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Berlin: School for the Contemporary Arts 2025

Summer
Berlin, Germany (Map)

General 

Applications are closed. If you are interested in a future offering, enter your contact information here.

Program Description

Field School Director: Judy Radul
Email program inquiries to judy.radul@sfu.ca

The School for Contemporary Arts' Berlin Field School offers a broad introduction to Contemporary Arts in Berlin and their critical and theoretical context. Founded in the 12th century, Berlin has been both shaped and divided by history. Today, it is once again the capital of Germany, and is recognized as a global cultural hub; a city where history is intertwined with artistic intervention and innovation, and where international visual art, theatre, music, dance, and film thrive.

Over six-weeks, a comprehension of the correspondence between the arts and their social, political, and material context will be enriched through simultaneous study, discussion, and experience of art and the urban fabric of this complex city.

The application deadline is January 29th, 2025 (11:59pm PT). An academic reference is required.

 

Eligibility 
Undergraduate, Graduate

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 a current SFU student
  • Be 19 years of age or older prior to departure
  • Have completed a minimum of 30 units of university courses with a minimum 2.5 CGPA, and be in Good Academic Standing

Graduate Eligibility Requirements

  • Be 19 years of age or older prior to departure
  • 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 Selection Committee conducts interviews with shortlisted candidates to select qualified participants. Decisions are approximately four weeks after the application deadline.

How to Apply

 

Academics 
English
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 

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students take 11 or 13 units, depending on which optional 3rd course is chosen.

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
    • Prerequisite: completed 30 units in CA (for FPA) or approval of the Field School Director
    • CA 405 involves a more extensive project, thus grants more units

Graduate Students

Graduate students take 5 or 10 units, depending on course selection.

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

 

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

May 13 - 23: Preparatory sessions

June 1 - July 14: Study in Berlin, Germany

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

 

Fee Notes

  • Costs are listed in $CAD, rounded to the nearest whole number and as totals
  • No fees are due unless you are offered and choose to confirm participation in the program
  • Participants pay both:
    1. Tuition & university-levied fees
    2. The Field School Program and Administration Fee
      • Due July 3rd, 2025

Program Cost Breakdown

1. Tuition & University-levied Fees

  1. Student Services Fee: $52 (all students); and
  2. Student Activity Fee: $88 (undergraduate) or $39 (graduate); and
  3. Tuition, as applicable your status:

Undergraduate tuition

  • a. Domestic tuition at $212/unit: $2,332 (11 units) or $2,756 (13 units)
    • In most cases, applies if you hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency. See eligibility here. 
  • b. International tuition at $1,006 - $1,168/unit:  between $11,063 and $12,844 (11 units); or $13,074 and $15,179 (13 units)

Graduate tuition 

  • a. Current SFU CA MA students, full-time fee: $2,107, unless paying continuing fee:
    $2,107
  • b. Other current SFU graduate students*, basic per-unit rate at $318/unit: $1,540 or $3,080 

*Non-Contemporary Arts graduate students should discuss tuition arrangements with their department prior to applying. You may need to pay tuition for the course in addition to regular tuition. 

2. Field School Program and Administration Fee

  1. Berlin Program Fee: Maximum* $5,545; and
  2. Field School Administration Fee: $300

Includes: 

  • Accommodation in shared rooms with fellow participants
  • Most in-country transportation for program activities
  • Field trip and activity fees
  • A few group meals
  • In-field/re-entry support

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

  • Flight/transport to start and from end location
  • Most meals: budget ~$50 per day
  • Cellphone plan: budget ~$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
  • Travel 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

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

 

Berlin-Specific Info Session

Date/time: Tue., Jan. 21 at 1:00 PM.
Location: Room 2205, SFU School for the Contemporary Arts (149 W. Hastings St., Vancouver)

See our previous session's recording on how to apply.

 

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.

Minimum Participants

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.

 
Type:
Field School

Program Provider

SFU

Host Institution