First application wave
22 February 2026
Application fee increased after this point
In-person Program
Engineering, Design and Global Innovation High School Course
A hands-on pre-college course where students use engineering and design to prototype practical responses to global social and environmental challenges.
Last verified: 26 Aug 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
In-person Program
Engineering, Design and Global Innovation High School Course
A hands-on pre-college course where students use engineering and design to prototype practical responses to global social and environmental challenges.
Last verified: 26 Aug 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
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We review public program details such as eligibility, age range, cost, duration, location, format, accommodation, meals and application timing.
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Global Innovation Course at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Closed
Eligibility
Grades 9-12; 3.0 GPA
Age range / Year group
14-18
Location / Region
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost
$3,498 commuter; $6,798 residential
Duration
2 weeks
Format
In-person
Latest deadline
17 May 2026 · Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Get next-cycle reminderEngineeringDesign
Accommodation: Shared university dormitory
Meals: Full residential meals; commuter lunch
Certificate / Outcome: Certificate and recommendation letter
Sessions / cadence: 9 x 3-hour classes
Tutors / faculty: Heewon Lee; Dr. Dan Sweeney
Global Innovation Course summary
Students tackle a community-centered challenge and move from research and ideas to a tested physical prototype, combining design reasoning with practical engineering.
The course is structured around nine three-hour classes, with daily lectures, hands-on making, small-team collaboration and feedback from instructors and global community partners.
It suits students who want to explore engineering through social-impact projects rather than study theory alone.
What is Engineering, Design and Global Innovation High School Course?
The Engineering, Design and Global Innovation High School Course is a project-based Summer Springboard experience focused on practical responses to complex global challenges. Students consider issues such as clean water, energy access, agriculture, housing and mobility.
Small teams choose a community-centered brief, conduct research, develop ideas and build a prototype. Daily lectures are paired with making, testing, reflection and feedback so students understand both the practical work and the reasoning behind each design decision.
Why Succeed highlights Global Innovation Course
Students complete a genuine design cycle, progressing from user research and ideation to prototyping and evaluation.
Community-centered briefs connect engineering decisions to social and environmental impact.
Small-team making gives students practical experience with accessible fabrication methods and supervised mechanized tools.
The instructors combine industrial design, mechanical engineering, teaching and international development experience.
Residential and commuter routes let families choose between a campus-life experience and daytime attendance.
Who is Global Innovation Course for?
Best for
Students who enjoy collaborative problem-solving and want to test engineering through research, building and social-impact design.
Not ideal if
You want a primarily mathematical engineering course, individual project work or a credit-bearing university class.
Is Global Innovation Course worth it?
This course can be worthwhile for students who want to discover whether engineering and human-centered design suit them. The complete project cycle, experienced instructors and tangible prototype provide stronger material for later reflection than passive lecture attendance alone.
The limitation is value: tuition, the mandatory course supplement, application costs and travel can make the experience expensive. It also does not award college credit, so families should prioritize the learning, independence and project experience rather than treating the MIT setting as a credential.
A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.
Cost and what is included
$3,498 commuter; $6,798 residential; includes Residential tuition includes all meals and lodging., Residential tuition includes the academic course and excursions., Commuter tuition includes lunch, the course and excursions., Commuter programming runs 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday., Residential tuition includes weekend excursions..
Accommodation
Shared university dormitory
Meals
Full residential meals; commuter lunch
Provider details
Review the Summer Springboard provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
2 weeks; Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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 Global Innovation Course need?
Effort level
High and collaborative.
Best started
Begin planning two to three months before the application deadline to compare tuition routes, arrange documents and consider travel.
Main challenge
Turning community research into a practical, testable design.
Typical preparation
Review the challenge areas and choose two that genuinely interest you.
Practice explaining how a design choice responds to a user's needs.
Prepare examples of teamwork, curiosity and responsible problem-solving.
Families should compare residential and commuter logistics before applying.
Useful if
You are comfortable contributing ideas and building within a small team.
What do students do on Global Innovation Course?
Students follow a community-centered engineering design process in small teams, supported by lectures, practical making, mentorship and feedback.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Choose one of several curated global challenge briefs.
- 2
Form a small team around a shared interest and community focus.
- 3
Gather information and conduct user-centered research.
- 4
Generate ideas and select a promising design concept.
- 5
Build a prototype using accessible materials and fabrication methods.
- 6
Test, evaluate and refine the solution with feedback.
- 7
Reflect on the design decisions and their ethical implications.
Global Innovation Course 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
Second application wave
19 April 2026
Application fee increased after this point
Final admission deadline
17 May 2026
Final general admission deadline
Session 1
21 June-3 July 2026
Two-week course run
Session 2
5-17 July 2026
Two-week course run
Session 3
19-31 July 2026
Two-week course run
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
First application wave | 22 February 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Second application wave | 19 April 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Final admission deadline | 17 May 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Session 1 | 21 June-3 July 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Session 2 | 5-17 July 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Session 3 | 19-31 July 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
Students entering Grades 9-12
Minimum 3.0 GPA or equivalent
Residential students must be at least 14
English proficiency required for international students
Essential eligibility criteria apply to all participants
Students starting high school after summer may apply
Recent high school graduates may apply
How much does Global Innovation Course cost?
