15 Summer Programs for International High School Students
If you’re a high school student outside the U.S. and thinking about college there, joining a summer program is one way to understand how things work before applying. These programs let you study subjects like business, coding, engineering, medicine, or law in a college setting. You’ll attend classes taught by university instructors, complete assignments, and in some cases, earn college credit.
Joining a U.S.-based summer program can help you adjust to the academic pace and classroom culture of American colleges. You’ll meet students and teachers from different backgrounds, practice using academic English, and build an experience that stands out on college applications.
To make your search easier, we’ve listed 15 summer programs for international high school students!
1. Dartmouth Summer Scholars
Location: Dartmouth College campus, Hanover, NH
Cost: $4,799 – $9,299, depending on the session. Financial aid is available.
Program Dates: June 30 to August 9.
Application Deadline: Applications open in spring
Eligibility: Open to current 9th–11th graders (ages 14–18) worldwide; international students must show English proficiency.
Dartmouth Summer Scholars is a residential program where high school students take one college-level course taught by Dartmouth faculty or experienced instructors. You’ll study a subject like business, engineering, medicine, law, leadership, or social science and complete hands-on projects and coursework. Outside class, you’ll join workshops, co-curricular activities, and evening or weekend events. If you live on campus, you’ll stay in a residence hall with support from Residential Counselors.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type. You can apply here
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students interested in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. If you are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you’ll be introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, you’ll work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. Stanford Pre-College Summer Institutes
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $3,080. Need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The average class size is 15 students
Dates: Session One: June 16 – June 27, Session Two: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 to 11 can apply. International students must be fluent in English. No TOEFL or IELTS scores are required.
This is a 2-week academic program where you join a group of high school students from different countries. You choose from over 60 courses across fields like social sciences, STEM, business, creative writing, and philosophy. The program includes seminars, workshops, and out-of-class assignments designed to strengthen both academic and soft skills. After completing the program, you receive a Certificate of Completion.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid is available.
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project.
At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Cornell SCE Pre-College Summer Session
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $1,840 per credit + $75 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 to 18 students
Dates: Three-week sessions: Session 1 (June 2–20), Session 2 (June 23–July 11), Session 3 (July 14–August 1), Six-week session: June 23–August 1
Application Deadline: Session 1 – May 5, Session 2 – May 19, Session 3 – June 16, Six-week session – May 19
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors can apply. International students can check English language requirements here.
Cornell University’s School of Continuing Education offers online summer courses for high school students. You can choose between 3-week and 6-week sessions and select from over 100 courses in fields like architecture, arts, social change, business, science, technology, and international relations. The program is fully online, giving you flexibility during the summer. You earn college credit while exploring subjects in depth.
6. Columbia University College Edge: Summer
Location: Columbia University’s Morningside Campus, New York
Cost: $2,574 per point (3 points is typically equal to 1 course)
Dates: Summer Session A: May 26–July 3; Summer Session B: July 7–August 15
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 11 or 12 can apply. International students can check the application requirements here.
College Edge is a credit-bearing summer program at Columbia University for high school students. You register for undergraduate-level courses with guidance from an academic advisor, who helps you choose subjects that match your interests and readiness. Course options include chemistry, economics, psychology, math, statistics, Germanic languages, and more. You study alongside college students, attend lectures, and take part in seminars and workshops that help you prepare for college.
7. University of Pennsylvania Pre-College Program
Location: Online or Residential (University of Pennsylvania campus, Philadelphia, PA)
Cost/Stipend: $13,444 for 1 credit, $15,950 for 1.5 credits, $18,456 for 2 credits, and $20,962 for 2 credits (residential) | $8,044 for 1 credit and $13,056 for 2 credits (online)
Dates: Residential: July 1–August 9, Online: Session I: May 27–July 2, Session II: July 3–August 8
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 can apply. International students can check the FAQ here.
The University of Pennsylvania Pre-College Program gives high school students the chance to take real college courses and earn academic credit. You can choose to attend in person or join online. Course options include one course, Biology 101 with a lab (which counts as more than one course), two courses, or Biology 101 with a lab plus one more course. If you are an international student attending in person and need a visa, you must take at least two courses or one course with a lab. Online students can choose either one or two courses. All classes are taught by Penn faculty, and you learn alongside college students.
8. Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College Summer Session
Location: Carnegie Mellon University Campus, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: $13,792 for two courses (residential); $6,957 for one course and $10,618 for two courses (commuter)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 800 students across 12 programs
Dates: June 21 – August 2
Application Deadline: International applications are due on February 1, and the regular application deadline is March 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors at least 16 years of age (at the start of the program) can apply. International students should check the application guidelines here.
Carnegie Mellon University’s Pre-College Summer Session lets high school students take real college courses and earn credit. You can choose from around 30 courses in subjects like science, computer science, engineering, technology, humanities, social sciences, and the arts. The program runs for six weeks during the summer. If you live on campus, you must take two courses. If you are a commuter, you can take one or two. Taking two courses in six weeks is intense and similar to a full college workload, so be prepared for a challenging pace.
