If you’re thinking about studying business, launching a startup one day, working in finance, or just understanding why prices and markets behave the way they do, economics is worth exploring in high school. It teaches you to think about incentives, trade-offs, and decision-making in a completely different way. One of the smartest ways to start building that foundation is by joining one of the many economics summer schools for high school students.

Imagine spending two weeks discussing market crashes with a university professor in the morning. In the afternoon, you’re debating whether governments should control prices. Later, you’re working through real business case studies with students from different countries. Someone in your group has actually lived through a currency crisis back home, and suddenly the graph from your textbook has a real story attached to it. You start getting comfortable with the fact that the honest answer is often just “it depends.”

What kind of economics summer schools are available to high school students?

The answer depends on what you’re actually hoping to explore. Economics summer schools aren’t all built the same way. Some introduce the fundamentals of microeconomics and macroeconomics, giving you a broad, structured understanding of how markets, businesses, and governments interact. This is closer to what a college intro course would cover.

Others go narrower and more specialized. Some dig into behavioral economics, finance, entrepreneurship, international trade, game theory, or public policy. This works well if you already have a specific corner of the field that interests you. If you’ve ever wondered why people make financially irrational decisions even when they know better, behavioral economics is basically built for that curiosity.

To help you find the right fit, we’ve compiled a list of 15 economics summer schools for high school students!

For adjacent opportunities, consider the online economics program.

Key takeaways

• King’s College London’s Business Management track costs £3,195 for a single week, with residential packages available starting at £3,965 for students aged 16 to 17.
• Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Programme spans eight locations, including Boston, Cambridge, and Tokyo, with small classes of seven to 10 students open to students worldwide aged 13 to 18.
• Yale Young Global Scholars’ Politics, Law & Economics session costs $7,000 but offers need-based financial aid covering up to 100% of tuition, drawing students from over 150 countries.
• The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is fully funded with a $750 stipend, admitting just 12 students annually to conduct one-on-one economics research with Texas Tech faculty.
• The Sutton Trust Summer School at Imperial College London is completely free but restricted to UK state school students with a minimum of 8 GCSEs including five grades 7-9.
• The University of Chicago’s Economics from an Experimental Perspective costs $9,300 and uses hands-on laboratory experiments rather than traditional lectures to teach behavioral economics.
• Fordham’s Finance Institute costs $1,300 total and is notably open to international students who can attend virtually, unlike many US-based economics programs.
• Program costs for economics summer schools range from free options like the U.S. Treasury’s internship and the Sutton Trust program to over $9,599 for Wharton’s Strategy and International Management program in Cambridge.

15 Economics Summer Schools for High School Students 

1. King’s College London Pre-University Summer School: Business Management Track

Location: King’s College, London, UK
Cost: £3,195 for one week (residential packages available from £3,965)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Multiple sessions in July
Application Deadline: April 10th
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 16-17  

The King’s College London Pre-University Summer School offers a Business Management module that introduces students to the economic principles behind how businesses operate and make decisions. The course explores topics such as marketing, finance, operations, and organizational management while showing how these areas connect to broader economic concepts.

Through seminars, group discussions, and practical activities, you’ll examine real business challenges and develop strategies supported by economic reasoning. You’ll also complete an independent research project, working alongside students from around the world while receiving guidance from your instructors. 

Why it stands out: Its location in central London gives you a chance to connect classroom concepts with real economic activity around Europe’s financial hub.

2. Immerse Education’s Economics Summer School

Location: Cambridge, Oxford, London, Singapore, Tokyo, and Toronto
Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; an average of 7 participants per class
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students from all around the world aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school

Immerse Education’s Economics Summer School gives you a focused, two-week immersion into economic theory and real-world applications, taught by expert tutors associated with top universities and academic institutions. The program aims to deepen your understanding of fundamental economic principles, global markets, and policy-making. Across lively seminars, workshops, and discussions, you’ll explore core concepts such as market behaviour, inflation, trade, inequality, fiscal and monetary policy, and how these forces shape global economies.

