2023 Summer Session at the Eleutherai Fortress

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Summer Session

Program will run June 10 to July 24, 2024.

The Summer Session program of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens is a six-week session designed for those who wish to become acquainted with Greece and its major monuments, and to improve their understanding of the country’s landscape, history, material culture, and literature from antiquity to the present. Led by exceptional scholars of Classics and related fields, participants visit many of the major archaeological sites, monuments, and museums throughout Greece. The program has a strong academic component and participants are expected to research and then present topics on-site. Since 1925, the Summer Session has offered participants the unique opportunity to learn from eminent archaeologists and art historians on-site.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 8, 2024

Summer Session 2024

The ASCSA Summer Session offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the ancient sites, monuments, and culture of Greece first-hand, under the guidance of expert professors deeply familiar with the country and up-to-date with the latest research.

For the summer of 2024, the ASCSA presents an intensive Summer Session that lasts six weeks and is limited to twenty participants.  The Summer Session is based at the ASCSA campus in central Athens.  From there the group travels throughout Greece, from the Peloponnesus in the south to Thessaloniki in the north, and even the island of Crete. The itinerary includes not only well-known archaeological sites and museums but also amazing places off the beaten track.

Summer Session participants receive exclusive access to archaeological sites and storerooms inaccessible to others and enjoy presentations on ongoing excavations by preeminent scholars. Presentations and tours by the world's leading specialists offer Summer Session participants insightful, comprehensive overviews of Greek art and archaeology, and illuminate the full range of Greece's rich history– from the Bronze Age to the Classical Greek and Roman eras, through the Byzantine period, and into the twenty-first century.

Participants work together in cooperative learning projects, sharing their knowledge in on-site oral presentations and seminar-style discussions.  Summer Session participants also deepen their understanding of contemporary Greece as they travel through it, converse with its inhabitants, and reflect on the relationship of past and present in this fascinating country.

Graduate students and faculty in Classics or Ancient History whose main focus is not archaeology will find the Summer Session provides them invaluable new perspectives on ancient Greece that they can incorporate in their teaching and research. For graduate students focusing on Greek archaeology, the Summer Session offers an intensive introduction to the major issues and sources of the field. Advanced undergraduates who are considering graduate training in classical studies will find the Summer Session superb preparation for the rigors of graduate school. Teachers will discover new stories and engaging new material to share with their students back home.

Structure of the Program

The 2024 Summer Session runs from June 10 to July 24, 2024, and its Directors are Professor Amelia R. Brown, of the University of Queensland, and Professor Amy C. Smith, of the University of Reading. The Summer Session schedule alternates periods in Athens with extended trips outside the city. The program runs seven days a week. 

The ASCSA Summer Session has provided extensive exposure to Greece, ancient and modern, for generations of students of Classics and related fields. It has a strong academic component with participants researching and presenting topics on site and offers unique opportunities to interact with eminent archaeologists in the field. Roughly half of the session is spent in travel throughout Greece. Three trips give participants an introduction to the major archaeological sites and museum collections throughout the country. The remainder of the session is devoted to study of the museums and monuments of Athens and the surrounding area with day trips to such sites as Marathon, Sounion, and Eleusis. The Summer Session Program is designed to present a comprehensive view of Greece’s rich history and archaeology. Participants should expect long days at sites and museums, extensive walking on uneven and rocky terrain, and Mediterranean temperatures well above 30ºC/86ºF for extended periods without ready access to shade. Prospective applicants uncertain about their ability to participate in all program activities are encouraged to contact the ASCSA office for more information.

Every participant gives two on-site oral reports of about twenty minutes each. Report topics are selected in consultation with the director, taking into account participants’ interests and skills. If you want to see an example of a program itinerary and past report topics, click here

Want to know know? Visit the FAQ page!

A Typical Day

A typical day starts at 7:00AM and ends at 7:00PM. A group will typically visit 3 to 7 archaeological sites and/or museums during the day. Each visit
 may include a director’s presentation, tours by invited specialists, and one or more student reports. There is much standing and walking, many sites have steep inclines, and the Mediterranean summer sun is intense, so participants should be prepared for the rigors of the program.

In Athens travel is by walking or public transport (including the efficient metro system). On day trips and extended trips most travel is by private chartered bus with a licensed professional driver; island trips involve ferry rides. Lunch may be picnic style or at local eateries depending on the day’s schedule. Beach stops for swimming are scheduled whenever possible. Continental breakfasts are provided at the hotel every morning. Participants eat dinner on their own at local eateries within walking distance of the hotel. Dinner hour in Greece is typically later than in North America, with many people eating between 8-11pm.

Click here for an example of a full program itinerary

Facilities

The Summer Session is based at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.  Participants enjoy 24-hour access to the world-class Blegen Library, including a computer lab, wireless internet access, archives, and individual study space. Participants will be housing in Loring Hall while in Athens, and have access to our welcoming and supportive staff, home-style Greek cooking, gardens, and verandas that look out onto Mount Hymettus. The School also offers numerous opportunities for informal conversation, learning, and networking with professors and students working at the ASCSA, and with members of the international scholarly community in Athens.

