A summer at Stanford University can change your life. Eight weeks here could add not just a prestigious entry to your resume but potentially redirect your entire future. The annual Summer Session revolves around opening doors, sparking new ideas and uniting a global network.

"My summer has been phenomenal and transformative," Max Laibson says. "I have met so many interesting people, and my classes are amazing. I feel lighter and happier, and honestly, I feel completely transformed."

This is what Summer Session was designed to do — provide an unparalleled experience at one of the world's top universities. Hence, it attracts students from over 60 countries. Over eight weeks, they take for-credit courses alongside full-time Stanford undergraduates and postgraduates, learning from the same world-class faculty and instructors who lead the university’s degree programmes.

The opportunity can serve as a trial run for graduate school in the US, helping you decide if an advanced degree is the right path. You might also come for the entrepreneurial spirit that defines Stanford’s home in Silicon Valley, where inspiration is everywhere and meeting a future co-founder over coffee isn’t uncommon.

– Current Roedean parent

"As parents of two daughters with completely different personalities and needs, we are so grateful that Roedean can provide a truly personalised experience for each of them. The school offers a remarkable breadth of opportunities, ensuring that both girls can pursue their individual passions while being supported in their unique learning journeys. Our daughters absolutely love Roedean – they feel not only challenged and inspired, but also deeply supported.”

– Ratna Chandra, a 2024 participant.

"This was a life-enriching experience, and I would 2000% recommend taking courses of your interest at Summer Session,”

Test the waters, discover your passion

Summer Session at Stanford offers a wide and intriguing array of courses, ranging from Accounting for Managers and Entrepreneurs to Virtual Reality and Human Behavior, and from An Introduction to Making: What is EE to Language of Film.

Aspiring leaders can immerse themselves in Becoming Effective Leaders, while those interested in current events might be drawn to Biology in the News. The programme spans foundational courses like Calculus and Chemical Principles to specialised topics such as Cell Phone Media Art and Capitalism in Motion: The Global History of Commodities, ensuring a diverse educational experience.

Several other courses are offered across Computer Science and Engineering, Creativity and Design, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Math and Data Science, Natural Sciences, Personal Development, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Writing and Public Speaking.

While your educators keep you engaged, the Summer Academic Resource Center (SARC) keeps you ahead. SARC clubs are a great way to dive deeper into subjects that spark your curiosity and explore new ideas with Stanford students who share your passion for learning. The lineup changes every year, with past clubs having included Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Computer Aided Design, Aero-Astro Society, and Academic Skills. For those whose first language isn’t English, specialised ESL-focused writing sessions are available too, ensuring everyone has the best possible learning experience.

Ridhi Unni praises Stanford’s interactive approach. "One thing they're really amazing about is that it's not a lecture where they come in, and they're just talking at you. They want to hear. They're inquisitive. They're trying to pull things out of you, they're asking questions, they're posing discussions in the classroom,” she says.

Academic resources at the ready

Hear from the students

Hear from the students