Beyond the classroom, excursions and cultural activities help you connect lessons to the world around you, while living and studying alongside peers from around the globe adds an international perspective. Completion earns you a certificate of achievement and, in some cases, optional UCAS points if you’re looking toward UK university applications. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: It blends concentrated academic development with an immersive international summer experience, helping you deepen your economics knowledge while engaging with peers in diverse cities worldwide.

3. Harvard Pre-College Program: Economics Track

Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $6,100 plus a $75 application fee; limited scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; average class size of 15 students
Dates: Session I: June 21st – July 2nd; Session II: July 5-17; Session III: July 19-31
Application Deadline: Early/Priority: January 7th; Regular: February 11th; Late: April 1st
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors worldwide who will be at least 16 years old by June 20th

If you’re interested in a two-week immersion into Ivy League life without the pressure of grades, the Harvard Pre-College Program is designed for you to test your academic limits. Course options offered in Economics include ‘Invention, Innovation, and Markets’ and ‘Personal Finance and Financial Well-Being’.

You will learn the impact of advances in medicine on social security, explore how engine technology impacts bilateral trade policy, and examine how automation affects wages. You will reside on the Harvard campus and learn to manage your time and schedule. At the end of the program, all students receive a written evaluation as well as a Harvard transcript.

Why it stands out: It offers on-campus residence and faculty and undergraduate interactions, so you’ll get an idea about what academic and student life at a leading university involves.

4. Bocconi Summer School for High School Students

Location: Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
Cost: €2,700 programme fee; approximately €1,600 for optional housing
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not mentioned
Dates: July 6-17
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students worldwide in their third-to-last or second-to-last year of study

The Bocconi Summer School for High School Students introduces you to economics at one of Europe’s leading universities for business and social sciences. You can choose two one-week labs from a wide range of subjects, including Introduction to Economics and Global Economic Scenarios, allowing you to explore different areas of the discipline.

Through case studies, discussions, and interactive activities, you’ll examine topics such as international trade, technological innovation, sustainability, and economic development in both developed and emerging economies. Courses are taught by Bocconi faculty, who encourage students to connect economic theory with real-world policy and business decisions. 

Why it stands out: You’ll gain exposure to globally recognized economics education and qualitative thinking.

5. Georgetown University: Economics Policy Academy

Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Residential ~$9,085; Commuter ~$7,085
Acceptance rate/cohort size:  Competitive
Dates: June 28th – July 17th
Application Deadline: Varies, check here
Eligibility: High school students around the world

The Georgetown Economics Policy Academy combines economics with public policy to help students understand how governments respond to real-world economic challenges. During the three-week program, you’ll study topics such as behavioral economics, international trade, development economics, foreign aid, and global negotiations through university-style classes led by Georgetown faculty. You’ll explore how economic research influences public policy in the United States and around the world.

The program also includes visits to organizations involved in economic policymaking, giving you firsthand exposure to institutions that shape public policy in Washington, D.C. Throughout the academy, you’ll research a topic of your choice and develop a poster presenting your findings using evidence gathered during the program.

Why it stands out: It combines academic rigor with practical exposure to economic policy settings right in the heart of the U.S. political landscape. 

6. Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS): Politics, Law & Economics (PLE)

Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $7,000; need-based financial aid is available and may cover up to 100% of tuition
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 2,000 students across all summer sessions
Dates: Session I: June 21st – July 3rd; Session II: July 5-17; Session III: July 19-31
Application Deadline: January 7th
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors in U.S. grades 10-11, or the international equivalent, who will be aged 16-18 by July 19th

The Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) Politics, Law & Economics (PLE) session explores how economic systems, legal institutions, and governments interact to address today’s global challenges. Through lectures, seminars, and collaborative discussions led by Yale faculty and guest speakers, you’ll examine topics such as international cooperation, human rights, public policy, economic development, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in policymaking.

The program encourages you to connect ideas from economics, politics, and law to better understand complex global issues. You’ll work closely with students from around the world, sharing different perspectives and debating contemporary policy questions in small-group discussions.

