Programme dates
6-17 July 2026
Online Program
Water in a Changing World: Scarcity, Science, and Solutions
by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
Study water scarcity through environmental science, policy and ethics, using real-world case studies and a team proposal for a water conflict or shortage.
Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
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Water in a Changing World at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Upcoming
Eligibility
Grades 8-11 at application
Age range / Year group
Ages 13-17
Location / Region
Online
Cost
$3,200
Duration
2 weeks
Format
Online
Environmental ScienceSciencePoliticsEthics
Sessions / cadence: 10 × 2-hour classes, Monday-Friday; 1-2 homework hours/day
Main deliverable / output: Team water-solution proposal
Time-zone / scheduling model: 8:00-11:00 a.m. PDT meeting window
Latest verified cycle: 2026
Academic support: Online office hours
Water in a Changing World summary
This course connects freshwater science with the decisions that govern how water is shared, managed and used. Real-world cases make the links between environmental pressures and political choices concrete.
Students explore policy simulations, historical narratives, ethics and climate impacts, then work together on a proposed solution to a water conflict or scarcity issue.
It suits students who want to connect scientific explanations with questions about cooperation, governance and competing needs.
What is Water in a Changing World: Scarcity, Science, and Solutions?
Water in a Changing World: Scarcity, Science, and Solutions is a Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes course about freshwater scarcity and the systems that shape it. It combines the science of global water systems with governance, management technologies, ethics and climate impacts.
Students examine cases including the Colorado River Basin, California's groundwater overdraft crisis and Cape Town's Day Zero situation. Live online classes, policy simulations and a collaborative solution proposal connect scientific understanding with practical questions about cooperation and environmental governance.
Why Succeed highlights Water in a Changing World
The course connects water science with governance and ethics, giving students several ways to analyze the same problem.
Named case studies make broad questions about scarcity concrete and comparable.
Policy simulations provide a practical way to explore cooperation and competing interests.
The team proposal asks students to turn analysis into a possible solution.
Daily live instruction and online office hours provide a defined structure for learning.
Who is Water in a Changing World for?
Best for
Students who enjoy environmental science and want to understand how politics, ethics and cooperation shape water management.
Not ideal if
You want entirely self-paced study or cannot accommodate weekday live classes and daily independent work.
Is Water in a Changing World worth it?
The course is a strong subject fit if you want to understand water scarcity as both a scientific and a governance problem. Case studies, simulations and the team proposal give you concrete ideas to analyze and reflect on afterward.
The workload requires consistent participation in live classes and independent assignments. Judge its value by the learning and collaboration you want to gain: Stanford explicitly separates participation from its undergraduate admissions process.
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Cost and what is included
$3,200; includes Live online classes., Online office hours., Collaborative work on a water-solution proposal..
Dates and time commitment
2 weeks; 10 × 2-hour classes, Monday-Friday; 1-2 homework hours/day.
Provider details
Review the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
What the student gains
Potential output: The main output is a team proposal for a solution to a real-world water conflict or scarcity issue.. 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 Water in a Changing World need?
Effort level
Substantial daily commitment.
Best started
Allow four to six weeks before a future cycle's published application deadline to organize transcripts and a work sample.
Main challenge
Connecting scientific evidence with competing policy priorities while collaborating on a solution.
Typical preparation
Request recent grade reports and transcripts early.
Choose a work sample that meets the course's application requirements and reflects your abilities.
Write application responses independently and review everything before submitting.
Convert the Pacific meeting window to your local time and reserve daily homework time.
Useful if
You want to explore environmental science alongside governance and ethics.
What do students do on Water in a Changing World?
You connect the science of water systems with real decisions about managing scarce freshwater. Case studies and policy simulations build toward a team proposal addressing a real-world water problem.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Build an understanding of global water systems and water-management mechanisms.
- 2
Examine water challenges in the United States and internationally.
- 3
Explore historical narratives, ethics and climate impacts through policy simulations and analysis.
- 4
Work with a team to propose a solution to a water conflict or scarcity issue.
- 5
Complete assignments and projects outside live class time.
Water in a Changing World 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
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Programme dates | 6-17 July 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
Grades 8-11 at the time of application.
Domestic and international applicants may apply.
Admitted students may attend only one Summer Institutes course.
Applicants must write their own application responses.
How much does Water in a Changing World cost?
Financial aid
Domestic and international participants — Financial aid can be awarded to both groups.
What's included
Live online classes., Online office hours., Collaborative work on a water-solution proposal.
How to apply to Water in a Changing World
- 1
Complete the online application and select only courses you genuinely want to attend.
- 2
Upload recent grade reports and transcripts into your application.
- 3
Write your own responses and select a work sample meeting the chosen course's requirements.
- 4
Upload standardized test scores only if you choose to include them.
- 5
Have a parent or legal guardian review and sign the completed application.
- 6
Complete the required application fee payment and review every material before final submission.
- 7
Submit the complete application and supplemental materials by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the posted due date.
Next step with Succeed
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Learning format
Students attend a two-hour live online class Monday through Friday within the 8:00-11:00 a.m. PDT meeting window, with the third hour reserved for online office hours. Plan for approximately one to two hours of asynchronous assignments and projects each day.
Students attend one course section; exact class and office-hour times are set closer to the start.
Mentorship and feedback
Online office hours accompany the live classes.
The third hour of the meeting window is reserved for office hours.
The exact office-hour schedule is set closer to the program start.
Time-zone considerations
- The published meeting window is 8:00-11:00 a.m. PDT.
- Live classes last two hours and meet Monday through Friday.
- Exact class and office-hour times are set closer to the start.
- Allow approximately one to two hours daily for asynchronous homework.
Assessment style
Coursework involves assignments, projects and a collaborative solution proposal.
- Complete assignments outside live class time.
- Develop projects through independent work.
- Work with a team on a proposal addressing water scarcity or conflict.
Portfolio and outputs
Main deliverable / output
The main output is a team proposal for a solution to a real-world water conflict or scarcity issue.
Water in a Changing World FAQs
Students study global water systems, governance and water-management technologies. Case studies include the Colorado River Basin, California groundwater overdraft and Cape Town's Day Zero situation.
Plan for approximately one to two hours of asynchronous assignments and projects daily, alongside two-hour weekday live classes. The meeting window also includes an hour reserved for online office hours.
Students work in teams to propose a solution to a real-world water conflict or scarcity issue.
Applicants must complete their responses independently. Parents or legal guardians review and sign the completed application.
No. Standardized test scores are optional for both domestic and international applicants.
Yes. Financial aid can be awarded to both domestic and international participants.
No. Stanford University's undergraduate admissions process is separate and independent from Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies programs. Participation does not guarantee admission.
No. Admitted students may attend only one course, and applications are reviewed for the particular courses selected.
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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
- Questions: Application - SI | Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
- Water in a Changing World: Scarcity, Science, and Solutions | 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)
Official course page checked
Session dates checked
Grade eligibility reviewed
Live schedule checked
Homework expectations reviewed
Application requirements reviewed
Financial aid eligibility checked
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.
Water in a Changing World: Scarcity, Science, and Solutions
by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
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