UVM students in a lab setting

Experience College Life for Four Weeks & Earn Credits

Summer Academy

UVM Summer Academy is an immersive, four-week, for-credit academic program designed for motivated high school students who have completed 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.

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Program Snapshot

Summer Start Date

June 30, 2025

Summer Application Deadline

June 17, 2025

How Often

Offered once every summer

Cost

Residential program fee: $2715

Learning Format

On Campus, Online

Duration

4 weeks total (2 weeks on campus, June 30-July 11; and 2 weeks online, 7/12-7/25), or 4 weeks online*

Time Commitment

First 2 weeks: Full-Time, On-campus; Second 2 weeks: Approximately 10 hours, Online

VA Benefit Eligible

No

Scholarships

No

Credits

3 credits

Additional Details

*Adventures in Neuroscience is online only

Overview

Discover what college is like and earn credits while in high school

Our program offers high school students the incredible opportunity to experience what it’s like to be in college for four weeks during the summer. You’ll study alongside like-minded students, learn from renowned professors, and earn three transferable college credits. Courses offered through Summer Academy are exclusively for pre-college students. 

Our leading summer academic program allows you to live on campus while you learn. A commuter option is available for those who do not require on-campus housing to participate in the academic program and some courses are offered fully online.

Precollege Group

There are so many benefits to Summer Academy. You can:

  • Make your college applications stand out to admissions officers.
  • Get a feel for what college will be like, and feel more confident going in.
  • Earn credits like you would from an AP class, with courses not typically offered in high school.
  • Pay discounted tuition rates or learn tuition-free with Vermont Dual Enrollment vouchers.
  • Learn new ideas and perspectives that will help you decide on your major and career path.

What Students Are Saying

Ayden Carpenter on Why He Recommends Taking College Classes in High School

“It’s a really good experience…to start getting that mentality that this is going to be what is expected of me and I can do this.”

Ayden Carpenter

Admissions

Who can participate in Summer Academy?

Students are ideal for admission if they are academically motivated, curious about college life, and meet the following criteria: 

  • Have completed 10th, 11th, or 12th grade
  • Are at least 15 years old by the start of the program
  • Highly-motivated to be challenged by college-level academics
  • Interested in experiencing the University of Vermont
  • Want to explore a field of study

Students must apply to the program by selecting a course.

Schedule a virtual meeting with a Pre-College Advisor

Book Now

Courses & Format

UVM Summer Academy is a four-week program with eight days of on-campus instruction followed by two weeks online. One course is offered online only, see the list of courses below.

On Campus Dates: June 30 – July 11
Online Dates: July 12 – July 25

  • Residential students arrive on campus/check in to residential hall on Sunday (June 29), courses begin Monday.
  • Checkout on Friday morning, July 12.
  • Reside on campus two weeks followed by two weeks online.
  • Complete all coursework online by date: still being finalized, please check back soon.
  • Residential enrichment activities are scheduled for the July 4th holiday.

UVM Summer Academy courses are taught by UVM faculty, and students are evaluated by the same academic standards and procedures as UVM undergraduate students. Completed college credit courses will result in an official college grade and will be added to the student’s University of Vermont transcript.

Courses

Whether you’re interested in a taking a course in the medical field, developing new skills in areas like web site development or forensic diagnostics, or simply exploring a class not offered in high school, our Summer Academy courses will help you prepare for your future. 

High school students interested in animal care, veterinary medicine, and local agricultural systems will be challenged to use their high school instruction in real-world animal systems right in our backyards. This course will provide students with the opportunity to integrate classroom instruction, hands-on learning and farm tours to more thoroughly understand how biology, veterinary medicine, animal behavior, and livestock management intersect. Students will have the opportunity to perform physical exams on Holstein cows and calves, and participate in milking and caring for the herd. They will also learn about nutrition, animal handling, vaccines, reproduction programs, animal health management, technology in livestock systems, lameness, calving management, and baby calf care. We will tour several area livestock operations to observe a diverse spectrum of management systems. During the second week, students will work independently on individual projects at home with final presentations on the last day.