Why it stands out: It offers one of the most diverse pre-college environments in the world, bringing together students from 150+ countries to solve global challenges through a unique lens of political and economic theory.

7. Anson L. Clark Scholar Program: Economics/ Business/ Finance/ Marketing

Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost: Free; students receive a $750 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; limited to 12 students
Dates: June 21st – August 6th
Application Deadline: February 16th
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 17 years old by the programme start date, be graduating in the current or following year, and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program is a fully funded summer research program that allows a small group of high school students to conduct independent research under the guidance of Texas Tech University faculty. If you choose an economics-related project, you’ll work one-on-one with a mentor to investigate a real research question while learning how academic research is designed, conducted, and presented.

Previous projects have explored topics such as the impact of initial public offerings (IPOs) on media coverage and how digital advertising influences consumer behavior. Alongside your research, you’ll attend seminars, lectures, discussions, and field trips that introduce you to university-level scholarship across multiple disciplines.

Why it stands out: It offers one-on-one mentorship with Texas Tech faculty, so you’ll be able to deepen your subject understanding and craft a better research project report.

8. University of Chicago: Economics from an Experimental Perspective

Location: Residential (University of Chicago Campus)
Cost: $9,300 (Need-based financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: June 13th – July 3rd
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade high school students around the world; Prerequisite: Pre-calculus and a strong interest in math-based economic patterns. Check visa requirements for international students here

The University of Chicago’s Economics from an Experimental Perspective introduces students to behavioral and experimental economics through hands-on research rather than traditional lectures alone. Throughout the course, you’ll participate in laboratory experiments that investigate how people make economic decisions in situations involving markets, consumer behavior, cooperation, and environmental policy.

After each experiment, you’ll analyze the results to understand the economic theories that explain the choices participants made. The program also includes collaborative problem-solving activities that encourage you to apply economic reasoning to practical questions and real-world scenarios.

Why it stands out: It moves beyond theoretical lectures by placing students directly into the experimental process, allowing them to participate in and analyze real-world laboratory experiments to understand the behavioral motivations behind global markets.

9. U.S. Department of the Treasury: Headquarters Student Internship

Location: Washington, D.C. (Departmental Offices)
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Seasonal sessions (Summer: May – August)
Application Deadline: December (for Summer)
Eligibility: U.S. Citizens; currently enrolled in high school

The U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internship offers high school students the opportunity to work inside a federal agency responsible for shaping the country’s economic and financial policies. Depending on your office placement, you may assist with research, analyze data, prepare briefing materials, support policy projects, or attend meetings related to economics, finance, public policy, or government operations.

Some placements also provide experience in areas such as communications, information technology, strategic planning, or human resources, giving students insight into the many functions that support the Treasury Department. Throughout the internship, you’ll work alongside government professionals while gaining firsthand exposure to how federal agencies develop and implement national policy.

Why it stands out: It offers a chance to work inside a cabinet-level federal agency, where you can contribute to policy research, analyze data, and see how economic and financial decisions are made at the national level. 

10. Sutton Trust Summer School at Imperial College London: Economics, Finance and Data Science 

Location: London, United Kingdom
Cost: Free (Fully funded program)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 14th to 17th or July 21st to 24th
Application Deadline: March 5th
Eligibility: High school students under 18 years old in Year 12 (or equivalent) in England and Wales, Year 13 in Northern Ireland, or S5 in Scotland. Students must have always attended a state-funded, non-fee-paying school/college in the UK and meet specific academic requirements, including a minimum of 8 GCSEs with five grades 7-9 (including maths and sciences) and a grade 5 or above in English Language

The Sutton Trust Summer School at Imperial College London introduces Year 12 students to the analytical tools used in economics, finance, and data science through a fully funded residential experience. Before arriving on campus, you’ll participate in online sessions that introduce the university and help prepare you for the programme. During your stay at Imperial, you’ll attend workshops, case studies, and interactive activities that demonstrate how economists and financial analysts use data to understand markets, evaluate trends, and support decision-making.

