If you’re interested in business and want to understand how companies operate across borders, global business programs can give you that foundation before college. These programs introduce you to topics like international trade, cross-cultural management, entrepreneurship, and finance through hands-on projects, case studies, and real-world applications. Many are run by universities and companies, offering structured learning with faculty or industry professionals who guide you through the material. You’ll explore how various aspects of business, such as supply chains, marketing, policy, and economics, are interconnected globally.
Why should you choose a global business program?
Global business programs show you how companies navigate different markets, cultures, and regulatory environments. You’ll learn about international trade, supply chains, and how cultural differences affect business decisions. This knowledge is valuable whether you’re interested in multinational corporations, entrepreneurship, or international development. Competitive business programs demonstrate intellectual curiosity to admissions officers. Selective programs or those run by prestigious institutions carry additional weight, and your projects provide strong material for college essays.
We’ve compiled a list of 10 global business programs for high school students to help you find the right fit. Some are in-person at university campuses or company headquarters, while others are virtual and accessible from anywhere.
10 Global Business Programs for High School Students
1. Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Redmond, WA and Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None / Paid internship, amount not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: 4 weeks
Application Deadline: February – March (tentative)
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are also residents of and attend schools near Redmond, Washington, or Atlanta, Georgia | Should also have completed pre-calculus or an equivalent course by the start of the program | For the Atlanta, Georgia location, applicants must attend Atlanta Public Schools, DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb, and Gwinnett County School Districts
The Microsoft Discovery Program places graduating high school seniors in small teams where they work on real product challenges and develop solutions with guidance from Microsoft staff. The program introduces you to roles such as software engineering, program management, and user experience design through hands-on project work. Mentors from Microsoft provide regular feedback and support, helping students navigate technical decisions and professional expectations. In addition to project work, the program includes professional development sessions covering workplace culture, teamwork, and communication. The experience concludes with formal presentations where teams share their work and receive feedback from program leaders.
2. Bank of America Student Leaders
Location: Local nonprofits across eligible U.S. communities; includes a national summit in Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: None / Paid internship; all expenses covered for the D.C. summit
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective / About 300 students selected annually across 100 communities
Program Dates: 8-week internship, typically early June – late/mid August
Application Deadline: January (tentatively)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors | Legally authorized to work in the U.S. | Cannot be a Bank of America employee or immediate family member | Have not been previously part of the program
Bank of America Student Leaders interns spend eight weeks working roughly 35 hours per week at local nonprofit organizations, gaining insight into how mission-driven groups operate and collaborate with businesses, government, and community stakeholders. Interns engage in service‑oriented work that may include program support, outreach, data tracking, or event planning that contributes to the nonprofit’s mission and community impact. The highlight is the week-long Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll meet students from across the country to explore civic engagement, leadership, and social impact. This combination of sustained local service and national convening provides a broad view of how leadership and business tools can be applied in service contexts rather than traditional corporate environments.
3. Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive (IGEI) – Lehigh University
Location: Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
Cost: $7,000 (includes tuition, room and board, instructional materials, field trips, activities, and in-program transportation); limited need-based financial assistance available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 5 – 25
Application Deadline: Priority deadline: February 15; rolling admissions after until spots are filled
Eligibility: U.S. and international high school students graduating in the next 2 years | Must be 15-17 years old during program dates
This three-week intensive combines entrepreneurship, leadership development, and intercultural collaboration with a truly global focus. You’ll work through design thinking immersion, concentration courses, and a small business bootcamp, plus take on an “intrapreneurship” business consulting project with a real company. The program includes field trips, business visits, and collaboration with peers from around the world (66 countries have been represented since 2001). You’ll live on campus in double-occupancy dorms and participate in team-based challenges where success is measured by collective achievement rather than individual performance.
4. Georgetown University Entrepreneurship Academy
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Residential: $6,465 | Commuter: $5,075 | limited need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 7 – 19
Application Deadline: Details not provided
Eligibility: Current 8th-12th graders during the academic year prior to summer program | Minimum 2.0 GPA | At least 15 years old for select Non-Credit Academies
At Georgetown University’s Entrepreneurship Academy, you’ll spend your days immersed in a blend of classroom lectures, field trips, hands-on activities, and group discussions exploring topics like startup selection, prototype testing, market research, social innovation, and global business. The program emphasizes personal development alongside business fundamentals, incorporating practical experience to build your public speaking, communication, networking, and team-building skills. You’ll learn design thinking and brainstorming basics, develop your ideas into business plans, and participate in a final pitch competition with your team. Guest speakers include experienced entrepreneurs from various industries who share what it takes to succeed in different career paths. You’ll receive a Certificate of Participation upon completion.
