If you want to spend your summer building real-world skills and exploring your academic interests, Europe has a range of programs designed for high school students. Whether you’re into science, technology, business, or the arts, these programs focus on practical training, expert guidance, and collaboration with students from different backgrounds. You’ll get to work on projects like lab experiments, coding assignments, field studies, and more.
Some programs also offer opportunities to publish your work, present your findings, or earn college credits, making your summer both productive and meaningful. You could learn to conduct environmental research, analyze business case studies, or improve your creative writing.
To help you get started, here are 10 summer programs for high school students in Europe!
10 Summer Programs for High School Students in Europe
1. Pre-Uni Camps by Université Paris Dauphine-PSL
The Pre-Uni Camps at Université Paris Dauphine-PSL give you an introduction to Economics and Management through workshops, activities, and lectures. Over three days, you’ll explore topics like microeconomics, macroeconomics, management theory, and finance, with the summer camp offering additional insights from the university’s Finance Summer School.
You’ll also develop practical skills like public speaking, teamwork, and data analysis using Excel. Sessions are led by academic experts, giving you a chance to learn about potential career paths and university-level study.
Subject Areas: Economics, Management, Finance, Public Speaking
Cost: £220 (discounts available for partner school students)
Dates: Autumn Camp: October 29–31, Spring Camp: April 8–10, Summer Camp: July 8–10
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (limited to 40 students per camp)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ (Year 11–13, IB students, or students on a gap year)
Location: Université Paris Dauphine-PSL, London Campus
2. University of Warwick’s Pre-University Summer School
The Pre-University Summer School at the University of Warwick offers high school students an introduction to university-level study through courses in Economics and Finance, Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, and Science and Engineering. Over ten days, you will attend lectures, seminars, and skills workshops led by Warwick faculty while also participating in personal development sessions on research skills and university applications.
The program includes a guest lecture by an eminent speaker and trips to London and Oxford, providing a mix of academic learning and cultural experiences. Throughout the summer school, you will stay on Warwick’s self-contained campus and engage with student ambassadors who offer insight into university life.
Subject Areas: Economics and Finance, Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Science and Engineering
Cost: £4950
Dates: July 15–July 25
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–17 considering or applying to university
Location: University of Warwick, UK
3. Imperial Global Summer School
The Imperial Global Summer School is a two-week residential program designed for students aged 16 and 17 who are passionate about STEM subjects. You will choose one of four academic tracks; Data Science and AI, Engineering, Medicine and Life Sciences, or Physics and engage in lectures, laboratory sessions, and hands-on workshops led by Imperial College London faculty.
The second week features the Innovation Challenge, where you will collaborate with students from other disciplines to solve real-world problems under the guidance of industry experts. In addition to academic sessions, the program includes university application guidance, a stay in on-campus accommodation, and a variety of social activities, such as sightseeing in London and a visit to Oxford.
Subject Areas: Data Science and AI, Engineering, Medicine and Life Sciences, Physics
Cost: £7,260
Dates: Session 1: June 30–July 11; Session 2: August 4–August 15
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (early application recommended)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–17 with strong academic ability and English proficiency
Location: Imperial College London, UK
4. Pre-University Summer School by King’s College London
The Pre-University Summer School at King’s College London offers one- to four-week courses in Business, Law, Medical Science, International Relations, and Computer Science for students aged 16–17. You’ll take part in interactive learning through lectures, seminars, role-play, and simulation exercises. You’ll also complete university-level assignments and receive feedback to strengthen your analytical and writing skills.
If you choose the residential option, you’ll stay in King’s Stamford Street Apartments in central London, with supervised accommodation, meals, and organized social activities. At the end of the program, you’ll earn a King’s Certificate of Completion or Participant Confirmation of Attendance.
Subject Areas: Business, Law, Medical Science, International Relations, Psychology, Computer Science, Engineering, Marketing, Neuroscience, Politics, Media & Communication
Cost: Tuition: £2,990/week; Residential Package (Tuition + Accommodation): £3,730/week; Discounts for early applications and multi-week bookings.
Dates: Session 1: June 30–July 4, Session 2: July 7–11, Session 3: July 14–18, Session 4: July 21–25.
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–17
Location: King’s College London, UK
5. University of Amsterdam Pre-University Summer Programme
The Pre-University Honours Programme at the University of Amsterdam helps you explore business, politics, media, international relations, and sustainability through interactive lectures, workshops, and discussions. Over two weeks, you’ll attend guest lectures, go on excursions, and work on hands-on assignments designed to build your critical thinking and research skills. By the end of the program, you’ll have a deeper understanding of your chosen subject and practical skills for future studies.