The course also provides an introduction to undergraduate study at Imperial Business School, giving you a realistic picture of university-level learning. Alongside academic sessions, you’ll meet current students and experience campus life while exploring future study options.

Why it stands out: UK state school students explore undergraduate-level STEM subjects through hands-on laboratory experiences at a world-renowned university, completely free of charge.

11. Dauphine PSL London Pre-Uni Camps: Economics Track

Location: London, United Kingdom
Cost: £220
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 students per camp
Dates: July 7th to 9th
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Eligibility: High school students in years 11, 12, and 13 who are 16 years old and above; international students qualify to apply

The Dauphine PSL London Pre-Uni Camp introduces high school students to university-level economics through an intensive three-day programme in central London. You’ll study the foundations of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and the economics of globalization while exploring how these ideas influence businesses and international markets. The curriculum also includes introductory sessions in finance and marketing, taught with support from current students involved in Dauphine’s Finance Summer School.

Alongside academic learning, you’ll take part in collaborative activities that strengthen your communication, teamwork, and presentation skills. Small class sizes create an interactive environment where students can actively participate in discussions and group exercises.

Why it stands out: High school students spend three days building a business mindset and learning university-level economics in central London.

12. University of Amsterdam: Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Cost: 1,675 EUR for tuition plus a mandatory 800 EUR housing fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not mentioned
Dates: June 30th to July 9th or July 14th to 23rd
Application Deadline: February 15th
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and older; international learners can apply too

The University of Amsterdam’s Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship programme explores how economic thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship come together to create successful businesses. You’ll examine topics such as business strategy, innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic management through lectures, workshops, and discussions with university faculty and guest entrepreneurs.

You will develop your own startup idea by identifying a problem, designing a solution, and building a business strategy around it. Throughout the programme, you’ll receive feedback as you refine your concept and learn how entrepreneurs evaluate opportunities and respond to changing markets. Studying in Amsterdam also exposes you to one of Europe’s most active startup ecosystems while working alongside students from different countries.

Why it stands out: High school students build original startup ideas and learn from real business owners in a major European city.

13. University of Toronto: World Economics (Pre-University Program)

Location: New College, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Cost: $6,275/ $4,850 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: 3-week sessions available in June, July, and August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 15-18; requires an “Advanced+” English proficiency level

The World Economics course at the University of Toronto introduces students to the economic forces shaping today’s interconnected world. Over three weeks, you’ll explore concepts such as scarcity, productivity, trade-offs, wealth creation, and international trade while examining how these ideas influence economies across different countries. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and classroom activities, you’ll compare economic systems and analyze how similar challenges are approached in different parts of the world.

Because the programme attracts students from many countries, class discussions often include a wide range of international perspectives that enrich your understanding of global economics. You’ll also complete a final project that encourages you to apply economic concepts to real-world issues or to your own country’s economy.

Why it stands out: It focuses heavily on ‘global literacies’, requiring students to research and present how economic concepts are applied in their home countries, creating a truly international exchange of fiscal and social ideas.

14. Wharton Global Youth Program: Strategy and International Management (Cambridge, UK)

Location: Cambridge, UK
Cost: $9,599; $100 non-refundable application fee; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly mentioned
Dates: July 4-17
Application Deadline: Priority deadline: January 28th; final deadline: March 18th
Eligibility: Open globally to rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (currently enrolled in grades 9-11)

The Wharton Global Youth Program: Strategy and International Management introduces high school students to the decisions companies make when expanding into international markets. During the two-week programme in Cambridge, you’ll study business strategy, global competition, leadership, and international management through lectures, case studies, and business simulations led by Wharton faculty.

Working in teams, you’ll analyze real companies, evaluate strategic challenges, and develop recommendations based on market conditions and competitive advantages. The programme also features sessions with business professionals based in the United Kingdom, giving you additional insight into global industries and international business practices.

Why it stands out: Offers a rigorous exploration of global business strategies within a historic academic setting, providing insights into international management practices.

