Frequently Asked Questions

You are welcome to apply to the NATO Field School even if you are not currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program. You will be designated a non-degree graduate student. Unique considerations may apply for non-degree applicants to the NATO Field School, such as whether you plan to apply to a graduate program in the future, and whether will be able to apply these credits to a future graduate program. To learn more about this option please view the instructions for Visiting Field School Students (more information about non-degree options can be found under the “For Visiting Graduate Students” tab.)

While it is necessary for applicants to meet all the required eligibility criteria, you are still welcome to apply if you do not meet all the recommended eligibility criteria.

Consult the Field School Application Guidelines if you are unclear on how to fill out a section of your application.

If you are unable to find an answer to your question there, or are having technical issues with the application portal, please contact the ISS Program Assistant: fieldschools@sfu.ca

As a non-SFU student, make sure to complete both the NATO Field School application and the Visiting Student for SFU Field School Application. The Visiting Student Application will be processed after acceptance into the Field School Program. For more information, please Visiting Field School Students page.

The NATO Field School is an intensive program worth 12 undergraduate SFU units (POL 484-12) or 6 graduate SFU units (POL 880-6). This may translate differently to your home institution. For reference, 12 upper-division units at SFU would be equivalent to 3-4 semester-long (12 week) courses, and both undergraduate and graduate students in the NATO Field School are considered full-time students for the semester of the program.

As a visiting student to SFU, it is strongly advised that you obtain a Letter of Permission from your home institution to facilitate the transferring of credits.

You are not required to obtain a Letter of Permission to apply for the NATO Field School. For help in coordinating accreditation with your home institution’s academic advisor please reach out to us: nato@sfu.ca

The expense to run the NATO Field School come in the form of both fixed costs and variable costs. As a result, the higher the number of students enrolled in the program, the lower the cost to each individual student. The final program fee will be determined after enrolment in the program has been confirmed but will never be higher than the maximum amount. 

Undergraduate students will be taking 12 SFU units during the NATO Field School. There is a difference between domestic (Canadian) and international student fees, please consult this page to determine which applies to you.

Graduate students will be taking 6 graduate-level SFU units during the NATO Field School. Graduate student tuition and fees can be found here.

All NATO Field School students pay the program fees and tuition, though the cost of tuition varies depending on the type of student (undergraduate or graduate, domestic or international). All students will also pay an off-campus student activity fee (currently, $86.35 for undergraduate students, $37.84 for graduate students), and an ISS Admin Fee ($300 for SFU students, $400 for Visiting students). Students applying as non-degree applicants will also need to pay an application fee (between $90-$125).

NATO Field School students will not need to pay for other SFU fees, such as the Student Services Fee, the Recreation & Athletics Fee, or the U-Pass.

Eligibility for financial aid can vary depending on your school, location, and many other variables. Both undergraduate and graduate students in the NATO Field School are considered full-time students for the duration of the program, which is often a consideration of financial aid. Full-time Canadian students participating in the NATO Field School are eligible to apply for student loans. Other bursaries, scholarships, and awards may also be available. Full time degree-seeking SFU students may also apply for bursaries, scholarships, and awards, including the Suite of Study Abroad awards embedded in the program application.

Note: For American students, most financial aid should apply.

For more help with questions regarding financial aid during the NATO Field School, please consult the ISS Program Assistant – Field Schools, Colin Schuler Ram: fieldschools@sfu.ca, and the NATO Field School staff: nato@sfu.ca

 Students need to book their flights to the starting destination of the Field School (ex. in 2024, Riga, Latvia), and from the final location (ex. in 2024, Brussels, Belgium). All flights/transport needed during the NATO Field School (ex. between cities, to/from site vists) will be organized by the NATO Field School staff.

For the majority of the NATO Field School program there is a business formal dress code, however some activities, such as base visits, require weather-appropriate clothing.

The 2023 NATO Field School will stay only in locations within the Schengen Area, and most citizens of NATO nations do not need a visa to stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180 day period. If you plan to stay longer than 90 days by extending your travel before/after the NATO Field School experience, you may need to apply for a visa. 

During the NATO Field School students stay in hotels, with 1-3 fellow students as roommates, depending on the location. The accommodations do vary, in some locations, the hotels will have kitchenettes and/or fridges, others may not. More specific information will be given to students once enrolled in the program.

If you have any further questions, please contact nato@sfu.ca