The PICA Academic Framework: Synthesis and Specialisation
PICA offers a rigorous and interconnected academic framework spanning three crucial educational levels: the High School Certificate (Lycée), the Undergraduate Degree (Licence/Bachelor), and Postgraduate Studies (Master/Doctorate). Our methodology is defined by a commitment to Synthesis—the integration of skills—and Specialisation—the mastery of a chosen discipline. All programmes, irrespective of level, mandate core modules in Critical Thinking, Visual Literacy, and Introduction to Economic Structures, ensuring a consistently high level of academic and creative sophistication across the College.
High School Programme (Lycée International PICA)
The High School programme is designed for academically gifted and creatively inclined students aged 15-18. The curriculum is a demanding preparation for higher education, balancing rigorous academic subjects with intensive studio practice.
- Studio Foundation: Mandatory core classes in Drawing, 3D Modelling, and Digital Prototyping.
- Academic Core: Advanced placement (AP/A-Level equivalent) coursework in Mathematics, Physics, and European History.
- Interdisciplinary Seminar: A year-long project where students use the scientific method to address an art or design problem (e.g., the mathematics of perspective drawing, or the chemical composition of historical pigments).
Undergraduate Programmes (Bachelor’s Degree)
Our three-to-four-year Undergraduate programmes culminate in a specialised degree, yet maintain a broad base through compulsory “Gateway” modules taken during the first year.
| Programme Title | Key Disciplines & Academic Focus |
| B.A. Fine Arts and Digital Futures | Studio Practice & Computational Creativity. Focuses on advanced studio techniques (painting, sculpture, printmaking) combined with modules in Creative Coding (Python, Processing), Generative Design, and the Ethics of AI in Art. The final year involves a collaborative exhibition and a written theoretical dissertation. |
| B.Arch. Architecture and Sustainable Design | Form, Function, and Ecology. A demanding five-year professional programme focusing on structural engineering principles, urban sociology, and advanced material science. Core modules include Parametric Design, Life-Cycle Assessment, and Vernacular Architecture Studies (with a strong focus on European sites). |
| B.Sc. Computational Science and Creative Technology | Algorithm and Aesthetic. A highly technical programme covering Data Structures, Discrete Mathematics, and Machine Learning, specifically contextualised for creative applications such as interactive installation, data visualisation, and virtual reality environments. Requires a rigorous thesis and a functioning prototype. |
| B.A. Fashion Design and Luxury Management | Craftsmanship and Commerce. Integrates textile science, pattern cutting, and advanced garment construction with business modules in Brand Equity, Supply Chain Transparency, and International Law of Intellectual Property in Luxury. Students must present a full collection and a detailed brand strategy report. |
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Postgraduate Programmes (Master’s and Ph.D.)
Postgraduate study at PICA is intensely research-driven and aims to push the boundaries of current knowledge and practice. All Master’s candidates undertake a major thesis or a comprehensive final project that addresses a global challenge through an interdisciplinary lens.
| Programme Title | Key Research Areas & Methodology |
| M.A. Communication Design and Strategy | Semiotics and Global Campaigning. Advanced study in persuasive communication, focusing on behavioural science, advanced typography, and information architecture. Research often focuses on crisis communication, digital rhetoric, and cross-cultural branding effectiveness. |
| M.Sc. Global Economics and Cultural Policy | The Creative Sector as an Economic Engine. Rigorous examination of econometric modelling, trade agreements, and public policy’s role in sustaining cultural ecosystems. Requires original research on topics such as the valuation of non-fungible cultural assets or the economic impact of arts subsidies. |
| Ph.D. Interdisciplinary Creative Practice | Doctoral Research at the Nexus. This terminal degree requires original, significant research that fundamentally synthesises two or more PICA disciplines. Candidates are supervised by a minimum of two professors from different academic schools (e.g., an Art Historian and a Computer Scientist). The focus is on generating new methodologies and theoretical frameworks. |
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The PICA Studio Model
Our teaching is anchored in the “Studio Critique” model, where work is publicly presented, rigorously defended, and constructively evaluated. This environment, common in both art and engineering disciplines, ensures intellectual resilience and clarity of communication. Studio spaces are not segregated by discipline; students from Architecture may share workspaces with those from Computational Science, fostering serendipitous collaboration and mutual understanding of diverse methodologies. The inherent friction of these close collaborations is viewed not as a problem, but as the generative source of true innovation.