Outside of Athens, participants will stay in hotels. Hotels are typically C class, clean and secure establishments with private bathrooms and A/C available. Most hotels have wi-fi. Continental breakfasts are provided at the hotel every morning.

Participants/Eligibility

Enrollment is open to graduate and advanced undergraduate students, and to high school teachers and college/university faculty of Classics and related subjects. Enrollment is limited to twenty participants. The language of instruction is English.

The program is intellectually absorbing and can be physically challenging.  Museum visits may involve long periods of standing, while many site visits require hiking uphill in the Mediterranean summer heat.  Participants should be ready to work cooperatively as part of a close-knit Summer Session group.

Summer Session participants become part of the ASCSA alumni/alumnae community, with more than a thousand members around the world. Summer Session participation can open the doors to professional connections, mentoring, fieldwork opportunities, and scholarly support for years to come.

An attempt is made to ensure that the session includes undergraduate students, graduate students, high school teachers, and college professors, though there is no quota for any category. The American School of Classical Studies at Athens does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national or ethnic origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation when considering admission to any form of membership or application for employment.

Costs

The fee for the 2024 program is $4,900 USD. This includes tuition, room for the entire six-week period, partial board in Athens, travel within Greece, and museum and site entry fees. International airfare, most meals outside Athens, and incidental expenses are the participant's responsibility. Financial aid is available in the form of ASCSA scholarships, awarded on the basis of academic merit. Many classical organizations have funding opportunities. More information at: https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/programs/summer-session/ss-scholarships. (Rates and fees are subject to change without notice.)

Financial Support

The ASCSA offers a range of Summer Session fellowships.  Several national and regional Classics organizations also offer scholarships specifically for Summer Session participants. Every applicant will automatically be reviewed for an ASCSA scholarship, without extra forms to submit. If awarded an ASCSA scholarship, we will notify you in your admission letter. 

Click here for Scholarship information

Academic Credit

The American School is not a degree-granting institution. No grades are given for its programs, nor are transcripts provided. An optional final exam at the end of each Summer Session is given, and the director of a session will, upon request, write a letter to the member’s home institution recommending that credit be granted, provided that the member has satisfactorily participated in the program and passed the final exam. Inquire about course credit option.

Application

Deadline for the online application and two recommendations will be January 8, 2024.

Link to the online application: https://ascsa.submittable.com/submit/270462/ascsa-summer-program-application
You may use this form to apply to the Summer Session and Seminar(s) simultaneously, if you are applying to more than one summer program. 

Admission to the Summer Session is granted on the basis of academic performance and letters of recommendation. Applicants will be notified in February 2024. 


A complete application consists of the following:

  • Applicants must submit the online application form by the deadline. The application form includes: 
    • A list of colleges and universities attended, with dates of residence, degrees awarded or expected, and any honors attained; a list of any teaching or other professional experience (with institutions and dates or present employment). This information can be entered on to the application form itself, or uploaded as a document to the application.
    • A brief statement of your present attainments in the following subjects: Latin and Greek (specify amount of reading done in the original and in translation), ancient history, history of ancient literature, archaeology and history of art. This information should be uploaded as a PDF to the application. Note: such attainments are not a prerequisite or mandatory for participation.
    • A brief statement of your future plans. State your future plans and how participation in the ASCSA Summer Program fit into these plans (maximum length 500-600 words). This information should be uploaded as a PDF to the application.
    • If you are applying to multiple summer programs, please indicate and discuss your preferences (maximum 250 words). This information should be uploaded as a PDF to the application.
    • Please indicate your reading ability in modern and/or foreign languages. This information can be entered on to the application form itself.
    • A copy of undergraduate and graduate transcripts for student applicants (unofficial transcripts are acceptable); a copy of a current CV for high school teachers and college professors. 
  • Applicants for School scholarships can check a box on the application form to be considered for any School (internal) scholarships for which they are eligible. No extra paperwork is necessary. Review the scholarships online to learn about eligibility requirements, as well as external funding opportunities.
  • Applicants must arrange for two letters of recommendation to be submitted online. After the online application is submitted, the recommenders will automatically be sent instructions about how to upload their recommendation. Or, applicants may choose to send the request at any time by clicking the "Send Request Now" button on the online application form. Recommendations are due by the application deadline.
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Visas

Any U.S. or Canadian citizen who plans to spend more than 90 days in Greece and/or any other member of the Schengen block of countries (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland) within a six-month period must obtain a special visa BEFORE entry into the Schengen zone. This visa must be issued by a Greek consulate/embassy in a country where the applicant is a resident, and the application process can take two or more months. The summer session itself accounts for 45 days and any participant who plans to combine, for example, a spring or fall study abroad program with the ASCSA Summer Sessions may exceed the 90-day limit.  For further information, click here.

Ready to apply?

The American School of Classical Studies at Athens does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national or ethnic origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation when considering admission to any form of membership or application for employment.
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For additional questions or information:

Contact the Programs Office in the United States at application@ascsa.org.

Download Promotional Material

If you would like to download the bulletin for distribution, click here

Apply to lead a summer program

If you are a scholar who is interested in leading a Summer Seminar or the Summer Session, click here to link to more information about open positions. 

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