Gain the tools to begin a personal financial plan and explore careers in investing

During the Introduction to Investments Summer Institute, students will attend and participate in lectures on economics with a focus on investment options by UCLA faculty, as well as discussion sessions, led by UCLA Economics majors, to share their ideas in smaller group settings.

Students have the chance to apply their knowledge and foundation while analyzing case studies relevant to coursework.

Planned topics will include but are not limited to:

• Financial Markets, how they work and why they exist
• Stock Ownership, bonds, commodities
• The Federal Reserve, Economics cycles
• Financial panics through time
• Valuation Styles and Quantitative analysis
• Personal Investments
• Global Markets, Efficient Markets
• Money, Banking and Cycles
• International Investing
• Other Investment Types
• Venture Capital
• Private Equity and Hedge Funds
• Careers in Finance
• Investing Educational Paths to Prepare for Careers in Finance and Investing

The program has application requirements for admission. Eligible applicants who successfully submit all requirements will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision within 3 weeks. See Application Requirements below for details. Early application is strongly encouraged.

Applicants are required to provide the following during the online registration process:

• Copy of most recent academic/grade transcript (unofficial)
• A short essay responding to the following prompt:
  • In 250 words or less, tell us about yourself and your learning style. What do you expect to gain and accomplish from this program?
• Proof of English proficiency – Citizens from non-English speaking countries ONLY (Citizens of the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Singapore, and Canada are exempt from English Proficiency requirements):
  • TOEFL: Minimum score of 80 (iBT) or 550 (PBT); IELTS – 6.5 or higher;
  • iTEP: 5 or higher;
  • DUOLINGO (DET): 105 or higher;
  • CEFR/CAE/CPE: Level C1- Grades A, B, and C;
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) or students attending a high school taught in English: students may submit a transcript or verification of enrollment from their school; OR
  • Proof of completion in English as a language course

UCLA Summer Sessions Summer Scholars Support

Qualified students attending grades 8th – 11th in Spring 2023 in the state of California may be 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 to support enrollment in SCIP/eSCIP, one Summer Course, or a Precollege Summer Institute.

Summer 2023 deadline to apply: March 15.

Students will receive a letter grade upon completion. However, if you would like to change your grade type to Pass/No Pass (P/NP), please contact your instructor. To receive a “Pass” notation, students must earn a letter grade of C or better. See University Credit, Grades and Transcripts for more information about academic credit.

Due to the intense nature of the Introduction to Investments Summer Institute and the time commitment involved, living in on-campus housing is mandatory.

For more information on UCLA housing precollege programs, please see the Housing for Minors page.

Many of our precollege programs with mandatory housing (only) also feature non-curricular evening and weekend activities, the availability of which is at the sole discretion of the academic department offering the program, and are not operated by UCLA Summer Sessions. To learn more about whether (and when) your selected program will host such activities, please consult the schedules for each program or contact the department in question directly: stephanie@econ.ucla.edu