Summer Discovery
Step Into Your Future
Get ready for an unforgettable summer at The University of Texas at Austin! Experience the excitement of campus life, expand your knowledge and get a glimpse of what it’s like to be a Longhorn. The future is yours to discover — are you ready to dive in?
Program Dates
Session 1 (2 Weeks) June 15–27, 2025
Session 2 (3 Weeks) June 29–July 18, 2025
About the Program
Summer Discovery at UT Austin offers high school students the chance to explore college academics, build connections with professors and new friends, and experience campus life on the Forty Acres with our two-week and three-week residential and commuter programs.
Students can investigate a variety of career paths and potential college majors with courses led by exceptional faculty, staff, graduate students and alumni or highly skilled professionals working in Austin, Texas.
Program Details
Residential & Commuting Options
Students can choose to live on campus or commute daily.
- Residential Students experience campus beyond the classroom and live in Jester Dormitory during the program. As a Res Student, you’ll be fully immersed in academic life with endless opportunities to engage with friends on and off campus. Maybe one night you go to a Star Party at the Physics, Math and Astronomy Building (PMA), and the next you venture to Zilker Park for dog watching and frisbee. You won’t be bored!
- Commuting Students dive into academic life by day while enjoying the comforts of home each night. As a Commuting Student, you’ll join friends on campus for classes each day and during the lunch break you can eat at J2 and even get in a quick workout session at the Gregory Gym. Many commuting students are from the Austin area while others travel to Austin and find housing with family and friends. UT Austin parking passes are available if you prefer to drive yourself.
Academics
Our non-credit courses highlight some of UT Austin’s most popular undergraduate degrees and Austin specialties. From the business of music festivals to careers in medicine, there’s a course for every aspiration. Full-Day Academies allow you to focus in one subject area throughout the program while Individual Courses let you pick and choose subjects that meet your unique passions. Interested in sustainable fashion and criminal justice? We’ve got options for you!
Students attend daily classes in classrooms and laboratories across the Forty Acres. You might even explore the city of Austin on field trips or engage with special guest speakers! Classes meet Monday–Thursday in the morning and afternoon.
All students receive a certificate of completion and campus grade letter upon program completion.
Check out our featured academics below and view all 2025 courses on the Summer Discovery site.
Schedule
Every day with Summer Discovery at UT Austin will be different, but here’s how you might spend your weekday:
8:00 a.m. – Hop out of bed and head downstairs to J2 for a quick breakfast taco or have your breakfast favorites made to order.
9:00 a.m. – Time for morning courses! Grab your laptop and stroll to Patton Hall with friends.
11:00 a.m. – Stop by the Student Activity Center for sushi and a study break … or to just hang with friends over lunch.
12:30 p.m. – Back to class and today we’re headed downtown to investigate native plants and invasive species in Lady Bird Lake.
2:30 p.m. – After class it’s time to have fun with friends. Will you go to the Gregory Gym Pool Party or shop on South Congress?
6:00 p.m. – So many dinner options at J2. Our summer dining hub offers unlimited buffet-style meals and accommodates all dietary restrictions.
7:30 p.m. – Let’s head to Q2 Stadium for the Austin FC match!
10:30 p.m. – It’s time to unwind in the dorms with late night trivia before bed.
Tuition
Tuition for Summer Discovery ranges from $3,499–$7,999 and varies based on session duration and whether you choose to commute or live on campus. Learn more about what’s included with tuition on the Summer Discovery site.
Featured Academics
Instructor: Grant Pittman
This course unfolds a captivating gateway into the music industry, viewed through the prism of event management, production and business operations. Students will embark on a journey to uncover the intricate planning and logistics behind concerts, festivals, and other live spectacles while acquiring vital business skills such as marketing, budgeting and artist management. With wisdom imparted by local professionals, immersive projects and field excursions to Austin’s renowned venues, students will cultivate a tangible understanding of the artistry and strategy required to flourish in the music industry. The course encourages flexibility, enabling instructors to incorporate their unique expertise while empowering students to explore the aspects of the field that truly spark their interest.
Instructor: Sogu Sohn
This academy provides students with an in-depth understanding of the field through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on projects. Explore key concepts in biomedical engineering including biomedical imaging and instrumentation, cellular and biomolecular engineering, computational biomedical engineering, and molecular, cellular, and tissue biomechanics. Students gain experience using biomedical engineering to identify solutions for modern real-world problems, such as designing and building prosthetic limbs, and creating artificial organs. Students practice with hands-on workshops dissecting animal organs and building models of essential human organs. By gaining practical experience and learning from experts in the field, you’ll be well-equipped to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering and harness the latest frontiers in technology.
Instructor: C.K. Chin
Dive into the exciting world of culinary food industry innovation with insights from renowned local entrepreneur C.K. Chin, owner of Swift’s Attic, Wu Chow, Omakase Toshokan and more. This course is designed for aspiring chefs and restaurateurs eager to make their mark in a rapidly evolving culinary landscape. You will explore essential skills needed to thrive in this creative sector, including innovative restaurant concept design, entrepreneurial strategies, effective business practices and fundamental kitchen knowledge. Additionally, you’ll discover how to leverage social media and marketing to enhance your brand. Embrace emerging trends such as food trucks, pop-ups, collaborations and ghost kitchens, equipping you with the tools to transform your culinary ideas into groundbreaking realities.
This course serves as a gateway into the intricate tapestry of the American legal system, illuminating the essence of justice and the vital significance of the rule of law. From unraveling the fundamental procedures of civil and criminal courts to deciphering the wisdom of the Constitution, students will embark on a journey through the roles and hurdles encountered by courts, law enforcement, victims and offenders in their quest for justice. Engaging in lively discussions on pivotal Constitutional matters, students will enhance their legal lexicon and cultivate the skill to analyze cases, pinpointing crucial legal issues and crafting compelling arguments. Students in this course will deepen their appreciation for the profound ways the criminal justice system molds our legal landscape and influences our lives.
Learn More
Learn more about Summer Discovery at UT Austin by attending one of our virtual info sessions. Register below!
| Thursday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. | Meeting Link |
| Thursday, February 6 at 7:00 p.m. | Meeting Link |
| Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. | Meeting Link |
| Thursday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. |
Meeting Link |
| Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m. |
Meeting Link |
Amelia Fleming-Cazalas, Program Coordinator, amelia@austin.utexas.edu
Are you a member of the UT Austin community looking for summer job opportunities? We’re currently hiring Academic Assistants and Instructors for Summer 2025. Find open positions on Handshake or contact our Program Coordinator to apply at amelia@austin.utexas.edu.
UT Austin partners with Summer Discovery to offer engaging high school summer programs on our campus. All program academics are organized by the University, while the program application and registration are managed by Summer Discovery. When launching the application you will be directed to the Summer Discovery site.