Directors/Instructor: Stephen Wadsworth

Course Lab/Materials Fee: TBD

Time:  June 30 – July 11, 2025 on campus, 9am – 3:30pm (breaks and lunch)
July 12 – 25, 2025, online

Format: Hybrid

Location: Terrill-Home Ec 207, online

Students will learn and apply techniques in biology, genetics, chemistry, and physics while studying how they relate to the forensic investigation of crimes. A wide range of topics will be covered including DNA, entomology, fingerprinting, trace evidence, serology, blood spatter, and chemical analysis of compounds. Students will use case studies, hands on activities and a true crime project to illustrate their learning.

Directors/Instructor: Allison Dean

Course Lab/Materials Fee: TBD

Time: June 30 – July 11, 2025 on campus, 9am – 3:30pm (breaks and lunch)
July 12 – 25, 2025, online

Format: Hybrid

Location: Rowell N/A Hlth 115 (View Campus Map)

This summer course exposes students to the interdisciplinarity of modern science through hands-on learning in labs, interactive lectures, engaged discussions with researchers and medical professionals, and a group project. COMU 1990 provides a comprehensive overview of the different approaches and strategies needed to understand human health from basic research to patient care and treatment.

Directors/Instructor: Delphine Quenet and Stephen Everse

Course Lab/Materials Fee: TBD

Time: June 30 – July 11, 2025 on campus, 9am – 3:30pm (breaks and lunch)
July 12 – 25, 2025, online

Format: Hybrid

Location: Terrill-Home Ec 207 (View Campus Map)

Sample Syllabus: Please contact the instructor for information about this course.

Health & Medicine Academy

Why take Health & Medicine at UVM?

Explore the fundamentals of web development with a focus on HTML, CSS, and basic programming concepts using JavaScript. This course introduces students to the essential tools and techniques needed to create structured and interactive web pages, laying the groundwork for further exploration in the field.

This course provides a hands-on introduction to the foundational technologies of web development: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The course focuses on building engaging, responsive websites from the ground up.

Students will learn to:

  • Structure web content using HTML.
  • Style and design websites with CSS for aesthetics and user experience.
  • Add interactivity and dynamic features with JavaScript.

By the end of the course, participants will have the skills to create functional websites and understand core web development principles, preparing them for further studies in computer science or careers in technology. No prior programming experience is required—just a willingness to learn and explore!

Instructor: Murat Gungor

Course Lab/Materials Fee: TBD

Time: June 30 – July 11, 2025 on campus, 9am – 3:30pm (breaks and lunch)
July 12 – 25, 2025, online

Format: Hybrid

Location: Lafayette Hall L107 (View Campus Map)

Sample Syllabus: TBD

This course explores the multifaceted impact of climate change on individuals, communities, and global systems. Through an interdisciplinary lens, students will examine the scientific principles behind climate change, its environmental effects, and its socio-economic implications.

Key topics include:

  1. The greenhouse effect and climate science basics
  2. Impacts on ecosystems, weather patterns, and sea levels
  3. Societal challenges: health, food security, and economic disparities
  4. The role of policy and governance in climate action
  5. Personal and collective responsibility in combating climate change

Students will engage in critical discussions, case studies, and practical projects to understand their role in fostering sustainability and resilience. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to advocate for effective climate solutions in their communities and beyond.

Medical laboratory science professionals are vital healthcare detectives, competent in the collection, processing and analysis of biological specimens, the performance of lab procedures, the maintenance of instruments, and relating lab findings to common diseases/conditions that assist physicians in patient diagnosis and treatment, as well as in disease monitoring or prevention. This course has been designed to introduce students to the field of Medical Laboratory Science. The course combines lecture and laboratory practice, to allow students to demonstrate professionalism and interpersonal skills while achieving competence with common laboratory procedures. Students will be given the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge in making solutions, using aseptic techniques, and handing laboratory equipment. For the online section of the course, students will be assigned case studies, which will include case history presented, clinical signs and symptoms, initial and additional laboratory testing and data, relevant test methodologies employed and accurate interpretation of results.

The grade in this course will be derived from your efforts in the cumulative final exams for lecture and lab, class participation and presentation, and completion of case study homework.

