Application deadline
28 February 2027
The exact day remains to be confirmed.
In-person Program
PROMYS Mathematics Summer Program
by PROMYS
An intensive mathematics experience centered on number theory, proof, conjecture-building, and collaborative problem-solving.
Last verified: 9 Sept 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
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PROMYS Student Program at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Applications open
Eligibility
Grade 9 completed; not in college
Age range / Year group
Ages 14-18
Location / Region
Boston, United States
Cost
Up to $8,000
Duration
6 weeks
Format
In-person
Mathematics
Class size: Approximately 80 students
Accommodation: BU dormitories; two per room
Meals: BU dining; dietary accommodations
Certificate / Outcome: Certificate of completion
Tutors / Faculty: Faculty, counselors, and research mentors
PROMYS Student Program summary
PROMYS is an immersive mathematics program centered on number theory, independent experimentation, conjecture-building, and proof.
Weekdays begin with a number theory lecture and continue with challenging problem sets, counselor feedback, seminars, lectures, and optional project work.
It suits students who enjoy sustained mathematical struggle, creative reasoning, and close collaboration more than fast-paced contest preparation.
What is PROMYS Mathematics Summer Program?
PROMYS is an intensive summer mathematics program founded in 1989 and hosted at Boston University. Its academic core is number theory, approached through lectures, numerical experiments, conjectures, proofs, and demanding daily problem sets.
Students join a close residential mathematical community with undergraduate counselors, faculty, research mentors, and visiting mathematicians. Beyond the core work, participants may attend advanced seminars and guest lectures or join exploration labs, while returning students can undertake mentored research.
Why Succeed highlights PROMYS Student Program
The daily number theory sequence develops conjecture, experimentation, proof, and mathematical communication rather than emphasizing routine exercises.
Counselors provide regular individual and small-group support while preserving students' responsibility for their own mathematical discoveries.
Advanced seminars, exploration labs, guest lectures, and returning-student research create meaningful routes beyond the core curriculum.
The residential community extends mathematical collaboration beyond scheduled classes into dorms, study spaces, and weekends.
Need-based aid can cover the full cost, and a full Breakout Fellowship is considered without a separate application.
Who is PROMYS Student Program for?
Best for
Students who enjoy exploring difficult mathematics patiently, explaining their reasoning, and collaborating with equally motivated peers.
Not ideal if
You want a light summer course, primarily contest coaching, formal grades, university credit, or flexibility to leave campus for other commitments.
Is PROMYS Student Program worth it?
For a student who genuinely enjoys sustained mathematical investigation, PROMYS offers unusual depth. Daily proof-based work, close counselor feedback, broad mathematical enrichment, and a highly engaged residential community can make it a formative academic experience.
The trade-off is intensity: students are expected to commit the entire six weeks, including weekends, and admission is competitive. It is most worthwhile when the mathematical experience itself is the goal, rather than earning grades, university credit, or a quick application credential.
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Cost and what is included
Up to $8,000; includes Need-based awards may cover tuition, room, and board., The Yongren Fellowship covers tuition, visa fees, travel, room, board, and books for qualifying students in China., Some travel support may be available through the financial-aid process..
Accommodation
BU dormitories; two per room
Meals
BU dining; dietary accommodations
Provider details
Review the PROMYS provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
6 weeks; Boston, United States.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does PROMYS Student Program need?
Effort level
High.
Best started
Begin at least six to eight weeks before the expected late-February deadline so you can explore the mathematics and request supporting documents early.
Main challenge
Showing original, persistent reasoning clearly, even when a complete solution is out of reach.
Typical preparation
Download the application problem set as soon as it is released and read every problem before choosing where to begin.
Keep organized scratch work because applicants may be asked to explain their approach in an interview.
Write solutions as a clear record of your reasoning, not just a list of final answers.
Request the teacher recommendation early and confirm that it has been received.
Useful if
You already enjoy proof, pattern-finding, and extended mathematical exploration.
What do students do on PROMYS Student Program?
Students spend six weeks investigating mathematics through lectures, daily problem sets, feedback, collaborative work, seminars, and optional projects.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Attend a 90-minute number theory lecture each weekday morning.
- 2
Receive a new problem set and discuss the previous day's work with a counselor.
- 3
Experiment independently and collaboratively to identify patterns, make conjectures, and construct proofs.
- 4
Choose additional advanced seminars, guest lectures, minicourses, or an exploration lab when appropriate.
- 5
Returning students may join a four-person research team guided by a professional mathematician.
- 6
Participating project students write up their findings and present them to the PROMYS community.
PROMYS Student Program dates and deadlines
Upcoming
Programme dates
27 June-7 August 2027
Applications open
January 2027
The application is expected to launch during the month.
Admissions decisions
End of April 2027 (TBD)
Expected timing; the exact day remains to be confirmed.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Application deadline | 28 February 2027 | Local | Upcoming | Save deadline |
Programme dates | 27 June-7 August 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Applications open | January 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Admissions decisions | End of April 2027 (TBD) | Local | Date not confirmed |
Eligibility and requirements
Aged 14-18 on the first program day
Completed at least Grade 9 or equivalent
Not enrolled full time at college or university
Graduating seniors and gap-year students may apply before college
International students may apply
One PROMYS-family application per summer
How much does PROMYS Student Program cost?
Program fee
Up to $8,000 — The 2026 amount depends on financial aid.
