Qualified students attending grades 8th – 11th in Spring 2020 in California are eligible for Summer Scholars Support, a need and merit based scholarship offered by the UCLA Summer Sessions Office. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available.
Precollege Summer Institutes
Earn college credit while advancing your skills in an area of study
Where classroom knowledge meets real-world experience
As the only official academic precollege programs offered by UCLA, Precollege Summer Institutes provide motivated and driven high school students the opportunity to earn college credit in one to three weeks while advancing their academic career and abilities in an area of study of their interest. Through co-curricular components including hands-on projects and performances, field visits, and guest lectures, students receive a comprehensive and immersive study of their chosen subject that goes beyond classroom instruction. Our Precollege Summer Institutes are open to high school students from around the world. We invite you to join our diverse and inclusive UCLA community full of respect, ideas, and optimism.
Registration opens on February 15. Please visit the Precollege Summer Institute Bruin Guide for more information. If you would like to stay informed about Summer 2025 programming, you may sign up for updates.
2025 Precollege Summer Institutes
Acting and Performance Summer Institute
June 22, 2025 – July 12, 2025
If you dream of performing on Broadway or in an award-winning film, advance your training! Learn performance technique to exhibit in a final stage performance.
AI, Code, & Art Summer Institute
July 7, 2025 – July 18, 2025
July 21, 2025 – August 1, 2025
Express your creativity and explore the relationship between art, software and coding through the Art & AI learning track.
Applications of Nanoscience Summer Institute
July 6, 2025 – July 19, 2025
July 27 – August 9, 2025
Commuter
July 7, 2025 – July 18, 2025
July 28, 2025 – August 8, 2025
Work on a team to propose a scientific research project utilizing current approaches in the field of nanoscience and technical journal articles.
Art Summer Institute
June 23, 2025 – July 5, 2025
Residential
July 6, 2025 – July 19, 2025
Commuter
July 21, 2025 – August 1, 2025
Hone your artistic skills in areas such as painting, drawing, photography, video art, sculpture, or artistic voice. Sessions include studio work, lectures, presentations, and a final art exhibition.
Camera Acting Summer Institute
June 22, 2025 – July 5, 2025
July 6, 2025 – July 19, 2025
July 20, 2025 – August 2, 2025
Learn the process of relating to the camera lens and approaches to understanding a script to prepare for and connect in an audition. You’ll learn the technical components of acting for the camera while writing and filming your own content, including self-tapes.
Computer Science Summer Institute – Intermediate Track
June 23, 2025 – July 11, 2025
The Intermediate Track includes topics such as critical concepts and skills in computer programming related to statistical inference, with hands-on analysis of real-world datasets including economic data, health data, geographical data, and social networks.
Computer Science Summer Institute – Introductory Track
June 23, 2025 – July 11, 2025
The Introductory Track provides a unique combination of coursework, a coding bootcamp, and lab touring experiences. This track is designed for students who do not have prior programming experience.
Content Creation & Scriptwriting Summer Institute
July 13, 2025 – July 25, 2025
Classes in web writing, screenwriting, playwriting, improv, and sketch comedy allow students to create stories that can be shared across all entertainment mediums.
Critical Thinking Summer Institute
July 7, 2025 – July 25, 2025
Evaluate arguments, make model decisions, and avoid reasoning traps with lectures on psychology of reasoning, foundations of deductive + inductive logic, and probability + decision theory. Media literacy and journalism workshops prepare you to write an article for publication.
Design Innovation Summer Institute – Costume Design
June 22, 2025 – July 12, 2025
July 13, 2025 – July 26, 2025
Gain hands-on experience in research, sketching costumes, and creating mood boards and color palettes.
Design Innovation Summer Institute – Lighting and Sound
June 22, 2025 – July 5, 2025
Explore the art of light and sound for the theater. Learn the technical components and the art of collaboration while expressing creative intent.
Design Innovation Summer Institute – Scenic
June 29, 2025 – July 12, 2025
A unique opportunity to examine the process of scenic design and discover how we can tell stories through visual research, sketches, and model design.
Design Media Arts Summer Institute
July 6, 2025 – July 19, 2025
Virtual
July 21, 2025 – August 1, 2025
Step into the world of media arts and learn the fundamentals of design within the mediums of graphic, web, game, and audio-visual media. Develop projects and build portfolios using cutting-edge software and technology.
Discovering College Math Summer Institute
July 14, 2025 – August 1, 2025
Introduce yourself to the creative and problem-solving aspects of mathematics, with a focus on discrete math, while covering topics like logic, sequences, counting, and graphs all through group-based learning and individual problem-solving activities.
Economics Summer Institute
July 14, 2025 – August 1, 2025
Expand your knowledge of critical economic issues affecting the United States and the world at one of the top-ranked economics departments in the world! Learn economic policy and analysis while building your data analysis skills.
Engineering Design Summer Institute
June 23, 2025 – July 11, 2025
July 14, 2025 – August 1, 2025
Experience engineering design with computing while building teamwork and examining engineering majors offered at UCLA and of engineering careers.
Engineering Design Summer Institute: Internet of Things
June 23, 2025 – July 11, 2025
July 14, 2025 – August 1, 2025
Experience engineering design with computing while building teamwork and examining engineering majors offered at UCLA and of engineering careers.