Instructor: Koela Ray

Course Lab/Material Fee: Lab fee, $50

Time: June 30 – July 11, 2025 on campus, 9am – 3:30pm (breaks and lunch)
July 12 – 25, 2025, online

Format: Hybrid

Location: Patrick Leahy Building 237 (View Campus Map)

Syllabus: TBD

Skills in working with numerical, algebraic, and trigonometric expressions are developed in preparation for MATH 1234:  CALCULUS I. Not only will this course prepare course prepare you for calculus; it will also help you ace your SAT!  May not be taken for credit concurrently with, or following receipt of, credit for any mathematics course numbered MATH 1234 or above. Prerequisite: Two years of secondary school algebra; one year of secondary school geometry.

Directors/Instructor: Joan Rosebush

Course Lab/Materials Fee:

Time: June 30 – July 11, 2025 on campus, 9am – 3:30pm (breaks and lunch)
July 12 – 25, 2025, online

Format: Online

Sample Syllabus: Please contact the instructor for information about this course.

The aim of this online course is to introduce fundamental concepts in Neuroscience.

Instructor: Alicia Ebert

Course Lab/Materials Fee: $0

Format: Online

Syllabus: Unavailable. Please contact the instructor for information about this course.

The central theme of this course is to explore the main research topics guiding our understanding of the different ways in which well-being is conceptualized and pursued in different cultures and societies across the East and West. How we know what we know about well-being differs across cultures, and students will explore these different ways of knowing and its application. Students will engage in in-class activities each week to explore their own well-being based on the readings and lectures.

The human potential to develop an optimal social, physical, and psychological well-being is best understood when we can appreciate the strength of integrating the different perspectives on well-being across cultures and societies.

Looking at defining wellbeing?

While there is no current consensus on a single definition of well-being, researchers agree that well-being is a multidimensional construct involving biological, social, and psychological influences occurring over the course of one’s life. Optimal well-being is a state where one experiences good emotional, physical, and social health. So how do we attain positive states of well-being? Is optimal well-being the absence of suffering?

Positive emotions, absence of negative emotions or cognitions, mastery in chosen field, and satisfying interpersonal relationships provide us the ability to face life’s challenges successfully. However, the pursuit of optimal well-being and the different ways of knowing about aspects of well-being differs across cultures and societies.

Directors/Instructor: Shamila Lekka

Time: June 30 – July 11, 2025 on campus, 9am – 3:30pm (breaks and lunch)
July 12 – 25, 2025, online

Format: Hybrid

Sample Syllabus: Please contact the instructor for information about this course.

If you aren’t seeing the answers to questions you may have here, visit our FAQ for more information.

Our Summer Academic Program Demystifies College for Students

“I think it’s always fascinating for high school students to really embed themselves in a college environment…there’s a huge value in being here. For some, the idea of college is a little bit abstract and so demystifying that is really important. This is something students can do and be excited about.”

UVM Professor Tom Wilson

Student Stories

Cost

High school students receive a 50 percent in-state/out-of-state academic year tuition reduction. Vermont residents can learn tuition-free through Vermont’s Dual Enrollment Program!

* The tuition price above reflects a 50% savings from in-state academic year tuition for high school students.

Residential Prices (living on campus)

Dual Enrollment – In-State Vermont High School Students – 2025 Price

  • Deadline to request a voucher for Summer 2025 is to be announced
  • Tuition – with a voucher $0
  • Program Fee – $2415
  • Deposit: $300
  • Comprehensive Fee – $30
  • Lab Fee – See Individual Course Descriptions

* The tuition price above reflects a reduced rate through Dual Enrollment.

In-State Vermont High School Students – 2025 Price

Out-of-State High School Students – 2025 Price

* The tuition price above reflects a 50% savings from out-of-state academic year tuition for high school students.


Commuter Prices (not residing on campus)

Dual EnrollmentIn-State Vermont High School Students – 2025 Price

  • Deadline to request a voucher for Summer 2025 to be announced
  • Tuition – with a voucher $0
  • Comprehensive Fee – $30
  • Lab Fee – See Individual Course Descriptions

* The tuition price above reflects a reduced rate through Dual Enrollment.