15. Fordham University’s Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom

Location: Fordham University Gabelli School of Business, Rose Hill Campus, Bronx, NY
Cost: $1,300 total (including a non-refundable $100 deposit)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Four 1-week sessions in June and July
Application Deadline: Priority registration closes on April 1st
Eligibility: High school students. International students are eligible to apply to attend virtually

The Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business provides an introduction to finance through a one-week programme focused on financial markets and investing. You’ll study topics such as stocks, bonds, asset management, personal finance, risk management, cryptocurrency, and the structure of global financial markets through interactive lessons and practical examples.

Throughout the week, guest speakers from leading financial firms and Gabelli alumni share their experiences working in the finance industry, helping you understand how financial concepts are applied in professional settings. Studying in New York also places you close to one of the world’s leading financial centers, adding valuable context to the discussions.

Why it stands out: It compresses key financial and economic ideas into a hands-on week with direct input from industry professionals in one of the world’s leading financial hubs.

Frequently asked questions: Economics summer schools for high school students

Are economics summer schools open to international students?

Most economics summer schools welcome international students, including Harvard’s Pre-College Program, Bocconi Summer School, and the University of Toronto’s World Economics course. A few exceptions exist: the Sutton Trust Summer School at Imperial College London and the U.S. Treasury’s internship both restrict eligibility to specific national or regional student populations. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Programme is also open globally to students aged 13 to 18.

How much do economics summer schools cost?

Costs vary enormously by prestige and format. Free options include the Sutton Trust Summer School and the U.S. Treasury Headquarters Student Internship, while shorter programs like the Dauphine PSL London Pre-Uni Camp cost around £220. On the higher end, the University of Chicago’s Economics from an Experimental Perspective costs $9,300, and Wharton’s Strategy and International Management program costs $9,599. Financial aid is available for several programs, including Yale Young Global Scholars and Georgetown’s Economics Policy Academy.

What is the difference between a general economics program and a specialized track?

General economics programs, like Harvard’s Pre-College Program or the University of Toronto’s World Economics course, introduce broad concepts like scarcity, trade, and productivity across the discipline. Specialized tracks, like the University of Chicago’s experimental economics program or the University of Amsterdam’s Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship program, instead focus narrowly on one subfield, such as behavioral economics or startup development. If you already know which corner of economics interests you, a specialized track offers deeper engagement; if you’re still exploring, a general program provides broader context.

How selective are economics summer schools?

Selectivity ranges considerably. The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is highly competitive, admitting just 12 students, and the Sutton Trust Summer School at Imperial is described as highly selective despite being free. Other programs, like Bocconi Summer School or the Dauphine PSL Pre-Uni Camp, have more open enrollment. Regardless of selectivity, meeting specific academic prerequisites, like the Sutton Trust’s GCSE requirements, matters as much as overall application strength.

Do economics summer schools award college credit?

None of the programs in this list explicitly advertise transferable college credit; most instead provide a certificate of completion, a Harvard or King’s College transcript notation, or a research poster presentation. If earning credit is a priority, confirm directly with each program, since these economics-focused summer schools tend to favor enrichment and research experience over formal academic credit.

Is Immerse Education a good option for exploring economics before college?

Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Programme is a strong choice if you want flexibility in both subject and location, spanning eight cities including Oxford, Cambridge, and Singapore. The two week program places you in small groups of seven to 10 students, studying economics alongside more than 20 other subjects, and includes hands-on activities and discussion-based classes. You’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and earn a certificate of completion, giving you a well-rounded experience if you’re still deciding how deeply economics interests you.

Turn Economic Curiosity Into University Direction

Economics begins with questions about choices, incentives, and consequences, but studying it deeply can reveal which academic and career paths genuinely suit your interests.

These 15 economics summer schools for high school students offer practical ways to test those interests through debates, case studies, research, simulations, university-style teaching, and mentorship.

Compare each programme’s subject focus, teaching format, cost, eligibility, and outcomes before choosing one that strengthens your knowledge while supporting your longer-term university ambitions.

Ready to turn summer learning into a stronger application? Explore our University Preparation blogs for guidance on subject choices, personal statements, interviews, and university readiness.