Application

SGPS Programs are open to any of the following applicants: college and university students interested in the field of preservation, continuing education students, people with working experience in the fields of restoration, preservation and other related fields. Applicants do not need to be enrolled in a university program. All applicants must be over 18 years old and consenting adults. Please read the following instructions completely before completing an application. Thank you!

1. Choose the Session(s) and Program(s)

Session I: June 2 – June 27, 2025 (programs include historic buildings, archaeological ceramics and book binding restoration)
Intersession:  Italy Preservation Tour – June 29 to July 9, 2025 (to be confirmed)
Session 2: July 14 – August 8, 2025 (programs include paper restoration and painting techniques)

 2. Accreditation or Audit

Determine if you are taking the course for a certificate issued by SGPS or for credit by either your university or by applying through West Virginia University (this is no longer an option as their deadline has passed). Please see our accreditation page for further information on obtaining credit for our programs. SGPS is not an accredited university.

If you require course credit, field experience credit or internship credit from your university, please check with your school study abroad department to determine if they will accept work done in our programs. Upon request, we will provide your school with the syllabi of your courses, a record of your attendance and a grade and evaluation for your participation. It is important that you inform your home study abroad department that SGPS is NOT an accredited university.

Important Note: IIRPS and SGPS are not accredited programs and, if you want to receive credit, you will need to arrange to receive credit through an accredited institution (such as West Virginia University) before you participate in our programs.

 3. Complete Application

Fill out the SGPS application form below (online or download to print) and follow all instructions on the form. Deadline to submit application for both sessions: March 15, 2025. Note: Please do not make travel arrangements until you have been accepted and received confirmation. SGPS reserve the right to review the applicants and determine who will be accepted into the programs.

4. Pay Deposit

Shortly after we receive your application form, you will receive an email from SGPS with instructions on how to proceed with your application. If you do not receive an email from us within 24 hours please check your junk/spam folder. Please add pwithers@iirpsemail.org to your safe contact list to ensure that you receive future emails from SGPS. You will be required to pay the application fee of $50 as well as a $450 program deposit to validate and activate your application by March 15, 2025.

5. Supporting Documentation

The following documents are required to complete your application. Documentation is not required at the same time, however, all required documents should be received before we can officially accept your application. Please send all documents (scanned, emailed or physically mailed to: Polly Withers (pwithers@iirpsemail.org) 203 7th Ave, #5A, Brooklyn, NY 11215 USA

a) If you are currently a student: a transcript from your college or university to document that you are enrolled in an institution of higher learning.
b) If you are a graduate: proof of your college or university degree. If you have no degrees: proof of work experience in the field of conservation or related fields.
c) All applicants: one letter of recommendation from a professor or employer. This should be mailed or emailed directly by the professor or employer to pwithers@iirpsemail.org.
d) All applicants must submit proof you are 18 years or older: (copy of passport is preferable, or driver’s license/birth certificate).
e) All applicants must review and sign these documents in order to participate in any SGPS program: Liability Release, Student Rules and Regulations. Printed copies of these forms will be provided in San Gemini and can be signed at the orientation before classes begin.

6. COVID Regulations (please read our full COVID Policy and Regulations)

  1. IIRPS and SGPS programs monitor and adhere to all COVID-related requirements maintained by our collaborating organizations as well as the Italian and US Government agencies.

  2. All SGPS participants must abide by the local health and safety guidelines, including vaccination requirements. IIRPS will update and confirm with all participants COVID regulations one-month prior to the beginning of each program. Current regulations can be reviewed on the IIRPS COVID Policy document.

  3. Currently, SGPS applicants will not be asked to provide COVID vaccination status prior to acceptance to the program.

  4. Currently, SGPS participants will not be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

Please send all Documents (scanned, emailed or physically mailed) to: Polly Withers (pwithers@iirpsemail.org) or 203 7th Ave #5A Brooklyn, NY 11215 USA

If you have any questions with these steps or have problems filling in the application please contact Polly Withers pwithers@iirpsemail.org or US Tel: (718) 768-3508 between 9am - 5pm EST.

Enrollment Policy

SGPS reserves the right to review the applicants and determine who will be accepted into the programs.

Please do not make travel arrangements until you have been accepted and received confirmation that the program will take place.

Refund Policy

Refund Policy: On March 16th we will establish if we have the enrollment required for the program to go ahead. Should the program be cancelled due to low enrollment, or any other SGPS decision, applicants will be fully refunded. If an applicant withdraws their application before the March 16th deadline, they will be refunded the $450 deposit but not the $50 application fee. Those students that withdraw their application after March 16 will not receive a refund of either the application fee or the deposit.

Online Application

Please use this form to apply to our programs this summer. Your personal information is confidential. Once you submit your form, you should receive an email confirming receipt within 24 hours including instructions on how to complete your application. Contact Polly Withers if you have any questions regarding this form at pwithers@iirpsemail.org or if you do not receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application.

SGPS accepts students of varying levels of experience and from a wide range of disciplines. Some of the questions on this application form are to give us an idea of your level of experience and your interests.

This form takes an average of 20 min to complete.