In-State Vermont High School Students – 2025 Price

* The tuition price above reflects a 50% savings from in-state academic year tuition for high school students.

Out-of-State High School Students – 2025 Price

* The tuition price above reflects a 50% savings from out-of-state academic year tuition for high school students.


Summer Academy Financial Policies

Program Requirements: While doing the UVM Summer Academy program, the participant must be enrolled in a UVM Summer Academy course throughout the duration of the program. If the participant elects to withdraw from their course once it has started, they are required to speak with a Summer Academy Advisor. If the participant does not maintain enrollment in a Summer Academy course, the participant will be required to leave the program without refund.

Tuition: The cost of the tuition is based on a student’s residency status (i.e., in-state or out-of-state) and whether an in-state student uses a Dual Enrollment voucher.

Cancellation & Medical Withdrawal Policy: All cancellation requests must be sent via email at learn@learn.uvm.edu. UVM tuition will be refunded based on the UVM add/drop policy deadlines. You must cancel at least three business days prior to the program start to be refunded the $300 deposit. For a medical withdrawal, the medical condition must be documented by a physician as one that prevents participation in the program.

Please note: The University of Vermont reserves the right to cancel any programs.

For more information and answers to common questions regarding payment, see our FAQ.

Dual Enrollment

What is Dual Enrollment?

A statewide program for high school juniors and seniors, to access up to two college courses with tuition fully reimbursed through a voucher system approved by their high schools.

Voucher requests for summer courses open in mid-February, and vouchers for fall courses open in mid-April

A voucher only covers the cost of tuition (up to four credits). Students are responsible for the Comprehensive Fee and, if applicable, specific lab/studio/program fees. Please go to Tuition and Fees and refer to “**Part-Time Student Fees.”

The cost of parking, books, and transportation to/from the University is not included.

  • In addition to Summer Academy, many University of Vermont courses are available through this program including Calculus, Computer Science, Human Biology, Psychology, and English. Courses are offered during the summer and academic school year, online and on campus.
  • Funding is dependent on Vermont Legislative approval.
  • For more information, contact our main office: (phone) 802-656-2085 (email) learn@uvm.edu

Who’s Eligible?

High school students who are Vermont state residents are eligible for two vouchers during their junior or senior years in high school. Students are not eligible to use a voucher the summer after they have graduated from high school. Students must apply for a voucher for the semester they wish to enroll in a dual enrollment course and seek approval by their high school. Students who attend an independent high school and whose tuition is not paid for by their hometown are not eligible for a voucher.

Program Detail

  • The voucher covers the cost of tuition for up to a four-credit course at any of the participating colleges. The voucher does not cover the comprehensive fee, materials and textbooks. Some funding is available through VSAC to help cover these additional costs, for students who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch.
  • Vouchers are awarded on a semester-by-semester basis, and unused vouchers expire every semester. (You can apply again.)
  • Students must apply for a voucher whether they take a course on a college campus, online, or take a course at their high school for college credit.
  • Students must get approval for a dual enrollment course from their high school to ensure they will receive high school credit. For a voucher to pay for a college course, it must count as credit towards graduation at the student’s high school.
  • If a student changes their mind and wants to attend a different college, the student needs to apply for another voucher.
  • If the student drops the course within the college or university’s published add/drop period, the voucher will not be applied, and it is available for use in a different semester.

For more information, please visit the State of Vermont Agency of Education Dual Enrollment Website. Apply for a voucher through the Vermont Agency of Education

Charlie at UVM Explains How Dual Enrollment Works

Student Support

UVM Pre-College Enrichment Learning Community 

Precollege student on UVM campus bench

As part of your Pre-College learning experience, you will have access to the UVM Pre-College Enrichment Online Learning Community, designed as a resource to support your UVM courses. You will be part of this community to receive important information about academic updates and deadlines, develop your study and learning skills, and explore the many resources and opportunities provided through UVM and other organizations.

