Tuition for the Writing the Light Certificate Program
There are two parts to the program tuition:
- ONLINE TUITION
Each year, there are two semesters of online learning – Fall and Spring, with either a 3-Year path (Foundation Year + Core Program to make six online semesters) or the 2-Year path (Core 2-yr. Program of four semesters) needed to complete the program.
- RESIDENCY TUITION
With five residencies* required for the 3-year program in order to graduate (four for the 2-year program), students have the flexibility to choose which residencies to attend. Students who have attended previous workshops with George Kordis will be able to have one residency requirement waived.
The LODGING, FOOD, and TRAVEL COST of each residency is independently covered by each student, and will vary from student to student and the location of each residency. It is not included in the residency tuition cost. Students must be able to cover these additional costs along with the overall residency tuition and regular online tuition. It will be necessary to budget accordingly, with estimates shared on the individual residencies descriptions or available upon request.
* For 3-Year Students: Beginning in January 2025, students may opt for one residency to be attended virtually at a 60% discounted tuition rate — only available for either the Athens Program or the Crete Summer School, with work feedback and basic oversight provided.
Once a student has been admitted into the Certificate Program:
- A non-refundable deposit of $400 will need to be paid, serving as the Annual Administrative fee as well as a deposit within the first two weeks of being accepted into the program in order to secure their spot.
- Students will receive their tuition billing approximately one month before the semester begins. Note that beginning Fall 2024, the semester payment will now be required to be paid in full before the semester.
- The Administrative fee ($400 annually per student) will be maintained throughout a student’s learning in the program. This fee will be satisfied with the deposit in year one and payable in July of the following year to confirm attendance in the upcoming Fall semester.
- New incoming students should try to make a deposit on their first residency of choice as soon as they have determined their individual preference.
| #1 SAMPLE — COST OVERVIEW — Foundation Year | |
| SEMESTER 1 | |
| Drawing Foundations I – LIVE class 2x per month, supervision with Maria Panou | 220 |
| Painting Foundation II – LIVE class 2x per month with supervision with Maria Panou | 220 |
| History of Byzantine Art I (Survey) – LIVE class 2x per month | 260 |
| Seminar 1 – LIVE 1x per month with Kordis (technical focus) | 150 |
| TUITION | 850 |
| SEMESTER 2 | |
| Drawing Foundations II – LIVE class 2x per month, supervision with Maria Panou | 220 |
| Painting Foundation II – LIVE class 2x per month, supervision with Maria Panou | 220 |
| Theology of Icons – with readings and LIVE session 1x per month with Kordis | 260 |
| Seminar 2 — LIVE 1x per month with Kordis (technical focus) | 150 |
| TUITION | 850 |
| TOTAL FOUNDATION YEAR ONLINE COST | 1,700 |
| PLUS 2-YEAR PROGRAM ONLINE COST (Detailed breakdown further below) | 3,400 |
| TOTAL COST FOR 3-YEAR ONLINE PROGRAM | 5,100 |
| 5 Residencies (with an average of three 7-day, and two 10-day residencies*) | 5,500 |
| TOTAL AVERAGE COMBINED ONLINE + RESIDENCIES 2-YEAR TUITION COST | 10,600 |
| Expected Annual Cost (average including 2 residencies tuition cost per year) | 3,500 |
* not including travel, food or lodging at the in-person residencies.
