15 Business Summer Programs for International High School Students
If you are a high school student considering a future in business, business summer programs can give you an early hands-on introduction to the field.
What do business summer programs involve?
Instead of merely reading about business concepts, you'll have an opportunity to explore different specialisations, test your interests, and see how ideas translate into real-world practice. Through these programs, you'll build a foundation in core areas such as marketing, finance, operations, entrepreneurship, and data analysis.
Why consider business programs as an international high school student?
Many institutions offer summer programs for international students where you will have the opportunity to learn about business in a multicultural context, developing skills in teamwork, critical thinking, communication, and leadership. There's a diverse range of programs that focus on various aspects of business, such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, and global business, giving you an opportunity to dive deeper into an area that aligns with your interests.
If you’re looking to improve your business skills, you can do so by participating in business competitions, many of which are open to international students. If you’re looking for ways to learn more about business, you can check out the different ways to get a business education.
To help you navigate your options, we have compiled a list of the top 15 business summer programs for international high school students, each offering strong academic grounding, practical exposure, and meaningful global experience.
15 Business Summer Programs for International High School Students
1. Babson Summer Study
Location: New England Innovation Academy, Marlborough, MA, with a virtual option available
Cost/Stipend: Fully online $6,295; in-person day $9,295; in-person residential $12,995; $95 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 8–28
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors; must be at least 15; English proficiency required for non-native and international applicants
The Babson Summer Study is a hands-on experiential program that helps you understand what it takes to be an entrepreneur and work on the skills required to build your own business. During the three-week program, you will examine various social, environmental, and economic problems framed by the UN Global Goals and consider how entrepreneurial ventures can create meaningful solutions. Through lectures, presentations, and workshops, you will gain insights into essential entrepreneurship topics such as finance, marketing, business communication, and leadership. Apart from class, you also have the opportunity to meet entrepreneurial leaders and guest speakers, receive mentorship, and learn from their experiences.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies according to program. There is need-based financial aid
Program Dates: Varies by the cohort
Application Deadline: There are 3 application deadlines that you can choose; more details in the brochure!
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem, whether as a for-profit company or a non-profit. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. Apart from building the start-up itself, you will participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideation. The program also features workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, and panel discussions to strengthen your entrepreneurial toolkit. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. The Academies by Harvard Student Agencies | Business: Management and Strategy Academy
Location: On‑Campus Summer Business Academies, Harvard University classrooms, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: $1,800 tuition (per one‑week academy); need‑based financial aid available for domestic and international students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; Cohorts typically 25–30 students per class
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12; international students welcome
The Management and Strategy Academy introduces you to the world of consulting, where you learn how to analyse business data and tackle corporate issues. You will step into the role of a consultant, evaluating a business and understanding the criteria needed for successful business operations. You'll explore what drives successful business outcomes, from launching a new product and generating positive cash flow to entering and competing in new markets. You will learn how to analyse annual business performance, balance sheets, annual and quarterly income statements, value companies, and work with actual case studies to manage the operational and logistical components of a firm.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10%; 70-100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for high school students interested in gaining experience with fast-growing start-ups. The start-ups offering internships span various fields, including finance, tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies backed by leading accelerators such as Y Combinator and have raised an average of over $1 million in funding. These programs are often led by founders who bring experience from major organizations such as Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. Beyond project work, the program includes one-on-one training in communication and time management, as well as group learning sessions with other interns.
5. Wharton Global Youth Leadership in the Business World
Location: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: $11,399 tuition; $100 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 120 students/session
Dates: June 8–28 | June 29–July 19 | July 20–August 9
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grade 11; unweighted GPA of 3.5 or more; demonstrated leadership experience; international applicants welcome
Leadership in the Business World is a three-week program that focuses on business fundamentals, with a strong emphasis on building leadership capacity. Through lectures, presentations, and guest sessions, you will engage deeply with core business topics while understanding management theories and analytical frameworks. You'll work with real business data to develop skills in research, strategy analysis, and data interpretation. The program focuses on an experiential learning experience, where you will work on your professional and leadership skills. The experience culminates in a capstone case competition where you will get to showcase your professional skills and synthesize what you've learnt throughout the program.
6. ESCP Business School International Summer School
Location: ESCP Business School Turin campus, Turin, IT
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program length
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6–17
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–18; English competence at the B1 level
The ESCP Summer Business School gives high school students the opportunity to explore core business fundamentals and engage in hands-on learning in a multicultural environment. During the program, you will gain insights into business frameworks, including strategy, marketing, entrepreneurship, consumer behavior, and finance. Learning also extends beyond classroom instructions; you tackle real-world business problems through case studies and collaborative projects, while developing skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. Moreover, the program offers guidance on the college application process, group activities to help you bond with peers from diverse backgrounds, and field visits to cultural attractions in Turin. \
7. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth Summer Entreprenuership
Location: Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost/Stipend: $7,950
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 14–27
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic motivation and interest in entrepreneurship; international students welcome with English proficiency; an appropriate visa is required
Berkeley Business Academy for Youth Summer Entrepreneurship is a two-week experience where you learn business fundamentals by actively developing your own business idea and creating a business plan. You will explore business fundamentals and frameworks through guest speakers and lectures, while also engaging in hands-on work through lab assignments, team projects, and independent research. The program is designed to be experiential, allowing you to work on your soft skills and professional capabilities, including communication, presentation, collaboration, leadership, and teamwork. By the end of the program, you’ll have worked through the essentials of starting your own business, such as research skills, writing a business plan, learning implementation, and learning the know-how of how a business functions.