Program tuition
$3,498-$6,798 — Commuter or residential tuition
Funding or discounts
- Course supplement: $250 — Mandatory for this course
- Application fee: From $99 — Mandatory and nonrefundable
- Deposit: $600 — Paid during the application
- Need-based scholarship: Up to 30% or 60% — Residential or commuter tuition respectively
- Eligible discounts: 5% — Selected family, multi-program and referral routes
What's included
Residential tuition includes all meals and lodging., Residential tuition includes the academic course and excursions., Commuter tuition includes lunch, the course and excursions., Commuter programming runs 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday., Residential tuition includes weekend excursions.
How to apply to Global Innovation Course
- 1
Ask a parent or guardian to register an application-portal account.
- 2
Confirm the email address and complete the account details.
- 3
Create a new application from the portal dashboard.
- 4
Select Cambridge, the session, course and tuition type.
- 5
Enter the student's information with the student present.
- 6
Pay the $600 deposit and application fee, then submit.
- 7
Complete any additional forms requested after acceptance.
What does Global Innovation Course cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Community Research
Investigate users, contexts and constraints behind a selected global challenge.
Ideation and Selection
Generate possible responses and select a concept for development.
Prototyping
Use accessible materials and fabrication methods to build a solution.
Testing and Evaluation
Test the prototype, gather feedback and refine design decisions.
Ethical Design
Connect engineering choices to real community needs and responsible research.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Global Innovation Course?
A typical day during the program.
9 a.m. 12 p.m.
Three-hour academic course in Kendall Square.
1:30 p.m.
Academic excursion or recreational activity.
3:30 p.m.
College readiness workshop or True You session.
7 p.m.
Residential students join clubs and social activities.
Who teaches on Global Innovation Course?
Industrial designer Heewon Lee and mechanical engineer Dr. Dan Sweeney teach the course with support from university students. Their experience spans MIT D-Lab, humanitarian design, product development, engineering research and work with community partners internationally.
Students also receive mentorship and feedback while developing their team projects.
Where do students stay on Global Innovation Course?
Residential plan
- University dormitory: Students share a traditional-style room with roommates.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
- Residential support: Staff live in the dorms and provide 24-hour emergency support.
- Security: Access-controlled dorms have campus security patrols and nightly checks.
- Campus facilities: Dormitories have Wi-Fi, lounges and laundry facilities.
Non-residential plan
- Day attendance: Commuters attend programming from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Commuter lunch: Lunch, weekday activities and academic excursions are included.
Residential students share rooms and common bathrooms; floors are separated by gender.
What happens after Global Innovation Course?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Use the completed prototype as evidence of project-based engineering experience.
Reflect on user research, teamwork and iteration in later applications.
Explore further study in engineering, design or social-impact innovation.
Receive a program completion certificate.
Receive a professor-completed recommendation letter.
The course does not award college credit.
Where does Global Innovation Course take place?
The program is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with access to campus life and activities around Cambridge and Boston. To support practical making, the 9 a.m.-noon Engineering, Design and Global Innovation classes are held in Kendall Square, directly next to MIT and close to technology companies, startups and research labs.
Summer Springboard is not run by MIT, and MIT does not control or take responsibility for the program.
Global Innovation Course FAQs
Students explore community challenges involving areas such as clean water, energy, agriculture, housing and mobility. They use research, ideation, prototyping and evaluation to develop a practical response.
The course has nine three-hour classes. Week one runs Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, and week two runs Monday-Thursday at the same time.
The 9 a.m.-noon course is held in Kendall Square, Cambridge, directly next to MIT. The location supports the program's practical, hands-on approach.
Yes. Families can choose commuter tuition, which includes lunch, the academic course, excursions and weekday programming from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Residential tuition includes lodging, all meals, the academic course, excursions and weekend excursions. Students live in shared university dormitory accommodation.
Industrial designer Heewon Lee and mechanical engineer Dr. Dan Sweeney teach with support from university students. Both have experience with MIT D-Lab and international community-centered design or engineering projects.
No college credit is awarded for this course. Students receive a completion certificate and a professor-completed recommendation letter after completing the program.
Summer Springboard offers need-based scholarships that may cover up to 30% of residential tuition or 60% of commuter tuition. Several 5% discount routes are also published.
Alternatives to Global Innovation Course
Compare these options if you want a different balance of engineering depth, design focus or project setting.
Alternatives to Global Innovation Course
Residential engineering summer study in Cambridge
Engineering
Deadline: Not announced
From £4495
13-18
Cambridge
In-person
Best for
Students wanting a broader academic engineering experience.
Architecture and design study in London
Design
Deadline: Not announced
From £4495
16-18
London
In-person
Best for
Students more interested in architecture and visual design.
Project-focused game design in Los Angeles
Design
Deadline: Not announced
From £4295
14-18
Los Angeles
In-person
Best for
Students drawn to interactive media and digital products.
Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources and verification
Source types reviewed
- Terra Education
- 2026 HS 2-week Engineering, Design and Global Innovation Infosheet V5
- (1) New Messages!
- Tuition and Financial Aid FAQ | Knowledge Base | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- General Information FAQ | Knowledge Base | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- (1) New Messages!
- (1) New Messages!
- (1) New Messages!
- (1) New Messages!
- Apply Now | Enrollment | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- 2026 HS 2-week MIT/CAMBRIDGE V6
- Tuition Protection Plan T&C
- Engineering, Design and Global Innovation | Cambridge, MA | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 26 Aug 2026)
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