimately your responsibility to acquire an internship/professional experience. The RIT Office of Co-op and Career Services and College of Art and Design will help you identify potential companies and positions, offer guidance as you prepare your application documents, and provide coaching on strategic networking and other successful job search strategies. You will be required to participate in weekly job search skills workshops throughout summer and fall 2024. The internship component of the program incorporates working 16-20 hours per week for 6 credits during the semester in NYC.

Student Experiences from Spring 2025 Program

• Fanny Venegas (Photography Visual Media)
  Securing an internship at The Society Management was a turning point moment in my career. Through this internship, I strengthened my technical skills and how to work with modeling agents on hand. Being immersed in such a dynamic environment expanded my network, introduced me to like-minded creatives, and gave me a clearer vision of where I want to take my career. This opportunity not only boosted my confidence but also reinforced my passion for fashion photography. I now feel more prepared than ever to step into the industry. I am incredibly grateful for the experience and the doors it has opened for my future in photography.
   
• Wendy Chen (Photography Visual Media)
  The NYC Study Away Program has enabled me to connect more personally with our RIT alum network through coffee chats and lunches. Every Friday, we have had multiple opportunities to visit advertising agencies, production houses, and publication companies and hear from stories from alum who previously studied photography. Listening to their firsthand experiences has been incredibly inspiring and opened my eyes to different opportunities I can pursue in the future.
   
• Eduardo Garcia (Photography Visual Media)

  Outside of my internship, my classes have been both enjoyable and uniquely educational. We are not only working on independent creative projects but also going on professional excursions where we meet industry professionals and ask questions about the creative industry. These excursions cover real-world topics such as contracts, copyright, pitch decks, and bidding—subjects we rarely get to learn in school. Additionally, we meet many RIT alumni, who are always willing to offer professional and creative guidance. At the end of each excursion, we get to engage in a fun activity, such as visiting a museum or simply enjoying the vibrant city life.

Housing & Living in NYC
The housing is located in St. George Towers, a student-only housing facility in Brooklyn Heights with easy access to public transportation. You will live in furnished dorm rooms with other RIT students or students from other universities (three students per dorm room). The rooms have regular twin-sized beds, desks, and dressers for each resident, and each dorm room has a private bathroom. Communal areas include a large community and fitness center, communal kitchen, study rooms, and laundry facility. The building has a 24-hour main entry security desk, surveillance, key card entry, and full-time Resident Directors and Resident Assistants. Wireless internet and other utilities are included. You will arrange your own meals (using your communal kitchen, buying groceries, or eating out).

Transportation
New York City has a very safe and reliable public transportation system of buses, subways, and taxis. It is not necessary to bring a car, nor is it recommended.

Excursions/Activities in NYC
Planned activities will take place through the program (usually on Fridays) and may include museum visits, studio tours, and famous NYC sites.

To Apply

Start an application in the RIT Compass
Before starting an application you will be prompted to fill out a Compass registration. After completing your registration information, you will need to search for the "RIT in NYC" program under "Search Programs" to complete an application.

Program Cost & Financial Aid

Student Budget Worksheet (RIT in NYC Spring 2026)-outlines all program costs. You will pay your regular RIT tuition, a program fee (includes housing, excursions, etc.), and out-of-pocket expenses (travel to New York, meals, etc).

Financial Aid:
Financial aid may cover some program costs. As you review the budget worksheet, please remember that it does not include your RIT financial aid or scholarships, which may cover some of the program costs. The purpose of the budget worksheet is to show all the costs associated with your study away program, which will help your RIT Financial Aid Assistant Director determine how your aid and scholarships may be applied. 

To understand how your financial aid and scholarships may apply to your program costs:

• Make an appointment with your financial aid assistant director (call Financial Aid at 585-475-2186) and mention that you are calling for a study away appointment
• Upload a copy of your budget worksheet(s) via the Financial Aid upload portal at https://join.rit.edu/register/FA_upload (at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled meeting, so they have time to prepare) 
• Please rename the file name of your budget worksheet before uploading it to the Financial Aid portal based on the instructions provided in the portal (adding your name and student ID)

To find out the name of your financial aid assistant director for your degree program visit: https://www.rit.edu/admissions/aid/contact#counseling-team

We recommend you meet with Financial Aid before the application deadline to understand how your aid will apply. The RIT financial aid office is located in Bausch and Lomb Center (Bldg. 77), 2nd floor, 2125.

Contact

Laurie O'Brien
School of Photographic Arts & Sciences, College of Art & Design
lcofaa@rit.edu