The MIT W20 Student Art Studios receives exceptional interest in 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.
Changes to our policies will be posted on this webpage. If you have questions about any of the following policies, please email art-studios@mit.edu.
Lottery Timeline
The timeline for each term’s lottery will be posted on the W20 Studios website and emailed to the MIT Art Studios newsletter about a month in advance of classes being posted and the need-based tuition waiver lottery application opening.
The need-based tuition waiver lottery and general lottery application will be posted on the W20 Studios website and emailed to the MIT Art Studios newsletter on the date indicated in the timeline.
The need-based tuition waiver lottery and general lottery application must be completed before their respective deadlines in order to be considered for a spot in class or to be sorted into the waitlist(s) for your preferred class(es). You cannot be added to the lottery or the waitlist for classes after the deadline, but you’re welcome to register for any classes that become publicly available.
Eligibility
The W20 Art Studios general class lottery is open to MIT graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, staff, alumni, retirees, and spouses. Wellesley and Harvard students with a valid MIT ID may apply as “Other Affiliates.”
The need-based tuition waiver lottery is only open to MIT undergraduate and graduate students.
To participate in W20 Art Studio classes, you must have an MIT ID. We are unable to sponsor access cards and/or MIT IDs. MIT provides IDs for students, employees, alumni, and retirees. Spouses/partners are eligible to receive an ID with sponsorship from a DLC. You can find more information on getting an MIT ID via MIT ID Card Services at the Atlas Service Center.
Registration
Students who receive a spot in class through the lottery or the waitlist will receive an invitation to register to the “preferred email” they submit in their lottery application. This email will include a payment link and deadline. Tuition can be paid by credit card (Visa, Master Card, or American Express).
Please note that enrollment is only confirmed after the course fee is paid in full. If payment is not received before the deadline stated in the email, the spot will be offered to the next student on the waitlist.
If you experience technical issues with payment but want to claim your seat, email art-studios@mit.edu immediately.
Refund Policy
Full refunds are given to students who withdraw five or more business days before the first class, less a $35 administrative fee. No tuition refunds can be given thereafter.
We do not offer tuition credits or transfers.
No partial refunds, pro-rated classes, or make-up classes are offered for student absence or scheduling conflicts.
We reserve the right to cancel classes with a full refund if enrollment is insufficient to run the class.
General Studio Policies & Guidelines
By enrolling in a class at the W20 Art Studios, students are agreeing to adhere to the policies and best practices of the studios. Noncompliance with studio policies may result in loss of studio privileges, removal from class, and/or denial of future enrollment. You can read the general studio policies and specific studio guidelines by following the links below. They will also be posted on the door in each studio.
General Studio Policies
2D Studio Guidelines (W20-425)
Ceramics Studio Guidelines (W20-431)
Darkroom Guidelines (W20-426)
Digital Studio Guidelines (W20-429)
Skill Level Attestation
By enrolling in a class at the W20 Art Studios, students are attesting that they have read and understand the skill-level necessary for the course they are enrolling in and have the stated skills, abilities, and experience for that class.
We cannot accommodate course swaps due to skill-level mismatches. If a student enrolls in a class outside of their skill level, normal refund policies will apply.
Should a student have questions about whether they have the appropriate skill level for a class, they should contact the relevant instructor. Instructor emails are linked on individual course pages.
Publicity Release
MIT Art Studios programs are sometimes videotaped or photographed for publicity in catalogs, newspapers, radio, or television. Permission to be included in publicity is implied by enrollment. Please email art-studios@mit.edu if you do not wish to be included in publicity.
Privacy Policy
We use the information that you provide (name, email, MIT ID number, etc.) to process your order and maintain our transaction records. The information will not be used for any commercial or philanthropic purpose not directly connected with, or supported by, MIT without your consent.
Our e-commerce software may use cookies to create and maintain your shopping cart during a session and to maintain your name and address for future visits to the site. Cookies are never used to store credit card information.
We are committed to providing you with a safe online experience. The software we use for processing credit card payments employs secure encryption technology (SSL) to reduce the possibility of theft, manipulation, and other alteration of any information that you provide to us. We employ other companies and individuals to process credit card payments. They have access to personal information needed to perform their functions, but may not use it for other purposes.