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
PLEASE NOTE: Precollege Institute offerings for 2023 will be updated by January 2023
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.
Residential
and Nonresidential
Options Available
Residential
Programs with a mandatory residential plan provide an opportunity to experience college residential life. Programs designated as optional housing allow students to choose their summer housing preference through the registration form.
Participants are housed in our UCLA residential community, the Hill, designed to support the academic success and personal growth of our students with state-of-the-art study spaces and amenities. Olympic Hall on the Hill is conveniently located within easy walking distance of classrooms, libraries, sports facilities, and world-renowned art and cultural happenings. The residential plan features two meals a day in our award-winning UCLA dining halls, ranked #1 Best College Food in America by Niche.
Please visit the Campus Services and Housing page for more information.
Nonresidential
Nonresidential programs allow students to join our UCLA community without any additional residential expenses. For programs meeting on campus, participants may access a vast array of UCLA facilities and resources outside of program activities. Among these include numerous cafes and dining areas, botanical and sculpture gardens, open lawn, and outdoor sitting areas to study, connect, and recharge.
Explore our world-renowned Center for the Art of Performance as well as the Fowler and Hammer museums to see fascinating art exhibits, forums, lectures and screenings. UCLA offers endless of ways to expand your creative horizons. For details and additional information including supervision, see Parent/Guardian FAQ.
*2023 Precollege Institute offerings will be updated by January 2023
2022 Precollege Summer Institutes
Acting and Performance Summer Institute
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.
Applications of Nanoscience Summer Institute
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
July 18, 2022 – July 29, 2022
Hone your artistic skills in areas such as painting, drawing, photography, video art, or sculpture, or artistic voice. Sessions include studio work, lectures, presentations, and a final art exhibition.
Camera Acting Summer Institute
July 10, 2022 – July 23, 2022
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
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
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.
Critical Thinking Summer Institute
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
Gain hands-on experience in research, sketching costumes, and creating mood boards and color palettes.
Design Media Arts Summer Institute
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.
Economics Summer Institute
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
July 17, 2022 – August 6, 2022
Experience engineering design with computing while building teamwork and examining engineering majors offered at UCLA and of engineering careers.
Film and Television Summer Institute – Cinematography
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 – Digital Filmmaking
July 24, 2022 – August 6, 2022
Take your film projects to the next level by enhancing your understanding of the aesthetic, creative, and logistical decisions in filmmaking. Develop creativity and technique in cinematic storytelling for entertaining narrative projects.
Film and Television Summer Institute – Media Parks: The Cinematic and Televisual History of Theme Parks
Examine the contexts and shared histories of theme parks and screen media, and investigate how these cultural phenomena are shaping one another in today’s media landscape.
Film and Television Summer Institute – Writing for TV: Big Ideas for the Small Screen
July 11, 2022 – July 30, 2022
Get an introduction to professional TV writing by learning how to develop original series concepts and navigate the contemporary marketplace. Identify and capture the tone, characters, dialogue, and themes that makes stories unique.
Game Lab Summer Institute
July 24, 2022 – August 6, 2022
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
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.
Immersive International Studies Summer Institute
July 18, 2022 – July 22, 2022
Bring the roles of historical characters to life with pivotal moments in history and government. Utilizing innovative pedagogy of Reacting to the Past, use critical thinking, primary source analysis, and argumentation.
International Development Summer Institute
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
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
Experience an intensive introduction to the nation’s legal system that culminates in a public mock trial presentation.
Model United Nations Summer Institute
Take on the role of a diplomat by engaging in independent research and debates on a United Nations committee.
Musical Theater Summer Institute
Advance your skills in acting, singing, and dancing through invigorating classes and guest workshops.
Nanoscale Microscopy Lab Summer Institute
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
August 1, 2022 – August 5, 2022
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.
Political Science Summer Institute
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
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
July 11, 2022 – July 22, 2022
Connect cutting-edge scientific research, popular culture, and contemporary arts in this unique exploration of science and art.
Startup UCLA: Social Entrepreneurship Summer Institute
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
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.
Writing Summer Institute – Introduction to College Writing
Prepare for your success as a college-level writer and practice essential skills by completing writing challenges and prompts.
