The Berkeley Summer Computer Science Academy is open to both domestic and international high school students who will be 16–17 years old by the start of the program (June 16, 2024). All students must be at least 16 years of age by the time the program begins.

Students must be in good academic standing in their home institutions. International high school students must meet the Summer Sessions' English Language Requirements.

This track is ideal for U.S.-based and international high school students who live locally or outside the San Francisco Bay Area. The residential component of the program is a requirement for all participants.

Please note that due to its short duration and non-credit status, this program does not issue a school-sponsored student visa. If you are looking for a credit-bearing, longer duration program that can issue a school-sponsored student visa, please visit the Summer Session Pre-College Scholars Residential track information page.

Domestic students must meet the following requirements to apply to the track:

• Have completed 10th or 11th grade by the start of the program and plan to continue their high school studies in the subsequent fall
• Have an overall B average (3.0, weighted or unweighted) in all of their high school coursework
• Maintain their own health insurance coverage as outlined in our health insurance requirement*
• Require residential housing. (The nature of the academic program requires students to live on campus.)

International students must meet the following requirements to apply to this track:

• Have completed 10th or 11th grade by the start of the program and plan to continue their high school studies in the subsequent fall
• Have an overall B average (3.0, weighted or unweighted) in all of their high school coursework, or comparable qualitative evaluation
• Meet our minimum English Language Requirements, if applicable
• Maintain their own health insurance coverage as outlined in our health insurance requirement*
• 16 years of age by June 16, 2024
• Require residential housing

High school graduates: High school graduates who will be 16 or 17 years old during the summer may apply for the Pre-College Scholars program. Students who have graduated from high school and will be over the age of 18 years old before the start of summer classes are not eligible for the Summer Computer Science Academy. High school graduates who will be over the age of 18 years old can attend Berkeley Summer Sessions as a visiting student and must apply using the Summer Sessions visiting student application.

*All students are required to have valid health insurance coverage for the duration of the program. If you do not have health insurance, you should purchase coverage before your arrival to Berkeley. For suggestions regarding health insurance options, please visit the University Health Services website.

The program provides an "Emergency Use Only" insurance plan that can be used locally. When using this plan for doctor's appointments, emergencies, prescriptions, or other health care visits, students might be asked to pay the healthcare provider out of pocket, and then submit a claim for reimbursement.

The Berkeley Summer Computer Science Academy is a program designed for domestic and visiting international students who may not be living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Students should not apply for housing, as room and board are provided by UC Berkeley, and all participants are required to live in assigned residential housing. Students will live with other Pre-College Scholars participants in a residence hall within walking distance of the main campus. They will be under the full-time supervision of residential program staff Resident Assistant Mentors.

Students will be housed in Bowles Hall. All students will be sharing rooms (doubles & triples) and will receive their housing assignments upon arrival. Rooms and roommate assignments are done at random. The assignments are not negotiable. Our residence hall includes a historic library, study rooms, high-speed Wifi, game room, washers and dryers, and a large lounge. Rooms will have dressers, desks, mirrors, and closets. As Pre-College Scholars, students will be subjected to a daily curfew from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Click here for a video tour but please note that some of the amenities featured in the video may not be available this summer.

Meals

Students will receive a meal plan that offers 3 meals per weekday and 2 meals per day on the weekends and on holidays. During weekdays, if you are rushing to class, unable to eat in the dining area, or simply would like to eat later, you can request your meal to be saved.

In addition to participating in the daily curriculum, students will benefit from extracurricular activities, opportunities to connect them with the UC Berkeley campus, college preparatory workshops, and a program-related excursion. Some activities will be mandatory and all are designed to help you meet other students in your program, make the most of your Berkeley learning experience, and prepare for your university studies. Dates, times, and events are subject to change.

Pre-College Orientation

To ensure your smooth transition to UC Berkeley, your orientation will be a three-step process beginning with a video recording, a pre-arrival live webinar, and, finally, an in-person session. All Pre-College Scholars participants will be required to attend their orientation to the program. Important topics include program curriculum, health and safety, health insurance, library resources, and much more will be discussed in detail.

College Exploration Workshops & Extra-Curricular Activities

We will offer academic enrichment and college exploration workshops designed to help students prepare for the college admission process and beyond. Past workshops have included: "College in Perspective," "The Best College for You", and "What Admissions Officers Look For."

Visit our Help Center for more information about the activities we offer.