If you are serious about exploring a subject before college, spending a summer at UCLA is one of the best decisions you can make. The programs here are built around the kind of learning that actually feels different from school, longer projects, more independent work, and instructors who are genuinely active in their fields.
Depending on what you choose, you might find yourself working through STEM research, business challenges, writing workshops, medical discussions, film projects, or coding, all within a university environment that pushes you further than a regular classroom typically would.
Why should you choose a program at UCLA?
Because UCLA is not just a prestigious name. It is a working research university with deep connections to some of the most dynamic industries in the world, and spending a summer here puts you inside that environment before you officially arrive as a college student.
You engage with instructors who bring real academic and professional depth to what they teach, work through coursework that mirrors what university actually feels like, and get a genuine sense of whether the subjects you are considering are right for you. The fact that it sits in Los Angeles also means the experience extends beyond the campus, placing you in a city that shapes technology, entertainment, healthcare, and innovation in ways few places in the world do.
Without further ado, here are 15 UCLA summer programs for high school students!
15 UCLA Summer Programs for High School Students
1. UCLA Summer Sessions: Approved Summer Courses for High School Students
Location: University of California, Los Angeles
Cost: Varies by course (per unit tuition)
Dates: June – September (multiple sessions)
Application Deadline: Opens February 18
Eligibility: High school students able to handle college-level coursework
The UCLA Summer Sessions: Approved Summer Courses for High School Students program allows you to enroll directly in UCLA undergraduate courses over the summer. You can choose from a list of pre-approved classes across subjects like chemistry, anthropology, languages, and more, and take them alongside current college students. Most students enroll in one or two courses, with each course running for about 3 to 10 weeks, depending on the session format. Unlike structured precollege programs, this option focuses on independent learning, where you attend lectures, complete assignments, and are evaluated through exams or projects just like a UCLA undergraduate. You may work with academic texts, problem sets, lab components, or writing-based coursework, depending on the class you select. By the end of the program, you earn official UCLA credit and receive a transcript that can be used for future college applications or transfer credit.
2. UCLA Summer College Immersion Program (SCIP)
Location: University of California, Los Angeles
Cost: $1,675 – Base program fee
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: April 1 (international students); May 1 (domestic students)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11 with strong academic standing (minimum 3.8+ GPA)
The UCLA Summer College Immersion Program (SCIP) gives you a chance to experience college-level academics while still in high school. You enroll in one or two UCLA undergraduate courses and attend lectures alongside college students, completing assignments, exams, or lab work depending on your subject. Courses span areas like STEM, business, humanities, and the arts, so you can choose a field and work with discipline-specific tools such as data analysis, academic writing, or lab techniques. Beyond classes, the program includes structured co-curricular sessions like research workshops, study skills seminars, and college readiness sessions that help you understand how to manage coursework and academic expectations. By the end of the program, you earn college credit and a transcript, along with experience navigating a university-level academic environment.
3. UCLA BrainSPORT Summer High School Research Internship
Location: UCLA BrainSPORT Program, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June-August
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, with preference for students who can continue during the academic year
The UCLA BrainSPORT Summer High School Research Internship introduces you to clinical research focused on sports-related concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Over eight weeks, you work within a research team, supporting tasks such as patient recruitment, data collection, and maintaining study records. You may contribute to ongoing projects like CARE4Kids, where you engage with methods including neuroimaging, biomarker tracking, and cognitive testing. The program also includes regular lab meetings, where you observe how researchers discuss findings, troubleshoot methods, and plan studies. You are mentored by medical students and research staff from the David Geffen School of Medicine, giving you insight into both clinical and academic pathways in neuroscience. The internship concludes with a research presentation, where you explore a topic in brain health and present your findings.
4. UCLA Summer College Immersion Program Plus
Location: University of California, Los Angeles
Cost: $1,950
Dates: June 22-July 31
Application Deadline: April 1 (international students); May 1 (domestic students)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11 with a strong academic record (minimum ~3.8 GPA)
The UCLA Summer College Immersion Program (SCIP 2) gives you a structured introduction to college academics while you’re still in high school. You enroll in one or two UCLA courses and attend lectures alongside undergraduate students, completing assignments, exams, or lab work depending on your subject. The program spans a wide range of fields, including STEM, business, humanities, and the arts, so you can explore a specific area using tools like data analysis, academic writing, or lab-based methods. In addition to coursework, you take part in required co-curricular sessions such as study skills workshops, research seminars, and college readiness discussions that help you understand how to manage academic workloads. By the end of the program, you earn college credit and a certificate, along with firsthand experience of how university-level learning is structured.
