New Program! Final details coming soon.
Overview
Learn the art and science of heritage preservation at our archaeological field school in ancient Stobi, once a thriving urban center in Roman Macedonia. Your fieldwork will focus on the iconic Theodosian Palace—an outstanding example of Roman residential architecture adorned with intricate mosaics, a grand peristyle court, and richly decorated rooms. As part of the Balkan Heritage Foundation’s ongoing conservation project, this program offers a holistic, hands-on approach to preserving Roman and Late Roman structures by blending engaging lectures on Roman masonry, practical workshops, and guided excursions that deepen your understanding of heritage conservation in a real-world setting. Make the most of your summer by developing essential skills in practical conservation techniques while contributing to this vibrant region’s rich cultural legacy!
Field school highlights:
- Gain in-depth training in preventive and interventive conservation, archaeological survey, advanced documentation methods, and more.
- Work with local experts and a dynamic international team to support the sustainable conservation of Stobi’s Theodosian Palace.
- Enjoy guided excursions to renowned heritage sites like Bitola, Heraclea Lyncestis, and UNESCO-listed Ohrid Lake while immersing yourself in the heart of the scenic and complex Balkan region.
| Course Details | |
|---|---|
| Course Dates | July 12 – 26, 2025 |
| Course Type | Conservation |
| Instructors | Dr. David Carrington |
| Credits* | TBA semester (TBA quarter) |
| Apply By | March 1 |
| Fees Due By | April 15 |
| Program Fees | (2025) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $2,990 |
| Transcript Fee* | $300 |
| Health & Evacuation Insurance | $90 |
| Room & Board | $1,270 |
| TOTAL: | $4,650 |
*Please email admissions@ifrglobal.org for any application issues.
Applications accepted on a rolling basis until program fills or final deadline passes.
Instructors
The directors welcome emails and inquiries about the research elements of this project. More general information (tuition, health insurance, and payment schedule) can be found under the ‘Students’ tab above. Any further questions may be addressed to IFR staff. Additional details about research, course schedule, travel, accommodation, and safety can be found on the syllabus. Contacting the directors or the IFR office is encouraged and appreciated. It may help you determine if this field school is a good fit for you.
Testimonials
This is a new IFR field school. No student testimonials are available at this time.
Payment & Student Fees
Application Fee: There is a $45 fee to submit an online application.
Deposit Payment: A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 3 weeks of program acceptance in order to secure your place. The remainder of your program fees are due by the deadline indicated under “Course Details”.
*Transcript Fee & Academic Credit Opt Out: If you wish to participate in an IFR field school without earning academic credits, you will not be charged a transcript fee.
For more information about payment, fees, and policies, please see details under our Payment & Finances and Withdrawal and Cancellation Policy pages.
Accommodations
Participants stay at the recently renovated, air-conditioned cabins at the archaeological base camp next to the ancient site of Stobi. Students will be housed in rooms with 2–3 beds each. Each cabin has 4 bedrooms, a living room, and 2 bathrooms with showers. A washing machine and Wi-Fi are available for free. The Stobi cleaning staff will clean and disinfect the rooms & bathrooms and common spaces every day. In the beginning of the field school students will be introduced to the safety protocol for the hotel, the shuttle and the site upon arrival.
The closest village to Stobi is Gradsko (5 km), where there are grocery stores, a pharmacy, an ATM, and medical facilities. The closest big supermarket, drug-stores, pharmacies, banks with ATMs and hospitals are in the city of Negotino (13 km from Stobi).
Meals: Three meals (fresh, homemade food) per day are covered by the reimbursement fee. Meals usually take place at the field house premises, except for lunch packages during excursions. This field school can accommodate vegetarians, vegans and individuals with lactose-intolerance diets. Kosher and gluten-free diets are impossible to accommodate at this location.
Travel Info
Natural disasters, political changes, weather conditions and various other factors may force the cancellation or alteration of a field school. IFR recommends students only purchase airline tickets that are fully refundable and consider travel insurance in case a program or travel plans must change for any reason.
General information for this program is below, but keep in mind we will discuss any updated travel information and regulations during the required program orientation, which could affect travel plans.
Students may flay into either Skopje airport (N. Macedonia) or Thessaloniki airport (Greece). The program will arrange group shuttle service from each on arrival day.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
Citizens of EU, EEA, USA, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand do not need a visa to visit N. Macedonia for up to 90 days. Citizens of all other countries may need a visa. The Balkan Heritage Foundation can send an official invitation letter that should be used at the relevant embassy to secure a visa to the program.
Citizens of all other countries may need a visa. The Balkan Heritage Foundation can send an official invitation letter that should be used at the relevant embassy to secure a visa to the program.
For more information about border crossing visit the Balkan Heritage Field School web site at http://www.bhfieldschool.org/countries/macedonia and
http://www.bhfieldschool.org/countries/bulgaria and
http://www.bhfieldschool.org/information/visa-help and the links provided there.