8. Indiana Kelley School of Business Summer Business Is Global
Location: Kelley School of Business, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 program fee (covers food, lodging, classroom materials, and cultural activities; scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22–July 5
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in global business, language, and culture; international applicants welcome
Business is Global is a two-week program for high school students that approaches business education through a cross-cultural lens. During the program, you will learn how commerce operates within different cultural contexts and understand the importance of a multicultural point of view in today's interconnected economy. Alongside your peers, you will be introduced to various languages and cultures during the program and gain a clear understanding of how this influences management practices and market strategy. The experience culminates in a hands-on, collaborative competition where you create a business set in one of the countries studied during the program. As you develop and present your idea, you'll strengthen your communication, public speaking, and networking skills.
9. Georgetown University Global Business Academy
Location: Global Business Academy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Cost/Stipend: Residential $6,950; commuter $5,250
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 7–26
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students (current grades 8–12; must be at least 15 by check-in for Academy programs); international students may participate (English fluency recommended; no visa or TOEFL required for academy participation)
The Global Business Academy goes beyond the basic principles of business, introducing you to business operations across borders and the application and challenges that come with international business. During the three-week program, you will explore the forces shaping global commerce, financial institutions, international market opportunities, marketing strategies, and the relationship between globalization and business expansion. The program combines structured instructions with applied learning. In addition to classroom engagement, you'll interact with business professionals, engage with guest speakers, and connect with peers through field trips and extracurricular activities, while broadening your understanding of the international business environment in action.
10. Wake Forest Summer Immersion Business Institute
Location: Wake Forest University Summer Immersion Business Institute, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost/Stipend: $3,500 tuition (per week; includes program participation; need-based scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 7–12; June 14–19
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12; open to students from all geographic locations; must be fluent in English
The Business Institute offers an experiential summer experience that introduces you to core business topics while strengthening your professional skills. Through structured workshops and presentations, you'll examine essential aspects of running a business, including finance, human resources, marketing, management, technology, and operations. You will practice what you learn in class by analyzing business case studies, collaborating on a team project, and pitching your business ideas, thereby developing skills in team building, project management, and professional communication. Apart from class, you will engage with business professors, network with business leaders, and visit local businesses and organizations.
11. Lehigh University Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive
Location: Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive, Iacocca Institute at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
Cost/Stipend: $7,000 tuition (includes room and board, instructional materials, field trips, activities, in-program transportation)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 5–25
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students ages 15–17; global and U.S. students welcome
The Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive is a three-week program for high school students that focuses on building a conceptual business foundation and leadership capacity required to become an entrepreneur. The program includes experiential learning through business bootcamps, leadership development workshops, business consulting projects, and design thinking. Apart from lectures and workshops on business fundamentals, you dive deeper into a subject area by taking up specialized courses on FinTech, branding, marketing, AI, ESG, and technical entrepreneurship. The program includes field trips, business visits, and professional networking opportunities so you get firsthand experience of how businesses operate, allowing you to connect classroom learning with professional practice.
12. The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Location: Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost/Stipend: $5,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 72 students per session
Dates: June 7–17; June 21–July 1
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; priority given to U.S. citizens/permanent residents, but international applicants may apply (no visa sponsorship provided)
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy gives high school students an opportunity to understand how businesses work and explore career pathways in the field. During the program, you engage in college-level business academic work through a mix of classes, workshops, group work, guest speaker lectures, and field trips. You will understand how a successful business operates, what it takes to lead a business, and learn how organizations address real-world business challenges. Hands-on activities and interaction with industry experts, business professionals, and faculty help you connect theory with practice. Beyond the classroom, you will collaborate with passionate peers through group work, participate in community meetings, network with mentors, and take part in other social activities.
13. Colorado State University Global Business Academy
Location: Global Business Academy, College of Business, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Cost/Stipend: $3,750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 12–22
Application Deadline: June 26
Eligibility: High school students ages 15–18 (enrolled in high school for fall); international and U.S. students welcome
The Global Business Academy is a 10-day business program for high school students interested in learning about how businesses and startups function. During the program, you will gain insights into many facets of business, such as entrepreneurship, ethics, innovation, sustainability, and decision-making. Structured startup challenges let you experience what it is like to create a startup, and develop essential business skills in negotiation, decision-making, communication, leadership, and team-building. The experience also goes beyond the classroom as you tour companies, meet with business professionals and leaders, and gain practical insights into what it's like to run a business. Outside the program, you'll engage with peers, participate in outdoor activities, and go on field trips.
14. University of Washington Foster School of Business Business and Leadership Program
Location: Foster School of Business, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Commuter $4,498; Residential additional $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 5–17
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors; English proficiency recommended; international students welcome (must arrange travel/visa and health insurance)
The business and leadership program is designed for students who want to learn about business and what it takes to lead a company. You will learn how to analyse business problems and develop structured solutions, thus strengthening your critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. The program includes a mix of lectures, presentations, interactive workshops, case studies and field visits, where you observe how various businesses function and apply classroom frameworks to real-world scenarios. The program culminates in a case competition in which you collaborate with a team to evaluate a business challenge and present a strategic solution, thereby developing skills in presentation, leadership, and communication.
15. USC Marshall School of Business Precollege Building Blocks of Business
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,995
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Summer term (exact dates vary by session)
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students; rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors; U.S. and international students welcome (English proficiency required)
The Building Blocks of Business introduces high school students to core business areas and frameworks through the lens of real case studies. During the course, you’ll explore areas such as marketing, analytics, accounting, strategy, operations, and supply chain management, while understanding how they work together to keep a business running effectively. You will learn to examine a business, target customers, identify processes, improve profitability, measure a business's success, and analyse the feasibility of a business. At the end of the course, you will step into the role of an investor. Drawing on what you've learned through the program, you'll analyse two different business models and zero in on one that would be more profitable in the long term.
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