Application deadline
13 March 2026
Summer Institutes application and supplemental materials are due by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
Online Program
Introduction to Engineering
by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
An online engineering course exploring biomedical, computer, civil, and environmental engineering through collaborative design and discussion of ethical challenges.
Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
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Introduction to Engineering at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Upcoming
Eligibility
Current Grades 8-10
Age range / Year group
Ages 13-16
Location / Region
Online
Cost
$3,200
Duration
2 weeks
Format
Online
EngineeringBiomedical EngineeringEnvironmental Science
Sessions / cadence: 10 × 2-hour classes, Monday-Friday; 1-2-hour daily homework
Latest verified cycle: 2026
Student support: Online office hours
Coursework: Assignments and projects
Time-zone model: Pacific Daylight Time
Introduction to Engineering summary
Stanford's Introduction to Engineering course helps students explore several engineering disciplines before choosing a narrower interest.
Live online learning combines teamwork, design principles, ethical discussion, and independent assignments and projects.
It suits curious students who want to understand how engineers approach problems and evaluate possible study or career directions.
What is Introduction to Engineering?
Introduction to Engineering is an introductory course within Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes. It explores biomedical engineering, computer engineering, civil engineering, and environmental engineering through live online learning.
Students work in teams to learn design principles and consider practical obstacles and ethical issues. Assignments and projects extend the learning beyond class, helping students develop a clearer understanding of engineering and possible future study or career directions.
Why Succeed highlights Introduction to Engineering
Its coverage of biomedical, computer, civil, and environmental engineering helps students compare interests before specializing.
Teamwork connects engineering design principles with practical obstacles and ethical questions.
Daily live classes and online office hours provide a structured learning experience.
Independent assignments and projects encourage students to engage beyond classroom discussion.
Who is Introduction to Engineering for?
Best for
Students exploring engineering who enjoy collaborative problem-solving and want to compare different disciplines.
Not ideal if
You want a campus experience, a self-paced course, or concentrated study of just one engineering specialty.
Is Introduction to Engineering worth it?
This course is worth considering when the goal is to test an interest in engineering through structured study and teamwork. Exploring several disciplines can help a student identify which questions and design problems they want to pursue further.
The tuition is a substantial commitment, and daily classes plus homework make this an intensive choice. Its strongest value is the learning experience; Stanford states that participation does not guarantee undergraduate admission.
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Cost and what is included
$3,200; includes 10 two-hour live online classes, Online office hours, Team-based engineering study, Assignments and projects.
Dates and time commitment
2 weeks; 10 × 2-hour classes, Monday-Friday; 1-2-hour daily homework.
Provider details
Review the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
What the student gains
Potential output: Program output. Check whether feedback, certificate, recommendation or application evidence is included.
Online support and safeguarding
Check how online sessions are supervised, how mentor communication works, and what support route exists if the student needs help.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, session schedule, payment terms, cancellation rules, support expectations and what output or certificate 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 Introduction to Engineering need?
Effort level
Intensive daily study.
Best started
Begin four to six weeks before a future application deadline to gather transcripts and prepare the required work sample.
Main challenge
Balancing daily coursework with a fixed Pacific-time class window.
Typical preparation
Gather recent grade reports or transcripts before completing the application.
Choose a work sample that follows the course-specific application requirements.
Write all application responses yourself, then ask a parent or guardian to review and sign.
Convert the session's Pacific-time window to your local time and reserve daily homework time.
Useful if
You want to test your interest across several engineering disciplines.
What do students do on Introduction to Engineering?
You explore several engineering disciplines through live classes, collaborative design work, and independent coursework. The emphasis is on understanding design principles, practical constraints, and ethical issues.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Attend a two-hour live online engineering class each weekday.
- 2
Explore biomedical, computer, civil, and environmental engineering.
- 3
Work with classmates to learn design principles and consider obstacles.
- 4
Discuss ethical issues that arise in engineering.
- 5
Complete assignments and projects outside class, with online office hours available.
