15 Economics Summer Programs Abroad for High School Students
For students aiming for careers in business, finance, or analytics, economics summer programs abroad offer something that school classes usually cannot. An economics summer program abroad gives you space to figure things out before making bigger academic decisions. Living and studying in another country changes how you look at markets, work, and responsibility. It helps you see how economics plays out in everyday life, not just on paper.
What do economics summer programs abroad for high school students involve?
These programs usually combine classroom sessions with practical work. You might study how local businesses operate, examine public spending choices, or look at economic challenges faced by different regions. Programs often include discussions with instructors and professionals who explain how economic thinking shows up in their daily work.
How can economics summer programs for high school students be useful?
The experience helps you grow beyond academics. You learn to function in a new environment, manage your time, and communicate across cultures. You also gain skills you can use for your own projects, whether that’s starting something small or working with data. Colleges value this kind of exposure because it shows initiative and maturity, and the connections you make can guide you as you move toward college and early career choices.
If you’re also interested in online economics programs, check here, or go here for free economics summer programs for high school students.
With that in mind, here are 15 economics summer programs abroad for high school students!
15 Economics Summer Programs Abroad for High School Students
1. Pre-Uni Camps in Economics & Management — Université Paris Dauphine – PSL (London Campus)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Cost: Paid program; £220 for the 3-day camp (no stipend; discounts available for partner schools)
Dates: October 28–30; July 7–9
Application Deadline: Rolling until capacity is reached
Eligibility: You must be at least 16 years old; open to Year 11–13 students, IB students in their final years, and gap-year students
Université Paris Dauphine PSL delivers this camp in a compact workshop-style setting. You move through core ideas in economics and management, including markets, globalisation, and basic accounting, while working in small groups. Sessions are interactive and often built around discussion, short exercises, and collaborative tasks. Alongside academic content, you practice skills such as presenting, debating, and working with simple data tools. Conversations with staff and current students help clarify what studying economics or management looks like at the degree level. The small-scale structure keeps the focus on participation rather than lecture-heavy teaching.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a 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 complex problem. 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 also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. A Taste of Business, Economics and Finance - University of Warwick
Location: Coventry, United Kingdom
Cost: £5,250
Dates: July 14–July 24
Application Deadline: Rolling until places are filled
Eligibility: You must be 16–17 years old and considering applying to university; no subject-specific prerequisites
The University of Warwick designs this course to mirror how economics and finance are taught at the undergraduate level. You attend lectures and seminars that introduce decision-making under scarcity using ideas from game theory and behavioural economics. Financial topics such as banking markets and money are introduced alongside a discussion of political and social influences. Teaching prioritises reasoning and intuition rather than technical depth. By the end, you have a clearer sense of how economists frame questions and assess trade-offs in academic settings.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
5. Pre-University Program: World Economics — University of Toronto (New College)
Location: Toronto, Canada
Cost: CAD 6,275 for 3 weeks
Dates: June 14–July 4; July 5–July 25; July 26–August 15 (3-week sessions)
Application Deadline: Rolling until sessions fill
Eligibility: You must be 15–18 years old with an advanced level of English proficiency
University of Toronto New College offers this programme as a full immersion into economics taught in a university classroom. You study world economics by applying basic concepts to global systems and comparing how countries approach policy and markets. Seminars rely on reading, discussion, and case analysis with an international group of peers. Coursework builds toward a final project that connects theory with real examples. Living in residence adds informal discussion outside class and broadens perspectives through daily interaction. The experience closely reflects formal undergraduate study and suits you if you want a serious test of economics in an international setting.
6. Pre-University Honours Programme: Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship - University of Amsterdam
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Cost: €1,675 tuition plus €800 mandatory housing
Dates: June 30–July 9; July 14–July 23
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: You must be at least 16 years old; open to current high school students interested in business, entrepreneurship, economics, and related social sciences
The University of Amsterdam runs this honours programme as a focused exploration of how new ideas become viable businesses. You move between lectures and discussion-based sessions that examine innovation strategy, markets, and competition. Guest speakers from the startup world connect theory to practice and give context to the local innovation environment. Throughout the programme, you develop a startup concept, refining it step by step using market analysis and strategic thinking. The final pitch brings together research argument and presentation skills. Academic reading and structured discussion are central, which makes the experience feel close to regular university study.
7. Pre-University Summer School: Social Sciences - University of Edinburgh
Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Cost: £5,250
Dates: June 29–July 10
Application Deadline: Applications open January 6 and close May 19
Eligibility: You must be 16–18 years old and in your penultimate or final year of high school; strong English proficiency recommended (approximately IELTS 6.5 level, though no test submission is required)
The University of Edinburgh offers this two-week programme as a structured entry point into social science study. You spend your time moving between lectures and small tutorials that introduce economics alongside politics, social policy, and anthropology. Lectures focus on core ideas such as inequality, market institutions, and how social science developed over time. In tutorials, you work through readings, learn how to structure arguments, and practice discussion in a university setting. Visits connected to Scottish political life and economic history help place theory in context. By the end, you are familiar with how undergraduate teaching works and how economics fits within a wider social science framework.
8. Pre-University Summer School - King's College London
Location: London, United Kingdom
Cost: Paid program
Dates: July 6–July 10; July 13–July 17; July 20–July 24; July 27–July 31
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: You must be 16–17 years old; academic readiness for university-level coursework is expected
King’s College London runs this programme as a set of short academic modules rather than a single long course. You choose one subject area and spend the week attending lectures and seminars led by faculty. Sessions rely on discussion simulations and case material to examine how ideas are applied. Written tasks are designed to reflect undergraduate expectations, and feedback focuses on clarity, reasoning, and structure. Guest sessions broaden the picture by showing how academic ideas connect to policy, business, and international affairs. The format works well if you want focused exposure without committing to a longer stay.