9. Johns Hopkins Pre-College Summer Programs
Location: Online and on-campus (Johns Hopkins Homewood campus, Baltimore, MD) options are available.
Cost/Stipend: $6,065 (residential) | $4,660 (commuter) | $1,950 (online). Scholarships are offered. Whether they’re open to international students has not been clarified.
Dates: June 24–July 4, July 8–18, July 22–August 1 (Online ends July 5, 19, and August 2)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12 with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher can apply. International students can check the admissions guide here before applying.
Johns Hopkins Pre-College Summer Programs offer high school students the chance to explore subjects like medicine, neuroscience, and psychology. You attend morning lectures and also take part in guest talks, presentations, and other educational and social activities with your peers. If you choose the online option, you join live sessions with your instructor and should plan to spend about 15 hours per week on coursework. Some courses may have prerequisites, so it’s important to check the on-campus and online course lists before applying.
10. UC Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Summer Virtual Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: International students pay $615 per unit + $550 registration + $71 doc fee + $25 app fee + $500 service fee.
Dates: Six sessions from May 27 to July 25
Application Deadline: June 2
Eligibility: High school students that are 16-17 years old
Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Summer Virtual lets you take college courses online through UC Berkeley. You’ll earn college credit while learning alongside Berkeley students and high schoolers from around the world. All courses are taught by Berkeley faculty and delivered remotely, so you can join from home. You can choose courses that match your interests or go beyond your school’s curriculum. This is a way to explore possible majors, strengthen your academics, and experience college-level learning.
11. University of Chicago Pre-College Summer Immersion Program
Location: University of Chicago Campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: $8,600, which includes housing and meals. While the program does offer a commuter option, it’s only open to students who live in the Chicago area.
Acceptance rate: 4/8% acceptance rate
Dates: Session 1 June 17 – July 5 | Session 2 July 10 – July 26
Application Deadline: January 18
Eligibility: High school students over 14 years old can apply. International students can check the FAQ before applying.
The University of Chicago Pre-College Summer Immersion Program is a 3-week academic experience open to both U.S. and international high school students. Course options include creative writing, STEM, economic policy, philosophy, and free expression. You take one intensive course and explore it through workshops, discussions, research projects, and hands-on activities. The program helps you dive deep into a subject and understand both its theory and real-world applications.
12. Summer@Brown
Location: Online, commuter, or residential opportunities are available. On-campus courses conducted at Brown University campus, Providence, Rhode Island.
Cost: $$2,960–$17,162 based on the length and type of program. Check cost details here.
Dates: Various sessions from June 16 to July 25
Application Deadline: May 10
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12, ages 14 to 18 by June 15
Summer@Brown is a 1 to 5-week pre-college program offered by Brown University. You can choose to attend online, as a commuter, or live on campus in Providence, Rhode Island. The program offers over 300 courses in subjects like STEM, creative writing, literature, business, economics, social sciences, and the arts. Some courses include research experiences, where you propose and carry out your projects. Classes run for about three hours a day, five days a week, and also include group discussions, projects, and independent work.
13. Harvard Pre-College Summer School Program
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. This is a residential program, and housing is mandatory!
Cost: $$5,800 (includes tuition, housing, and meals) + $75 application fee.
Dates: Session I: June 22–July 3, Session II: July 6–18, Session III: July 20–August 1
Application Deadline: January 8(early application); February 12(regular application);April 9 (late application)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 11 and 12 can apply. International students should check the guidelines here before applying.
Harvard Pre-College Summer School Program is a two-week academic program for high school students. You choose one course from about 30 options in subjects like STEM, business, humanities, economics, and sociology. Along with classroom learning, you take part in college readiness workshops, field trips, and social events that give you a full campus experience and a chance to connect with peers. At the end of the program, you receive an official Harvard transcript. You can also request a written evaluation from your instructor, which can support your college applications.
14. UCLA’s Computer Science Summer Institute
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $350 registration fee plus tuition based on units.
Dates: Various sessions from June 23 to September 12
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in a high school as of Spring
UCLA’s Computer Science Summer Institute is a three-week program that introduces high school students to key areas of computer science. In the first week, you learn the basics of the field, including common programming concepts and how different languages are structured. The second week focuses on algorithms, sorting techniques, and deeper discussions through seminars and group sessions. The program includes hands-on experience with research projects, where you use computer tools to solve problems and explore real-world applications.
15. Yale Young Global Scholars
Location: Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut
Cost/Stipend: $6,500. Need-based financial aid is available.
Dates: Session 1: June 22- July 4 I Session 2: July 6- July 18 I Session 3: July 20- August 1
Application Deadline: Early Action deadline: October 20, Regular Decision deadline: January 10
Eligibility: Be a current high school sophomore or junior (or international equivalent)
Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) is a two-week residential program held at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. It is open to current high school sophomores and juniors from around the world. You can choose from four-course tracks: Innovation in Science and Technology, Literature, Philosophy & Culture, Politics, Law & Economics, and Solving Global Challenges.
All courses are designed to give you a broad, global view of key issues in each field. The program includes lectures, seminars, and discussions led by Yale faculty and guest speakers. You live on campus, take part in group projects, and learn with students from around the world.
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