Scandinavia: Capital to the Fjords!

June 28 to July 11, 2013

MSU assistant professor of art and humanities, Andrea Donovan, is organizing a study tour that will take participants to four Nordic countries from June 28 to July 11, 2013. Along the way, participants will have the opportunity to learn about and discover a smorgasbord of Scandinavian delights. MSU students and other community members are invited to join this study tour to experience the capital cities of Scandinavia first-hand!

The emphasis of this 3-credit humanities study tour is to delve into the art, architecture, literature and cultural heritage of Scandinavia. Each destination on the tour will include visits to, and lectures in, museums dedicated to local arts and culture, notable examples of architecture, famous sites relevant to writers and composers, and areas of historical interest. In addition, free time is built into the itinerary so that the program may be customized to the educational focus of each participant, while also allowing ample time to sample the foods and wares of the various destinations.
chris and fjord


Application Deadline:
December 15, 2012
Download an application. If you do not already have a passport, now is the time to apply for one.

Depending upon available space late applications might be accepted after December 15th. Applicants who submit an application after this date are not guaranteed a spot on the program and might be required to pay a slightly higher program fee due to rate fluctuation in transportation costs. Rate increases are typically not significant.

Academic Course Work
Participants of this study tour will be enrolled in HUMANITIES 496: Scandinavia: Capitals to the Fjords (3 credits.) The program will be guided by Dr. Andrea Donovan, Assistant Professor of Art History and Humanities, who specializes in European art and architectural history.

Tour Highlights

Denmark: The study tour will depart from Minot, arriving in Copenhagen for two and a half days taking in the landmarks and monuments in this bustling maritime city. On the evening of the third day, the group will board an overnight cruise ship to sail to Norway.

Norway: The tour group will spend two days exploring the famous fjords of western Norway. Activities during this portion of the program will include a visit to a medieval stave church for a glimpse into the traditional rustic lifestyle of the region, a fjord cruise, and a ride on the scenic Flam Railway—the steepest conventional railway in the world. Participants will return to Oslo for a day of guided visits around the city and will depart the next day for Stockholm via a short flight.

Sweden: Sweden’s sophisticated capital will be introduced by way of a guided tour that incorporates a stop in Stockholm’s unique Town Hall, a tour of the museum housing the Vasa warship, and the Gamla Stan (Old Town)’s winding, medieval streets. The following day’s schedule is left open, allowing the MSU study tour group to decide upon a customized site visit together. On the last night in Sweden, the group will board a ship for an overnight voyage to Finland.

Finland: The two-night stay in Helsinki begins with a city tour that passes by Senate Square, the Olympic Stadium, Temppeliaukio Church, and Sibelius Park. The final day of the program allows students to explore the downtown area independently, shop the seaside fish and fruit markets, or visit the National Museum with its famous ethnographic exhibits tracing Finnish culture.

The logistical aspects of this program are being facilitated by Go Ahead Tours. A complete itinerary can be found on the Go Ahead Website. Please note that prices advertised on the Go Ahead website are the base prices and do not reflect departure from Minot, along with other considerations.

Note: One of the benefits of this particular tour is that tour participants have large blocks of time at each destination to explore parts of the cities either on their own or in our group. In addition, optional extensions would allow individual participants to extend their stay by travelling to either Estonia or Russia. These options can be discussed in greater length with the faculty leader.

Program Fees

The program includes round-trip international airfare and transportation within Europe, breakfast and dinners on most days, accommodations, entrance fees to scheduled sites, guided sightseeing and walking tours, and a 24-hour on-site tour director. Accommodations are double occupancy; single occupancy may be requested for an additional fee of approximately $650.

Items not included in the program fee are: lunches and some dinners, optional excursions, transportation for free-time activities, departure fees (i.e. airline luggage fees) and customary gratuities.

A typical day will involve an active itinerary of sightseeing and local excursions starting early in the morning and lasting all day. The tour will be fast paced at times so that you get the most of your time abroad.

Program Cost
Base Program Fee* $ 4,764
Tuition - 3 Credits** $ 775**
TOTAL $ 5,539

* Applicants between ages of 50-64 years of age at time of travel, add $100 for the added cost of international insurance. Applicants between ages of 65-74 years of age at time of travel, add $250 for the added cost of international insurance.

**Program participants may choose to audit coursework at 50% tuition rate. Financial Aid is not available for audited courses, and grades will not appear on transcripts. 

Payment Deadlines:

$400 due with the Application
March 16: $4,364 due
June 8: Tuition and fees due

Late Payments:

  • If a payment is received 7 business days or more after the payment due date, your application will be considered withdrawn and you will be responsible for any cancellation penalties.
  • If for any reason your payment cannot be processed, a fee of $50 will be incurred, plus a late payment penalty to Go Ahead Tours, if applicable.

Payment Policies:

  • Under no circumstances will a student be allowed to depart on the program unless the program fees are paid in full.
  • MSU is not responsible for delays caused by late passport applications, late visa applications or visa denials. Any additional costs incurred for such reasons will be the responsibility of the participant.
  • Transportation Deviation Fees: Transportation will be arranged from Minot. Any deviations or special requests (such as early departure or late returns) will incur a $75 booking fee, in addition to any fees charged by the airlines.

Cancellation & Refunds
Withdrawal from the program is effective on the date that written notification is received by MSU’s Office of International Programs.

If you withdraw: The cancellation fee will be:
After Application is submitted $400
After March 16th $550
After April 16th $1100
After May 15th     Refund of tuition fees only per MSU business office policies
After departure No refund

Please Note:
■ MSU will not alter its payment and/or cancellation policies for any reason.
■ GoAhead Tours offers three different levels of trip cancellation/interruption coverage for an additional fee, which can be added at any time prior to departure. These insurance options can protect you in the event you need to cancel your trip or leave your tour unexpectedly due to an emergency. Depending upon the level chosen, coverage includes: trip cancellation & interruption protection; medical & accident protection; and baggage & property protection. For more information, visit the Go Ahead Tours website.

Financial Aid
Financial Aid can be applied to cover study tour fees, so students might want to consider the possibility of obtaining Financial Aid (generally including loans) to assist in funding their program. For more information about this option, please visit the Financial Aid Office, call (701) 858-3375 or visit their website: www.minotstateu.edu/finaid 

In order to be eligible for summer term financial aid, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 summer credits. At least 3 of these credits must be from the HUM 496 course listed above. Students who wish to enroll in additional summer coursework in association with the tour may make arrangements with the faculty leader.

Program Rules
View MSU Study Abroad Program Rules
View Go Ahead Tours Terms and Conditions

Contact us for more information!
Dr. Andrea Donovan
andrea.donovan@minotstateu.edu
Phone: (701) 858-3819

MSU Office of International Programs
1st Floor Student Center
500 University Ave West Minot, ND 58701
Phone: (701) 858-4645

Learn more about Horizons Unlimited faculty-led study tours