5. UCLA eSummer College Immersion Program (eSCIP)
Location: Online (University of California, Los Angeles)
Cost: $900
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11
The UCLA eSummer College Immersion Program (eSCIP) is the fully online version of UCLA’s college immersion experience, allowing you to take university-level courses from home. You enroll in one or two approved courses and attend live online lectures, while completing assignments, discussions, and assessments similar to a UCLA undergraduate class. The program spans a wide range of subjects, including STEM, humanities, business, and social sciences, so you can explore a field using tools like academic writing, data analysis, or conceptual frameworks specific to your course. In addition to classes, you participate in scheduled co-curricular sessions such as workshops and seminars that focus on study strategies, research skills, and college readiness. These sessions run alongside your coursework and are designed to help you manage deadlines and engage with material in a structured way. By the end of the program, you earn college credit and a certificate, along with experience navigating an online college-level academic environment.
6. UCLA Critical Thinking Summer Institute
Location: University of California, Los Angeles
Cost: $3,201
Dates: July 13-31
Application Deadline: July 3
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
The UCLA Critical Thinking Summer Institute introduces you to how arguments are constructed, analyzed, and evaluated in academic settings. You take a philosophy-based course where you learn to break down complex ideas, identify logical fallacies, and build structured arguments using evidence and reasoning. Throughout the program, you engage with readings, class discussions, and written assignments that focus on topics like ethics, logic, and decision-making. You may practice analyzing case studies, debating different viewpoints, and writing argumentative essays that require clear, evidence-based thinking. By the end of the program, you will have developed practical skills in reasoning, argumentation, and analytical writing that are commonly used across subjects at the university level.
7. UCLA Discovering College Math Summer Institute
Location: University of California, Los Angeles
Cost: $3,218
Dates: July 13 – 31
Application Deadline: June 12
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in mathematics
The UCLA Discovering College Math Summer Institute introduces you to mathematics as a creative and problem-solving discipline rather than just a set of formulas. The program focuses on discrete mathematics, where you explore topics related to patterns, logic, and countable systems, which are widely used in computer science and data-driven fields. You learn through a mix of math circle activities, college-style lectures, and small group problem-solving sessions, where you actively work through complex problems with peers. Throughout the program, you engage with puzzles, mathematical games, and structured exercises that help you build reasoning and proof-based thinking skills. You also attend faculty talks and student panels that give you insight into how mathematics is studied and applied at the university level. The program concludes with a math fair-style presentation, where you share your work and demonstrate the concepts you explored during the session.
8. UCLA Economics Summer Institute
Location: University of California, Los Angeles
Cost: $3,186
Dates: July 22 – July 10
Application Deadline: June 12
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in mathematics
The UCLA Economics Summer Institute gives you a structured introduction to core economic concepts through lectures, workshops, and collaborative projects. You attend faculty-led lectures that cover foundational topics, followed by smaller discussion sessions run by UCLA Economics Peer Learning Facilitators. A key part of the program involves working in small teams, where you apply what you learn to case studies and real-world economic issues. Throughout the program, you prepare weekly presentations that require you to analyze data, justify arguments using evidence, and explain economic concepts clearly. Topics covered may include price controls, rent regulation, taxation, and international trade, helping you understand how economic theory connects to policy decisions. By the end of the program, you will have built experience in data analysis, structured reasoning, and presenting economic arguments in a clear, organized format.
9. UCLA Engineering Design
Location: University of California, Los Angeles
Cost: $3,002
Dates: June 22 – July 10; July 13-July 31
Application Deadline: Session A: June 12 (5 pm PT); Session B: July 3 (5 pm PT)
Eligibility: High school students can apply
In the UCLA Summer Precollege Engineering Design program, you get an introduction to engineering through hands-on, team-based projects without needing prior experience. You choose a track such as mechanical, electrical, or aerospace engineering, and work with UCLA faculty and undergraduate mentors to design, build, and test functional systems. Depending on your track, you might design and race a go-kart, program microcontrollers to control circuits and devices, build and launch rockets using CAD tools and fabrication methods, or develop autonomous rovers that navigate real-world environments. Across all tracks, you learn to use tools like CAD software, basic programming, and prototyping equipment while working through a full design cycle. You also present your work, applying engineering concepts and explaining your design decisions. The program is structured to reflect how collaborative engineering projects are developed in real-world settings.
10. UCLA Introduction to Investments
Location: University of California, Los Angeles
Cost: $3,156
Dates: June 13 – July 31 (both commuter and virtual options available)
Application Deadline: June 12
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in mathematics
In the UCLA Introduction to Investments program, you explore how financial systems and investment strategies work through lectures and discussion-based learning. You attend sessions led by UCLA faculty that cover core concepts in economics and investing, followed by smaller group discussions led by economics majors where you share ideas and analyze concepts more closely. Throughout the program, you apply what you learn to case studies, examining how different investment approaches function in real-world scenarios. You engage with topics such as financial markets, stocks and bonds, monetary policy, and global investing, while also learning how to evaluate investment decisions using basic quantitative methods. The program also introduces you to areas like venture capital, private equity, and career pathways in finance. By the end, you develop a clearer understanding of how investment systems operate and how financial decisions are analyzed in practice.
