MIT Art Studio Classes
MIT W20 Student Art Studios Class Catalog
The W20 Student Art Studios receives exceptional interest in studio classes each semester. Because demand significantly exceeds facility capacity, a ranked choice lottery system is used to ensure the fairest possible access for all eligible students. This lottery allows students to rank their class preferences, giving them the best chance of being placed in courses that match their interests, skill level, and schedule.
For the spring and fall semesters, matriculated MIT students receive priority in the lottery. For IAP (Independent Activities Period) and summer terms, the lottery is affiliation-neutral, giving all MIT community members equal standing regardless of their affiliation with MIT.
Stratton Student Center Summer Hours
Mon–Sun unlocked from 6:00am–7:00pm
Mon–Sun card access only from 7:00pm–11:00pm
Building closed for Institute holidays
Juneteenth | Fri, June 19
July 4th Holiday | Fri, July 3 & Sat, July 4
*Summer 2026 classes begin the week of June 15 and end the week of August 3. No classes June 19 or July 3. Student access to the studios ends Friday, August 21, 4pm ET
Fall 2026 Registration Timeline
Monday, August 10 (9am, ET)
Class offerings are posted on the W20 Art Studios website.
Tuesday, August 11 (9am, ET)–Monday, August 17 (12pm, ET)
Need-based tuition waiver lottery is open.
Tuesday, August 18 (by 12pm, ET)
Need-based tuition waiver lottery recipients are notified by email and have until Thursday, August 20 at 12pm ET to confirm their enrollment.
Tuesday, August 25 (9am, ET)–Monday, August 31 (12pm, ET)
Fall class lottery is open. Participants select their top three class choices (one submission per person). Modifications can be made until the lottery closes.
Tuesday, September 1 (by 12pm, ET)
Lottery results sent via email. Winners have until Thursday, September 3 at 12pm, ET to accept their spot and complete payment. Those who are not selected for class will automatically be assigned a position on the waitlist. Unclaimed seats will be released to waitlisted students.
*Fall 2026 classes begin the week of September 14 and end the week of November 16. No classes October 12 and November 11. W20 studios closed the week of Thanksgiving. Student access to the studios ends Friday, December 11, 4pm ET.
Important Notes
Payment & Confirmation: You must accept your lottery spot and pay by the deadline in your email notification. If you experience technical issues with payment but want to claim your seat, email art-studios@mit.edu immediately.
Waitlist: You must register for the lottery in order to get a spot on the waitlist for classes. If your name is not selected to register, you are automatically assigned a position on the waitlist(s) for your preferred class(es). You cannot be added to the waitlist after the lottery is closed, but you’re welcome to register for any classes that become publicly available.
Ceramics Placement: Please review the skill level guide carefully before selecting ceramics courses. To ensure a positive and productive learning experience for everyone, we reserve the right to drop students from the class if they do not yet have the necessary skills to fully engage with the course content.
Questions? Please read our FAQ. Still have questions? Contact us at art-studios@mit.edu
We’re excited to welcome you to the studios this summer!