| #2 SAMPLE — ONLINE TUITION OVERVIEW (2-year program) | |
| SEMESTER 1 | |
| Essential Drawing I – LIVE class 2x per month with supervision by Dr. George Kordis | 220 |
| Painting I – Series of on-demand recorded sessions with supervision by Kordis | 220 |
| History of Byzantine Art I – LIVE class 2x per month | 260 |
| Seminar 1 – LIVE CLASS 1x per month with Kordis, all levels | 150 |
| TUITION | 850 |
| SEMESTER 2 | |
| Essential Drawing I – LIVE class 2x per month with supervision by Kordis | 220 |
| Painting II – Series of on-demand recorded sessions with Kordis supervision | 220 |
| Theology of Icons – 1x per month Live with Kordis | 260 |
| Seminar 3 — LIVE CLASS 1x per month with Dr. Kordis, all levels | 150 |
| TUITION | 850 |
| SEMESTER 3 | |
| Advanced Drawing – 2x per month LIVE class with supervision by Dr. Kordis | 220 |
| Advanced Painting – Series of on-demand recorded sessions with supervision by Kordis | 220 |
| Aesthetics of Byzantine Painting – 1x per month LIVE with Kordis | 150 |
| History of Byzantine Art II – LIVE class 2x per month | 260 |
| TUITION | 850 |
| SEMESTER 4 | |
| THESIS PROJECT. Students must paint a large scale icon based on traditional icons using their own style. Thesis supervised by George Kordis individually, with final work submission within three months of final semester. | 440 |
| History of Byzantine Art III – 2x per month | 260 |
| Thesis Group Discussion — LIVE — 1x per month with Dr. Kordis, all levels | 150 |
| TUITION | 850 |
| 2 -YEAR TOTAL ONLINE PROGRAM COST | $3,400 |
| ($1,700 Annual Online Cost) | |
| AVERAGE TUITION COST FOR FOUR RESIDENCIES (based on two 7-day, and two 10-day residencies) | $4,900 |
| TOTAL AVERAGE COMBINED ONLINE + RESIDENCIES 2-YEAR TUITION COST | $8,300 |
| ($4,150 Estimated Annual Total Student Tuition Cost) |
* not including travel, food or lodging at the residencies.
PLEASE NOTE ALL TUITION BILLING WILL BE PRESENTED IN EUROS AT TIME OF BILLING BASED ON DOLLAR TUITION COST. International payment details for accepted students will be shared in the student’s acceptance letter.
Discounts and Scholarships
- Current St. Vladimir’s Seminary Students, faculty and staff are allowed a special 20% discount* to attend the Writing the Light Certificate Program – extended also to their immediate family members.
- Applicants are encouraged to seek private scholarships, grants and sponsorships from their parishes and also from the State Arts Council from the student’s respective state (for students within the United States). Currently additional funding assistance is not available directly through Writing the Light, although it is in process.
Materials
- A suggested list of materials will be given to students after depositing.
- Students will need to be equipped with basic materials of paper, pigments, icon boards and brushes to use at home. Students can expect to incur an average of $150 to $300 of additional personal expense on materials per year.
- All materials (outside of brushes) are included for Residencies.
WITHDRAW/DROP POLICY for the Online Semesters:
Online Tuition is paid from semester to semester. Should a student decide to drop or pause the program during a given semester, there will be no monetary refund given for the month in which the request is made (or previous months), but a refund can be made for the remaining month(s) of the semester which have already been paid — minus the equivalent of the total amount minus the PayPal fee at the original country fee rate (i.e. 4,5% EU, 5.5~6% USA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA + 3% administrative fee).
A withdrawal or temporary pause is only possible if the request is made in writing to Keri Wiederspahn at info.writingthelight@gmail.com
REGARDING A STUDENT CANCELLATION OF A RESIDENCY:
- Beginning with all residencies from September 1st onwards, please know that we will no longer be able to handle credits or transfer any residency bookings.
- If a Certificate student needs to cancel attendance to a residency, they can have a refund of their residency deposit (usually non-refundable) minus the equivalent of $100 as long as the cancellation is made within four weeks of the residency start date, otherwise the deposit is non-refundable.
- For tuition paid for a canceled residency, ALL students may have the paid tuition portion refunded (beyond the non-refundable deposit) with the equivalent of the total amount paid minus the PayPal fee at the original country fee rate (i.e. 4,5% EU, 5.5~6% USA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA + 3% administrative fee).
Refunds exclude any travel or other costs incurred outside what is covered by tuition.