11. UCLA Engineering Design: Internet of Things
Location: University of California, Los Angeles
Cost: $2,734
Dates: June 22 – July 10; July 13-July 31
Application Deadline: June 12; July 3
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11 in Spring, minimum GPA 3.2 (Rovers/Go‑Karts) or 3.5 (Microcontrollers), and at least 15 years old by June 22
In this course, you explore how sensors, IoT systems, and machine learning work together through a mix of lectures and hands-on practice. You start by working with microsensors commonly used in IoT devices, using them directly to collect data and build simple machine learning models. As the course progresses, you learn the fundamentals of machine learning and neural networks, and apply these concepts to tasks like motion pattern recognition used in navigation and autonomous systems. You spend significant time in lab sessions, where you write code, experiment with IoT platforms, and build projects using tools like C programming. The program also includes guest sessions with industry experts, giving you insight into real-world applications of these technologies. Throughout the course, you work on an open-ended project where you design and implement your own IoT-based system for a chosen application. The course concludes with a final presentation, where you share your project, explain your approach, and demonstrate how your system works.
12. UCLA Introduction To Investments
Location: University of California, Los Angeles
Cost: $3,156
Dates: July 13-July 31; (both virtual and commuter options available)
Application Deadline: June 12
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in mathematics
In this course, you explore how investment systems and financial markets operate through a mix of lectures and discussion-based learning. You attend sessions led by faculty that focus on investment options and economic principles, followed by smaller group discussions where you exchange ideas and break down concepts with peers. Throughout the program, you apply what you learn to case studies, analyzing how different investment strategies work in real-world contexts. You engage with topics such as stocks, bonds, commodities, monetary policy, market cycles, and global investing, while also being introduced to areas like venture capital, private equity, and hedge funds. You also learn how to approach valuation and basic quantitative analysis when evaluating investment decisions. By the end of the course, you will have a clearer understanding of how financial systems function and how different pathways connect to careers in finance and investing.
13. UCLA Political Science
Location: University of California, Los Angeles
Cost: $2,660
Dates: June 22-July 10
Application Deadline: June 12
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in mathematics
In this course, you are introduced to how politics in the United States works, focusing on how individuals and groups engage in collective action. You explore why people participate in political processes, how institutions are formed to organize this participation, and how these systems evolve. The course helps you understand the structure and function of key political institutions, and the underlying logic that shapes how the system operates. Through examples from political history and current events, you examine how decisions are made and how policies impact society. You also learn how social scientists study political systems, using evidence and analytical frameworks to interpret political behavior. By the end, you develop a clearer understanding of how American politics functions and how it is analyzed in an academic context.
14. UCLA Python for Economics and Finance
Location: University of California, Los Angeles; virtual
Cost: $2,770
Dates: June 22-July 10
Application Deadline: June 12
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in mathematics
In this course, you learn how to use Python as a tool for analyzing economic data and understanding real-world issues. You start with core programming concepts such as data types, functions, loops, and flow control, then move into numerical programming using libraries like NumPy and pandas for data manipulation. As the course progresses, you work with datasets to perform basic regression, time series analysis, and data visualization, applying these techniques to economic questions. You attend lectures led by faculty that connect programming concepts to economic theory, followed by discussion sessions where you explore different interpretations and approaches with peers. Your performance is assessed through participation, a midterm exam, and a cumulative final exam, reflecting both your coding skills and your understanding of economic analysis.
15. UCLA Teen Arch Studio
Location: University of California, Los Angeles; virtual
Cost: $3,572
Dates: A: In-Person Commuter: June 22 – July 10; B: Remote/Virtual: June 22 – July 1
Application Deadline: June 12
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in mathematics
In this course, you explore how architectural forms are developed by working with both soft and hard materials through hands-on studio practice. You begin by creating iterative physical models to understand how shape, volume, and structure evolve through different design operations. Alongside model-making, you use diagrammatic drawing and basic 3D modeling to translate abstract ideas into structured architectural concepts. As the course progresses, you learn how to build a clear design process, moving from initial inspiration to a defined enclosure using systematic approaches. You then apply your ideas to a larger project, designing a studio extension informed by your earlier models and drawings. Throughout the program, you refine your work based on feedback and develop the ability to explain your design decisions from concept to outcome.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive 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. You can find the application link here!
Image source: University of California, Los Angeles