As part of the Academic program, ARCS staff led a series of walking tours for its new Fellows in Sofia on September 2-3. ARCS Fellows, led by Emil Nankov, visited a number of archaeological sites (Roman amphitheater, Metro excavations, Rotunda St. George, St. Sofia basilica and its necropolis) related to the history of Roman Serdica. The group also visited the National Institute of Archaeology with Museum and the underground museum at basilica St. Sofia.

ARCS conducted its first academic excursion during September 4-6. ARCS staff and Fellows toured across Western Bulgaria visiting Kraka fortress outside of Pernik, the Georgi Dimitrov Memorial House in Kovachevtsi, and the Zemen Monastery before reaching Kyustendil. The students spent a full day touring Kyustendil landmarks, including the Late Roman fortress “Hisarlaka”, the Roman bath complex, Pirkova tower, the memorial museum to Dimitar Peshev, the "Master"- Vladimir Dimitrov art gallery, and the Regional Museum of History. The group stopped for a short stroll along the Kadin bridge in the village of Nevestino on the way to the spectacular Rila Monastery.