9. Bocconi Summer School — Bocconi University
Location: Milan, Italy
Cost: €2,700; optional university housing at an additional cost of €1,600 for two-weeks
Dates: July 6–July 17
Application Deadline: Rolling until capacity is reached (applications open early in the year)
Eligibility: You must be at least 15 years old and currently enrolled in high school (third-to-last or second-to-last year)
Bocconi University offers this summer school through an academic lab format that lets you explore more than one subject area. You study one topic per week, choosing from economics and related fields such as finance or policy. Teaching combines applied lecture, discussion, and problem solving, so you see how economists work through real questions. Topics range from growth and inequality to global markets and strategic behaviour. Interaction with faculty and guest speakers helps link theory to European and global contexts. The structure suits you if you want comparison across disciplines while experiencing a clear university teaching style.
10. Young Business Professionals Summer Programme - University of Hong Kong (HKU Summer Institute)
Location: Hong Kong
Cost: HKD 17,800 tuition; optional housing is available at an additional cost
Dates: July 21–July 31
Application Deadline: February 7 (early-bird); March 21 (regular)
Eligibility: You must be a current secondary school student (S4–S6 / Year 11–13 / Grades 10–12)
The University of Hong Kong delivers this programme as a compact immersion into business and economics. You attend lectures and workshops that introduce accounting, finance, economics, and management alongside newer areas like fintech and ESG. Case discussions and group work focus on how decisions are made in global markets. Interaction with current university students gives insight into academic life and expectations. The programme ends with a capstone pitch where you apply market analysis and strategic reasoning. Overall, the structure mirrors how introductory business and economics courses are taught at university.
11.Sciences Po Summer School — Social Sciences Track
Location: Paris, France
Cost: €2,900 per session
Dates: June 2–June 25; June 30–July 24
Application Deadline: April 15 (June session); May 6 (July session)
Eligibility: You must be in your final year of secondary school, graduating by Summer and enrolling in university in the fall immediately following the program
Sciences Po runs this summer school as an intensive academic experience for graduating students. You enroll in a core social science course where economics is taught through a political economy lens. Classes are seminar-based with heavy emphasis on reading, discussion, and analytical writing. Topics focus on growth inequality, globalisation, and redistribution while placing them in historical and policy contexts. An optional elective allows you to expand or deepen your focus. The programme gives a clear picture of how economics is approached within a leading social science institution.
12. Youth Programme: Negotiation in a Global World for Young Leaders
Location: Singapore
Cost: Not publicly listed
Dates: Five-day on-campus programme (exact dates vary by cohort)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until spots are filled (varies by intake)
Eligibility: High school and pre-university students aged 15–18; no prior coursework required.
The National University of Singapore designs this programme around negotiation and decision-making rather than lectures alone. You spend much of the time in simulations, role play, and guided exercises that mirror real negotiation settings. Sessions examine how incentives, bias, and communication shape outcomes in business policy and international contexts. Preparation, reflection, and feedback are built into the process so you understand how your decisions evolve. The focus stays practical while grounding ideas in behavioural and economic thinking.
13. HKUST Pre-University Program - Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Location: Hong Kong
Cost: Paid program; tuition varies by module and format
Dates: July 19–July 28; July 20–July 27; July 20–July 24
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: You must be a current secondary school student (Year 11 / Grade 10 / Form 4 or above)
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology offers short pre-university modules that introduce how analytical thinking is applied in business and innovation. You choose from courses that deal with risk decision making, entrepreneurship, and uncertainty. Teaching often relies on case studies, projects, and interdisciplinary work rather than lectures alone. Some modules follow formal assessment patterns that give a realistic sense of university workload. The experience is flexible and works well if you want exposure to economics adjacent thinking without committing to a long programme.
14. Pre-University Summer Program - IE University
Location: Segovia and Madrid, Spain
Cost: €5,900. Tuition includes full-board accommodation, meals, local transportation, academic programming, activities, and health insurance.
Dates: Multiple two-week sessions between mid-June and late July
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; spaces are limited
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–17
IE University frames this summer programme around problem-solving and real-world challenges. You work in teams on projects that involve sustainability decision-making and resource allocation. Workshops and collaborative sessions push you to apply economic logic alongside entrepreneurial and systems thinking. A hackathon-style component adds pressure and structure to group work. Living and studying in two cities gives variety to the experience while keeping academics central. By the end, you have a clearer sense of how economic ideas operate within business innovation and social impact contexts.
15. ESCP Business School International Summer School – Turin
Location: Turin, Italy
Cost: €1,500 per week (early-bird rate through February 23); €2,000 per week (regular rate); €200 discount when applying to both weeks
Dates: July 6–17 (attend one or two weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; early-bird deadline February 23
Eligibility: Ages 16–18; B1 English language proficiency required; open to international students, including US high school students
ESCP Business School runs this two-week programme in Turin as a practical introduction to how business decisions are made in real settings. You move through core areas like strategy, entrepreneurship, marketing, and finance using seminars, case discussions, and workshops rather than long lectures. Much of the learning happens in small multinational groups where different viewpoints shape how problems are approached and solved. Company visits link classroom ideas to how firms actually operate within the Italian economy. Alongside academic content, you take part in sessions on communication, workplace skills, and applied GenAI use, which are treated as part of business training rather than add-ons.
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