Application
Welcome to Amelia International Conservation Studies Program for Summer 2027!
We would like to inform you that each course will have a maximum of 12 participants. This limit is set to ensure a better learning environment and personalized attention for each participant. Thank you for your understanding and support.
If you have any inquiries, please feel free to reach out to Sotirios Kourtesis either via email, at sotirios.kourtesis@arcifs.org, or through our contact page.
At AICS, we offer a wide range of opportunities for individuals interested in the field of preservation. Whether you are a college or university student, a continuing education student, or someone with working experience in restoration, preservation, or related fields, we welcome your application.
You do not need to be currently enrolled in a university program to apply. To ensure a smooth application process, we kindly request all applicants to be at least 18 years old. Prior to completing an application, we strongly advise you to thoroughly read the following instructions. Thank you!
Discover our programs for Summer 2027
Join us from June 7 to August 6 for our Summer 2027 programs, offering intensive, hands-on training in the documentation and preservation of cultural heritage. Covering everything from architectural surveying, historic monuments, traditional painting, and paper restoration to specialized coursework in archaeological ceramics, historical bookbinding, and wall painting conservation (Fresco and Secco), our curriculum directly bridges technical ethics with studio and field practice.
Accreditation, Academic Credit & Institutional Partnerships
Certificate vs. University Credit
Participants may enroll in our programs either for professional training to receive an official AICS Certificate of Completion or to earn transferable academic credit. While AICS is an independent field school rather than a degree-granting university, we facilitate recognized credit pathways through institutional partnerships and credit-transfer support.
U.S. University Credit (Official Announcement Forthcoming)
We have finalized a formal academic affiliation with an accredited U.S. university, enabling participants to earn direct undergraduate or graduate credits for our summer courses. Complete registration details, course equivalents, and the official announcement of our partner university will be released shortly.
Institutional Collaboration Agreements
AICS maintains formal academic collaboration agreements with prestigious Italian state institutions to support advanced research, faculty exchange, and student training:
Accademia di Belle Arti di Napoli: Since our inaugural year, our programs have operated under an active institutional collaboration agreement with the Naples Academy, fostering rigorous practical and academic standards.
Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera (Milan, Est. 1776): Our formal collaboration agreement with the Brera Academy expands opportunities in high-level conservation education. Through this agreement, we proudly sponsor dedicated scholarships for Brera students enrolled in Architectural Painted Surfaces: Conservation & Restoration of Fresco and Secco Wall Paintings.
Credit Transfer to Your Home Institution
If you plan to apply AICS coursework toward independent study, field experience, or elective credits at your home university, we advise consulting your department head or study abroad office before the program begins. AICS regularly assists students throughout this process by supplying formal syllabi, documented instructional and lab contact hours, attendance records, and comprehensive grade evaluations.
Application Submission
To apply for our programs, please complete the AICS application form below, following the instructions carefully.
However, please note that if space is available, this deadline may be extended.
Please refrain from making any travel arrangements until you have received an acceptance confirmation. It is important to understand that AICS reserves the right to review all applicants and determine who will be accepted into the programs.
Payment Submission
Once we receive your completed application form, you can expect to receive an email from AICS containing instructions on how to proceed further. If you do not receive an email from us within 24 hours, kindly check your junk/spam folder. To ensure smooth communication in the future, please add sotirios.kourtesis@arcifs.org to your safe contact list.
To validate and activate your application, we kindly request you to submit the required payment. This includes a non-refundable application fee of €100, as well as a program deposit of €800.
Instructions for payment submission can be found in the email sent to you by AICS.
Submission of Supporting Documents
In order to complete your application, several documents are required. Please note that while they do not need to be sent simultaneously, all required documents must be received before we can officially accept your application.
You have the option to scan and email the documents or physically mail them to the following address:
ARCIFS S.R.L. Sotirios Kourtesis, Via dei Sabelli 10, Rome, 00185 ITALY
(Please note that we would greatly appreciate receiving the application forms electronically through email, as it may take longer to receive them via physical mail. This will enable us to expedite the review process and provide a prompt response).
a) If you are currently enrolled as a student, please provide a transcript from your college or university as proof of your enrollment.
b) If you are a graduate, please submit documentation verifying your college or university degree. If you do not hold a degree, provide evidence of your professional work experience in the field of conservation or related areas.
c) All applicants must arrange for one letter of recommendation to be sent directly by a professor or employer to sotirios.kourtesis@arcifs.org
d) As an essential requirement, all applicants must provide proof of being 18 years or older. A copy of your passport is preferable, although a driver's license or birth certificate will also be accepted.
e) Prior to participating in any AICS program, all applicants must thoroughly review and sign the following documents, which will be sent to you upon the submission of the deposit and the application fee:
Liability Release and
Student Rules and Regulations.
Printed copies of these forms will be provided in Amelia, and you will have the opportunity to sign them during the orientation before classes begin.
COVID Regulations
ARCIFS and AICS programs monitor and adhere to all COVID-related requirements maintained by our collaborating organizations as well as the Italian and US Government agencies.
All AICS participants must abide by the local health and safety guidelines, including vaccination requirements. ARCIFS will update and confirm with all participants COVID regulations one-month prior to the beginning of each program.
Currently, AICS applicants will not be asked to provide COVID vaccination status or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to acceptance to the program.
Please send all Documents (scanned, emailed or physically mailed) to: Sotirios Kourtesis (sotirios.kourtesis@arcifs.org) or Via dei Sabelli 10, Rome, 00185 Italy. If you have any questions with these steps or have problems filling in the application, please contact sotirios.kourtesis@arcifs.org or IT Tel: +39 327 450 4035 between 9am - 5pm EST.
(The time in Italy is normally 6 hours ahead of the time in New York, but because these time zones don't share the same start and end times for daylight saving time, the time in Italy can for a short while be 5 hours ahead of the time in New York).
Online Application
Please use the form provided to apply for our summer program. Your personal information will remain confidential. Once you submit the form, you can expect to receive an email within 24 hours confirming receipt and providing instructions on how to complete your application. For any questions regarding this form or if you do not receive an acknowledgment email, please contact Sotirios Kourtesis at sotirios.kourtesis@arcifs.org.
AICS welcomes students of varying experience levels and from a wide range of disciplines. Some questions on this application form are intended to gauge your level of experience and interests.
The average completion time for this form is approximately 10 minutes.
Please note that the following documents will be provided to participants via email after the review and acceptance of their submitted application form:
Student Rules & Regulation
Liability Release
Once your application has been reviewed and accepted, we will promptly send these important documents to the email address provided in your application. We kindly ask all participants to complete the application form accurately to facilitate the review process and ensure timely delivery of the necessary information.