A peek at what is offered through the Online Learning Community:

  • Orientation
    • An online introduction to the Community, tech tools, and effective online learning to prepare you for your courses.
  • Virtual UVM Tour
  • UVM Library Access
  • Connection to UVM Resources
    • ADA/ACCESS accommodations
    • Tutoring Center
    • Undergraduate Writing Center
    • Center for Health & Well-Being

Schedule a virtual meeting with a Pre-College Advisor

Book Now

Campus Living

Summer Academy students choosing to live and eat on campus are housed together for two weeks in the same residence hall.

As a part of this residential learning community, you will deepen your understanding of yourself and develop meaningful relationships. The activities planned throughout the week after class and over the weekend, and the spontaneous happenings in the hall, will help you make the most of this pre-college experience and encourage you to become more connected, engaged and successful. The Summer Academy activities listed below support the Four Cornerstones of UVM’s Department of Residential Life – Enhancing Learning, Community & Civic Engagement, Advancing Diversity & Inclusion, and Health & Wellness.

Enhancing Learning

  • Campus Tour
  • College Admissions Workshop – designed to help students prepare for their college application

Community and Civic Engagement

  • Events on the Green: Circle time and Activities
  • Indoor/Outdoor Games and Entertainment

Health and Wellness

  • UVM/MetroRock – ropes course and teambuilding activities
  • Burlington Farmer’s Market & Walk on Church Street
  • Burlington Surf Club/Beach Activities – TBD
  • VT Lake Monsters Baseball game
  • Sunset cruise on the Spirit of Ethan Allen
  • Spare Time – bowling and laser tag

Students do not have class on July 4 as it is an observed holiday at the University of Vermont.  Students will be participating in enrichment activities on July 4.

Residential Housing

Summer Academy students will be staying in our resident halls on the UVM campus. Students are supervised 24/7 by a team consisting of a Residential Director and several Residential Assistants.

Dining Program 

Summer Academy students enjoy the ease and convenience of a UVM Summer Dining Plan.

Your main dining hall will be determined as we get closer, but most everyplace on campus is within a ten-minute walk.  You will have some retail points that can be used across campus at other locations and in the food stores.  The dining plan included in your program fee grants you three meals per day, except check-in day and check-out.  Check-in day there will be a BBQ mid-afternoon and check-out day breakfast will be available. Also included are a total of 40 Retail Points that students can use for other dining options across campus.

FAQ

The parent/guardian agrees that the student is academically ready to try a college-level course.  Parent/guardian signs approval form.  Students need to be a high school rising junior, senior or recent graduate.

No. We ask that students are dropped off for their residential stay.  It is a liability to our program if students have the ability to come and go.  We have activities planned for the duration of the residential portion.

The University of Vermont takes the safety of its students very seriously.

On the first day we have both Police Services and the Fire Marshal come to go over fire and safety on campus.

All of our classes are on the UVM campus.  The Residential Advisors (RA) and the Lead Activities Coordinator will accompany students to any on and off-campus activity.  The RA’s go through a full training prior to summer programs.

Our residential program maintains strict staff and RA to student ratios of 1:10 and provides ample training to ensure students remain safe during the program.

Students are strongly encouraged to download and familiarize themselves with the LiveSafe app.  UVM’s LiveSafe app is a versatile mobile two-way safety communications platform and safety tool. It provides campus community members the ability to share information with campus safety partners, including calling or messaging Police for emergency help from anywhere.  It also contains a “SafeWalk” feature that allows students to select someone to virtually follow them while walking from place to place.

Please review this site for tips and information on how to recognize concerning behavior and to take action if needed. We all serve as the eyes and ears of the university when it comes to safety. If you see something, say something. It is also important to bring concerns, observations, and information directly to UVM Police Services first, so any potential threat can be assessed and necessary action can be taken.

Fire and life safety on the UVM campus:

Please review UVM’s fire and life safety initiatives here. The most important actions we can all take to keep our community safe are to recognize and report all emergencies promptly, to understand and observe the prohibited hazardous items in our residence halls and all buildings in general, and to promptly evacuate buildings when the fire alarm system activates. UVM’s Annual Fire Safety Report for Student Housing contains additional useful information to help prepare you for your stay on campus.