Introduction to Engineering dates and deadlines
Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Reference date
Session One
15-26 June 2026
Monday-Friday; 8:00-11:00 a.m. PDT window includes two class hours and online office hours.
Session Two
6-17 July 2026
Monday-Friday; 4:00-7:00 p.m. PDT window includes two class hours and online office hours.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Application deadline | 13 March 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Session One | 15-26 June 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Session Two | 6-17 July 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
Be in Grades 8-10 when applying.
Domestic and international applicants may apply.
Complete all application responses independently.
Have a parent or legal guardian review and sign.
Admitted students may attend only one Summer Institutes course.
Standardized test scores are optional.
How much does Introduction to Engineering cost?
Program tuition
$3,200 — Two-week Summer Institutes course.
Funding or discounts
- Financial aid: Domestic and international participants may receive aid.
- Application fee: Payment forms part of the completed application.
What's included
10 two-hour live online classes, Online office hours, Team-based engineering study, Assignments and projects
How to apply to Introduction to Engineering
- 1
Create or access your account in the official Stanford Pre-Collegiate application portal.
- 2
Use the student applicant's legal name and birthdate, with an email checked regularly.
- 3
Select Introduction to Engineering and complete the application responses yourself.
- 4
Upload recent grade reports or transcripts and the work sample requested for the course.
- 5
Ask a parent or legal guardian to review the completed application and sign.
- 6
Review all materials before submitting the application and paying the application fee.
Next step with Succeed
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Learning format
Each session has 10 two-hour live online classes, Monday through Friday, with an additional 1-2 hours of daily asynchronous assignments and projects. Session One uses an 8:00-11:00 a.m. PDT window and Session Two a 4:00-7:00 p.m. PDT window; the third hour is allocated to online office hours.
Exact class times and office-hour schedules are set closer to the program start; students attend just one section and time.
Mentorship and feedback
Two-hour live online classes run Monday through Friday.
The third hour of each meeting window is allocated to online office hours.
Students work in teams on design principles, obstacles, and ethical issues.
Time-zone considerations
- Meeting windows use Pacific Daylight Time.
- Session One: 8:00-11:00 a.m. PDT.
- Session Two: 4:00-7:00 p.m. PDT.
- Live classes run Monday-Friday, with 1-2 hours of daily homework.
- Exact class and office-hour schedules are set closer to the start.
Assessment style
Coursework involves assignments, projects, and collaborative engineering design work.
- Complete assignments outside live class time.
- Work on course projects independently.
- Explore design principles, obstacles, and ethical issues with classmates.
Portfolio and outputs
Main deliverable / output
Program output
Course assignments
Course projects
Introduction to Engineering FAQs
It explores biomedical engineering, computer engineering, civil engineering, and environmental engineering. Students work in teams to learn design principles and consider obstacles and ethical issues.
Applicants must be in Grades 8-10 when they submit their application. Stanford uses the applicant's current grade, rather than their grade in the following school year.
Students attend two-hour live classes Monday through Friday and should plan for 1-2 hours of assignments and projects daily. A third hour in the meeting window is allocated to online office hours.
Session One uses an 8:00-11:00 a.m. PDT window; Session Two uses a 4:00-7:00 p.m. PDT window. Exact two-hour class times and office-hour schedules are set closer to the program start.
Applicants must write all responses themselves. Parents or legal guardians may review the completed application and sign it.
No. Scores are optional for both domestic and international applicants, and unofficial transcripts can be uploaded directly into the application.
Yes. Financial aid can be awarded to both domestic and international participants.
No. Stanford's undergraduate admissions process is separate and independent from Pre-Collegiate Studies programs, and participation does not guarantee admission.
Alternatives to Introduction to Engineering
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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
- SU26_SPCS_Flyer_TeachCoun.indd
- Welcome
- Questions: Application - SI | Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
- Introduction to Engineering | Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 6 Oct 2026)
Course eligibility reviewed
Session dates checked
Historical application deadline verified
Daily workload reviewed
Tuition and aid reviewed
Official application portal verified
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Introduction to Engineering
by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
Upcoming
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