Final admission deadline
17 May 2026
Final deadline for the verified 2026 cycle.
In-person Program
Extended Reality High School Course
A hands-on extended reality course where students design immersive AR, VR and MR environments and build a portfolio-ready group project.
Last verified: 26 Aug 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
In-person Program
Extended Reality High School Course
A hands-on extended reality course where students design immersive AR, VR and MR environments and build a portfolio-ready group project.
Last verified: 26 Aug 2026Reviewed by:SSSean Stevens
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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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Extended Reality Course at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Applications open
Eligibility
Grades 9-12; minimum 3.0 GPA
Age range / Year group
Ages 14-18; Grades 9-12
Location / Region
UC San Diego, San Diego
Cost
$5,998 residential; $3,298 commuter
Duration
2 weeks
Format
In-person
Application deadline
Rolling · Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
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Accommodation: Residential and commuter options
Meals: All residential meals; commuter lunch
Certificate: Certificate and recommendation letter
Main output: Portfolio-ready group XR project
Campus experience: Dorms, workshops and excursions
Extended Reality Course summary
This practical pre-college course introduces augmented, virtual and mixed reality through 3D modeling, animation, storytelling and UX design.
Students work in groups inside an XR studio to design an immersive virtual space using professional development software and supplied equipment.
It best suits curious students who want to test creative technology and spatial-computing careers without needing previous XR or coding experience.
What is Extended Reality High School Course?
The Extended Reality High School Course is a practical introduction to augmented, virtual and mixed reality, delivered by Summer Springboard. Students investigate how spatial computing is used across entertainment, healthcare, education and automotive design.
Teaching takes place in an XR studio and centers on collaborative creation. Students use professional tools, 3D modeling, animation, immersive storytelling and UX principles to develop a virtual environment and portfolio showcase experience.
Why Succeed highlights Extended Reality Course
Students create an immersive XR environment instead of only learning the technology in theory.
No previous XR or software-development experience is required, making the course accessible to beginners.
The curriculum connects technical tools with 3D creation, storytelling and user-experience design.
Industry visits and professional speakers help students understand how XR is used beyond gaming.
The finished group project can serve as a portfolio showcase experience.
Who is Extended Reality Course for?
Best for
Students curious about immersive technology, 3D design, world-building or creative computing who want practical project experience.
Not ideal if
You want a credit-bearing university course, an individual project, or a narrowly coding-focused program without campus activities.
Is Extended Reality Course worth it?
It can be worthwhile for a student who wants to test whether XR design feels engaging before committing to deeper study. The combination of professional tools, collaborative creation and a portfolio output gives the experience more substance than a lecture-only introduction.
The main limitation is the price, particularly for the residential option, and the project is completed in a group rather than individually. Students seeking college credit should also note that this campus does not award it.
A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.
Cost and what is included
$5,998 residential; $3,298 commuter; includes Residential tuition includes the academic course, lodging and all meals., Residential tuition includes excursions and weekend excursions., Commuter tuition includes the academic course, weekday lunch and excursions., Commuter programming runs from 9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday., All students receive college-readiness workshops..
Accommodation
Residential and commuter options
Meals
All 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; UC San Diego, San Diego.
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 Extended Reality Course need?
Effort level
Moderate to high.
Best started
Begin preparing six to eight weeks before the next application deadline, allowing time for the short answers, payment planning and required forms.
Main challenge
Combining technical development, visual design and group decision-making.
Typical preparation
Review basic AR, VR and MR concepts before the course.
Gather examples of immersive experiences whose design you admire.
Bring a PC laptop if possible because some required software lacks full Mac support.
Think about how you will document your contribution to the group project.
Useful if
You enjoy learning new software through practical experimentation.
What do students do on Extended Reality Course?
Students progress from understanding XR concepts to designing and developing a shared immersive environment. Practical work combines creative decisions with professional production tools.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Explore how augmented, virtual and mixed reality fit within spatial computing.
- 2
Learn 3D modeling, animation, immersive storytelling and UX principles.
- 3
Study XR applications across healthcare, education, entertainment and automotive industries.
- 4
Work in a group to plan and prototype an immersive virtual space.
- 5
Use professional development software and supplied XR equipment.
- 6
Present or retain the completed experience as a portfolio showcase project.
Extended Reality 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
Session 1
28 June-10 July 2026
Residential option was listed on a waitlist.
Session 3
26 July-7 August 2026
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Final admission deadline | 17 May 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Session 1 | 28 June-10 July 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Session 3 | 26 July-7 August 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
Students entering Grades 9-12
Minimum 3.0 GPA or local equivalent
Completed eighth grade before the program starts
International students must demonstrate English proficiency
Students must meet the Essential Eligibility Criteria
How much does Extended Reality Course cost?
Program tuition
$5,998; $3,298 — Residential and commuter options respectively.
