COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Study Abroad

Please see the SFU Study Abroad website on COVID-19 and Study Abroad for more information.

Important notes:

• Field School Director: Sabine Bitter, sabine_bitter@sfu.ca
• Application deadline: January 25th, 2023 (11:59pm PT)
• An academic reference is optional, but recommended in case of a competitive selection process 
• Graduate students are welcome.
• Visiting students from institutions other than SFU are welcome.
• See application instructions here.

Info Sessions

Please check back.

Apply here

Apply to the Berlin Field School via the SFU Study Abroad application system.

Eligibility

Level of Study (at SFU)

Undergraduate, Graduate

Program Eligibility

If you do not meet one of the below eligibility requirements but are interested in participating, please contact the Field School Director to see if the requirement can be waived.

Undergraduate Eligibility Requirements

• Be 19 years of age or older prior to departure
• Have completed a minimum of 30 units of university courses
• Have a minimum 2.5 CGPA
• SFU Students: be in Good Academic Standing at the time of application

Graduate Eligibility Requirements

• Be 19 years of age or older prior to departure
• SFU Students: be in Good Academic Standing at the time of application

Selection Criteria

• Academic Standing
• Meeting the eligibility requirements
• Demonstrated interest in Berlin and Contemporary Arts
• Consent of the Field School Director

The Field School Selection Committee reserves the right to conduct intake interviews in addition to reviewing the completed application as part of the application process. The Field School Selection Committee for each Field School program will select qualified participants. Decisions are expected 2-4 weeks after the application deadline.

How to apply as a non-SFU student

Qualified graduate students from institutions other than SFU are eligible to apply. Visiting students must arrange for transfer credit with their home institution, as well as for a transcript after completion.

You will need to complete an application to this program in addition to a Visiting Student Field School Application, which is embedded within the program application. Both applications must be complete and submitted by the application deadline for your Field School. See more information here.

Academics

Language of Instruction

English

Subject Areas Available

Contemporary Arts

Exchanges: The names of the subject areas may be different at the partner. The above does not guarantee availability in a specific term or language, nor how courses taken on exchange will transfer back to SFU. This list may be subject to change. Use the above list as a guideline for exploring academic options at the partner.

Field School Program Information

Courses

Undergraduate Students: 11 or 13 Credits

Required:

• CA 308-4: Contemporary Arts Field School I (Theory/History) 
• CA 309-4: Contemporary Arts Field School II (Studio)

Choose one of:

• CA 305-3: Explorations in Contemporary Arts I
• CA 405-5: Explorations in Contemporary Arts II
  • CA 405 involves a more extensive project, thus grants more units.

Graduate Students: 5 or 10 Units

• CA 887-5: Contemporary Arts Field School I & II
• (optional) CA 889-5: Directed Studies 

For course descriptions, please see the SFU Course Calendar.

Dates

Late-February - mid-March: Mandatory self-paced virtual orientation program on Canvas 

March TBD: Pre-Departure Orientation

May 16 - 25: Preparatory sessions** 

June 1 - July 13: Study in Berlin, Germany

*These dates are provided as guidelines and are subject to change

**To discuss attending these sessions virtually, please contact the Field School Director.

Cost and Funding

All costs are listed in CAD. You will pay: tuition; activity and other SFU fees; and a Field School Program Fee.

• a. Undergraduate (domestic): $2,241.80 (11 units) or $2,649.40 (13 units)
  • OR
• b. Undergraduate (international): differential rates, between $10,228.23 - $12,087.92 (11 units) or between $11,650.65  $13,768.95 (13 units)
  • OR
• c. SFU Graduate students in the SCA MA program who are paying the full-time fee: $2,025.60**
  • SFU graduate students if not related to their home program or non-degree students: $1,528.65 (5 units) or $3,057.30 (10 units). Please discuss tuition arrangements with your supervisor and/or department prior to applying.
  • Non-degree students: will also pay a $90 or $125 Graduate Application Fee and $250 deposit to SFU if they are accepted into the Field School. The deposit will go towards tuition fees.
  • Western Dean's Agreement students: tuition paid at usual rate to home university.

* This calculation does not include other student fees.

** Different fees will apply to students in other scenarios (e.g. students from programs with a higher per-unit fee).

2. Student Activity Fee (off-campus)

• Undergraduate: $81.22
  • OR
• Graduate: $37.69

3. Program Fees*

• $3,656 - $3,990; and 
• $150 Administrative Fee
• What's included
  • Shared accommodation
  • Field trips & entrance fees
  • In-country transportation
  • Some group meals
  • Pre-Departure Orientation, In-Field/Re-Entry Support
• What's not included**
  • International return flight to/from Berlin: variable cost.
  • Most food: ~$500 if cooking own meals
  • Any testing or documentation required for travel (e.g. COVID tests, translations, or notarizations of proof of vaccination, etc.)
  • Communication costs (i.e. cellphone)
  • Entertainment and additional personal travel
  • Vaccinations: may be required. Please consult a travel health doctor.
  • Visa: may be required based on citizenship. Please research.
  • Health insurance (required)

* Final program costs are based on the total number of students and are subject to change. The highest number listed is the maximum it would cost. If the program reconciles with a surplus above $100 per student, the remaining surplus will be refunded to program participants

** This list is not comprehensive. You may have additional or varying needs.

Students must pay Tuition and Student Activity fees (numbers 1 & 2) directly to SFU Student Services by the due date as outlined in the SFU Calendar, in mid-May. Field School Program Fees (number 3) must be paid by Thursday, June 29th, 2023.

Financial Aid

• Full time Canadian students (enrolled in a term of 9+ units) participating in SFU field schools are eligible to apply for student loans.
• Full time degree-seeking SFU students may also apply for bursaries, scholarships, awards, and International Exchange/Field School Bursaries, including the Suite of Study Abroad awards (valued: $1,000-$2,000) embedded in the program application.

For more information on funding your trip, please visit the SFU Study Abroad's Financial Aid page.

Conditions and Considerations

Travel Advisories and Global Pandemic

The international component of the field school may be cancelled if the local or global situation regarding the pandemic or increased Government of Canada's destination-specific travel advisories (level 3 - avoid non-essential travel or level 4 - avoid all travel) do not permit proceeding as planned; in such a case, any changes in program delivery would be communicated to you.

Please see SFU's COVID-19 and Study Abroad page.

Medical Conditions

For people with (physical or mental) medical conditions, international travel can present significant challenges. Because SFU field schools take place in international locations where emergency services, and/or mental or physical support services may be limited, or non-existent, some field school placements will not be appropriate for everyone. Please speak with the program's Field School Director for information on specific conditions for this field school.

If you have a medical condition that poses limitations on your ability to function in certain environments, we strongly advise that you register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL). CAL staff will ask that you provide documentation from a duly-qualified medical specialist, which contains a diagnosis and a treatment plan. Where appropriate, CAL staff will communicate with field school staff with regard to accommodation in the field. (Please note that, while Centre staff indicate to field school staff that a prospective participant requires accommodation for a medical condition, they do not disclose the nature of the medical condition.)

Because overseas arrangements can be complicated, we recommend that you contact the CAL at least three months prior to the commencement of the field school in which you wish to participate. Please note that failure to make proper arrangements in advance of travel could result in termination from the field school with costs and academic credit forfeited.

Other notes

All programs require a minimum number of students and are subject to cancellation if minimums are not met. You will not be charged any fees if your program is cancelled for this reason.

Summer 2022