I’M THINKING OF APPLYING FOR THE SUMMER SCHOOL
Who can apply to the Summer School?
We accept applications from graduate students, advanced undergraduate students, professionals working in related fields, applicants holding a BA degree who are currently not students but are considering continuing their higher education and pursuing a graduate degree, or currently applying for graduate programs, as well from civil society activists.
What sorts of people apply for Summer School?
The Summer School is truly an international program, attracting a diverse range of people. Each year the Summer School brings over 80 students, professionals, and activists from more than 30 countries from all around the world. The majority of the participants are graduate students, alongside many professionals (with an academic degree) engaged in civil society or state institutions from a range of fields including human rights, policy analysis, education for peace, and others.
What documents are needed to apply for Summer School?
Aside from completing the online Summer School application form, we do not require any additional documents from you.
When is the application deadline?
The final deadline to submit your application for the 2023 Summer School is March 3, 2023. Please note that some courses will reach their maximum capacity much earlier than the planned deadline, thus we would recommend that you apply at your earliest convenience to reserve your place on the course of your first choice.
What are the language requirements?
The language of instruction for all courses is English. Even though we do not require TOEFL/IELTS and similar certificates, we strongly recommend that you apply for Summer School only if you can fully comprehend, proficiently communicate and write in English. All the courses rely heavily on students’ participation, in-class discussions, as well as students' presentations.
Can I attend more than one course?
You can only attend one course out of the 5 offered this year. We will do our best to match your preference.
I am not a student at the moment; can I still apply for Summer School?
If you are currently not a student or if you have already graduated, you may still apply for Summer School. Though we require that your area of expertise and interests be related to the topics that the Summer School is covering in social science (human rights, civil society, conflict studies, memory studies, political sciences, peace studies, etc.). A strong motivation letter and your CV will help us learn more about you, your background, and the reasons you are applying to the Summer School: please make sure you carefully fill out those sections of our online form and provide us with as much information as possible.
I am an undergraduate student; can I also apply for Summer School?
Yes, you may apply for the Summer School as an advanced undergraduate student, i.e. if you are about to begin your last year of studies in the academic year 2023/24.
How will I be notified about my application?
We communicate with all applicants primarily via the email that you provide us with in your application form. Before sending your application form, please double-check and make sure all information you entered is correct. You may want to periodically check your spam folder to make sure that our messages are not recognized as spam emails.
Am I allowed to change my course once Summer School has started?
Once Summer School starts, you cannot change your course of participation.
How many people will be in a course group?
We estimate the number of participants in each course to be between 10 to 20 students.
SUMMER SCHOOL SCHEDULE AND COURSE MATERIALS
What will my schedule look like that week?
Check out the Summer School schedule on our website. We may also offer additional optional activities during the Summer School week, which are typically scheduled to start after the last lecture of the day.
When will I get the Summer School schedule?
A draft version of the Summer School schedule is already available on our website, while the final Summer School daily schedule will be shared with confirmed participants by the end of May.
Can I know the names and contact details of other participants in my course?
Due to our privacy policy, we cannot provide the personal or contact details of other Summer School participants before the beginning of the course.
Am I able to contact course lecturers before the start of the course?
Email inquiries should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and where the CFCCS staff cannot answer a question it will be forwarded to the relevant course lecturer.
Do I need to do any reading before the course starts?
Yes, you do! We expect you to come prepared! To obtain the maximum from your learning experience in all courses, all reading materials will be available through the online learning platform of the Faculty of Media and Communications (FMK) which will be shared with you before the summer school [one month in advance] to allow you enough time for reading and preparing for the course.
SUMMER SCHOOL TUITION AND PAYMENTS
Is there an application fee?
Yes, we require all accepted applicants to confirm their participation by paying the Tuition Fee in full. For more information on Summer School tuition fees for 2023, please visit the 2023 Summer School webpage.
Can I pay my tuition fee via PayPal?
We do accept PayPal payments, as the Center for Comparative Conflict studies has an official PayPal account. When confirming your participation, please make sure to specify that you would like to pay your Summer School tuition and/or registration fee via PayPal.
Is it possible to pay the tuition in installments?
We cannot accept Summer School tuition payments in installments.
Can I pay by bank transfer?
Yes! We do accept tuition fee payment via bank transfer. We will provide detailed information and instruction for payment in due time to each participant.
After I pay the tuition fee via bank transfer, how long does it take for CFCCS to receive it?
Bank transfers can take from 5-10 working days. Please note that these processing times can differ, depending on the country the money is being wired from. Once we receive a statement from the bank, we will contact you to confirm that we have received your payment.
SUMMER SCHOOL ECTS CREDITS AND CERTIFICATES
How many credits will I receive for my participation in the Summer School course?
