Destinations

Dates and locations are provided as guidelines and subject to change.

The 2025 program is planning to take place in:

• Riga, Latvia;
• Brussels, Belgium;
• Rome, Italy;
• The Hague, Netherlands; and
• Neighbouring Schengen Area countries/cities for daytrips.

Tentative Itinerary

February - March: Mandatory, self-paced virtual orientation program.

May 5 - 9: Students start the NATO Field School virtually, undergoing pre-departure orientation; introductory lectures from the NFS team and guest speakers; as well as simulation training.

May 12 - 23: We will begin our in-field programming based in Riga, Latvia. We will learn about the history of Latvia through guided museum and battle site tours, as well as pressing current threats to the Alliance, such as disinformation at the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence. Students will get to learn first-hand about the work and experiences of the military through site visits to the Canadian-led enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) at Camp Adazi, and the Latvian Lielvarde Air Base.

May 24 - June 7: Next, we will travel to Brussels, Belgium, the home of NATO HQ. Students will attend briefings at NATO HQ, SHAPE, and the European External Action Services, learning from senior diplomatic and military officials and leaders, as well as meeting young professionals and interns working in the international organizations. At the end of the program, the NATO Field School students will lead the NATO Young Leaders Summit, an event co-sponsored by the NATO Public Diplomacy Division, where participants will be able to simulate the proceedings of a NATO Summit, with the support of expert mentors.

June 7 - 20: We then continue our simulation training in Rome, Italy, leading up to a high-level NATO simulation exercise with the NATO Defense College, where students will be coached by NFS faculty and senior mentors. During our time in Italy we will also learn about Italian security and defence priorities, as well as attend briefings with the NATO Security Force Assistance Centre of Excellence, the European Space Agency, and Allied Joint Force Command Naples.

June 21 - 27: Our final destination is The Hague, Netherlands. Activity details are TBC.

Fee Notes

• Costs are listed in $CAD, rounded to the nearest whole number.
• No fees are due unless you are offered and choose to confirm participation in the program.
• Participants pay both:

1. Tuition & university-levied fees.
• Due mid-May, 2025 per SFU Summer 2025 deadline.
2. The Field School Program and Administration Fee.
• Due July 3^rd, 2025.

Program Cost Breakdown

1. Tuition & University-levied Fees

1. Student Services Fee: $52 (all students); and
2. Student Activity Fee: $86 (undergraduate) or $39 (graduate); and
3. Tuition, as applicable your status:

Undergraduate tuition (12 units)

• a. Domestic tuition: $2,544.
• In most cases, applies if you or a parent holds Canadian citizenship or permanent residency. See eligibility here. 
• b. International tuition: differential rate between $12,069 and $14,011.

Graduate tuition (9 units)

• a. Current SFU POL MA students, full-time fee: $2,107, unless paying continuing fee.
• b. Other current SFU graduate students*, basic per-unit rate: $1,908.
• c. Visiting Non-Degree graduate students*, basic per-unit rate: $1,908, and: 
• Transcript processing fee: $110 or $150.**
• Deposit, payable towards tuition fees: $250.**
• d. Western Dean's Agreement students: paid at usual rate to home university.

*Non-SFU Political Science graduate students should discuss tuition arrangements with their home department/university prior to applying. You may need to pay tuition for the course in addition to regular tuition.

**Due in Late January - March should you accept an offer to participate.

2. Field School Program and Administration Fee

1. NATO Program Fee: Maximum* $8,549; and
2. Field School Administration Fee: $300 (SFU students), or $400 (Visiting Students).

Includes:

• Accommodation in shared rooms with fellow participants;
• Most breakfasts;
• Inter- and intra-country transportation for program activities;
• Field trips;
• Activity and conference fees;
• In-field/re-entry support.

Does not include (you may have additional or varying needs):

• Flight to start and from end location;
• Most dinners and lunches;
• Cellphone plan;
• One required book, ~$50;
• Entertainment and additional personal travel;
• Any testing or documentation required for travel (e.g. COVID tests, translations, or notarizations of proof of vaccination, etc.);
• Vaccinations: consult a travel health doctor if required;
• Visa: research if required based on citizenship;
• Mandatory health insurance.

*Final program costs are confirmed when participants are selected. The number listed is the maximum program cost. If the program reconciles with a surplus above $100 per student, the remaining surplus will be refunded equally to program participants.

Financial Aid

• Full time, degree-seeking SFU students may apply for SFU Financial Aid and the Suite of Study Abroad Awards ($1,000 - $2,000) embedded in the application.
• Please note: Visiting Students are not eligible for SFU-administered financial aid, including the Suite of Study Abroad Awards; and SFU Awards, Scholarships, and Bursaries.
• Full-time students may generally apply for student loans.

Visit SFU Study Abroad's Financial Aid page for more information.

General Field School Info Session

Learn about the application process, funding options, and more!

• Two dates offered: Wed., Nov. 20^th, 2024 & Tue., Jan. 14^th, 2025.
• Time: 5:30pm - 7:00pm (PST, check local time).
• Platform: Zoom.
• Register here!

NATO-Specific Info Sessions

Learn more program specifics: where you'll go, what you'll learn, and who you'll meet!

• November 30^th, 2024 at 1:00pm (PST, check local time).
• Join Zoom here, Meeting ID: 860 4629 3818, Password: 545867

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 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.