Environmental Engineering Summer Institute
June 23, 2025 – July 3, 2025
Immerse in hands-on environmental justice research. Learn cutting-edge techniques and collaborate closely with community partners to develop innovative, socially-conscious solutions to complex environmental challenges.
Film and Television Summer Institute – Cinematography
June 22, 2025 – June 28, 2025
June 29, 2025 – July 5, 2025
July 6, 2025 – July 12, 2025
July 13, 2025 – July 19, 2025
Demystify the concepts, creativity, and technique of cinematic lighting through a combination of lectures and hands-on lighting exercises. Working on UCLA sound stages with the latest digital cinema cameras and lighting equipment, explore…
Film and Television Summer Institute – Traditional Animation
June 23, 2025 – August 1, 2025
Expand your imagination by learning how to storyboard, write, and draw your own, unique animation film.
Game Lab Summer Institute
July 7, 2025 – July 18, 2025
Residential
July 20, 2025 – August 2, 2025
Create games and game art that express a personal artistic vision through technological expertise. Learn the foundations of game aesthetics, context, and genres in the game development process.
Hip Hop / Street Dance Summer Institute
June 22, 2025 – June 28, 2025
The artistic mediums of dance, choreography, and music blend with social activism in this award-winning program. Choreograph and give a final performance to show how art can be a force for social change.
International Development Summer Institute
June 23, 2025 – July 12, 2025
Are you passionate about developing strategies to address critical world issues? Through guided discussions and a project incubator lab, you will develop policy memos, models, and interventions in ways that are economically, environmentally, and culturally sustainable.
Introduction to Investments Summer Institute
June 23, 2025 – July 11, 2025
Virtual
June 23, 2025 – July 11, 2025
Build a financial plan and learn the structure of global financial markets at one of the top-ranked economics departments in the world. Gain a financial literacy of the investing landscape in business and personal investment decisions.
Mock Trial Summer Institute
July 6, 2025 – July 12, 2025
July 13, 2025 – July 19, 2025
Virtual
August 3, 2025 – August 9, 2025
Experience an intensive introduction to the nation’s legal system that culminates in a public mock trial presentation.
Musical Theater Summer Institute
July 13, 2025 – August 2, 2025
Advance your skills in acting, singing, and dancing through invigorating classes and guest workshops.
Nanoscale Microscopy Lab Summer Institute
June 22, 2025 – June 28, 2025
Commuter
June 23, 2025 – June 27, 2025
Learn about scientific imaging, fluorescence microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, and electron microscopy. This program provides a foundational knowledge to a key element in the scientific method of observation.
Nanoscience Lab Summer Institute
July 20, 2025 – July 26, 2025
Commuter
July 21, 2025 – July 25, 2025
In collaboration with the California NanoSystems Institute, explore technologies and diverse topics of bio-toxicity, supercapacitors, and photolithography. Designed for students with a strong science foundation in chemistry, physics, and biology.
Pit Orchestra Summer Institute
July 20, 2025 – August 2, 2025
Experience the blend of stage performance and pit that creates theatrical magic. Join other dedicated musicians to help convey the musical themes, emotions, and drama of productions through accompanying instrumentation.
Political Science Summer Institute
June 23, 2025 – July 11, 2025
An introduction to American politics that will develop your critical thinking & writing skills, and expose you to the myriad careers one can pursue with a Political Science degree.
Python for Economics and Finance Summer Institute
July 14, 2025 – August 1, 2025
This course is a basic introduction to Python for basic data exploration, analysis, and visualization. Students will learn about data types and focus on analysis through a hands-on approach.
Sci | Art Lab + Studio Summer Institute
June 22, 2025 – July 5, 2025
Commuter
July 7, 2025 – July 18, 2025
July 21, 2025 – August 1, 2025
Connect cutting-edge scientific research, popular culture, and contemporary arts in this unique exploration of science and art.
Stage Management Summer Institute
June 22, 2025 – July 12, 2025
July 13, 2025 – August 2, 2025
Step behind the curtain and into the exciting behind-the-scenes world of the performing arts! Learn the ins and outs of theatre production through workshops and other hands-on activities.
Startup UCLA: Social Entrepreneurship Summer Institute
June 23, 2025 – July 4, 2025
August 4, 2025 – August 15, 2025
Residential
July 6, 2025 – July 19, 2025
July 20, 2025 – August 2, 2025
Learn the basics of starting, building, and running non-profit social good organizations and social impact businesses. Topics include social entrepreneurship, social enterprises and non-profits.
TeenArch Studio Summer Institute
June 29, 2025 – July 19, 2025
Commuter
June 30, 2025 – July 18, 2025
Virtual
June 30, 2025 – July 18, 2025
Experience the field of architecture through hands-on design projects, landmark buildings, and LA based architectural offices. Develop your design skills in a studio environment while creating an architecture portfolio.
Voiceover Camera Acting Summer Institute
June 29, 2025 – July 11, 2025
Tell a story using your voice in the voiceover environment and on camera. Learn the technical components of acting for the microphone and the camera while gaining hands-on experience on content for a demo reel and self-tape audition.
World Politics Summer Institute
July 14, 2025 – August 1, 2025
An introduction to the study of world politics and the present-day international system, including a look at how foreign policy affects issues such as human rights, environmental pollution, and economic development.