We offer 4 ECTS credits to participants who complete the course requirements. IMPORTANT: Please note it is the student’s responsibility to check with their home institution if they are accepting ECTS credits from international academic institutions.
Do I have to submit a final paper to get the ECTS credits? Will I still get a certificate if I don't?
We only give 4 ECTS credits to participants who have completed all course requirements and have submitted their final papers to the course lecturer. Specific details on the final paper, dates of submission, and grading policy are given by each course lecturer. If a participant does not fulfill all course requirements mentioned above, he or she cannot qualify to receive the ECTS credits.
ACCOMMODATION IN BELGRADE
I would like to reserve my accommodation, do you have any suggestions about where to look?
If you prefer to find accommodation within walking distance from the Faculty of Media and Communications (FMK) where the Summer School is taking place, we would recommend searching for available hostels and hotel in the area.
For hotels you may want to check Savamala Bed&Breakfast (a short walking distance from FMK), Hotel Jump Inn (across the street from FMK) or Hotel Prag (a 10-15 minutes walk).
You may also try Airbnb in Belgrade, we have noticed some great places for rent.
Please note that Summer School participants are responsible for finding and reserving their accommodation.
PREPARING FOR MY TRIP TO BELGRADE…
How do I get to the city center from the airport?
Taxi: You may get a taxi ride from the airport to the city center. Taxi can cost you from 20-35 Euros in one direction. Please make sure to get a coupon from the taxi stand at the airport (near the luggage pick-up area) and take one of the official registered taxis that are located in the designated area of the airport.
IMPORTANT: If you are approached by any taxi driver at the airport arrivals terminal, who may be offering you a “cheaper ride” without a taxi coupon, kindly refuse them as you might end up paying a lot of money and get yourself into a possibly unpleasant situation.
Bus: There are 2 bus lines that you may take from the airport to the city center: Bus #72 takes you to the city center or you may take the minibus shuttle A1. These buses are operating every hour during the day and cost much less than a taxi ride. Usually, the price of a bus ticket is around 3 Euros. The bus schedules are not always set though and you may end up waiting for the bus much longer than expected.
Can you arrange an airport transfer?
CFCCS does not provide airport transfer services.
What is the weather like in Belgrade during the summer and how should I pack?
Belgrade in June/July is very warm, with a daily temperature of around 26 degrees Celsius. With global warming, the temperature can be much higher in the high 30s! At night it can get a bit colder, so we recommend layers. It can also be rainy, so a pocket umbrella is always a good idea.
What is the average cost of living in Belgrade?
The cost of living in Belgrade can vary and depends on the type of accommodation and preferred dining venues you choose. Accommodation in Belgrade can vary from 10-15 Euros/per night for a hostel, and up to 60-85 Euros/per night for a 3-star hotel in the city center. Breakfast usually costs around 8 Euros, while dinner can cost you from 10-20 Euros in a fast-food place to 30-40 Euros if you are dining in a moderately priced restaurant. As for the public transportation cost, you have an option of a 1-day ticket (1.7 Euros), 3-day ticket (6.5 Euros), or 5-day ticket (around 10 Euros) that is valid for buses, trams, and trolleys. As for Belgrade nightlife, people usually spend between 20-40 Euros for drinks in clubs/cafes/bars.
Where should I ideally change money?
We would recommend changing your money in the official exchange offices (Menjačnica) that can be found in the city center. We do not recommend changing money in a bank, as the exchange rates are lower than in exchange offices, so you might end up getting less money from a bank than from an exchange office. If someone on the street offers you to change your money, we would recommend that you kindly decline the offer, as in most cases it is a scam.
Sneak Peek into City of Belgrade
VISA FAQS
Do I need a visa to enter Serbia to part take in Summer School?
Depending on your nationality you may need a visa to enter Serbia. Please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia by clicking here, to check if you are required to obtain a Serbian visa to enter the country.
When should I apply for a visa?
If you are required to obtain a visa to enter Serbia, we would recommend starting with your visa application as soon as you get the confirmation that you have been accepted to the Summer School and after you pay the tuition fee. In that way, we can assist you with your Serbian visa application by providing an official letter of acceptance to the Summer School.
What support can I have from CFCCS regarding my visa application?
For all applicants who have been accepted to participate in the Summer School and that have paid the tuition fee, we can support their visa application only by providing an official letter of acceptance to the Summer School. CFCCS cannot act as a guarantee to any Summer School participant.
How long will it take for you to send me the letter of acceptance?
As soon as your participation in the Summer School is confirmed by the payment of your tuition fee, we will be able to send you the official letter of acceptance within 3-5 working days.
What if my visa is declined?
According to our policy, we cannot act as a guarantor to any foreign nationals in their visa application. Hence, if your request for a Serbian visa has been declined, we would recommend applying again in a short period.