Funding or discounts
- Domestic need-based aid: Free — For families below $80,000 adjusted gross income.
- Need-based awards: Up to full cost — Awards can cover the full six-week cost.
- Breakout Fellowship: Full scholarship — All applicants are considered automatically.
- International aid: Case by case — Applicants requiring aid should submit the financial-aid form.
What's included
Need-based awards may cover tuition, room, and board., The Yongren Fellowship covers tuition, visa fees, travel, room, board, and books for qualifying students in China., Some travel support may be available through the financial-aid process.
How to apply to PROMYS Student Program
- 1
Create a password-protected Submittable account when the student application launches.
- 2
Work through the official problem set without AI tools or internet solutions.
- 3
Upload your problem-set solutions as one legible PDF.
- 4
Upload a school transcript, report card, or homeschool study record.
- 5
Complete the online form, including the short answers and solution summaries.
- 6
Enter your mathematics recommender's details and send the recommendation request early.
- 7
If seeking aid, send the financial-aid form request to a parent or guardian.
- 8
Confirm that every required form has been received before submission is complete.
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What does PROMYS Student Program cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Number Theory
Daily lectures and problem sets use integers and primes to develop experimentation, conjecture, and proof.
Advanced Seminars
Returning and motivated first-year students study faculty-led topics through lectures and further problem sets.
Exploration Labs
First-year students may investigate open-ended questions in small groups guided by a counselor and faculty member.
Research Projects
Returning students form four-person teams to explore original problems with professional mathematician mentors.
Guest Lectures and Minicourses
Faculty, guests, and counselors introduce wider mathematical, scientific, philosophical, ethical, and career perspectives.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on PROMYS Student Program?
A typical day during the program.
Number Theory lecture
All participants begin the weekday with the core lecture.
Counselor feedback
Students receive the daily problem set and discuss the previous day's work.
Scheduled study
Seminars, lectures, or project sessions supplement the core lecture.
Independent problem solving
Students work independently and collaboratively across campus study spaces.
Who teaches on PROMYS Student Program?
PROMYS faculty and visiting mathematicians lead lectures and advanced seminars, while professional mathematicians mentor returning-student research. Undergraduate mathematics counselors support daily problem-set work and provide regular written and verbal feedback.
Each counselor mentors approximately three to four students.
Where do students stay on PROMYS Student Program?
Residential plan
- Boston University dormitory: Students live in university housing assigned to pre-college summer programs.
- Double-room setup: Two PROMYS students share a room in gender-designated residence areas.
- Residential supervision: Counselors live on student floors, supported by BU security, curfews, and trained staff.
- Dining support: BU Dining Services supports gluten-free and vegan needs, with vegetarian options at every meal.
- Community activities: Weekly games, sports, and occasional local trips provide breaks from mathematics.
Kosher food service is not available during the summer.
What happens after PROMYS Student Program?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Receive a certificate of completion.
Leave with deeper experience in proof-based mathematical thinking.
Use completed problem sets or project work to reflect on future mathematical study.
Returning students may produce and present a mentored research paper.
Join an alumni community with strong participation in mathematics and wider STEM fields.
PROMYS awards no grades or Boston University course credit, and publication is not guaranteed.
Where does PROMYS Student Program take place?
The program is held on Boston University's urban campus in Boston, Massachusetts. Students live in BU dormitories and work in residence spaces, classrooms, the library, and outdoor campus areas near the Charles River.
Students must live on campus; commuting from off campus is not permitted.
PROMYS Student Program FAQs
Number theory anchors the morning lectures and daily problem sets. Students can also encounter advanced seminars, minicourses, guest lectures, exploration labs, and research across wider mathematical topics.
No. PROMYS says students come from varied mathematical backgrounds and values the ability and desire to think deeply about fundamental ideas rather than prior contest success.
No grades or Boston University course credit are awarded. Counselors provide daily feedback on problem sets, and students receive a certificate of completion.
Students live in Boston University dormitories, normally two per room. Counselors live on the same floors and near the students they mentor when possible.
Yes. International applicants need sufficient English for lectures, discussions, problem sets, and written explanations; TOEFL scores are not required.
Need-based aid may cover the full cost, including room and board. International aid is considered case by case, and every applicant is considered for the full Breakout Fellowship.
No. The number theory sequence is designed for intensive work across the full six weeks, and students are expected to remain on campus and focused on PROMYS.
Applicants submit original problem-set solutions, a transcript or report card, short answers, and a teacher recommendation. PROMYS advises spending weeks exploring and writing up the mathematics.
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Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Sean Stevens
Co-founder, Succeed | Founder, Immerse Education (2012–2026)
Sean works at the intersection of academic enrichment, program quality and university preparation, with expertise in evaluating pre-university experiences for ambitious secondary school students.
Sources and verification
Source types reviewed
- PROMYS Submission Manager
- Mathematics at PROMYS – PROMYS | Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists
- A Typical Day – PROMYS | Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists
- International Students – PROMYS | Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists
- Financial Aid & Scholarships – PROMYS | Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists
- Application – PROMYS | Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists
- FAQ – PROMYS | Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists
- Application – PROMYS | Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists
- FAQ – PROMYS | Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists
- For Students – PROMYS | Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists
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What we verified (on 9 Sept 2026)
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PROMYS Mathematics Summer Program
by PROMYS
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