When registering, please provide information regarding any conditions or accommodations you/your child might require for participation in the program.  We will send you information on how to connect with Student Accessibility Services.

Summer Academy dates are: June 30 – July 25, 2025.  June 30 – July 11 courses will be in person and July 12 – 25 courses will be online.  If you choose to reside on campus, check-in will be Sunday, June 29, 12-2pm and checkout will be Friday, July 11 before noon. The fully online course will run July 12 – July 25

While participating in Summer Academy on-campus, students will attend academic courses the first two weeks followed by two weeks online.   Students will participate in enrichment activities and off-campus excursions while living in a residence hall.

With your CatCard (which will be on your phone), you will have access to the library, the CCTA buses and you can choose to dine on campus for lunch (bring cash, card or put money on your CatCard).  You can go to the gym if you are over 18 (you have to show ID), however the fitness center hours during the summer are much more limited.

As a high school student, you are enrolled with UVM Professional and Continuing Education as a non-degree student with rights and privileges to UVM resources.

The program fee covers the room, board and activities, while residing on campus. Please refer to the Tuition and Fees page if you have questions on academic pricing.

Financial aid is not available for students participating in this program and there are no scholarships available at this time. Vermont students may qualify for Dual Enrollment vouchers. High school tuition is at a discounted rate.

You will be notified via email to your UVM email address when your bill is available online. For summer courses, you will not receive a bill until mid-May. UVM does not send paper bills. Your bill will indicate your due date – please note that your bill may be due before your classes begin. Bills not paid by the due date are subject to a $250 late fee and a hold on your student record. Visit www.uvm.edu/~stdfinsv to view all bills and payment due dates. PLEASE NOTE: If someone else will be paying your bill, you have the option to set up a Proxy on your account. To do this, go to the Student Financial Services (SFS) page in your myUVM portal and select “Set Up SFS Proxy Access and Manage Authorizations.”

UVM email is UVM’s official method of contact with students and staff. It is very important that you regularly check your UVM email or forward it to another email account that you check regularly once you are registered. Once you have activated your UVM email, you can read your email via the web at mail.uvm.edu or you can access it in your myUVM portal page. Important messages from UVM, such as class cancellation notices, billing, announcements of special events, and financial aid communications will only be sent via your UVM email address. UVM professors also use email to notify you of any pre-class assignments or requirements. Billing notifications will ONLY be sent to your UVM email. It is extremely important to activate your UVM email as soon as possible and check it regularly.

For all of the Summer Academy courses you will earn 3 credits. These credits are part of your official UVM transcript.

You should plan to spend at least 25 – 30 hours per week on this class for the first two weeks.  Depending on your class, this may include lectures, labs, videos, online group work, discussion board, and homework. The second two weeks online will be a final assignment and/or discussion board work, along with possible one-hour live sessions with your instructor.  This will depend by course, but the online time commitment is about 10 hours per week for the final two weeks.  Students find the discussion boards with fellow students and instructors to be very engaging.  Your participation can take place anytime, including evenings and weekends. Residential students will participate in enrichment learning activities not included as part of the academic course.

Yes, laptops are required to participate in UVM courses. Please refer to the course syllabus or email your instructor for exact course requirements. Please be sure you have Microsoft Office or a similar word processing program on your computer so you are able to complete course homework.

Cancellation & Medical Withdrawal Policy: All cancellation requests must be sent via email at learn@learn.uvm.edu. UVM tuition will be refunded based on the UVM add/drop policy deadlines. You must cancel at least 3 business days prior to the program start to be refunded the $300 deposit for the program fee. For a medical withdrawal the medical condition must be documented by a physician as one that prevents participation in the program.

As a commuter student you will have access to use the library, and you can go to a dining hall with others and pay out of pocket for lunch.  You do not have access to the activities and workshops that those residing on campus are paying for.  We also do not allow students to bring others back to their dorm rooms for safety reasons. If you are not residing on campus and need to work on a group activity, we encourage you to work in the classroom or in one of the communal spaces on campus.

Additional Retail Points can be added to existing accounts by contacting the Meal Plan Office. Visit the University Dining Services for additional information.