Subject Areas: Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship, International Relations, Media & Journalism, Politics & Identity, Sustainable Thinking
Cost: £2050
Dates: Cohort 1: June 17–June 26; Cohort 2: July 1–July 10; Additional Sessions (varies by program): July 15–July 24, July 29–August 7
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ interested in social sciences, business, or sustainability
Location: University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
6. University of Edinburgh Summer School
The Pre-University Summer School at the University of Edinburgh is a two-week program for students aged 16–18 in their final or second-to-last year of high school. You can choose courses in Humanities, Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Data Science, or Design, gaining university-level experience through lectures, discussions, and hands-on projects. The program offers residential accommodation at Pollock Halls with breakfast and dinner included. You’ll also join social activities and excursions, like visits to Stirling Castle, the National Museum of Scotland, and a traditional Scottish ceilidh.
Subject Areas: Humanities, Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Data Science, Design
Cost: £4,950 (includes tuition, accommodation, meals, and social activities)
Dates: June 30–July 11
Application Deadline: May 20
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–18 in their final or penultimate year
Location: University of Edinburgh, UK
7. Bocconi Summer School for High School Students
The Bocconi Summer School is a two-week program for high school students aged 16 and older offering courses in business, economics, law, technology, and social sciences. You will choose two courses, one per week, from 16 options like Data Science, Finance, Entrepreneurship, International Politics, and Machine Learning. Taught by Bocconi faculty, classes include lectures, group projects, and guest speaker sessions. The program offers an immersive university experience in Milan with optional on-campus housing. At the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion.
Subject Areas: Business, Economics, Data Science, Law, Finance, Marketing, AI, Politics, Strategy
Cost: €2,600 (excludes housing and meals)
Dates: July 7–July 18
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ in their third-to-last or second-to-last year of study
Location: Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
8. Warsaw Summer School for High School Students
The Warsaw Summer School at Kozminski University is a three-week program for international high school students interested in business, management, finance, and artificial intelligence. You’ll complete 100 hours of coursework on topics like marketing, financial statements, AI in business, and digital transformation.
The program also includes language courses in Polish and Business English to improve your communication skills. Classes run Monday to Friday, with weekends reserved for cultural activities like visits to Warsaw’s Old Town, the Royal Castle, and the Copernicus Science Center. After finishing the program, you’ll receive a certificate from Kozminski University, one of Central and Eastern Europe’s top business schools.
Subject Areas: Business, Finance, Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, Management, Business English, Polish Language
Cost: Early Bird (before March 31): €500; Regular Fee (after March 31): €600
Dates: July 21–August 14
Application Deadline: July 10
Eligibility: High school students interested in business and management
Location: Kozminski University, Warsaw, Poland
9. United Nations International Law Fellowship Programme
The United Nations International Law Fellowship Programme is a fully funded summer program offering advanced training in international law for government officials and legal scholars from developing countries and emerging economies. Held at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, the fellowship includes lectures, seminars, and discussions led by international law experts. You’ll study topics like treaty law, international peace and security, human rights, trade law, and diplomatic law. As part of the program, you’ll also attend the Public International Law session at The Hague Academy of International Law.
Subject Areas: International Law, Treaty Law, Human Rights, Trade Law, Diplomatic Law
Cost: Fully funded
Dates: June 30–August 1
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: Legal professionals with experience in international law; must be fluent in French
Location: Peace Palace, The Hague, Netherlands
10. IE University Pre-University Summer Program
IE University’s Pre-University Summer Program offers students an immersive academic and cultural experience in Spain. You will engage in interactive workshops, team projects, and extracurricular activities designed to develop critical thinking and leadership skills. The program takes place in two locations: the historic city of Segovia in the first week and Madrid’s modern IE Tower in the second. Students will also receive an official certificate of completion and benefits for future IE University applications.
Subject Areas: Various academic disciplines with a focus on skill-building, critical thinking, and hands-on learning
Location: Segovia and Madrid, Spain
Eligibility: Students aged 16–17
Application Deadline: June (rolling admissions, spaces allocated on a first-come, first-served basis)
Program Dates: Multiple intakes from June 22 – August 1 (each session lasts two weeks)
Cost: €5,750 (includes tuition, housing, meals, and transportation for program activities; flights and personal expenses not included)
Bonus –
Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Program Dates: Summer: June – August, fall: September – December, winter: December – February, spring: March – June.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Summer Cohort I priority application deadline is March 9!
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: Open to high school students with a 3.3+ GPA; no prior experience needed.
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 high-school students 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.
One other option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a virtual mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from.
Image source: Université Paris Dauphine – PSL, London