Funding or discounts
- Program deposit: $600 — Paid during application to hold a place.
- Application fee: From $99 — Mandatory and nonrefundable.
- Tuition protection: $699 — Optional cancellation protection for campus programs.
What's included
Residential tuition includes the academic course, lodging and all meals., Residential tuition includes excursions and weekend excursions., Commuter tuition includes the academic course, weekday lunch and excursions., Commuter programming runs from 9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday., All students receive college-readiness workshops.
How to apply to Extended Reality Course
- 1
Create an account in the official application portal using basic contact information.
- 2
Confirm the verification email and complete the account details.
- 3
Choose UC San Diego, the preferred session, Extended Reality and a tuition type.
- 4
Complete the student information and short-answer questions with the student present.
- 5
Sign the required agreements and pay the $600 deposit and application fee.
- 6
Submit the complete application for an enrollment decision.
What does Extended Reality Course cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
XR foundations
Understand how augmented, virtual and mixed reality form extended reality.
3D design and animation
Apply modeling and animation techniques to immersive environments.
Immersive storytelling
Use world-building and narrative choices to shape user experiences.
XR user experience
Learn introductory UX principles for spatial-computing applications.
Collaborative prototyping
Design and develop a group XR experience with professional software.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Extended Reality Course?
A typical day during the program.
Academic course
The selected academic course begins at 9am with college-style, hands-on learning.
Activities and excursions
Recreation or an academic excursion typically begins at 1:30pm.
Readiness workshops
College readiness or personal-development programming begins around 3pm.
Residential activities
Dinner is followed by clubs or other residential activities.
Who teaches on Extended Reality Course?
The listed instructors include Trisha Williams, Joseph Unger and Amy Winkler, whose backgrounds span XR world-building, game design, film, technical art and virtual-production workflows. Their experience includes work with studios, innovation organizations and UC San Diego’s MAVERiC Studio.
Instructor assignments may vary, but the course page names experienced XR practitioners.
Where do students stay on Extended Reality Course?
Residential plan
- Suite-style housing: Students share a room within a suite containing shared bathrooms and common space.
- Meals: All meals are included, with most served in the campus dining hall.
- Residential support: Staff live in the dorms and remain available for support and emergencies.
- Campus facilities: Dorms include Wi-Fi, laundry, lounges, communal kitchens and basic linens.
Non-residential plan
- Commuter day: Commuters attend weekday programming from 9am to 5pm with lunch included.
- Weekend excursions: Commuter students may add weekend excursions for $125 per day.
Residential suites are separated by gender; room and suite assignments may vary.
What happens after Extended Reality Course?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Use the XR experience as a portfolio showcase project.
Build foundations for further study in spatial computing or immersive design.
Explore career applications in entertainment, healthcare, education and automotive work.
Receive a program completion certificate and professor-completed recommendation letter.
Reflect on related pathways in 3D art, UX, game design and creative technology.
The course does not award college credit at UC San Diego.
Where does Extended Reality Course take place?
The course runs on the UC San Diego campus in San Diego, California, with teaching in an XR studio. Campus programming combines academic study with college-readiness workshops, local attractions and course-related excursions.
Summer Springboard operates the program independently of UC San Diego.
Extended Reality Course FAQs
It introduces augmented, virtual and mixed reality through 3D modeling, animation, immersive storytelling, professional development software and introductory UX design.
No. The course says no previous Extended Reality or software-development knowledge is required.
Students work in groups to design and develop an immersive virtual space that can serve as a portfolio showcase experience.
A PC laptop is strongly encouraged. Macs are permitted, but some required software is not supported by Apple.
Yes. Both residential and commuter tuition options are published, with commuters attending weekday programming from 9am to 5pm.
Students share rooms in gender-separated UCSD suites with shared bathrooms, common living space and a communal kitchen on each floor.
Residential tuition includes all meals. Commuter tuition includes weekday lunch.
No college credit is stated for the UC San Diego program. Students receive a completion certificate and a professor-completed letter of recommendation.
Alternatives to Extended Reality Course
Compare these related technology and design programs if you want a different technical focus, city or learning format.
Alternatives to Extended Reality Course
Hands-on game design and creative technology
Design
Deadline: Not announced
From £4295
14-18
Los Angeles
In-person
Best for
Students more interested in games than broad XR applications.
Software development and gaming career exploration
Computer Science
25 May 2026
From £5995
15-18
London
In-person
Best for
Students seeking a more coding-centered technology program.
University-style engineering study in Cambridge
Engineering
Deadline: Not announced
From £4495
13-18
Cambridge
In-person
Best for
Students who want engineering breadth rather than XR specialization.
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
- Terms & Conditions | Policies & Terms | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- Campus Specific FAQ | Knowledge Base | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- General Information FAQ | Knowledge Base | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- Main 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 UC San Diego V2
- Extended Reality | Course | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
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What we verified (on 26 Aug 2026)
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