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    In-person Program
    Next session starts 25 Jan 2027

    UC Davis Summer Academy Business Beyond Borders

    by UC Davis Summer Academy

    • 2027 program

    Business Beyond Borders is a two-week business and entrepreneurship program on the UC Davis campus in California for international high school students aged 15 to 17. Afternoons go to two courses, Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Problem-Solving through Creative Thinking, where you work in teams on a business plan and real-world challenges. Mornings and weekends bring local business visits, a guest speaker, activities with UC Davis students and trips such as a day in Sacramento.

    Facts checked against the official page on 12 Nov 2026 · Editor: Sean StevensSean Stevens · Sources

    At a glance

    Official facts · checked 12 Nov 2026
    DatesOfficial
    2027: 25 January to 5 February (Winter Session), 5 to 16 July (Summer Session I), 19 to 30 July (Summer Session II)
    Who can applyOfficial
    International high school students ages 15 to 17. English at CEFR level B1+/B2- (TOEFL iBT 3.5, TOEFL PBT 500, IELTS 5, Duolingo 90 or Michigan English Placement Test 45)
    Total costOfficial
    2027: $1,200
    Format and placeOfficial
    In person, Davis, California
    Length
    2 weeks
    Included / budget separately
    Separately: application fee $100 (nonrefundable), health insurance $68.75 per week unless proof of US-valid coverage is shown, Housing (not included in program fee)
    Deposit and refunds
    The $100 application fee is nonrefundable
    Financial aid
    Not published
    Apply by
    Not published
    Cohort and selectivity
    Not published
    Credit or certificate
    Certificate presented at a ceremony on the final day
    Official page
    cie.ucdavis.edu/youth-programs/academic-preparation-high-school-students/business-beyond-borders

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    Business Beyond Borders

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    Should you apply?

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    In short

    It suits international students aged 15 to 17 with intermediate English who want a short, hands-on look at American business and campus life. If you're after in-depth business training, bear in mind that it adds up to 32 hours of class over the two weeks.

    • Why it's worth it

      For a $1,200 program fee you get two business courses, in classes of about 15 to 20 students in most cases, plus local business visits and a guest speaker, so you hear from people who run businesses as well as from your instructors.

    • What it asks of you

      Two weeks in Davis, California, English at an intermediate level, and a family ready to arrange flights, housing and possibly a visa, none of which the fee covers.

    • Who should skip it

      Students who already speak fluent English and want an intensive business course. The teaching is designed for international students learning in English, and classes take up the afternoons only, with mornings given to business visits, social outings and some free time.

    • A brand-new program

      Business Beyond Borders first ran in summer 2026 with students from Taiwan and Mexico, so there's only one summer's experience to go on.

    What does a day of classes and business visits look like?

    In UC Davis's sample schedule, classes run from 1 to 5 p.m., Monday to Thursday, alternating between Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Problem-Solving through Creative Thinking, which adds up to the 16 hours of instruction a week. Lunch is from noon to 1 p.m. Mornings are for a welcome and campus tour, a guest speaker, three visits to local businesses, exploring Davis, a youth mixer and bowling at the Memorial Union, with two mornings and the first Friday afternoon left free.

    The first Saturday is a trip to Sacramento and the Sunday is a Host Family Day. On the final Friday there's free time on campus, an 11 a.m. certificate ceremony and departure at 7 p.m. UC Davis says site visits may include Meta, Google, Apple and Salesforce, but both the schedule and the visits can change, so don't pick the program for one company. Optional weekend trips may include Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The schedule doesn't say how evenings are spent.

    Who can join, and how good does your English need to be?

    The program is for international high school students aged 15 to 17, and your English needs to be at least CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) level B1+/B2-, which UC Davis describes as intermediate to high intermediate. It treats any of the scores below as equivalent.

    UC Davis doesn't publish what the application involves beyond emailing its team, or how many places there are. It also doesn't say whether students who live in the US can join, so ask before applying if that's you.

    • TOEFL iBT 3.5 on the scale used since January 2026 (previously 60 out of 120)
    • TOEFL PBT 500
    • IELTS 5
    • Duolingo 90
    • Michigan English Placement Test 45

    What does it really cost once housing and insurance are added?

    The fixed costs are a $1,200 program fee and a $100 application fee that UC Davis doesn't refund, so $1,300 before housing, insurance and travel. Housing isn't included. UC Davis's International Housing office helps students find homestays with local families, apartments, or residence halls in summer only, but no housing price is published for this program, so ask for one before you commit.

    Health insurance is required. You either show proof in English of US-valid coverage of at least $500,000 or buy UC Davis's plan at $68.75 a week, which comes to about $137.50 for the two weeks. Flights, the airport transfer to Davis and a visa if you need one are extra too. UC Davis doesn't say whether the optional weekend trips cost more, and it notes that all fees are subject to change.

    What do you leave with after two weeks?

    You leave with a business plan built with your team in Introduction to Entrepreneurship, work from the real-world project challenges in Problem-Solving through Creative Thinking, and a certificate handed out at a ceremony on the last day. UC Davis doesn't describe the certificate as academic credit or connect it to university admission, so treat it as a record that you took part.

    What should you do next?

    Your first decision is the session: the next runs 25 January to 5 February 2027, followed by two in July 2027 and three more in 2028. You apply by emailing UC Davis at cpeinternational@ucdavis.edu, and since there's no published application deadline, get in touch well before your session so there's time to sort out housing and any visa. It's also worth asking what proof of English they need.
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    Frequently asked questions

    Yes. It's run by the international programs team of UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education, and classes meet at the UC Davis International Center at 463 California Avenue in Davis.

    UC Davis advises on F-1 and J-1 visas and has an immigration advisor, but it doesn't say which visa, if any, this two-week program needs. Ask before you apply, and budget separately for any government visa fees.

    Sources

    Facts checked against the official page on 12 Nov 2026

    Editor: Sean Stevens

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