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7-Week SSP & 2-Week Pre-College Program are still accepting applications until April 10, or earlier if all course waitlists are full. 4-Week SSP Application is closed.

Harvard Summer Program in Scandinavia

  • Date

    June 2, 2024 to July 20, 2024

  • Apply By

    January 25, 2024

  • Cost

    $10,900

  • Housing

    Dorms

Scandinavia Study Abroad Program; photo provided by Stephen Mitchell

Investigate the Viking Age—its legacy, history, and archaeology—throughout Scandinavia.

Program Director:

Stephen A. Mitchell

About the Program

“The Vikings conquer all in their path and nothing resists them.” So wrote a Frankish chronicler about the northern pirates whose collective name has come to represent the European ninth, tenth, and eleventh centuries. This Viking studies program in Scandinavia offers the opportunity for you to explore the rich archaeological, cultural, and literary heritage of northern Europe in the early Middle Ages. During the program, you examine the sagas and eddas, visit numerous archaeological sites, and participate in a three-week archaeological field school. Specialists in many different aspects of Viking culture lecture and guide classes.

Attend an informational session to learn more about the program (Harvard students only):
Tuesday, January 23, 5-6pm, Warren House (next to the Barker Center)

Program Structure

During the program, you examine the sagas and eddas, visit numerous archaeological sites, and participate in a three-week archaeological field school. Specialists in many different aspects of Viking culture lecture and guide classes.

The Viking studies program is ideal if you:

  • Are interested in heroic literature, Norse mythology, medieval history, and archaeology.
  • Are eager to explore the relationship between history and national
  • myths.
  • Want to engage in archaeological field work.
  • Want to experience cultural life in Northern Europe.

To learn more, watch a video about the fieldwork conducted in Scandinavia, read a Harvard Gazette article, and visit the Scandinavia program’s website.

ANTH S-1095 and SCAN S-150 count as two semester-long courses (4 credits each) of degree credit.

ANTH S-1095 Study Abroad in Scandinavia: Viking Studies—History and Archaeology

Stephen A. Mitchell, PhD, Professor of Scandinavian and Folklore, Harvard University
Daniel Peter Dalicsek, MA, Maritime Archaeologist, Moesgaard Museum
4 credits
UN, GR Limited enrollment.

This course introduces the material legacy of the Vikings, whose dramatic expansion circa 750–1100 transformed not only their own society but also much of the entire northern world. Through lectures, visits to museum collections and archaeological sites, and participation in an archaeological dig for three weeks, students encounter the richness of the Viking heritage.

SCAN S-150 Study Abroad in Scandinavia: Viking Studies—Lore and Literature

Stephen A. Mitchell, PhD, Professor of Scandinavian and Folklore, Harvard University
Pernille Hermann, PhD, Associate Professor, Scandinavian Department, Aarhus University
4 credits
UN, GR Limited enrollment.

This course considers the narrative legacy of the Viking era. Through close readings and discussions of eddic poems and other materials, we examine religious life and the medieval view of the Viking Age, especially as reflected in the Icelandic sagas, which present their heroes as warriors, kings, poets, outlaws, and adventurers. In addition to considering the construction of a heroic ideal, we explore how the descendants of the Vikings used the past.

Prerequisite: none.

Where You'll Live and Study

Denmark’s second-largest city, Åarhus—founded in the Viking Age—and its modern university host this multifaceted exploration of the Vikings.

Accommodations

You stay in student housing while in Åarhus. While on excursions, you stay in youth hostels and hotels.

Physical requirements

Archaeological fieldwork is physically intense and often rigorous. Students work in the field, excavating under the sun and climbing among excavation units. Since some of the most interesting, little-explored, and pristine sites are remote, traveling there requires hiking. No special training is required, but a reasonable level of fitness is advisable. However, a lighter schedule can be arranged for those with physical challenges.

Application

To apply, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have completed at least one year of college or be a first-year student
  • Be in good academic standing

Students enrolled at any accredited university are welcome to apply. See the How to Apply page for more information.

The Summer 2024 application is now closed. All admissions decisions will be released on March 1.

Each program has unique requirements included in the online application. Beginning your application early is the best way to ensure that you have sufficient time to review and complete the application requirements by the deadline.

You may apply to no more than two programs; if applying to two programs, you will be asked to rank your two applications in order of preference (first and second choice). Any applications submitted in excess of the maximum of two will be automatically withdrawn. You will be notified of your admissions status in each program in early March.

A complete online application includes:

  • Basic personal information
  • A statement of interest
  • Your most recent transcript
  • Program-specific requirements (if applicable; may include letters of recommendation, etc.)

Interviews may be requested at the discretion of the program.

Be sure to read about the funding options available for Harvard Summer School Study Abroad programs.

If you have questions about the application, please contact the Harvard Summer School Study Abroad Office by email at summerabroad@summer.harvard.edu.

Cost & Expenses

Additional Information