Duration of Program:
These dates are provided as guidelines and are subject to change
Late February - mid-March: Mandatory self-paced virtual orientation program on Canvas
March TBD: Pre-Departure Orientation
May 8 - 19: Students will 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 22 - June 5: We will begin our in-field programming based in Rome, continuing our simulation training and 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 take a short trip to Naples, where we will attend briefings at Allied Joint Force Command Naples.
June 6 - 26: Next, we will travel to NATO's Eastern Flank in the Baltics. Based out of Riga, Latvia, we will learn about the history of the area, 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, in Riga, Latvia, and cyber security, at the Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, in Tallinn, Estonia. 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.
June 27 - 30: The NATO Field School will travel to Vilnius, Lithuania, where the 2023 NATO Summit is taking place.
July 1 - 8: Our final destination is 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. During this time we will also take a trip to Germany*, where students will receive a tour of the Ramstein Air Base.
The NATO Field School and Simulation Program is an intensive political science experience that combines coursework with experiential learning.
The program is open to university students across all NATO member-states and provides the opportunity for students to observe professionals and experts in their working environment and by student immersion in the decision tasks that political, diplomatic and military personnel face. This includes visiting embedded experts from the Department of National Defence, Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, NATO and academia, as well as high-level briefings at NATO HQ, SHAPE, EU Military Staff HQ, European External Action Services and NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence and the Joint Canadian Delegation to NATO. Like a dynamic practicum or apprenticeship, the NATO Field School prepares you for entry-level employment in foreign affairs, defence policy and various national and international security sectors, as well as international NGO sectors.
See NATO Field School Departmental Website for more program information.
The Field School provides 12 credits for undergraduate students and 6 credits for graduate students.
Undergraduate: POL 484-12 - NATO Field School, Simulation, and Experiential Learning Program
Graduate: POL 880-6 - NATO Field School, Simulation, and Experiential Learning Program
This intensive international policy engagement course and field program provides the opportunity for students to observe professionals and experts in their working environment and by student immersion in the decision tasks that political, diplomatic and military personnel face. This includes visiting embedded experts from the Department of National Defence, Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, NATO and academia, as well as high-level briefings at NATO HQ, SHAPE, EU Military Staff HQ, European External Action Services and NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence and the Joint Canadian Delegation to NATO. Like a dynamic practicum or apprenticeship, the NATO Field School prepares you for entry-level employment in foreign affairs, defence policy and various national and international security sectors, as well as international NGO sectors.
The application deadline is January 25th, 2023.