5. Wharton Global Youth Program
Location: On-campus at the University of Pennsylvania, online, and select global locations (Cambridge, UK; San Francisco, CA)
Cost: Varies by program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Varies by program
Application Deadline: Varies by program type
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12; academic requirements vary by program
Wharton Global Youth Programs offers on-campus, online, and location-based options, each designed to introduce you to specific business areas such as entrepreneurship, data science, product design, and international management. Sessions are built around Wharton faculty‑led instruction and often include small-group work that mirrors college‑level coursework in business strategy and decision-making. Specialized academies like the Moneyball Academy or the Leadership in the Business World program let you study targeted subjects in depth. The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition provides an online team challenge where you develop strategies using a simulated stock market.
6. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) High School Entrepreneurship
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: California Resident $7,450; Out of State Resident $7,952 + $80 application fee (tentative, fee amount varies each year); limited needs-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~50 students per session
Program Dates: Session I: July 5–18; Session II: July 19–August 1
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grade high school student
Berkeley Business Academy for Youth immerses rising high school students in a two‑week intensive program where they collaborate to develop business concepts and complete a comprehensive business plan. Instruction combines lectures, independent research, computer lab work, and group collaboration, covering foundational areas such as marketing, finance, accounting, and management. Faculty from Berkeley Haas and industry guest speakers supplement academic sessions with real‑world perspectives on business challenges and innovation. You’ll cover core areas such as marketing, finance, accounting, entrepreneurship, and management, as well as specialized topics including game theory, negotiation, and corporate social responsibility. Through this residential experience, participants gain both practical business knowledge and insight into life as a college student in a leading business school environment.
7. Business Is Global: Summer Business and Language Program – Indiana University
Location: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Cost: $2,000; limited need-based scholarships available (up to full tuition)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~55-60 students
Program Dates: June 22 – July 5
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
This two‑week residential program at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business uniquely integrates global business education with instruction in less-commonly taught languages such as Arabic, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese. Each morning, you’ll participate in business sessions led by Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business faculty. Afterward, you’ll attend language classes that explore communication styles and cultural contexts of the regions where these languages are spoken. In the afternoons, focus shifts to regional culture, politics, and business climates, complemented by career development workshops on resumes, networking, and professional communication. Team projects allow students to apply both business and language skills collaboratively, culminating in final presentations that reflect their integrated learning.
8. USC Exploring Entrepreneurship Program
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Commuter (Domestic): $7,812 | Residential (Domestic): $11,347 | International: ~$11,949 + $535 additional fees
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~30-50 students per session
Program Dates: TBA
Application Deadline: Domestic students: May 2 | International students: March 14
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least 10th grade by June 15 of the application year
Hosted by the USC Marshall School of Business, this summer program blends classroom learning in core business areas like accounting, marketing, and business planning with hands-on experience via team projects and guest lectures entrepreneurs. The program includes field trips to companies and startup hubs in Los Angeles, providing you with direct exposure to the Southern California business landscape. Students work in small teams to develop and present original business ventures, drawing on classroom lessons to inform strategy, branding, and financial planning. Instruction is led by USC faculty and industry professionals, providing both academic and real‑world perspectives on how businesses launch and grow.
9. Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $5,500 + $75 application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 60 students
Program Dates: June 7 – 17 | June 21 – July 1
Application Deadline: January 23
Eligibility: Current rising high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Hosted by the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, this residential program immerses rising high school seniors in college‑level business study through interactive classes, workshops, and company treks. Participants work on real‑world business challenges in small teams, culminating in a pitch or solution presentation that mirrors the consulting case format used in industry. The curriculum spans marketing, finance, organizational behavior, and strategy, with faculty and Ross community members leading sessions designed to develop both conceptual understanding and practical application. Outside the classroom, students attend company visits and team‑building activities that introduce them to the broader professional ecosystem and peer collaboration.
10. Babson Summer Study for High School Students
Location: Online or in-person at New England Innovation Academy (NEIA), MA
Cost: Online: $6,295 | In-person day student: $9,295 | In-person residential: $12,995 | limited need-based financial aid available for online format only
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 8 – 28
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Babson’s Summer Study combines entrepreneurship education with a global outlook, encouraging students to use business fundamentals to tackle challenges aligned with the United Nations’ Global Goals. Through engaging classes, case studies, and teamwork, students develop core business skills such as identifying opportunities, creating value, and devising strategic plans. Students collaborate both individually and in teams to develop ideas, present concepts, and incorporate feedback, reflecting real-world entrepreneurial activities. For those aiming to gain business experience through a social impact perspective and earn college credit, this program links entrepreneurial skills with global citizenship.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program, 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. You can find the application link here!
Image Source – Babson College