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    Next session starts 25 Jan 2027

    UC Davis Summer Academy Communication Beyond Borders

    by UC Davis Summer Academy

    • 2027 program

    Communication Beyond Borders is a short UC Davis program in Davis, California, where international high school students aged 14 to 17 build spoken English and learn about American life. Each day of instruction has three 50-minute classes in U.S. Society and Culture, Intercultural Communication Skills and Everyday Expressions and Idioms, and UC Davis student leaders run daily cultural and social activities around them. Sessions run in winter and summer.

    Facts checked against the official page on 12 Nov 2026 · Editor: Ben StacyBen Stacy · 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 aged 14 to 17. Minimum English level of CEFR B1, confirmed by an English Placement Test. Equivalent scores accepted as B1: TOEFL iBT 3 (from January 2026, previously 55/120), TOEFL PBT 480, IELTS 4.5, Duolingo 80, Michigan English Placement Test 38
    Total costOfficial
    2027: $1,200
    Format and placeOfficial
    In person, Davis, California
    Length
    2 weeks
    Included / budget separately
    Included: meals (meals are not included in the program fee). Separately: application fee $100 (nonrefundable), health insurance $68.75 per week if not already insured, 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
    Places depend on reaching at least CEFR B1 on the English Placement Test. No cohort size or acceptance rate is published
    Credit or certificate
    Not published
    Official page
    cie.ucdavis.edu/youth-programs/academic-preparation-high-school-students/communication-beyond-borders

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    Communication Beyond Borders

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    Should you apply?

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    In short

    A good fit for an international student aged 14 to 17 with intermediate English who wants a short spell of speaking practice on a California campus. Families looking for a supervised, all-in package will get less, because housing is booked separately and supervision isn't spelled out.

    • Why it's worth it

      The classes concentrate on everyday spoken English, such as idioms, natural speech patterns and pronunciation, and daily activities run by UC Davis student leaders give you a chance to use it outside the classroom.

    • What it asks of you

      You'll need a trip to Davis and a family budget that goes well past the $1,200 program fee once housing, insurance and flights are added.

    • Who should skip it

      Students who already speak English comfortably, or who want to study an academic subject in depth, since the whole program is built around everyday English and American culture.

    • Ask about supervision before you book

      UC Davis doesn't describe curfews or adult supervision outside class, and it leaves families to choose and vet any homestay agency themselves, which is a lot to take on for a student as young as 14.

    What do classes and days look like?

    Each day of instruction has three 50-minute classes, and UC Davis puts the total at 15 hours of instruction a week. Classes mix presentations, lectures, group projects and discussion, with homework on top, and most groups have about 15 to 20 students.

    There are three courses. Everyday Expressions and Idioms teaches the informal speech Americans use, with speaking and writing practice and quizzes along the way. U.S. Society and Culture covers core American values, major historical events and popular culture through readings, videos, discussions, presentations and reflective writing. UC Davis doesn't publish a description of the third course, Intercultural Communication Skills. It does say its classrooms use educational technology, including AI.

    Outside class, UC Davis student leaders run daily recreational, cultural and social activities. Optional weekend trips may include Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

    How good does your English need to be?

    You need at least B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which is intermediate English, and every student takes an English Placement Test to confirm it. The program is designed for international high school students aged 14 to 17. UC Davis treats these scores as equivalent to B1, which helps you check where you stand before applying:

    • TOEFL iBT

      3 on the scale used from January 2026, or 55 out of 120 on the older scale.

    • TOEFL PBT

      480.

    • IELTS

      4.5.

    • Duolingo English Test

      80.

    • Michigan English Placement Test

      38.

    What does it really cost?

    Program fees come to $1,300, made up of the $1,200 program fee and a $100 application fee that isn't refunded, and neither includes a place to live. UC Davis notes that all its fees are subject to change.

    Health insurance is compulsory. If your own policy is valid in the United States with at least $500,000 of coverage, you show proof in English at registration, and otherwise you buy UC Davis's plan at $68.75 a week, which comes to $137.50 for a two-week session. No student starts classes without one or the other.

    Housing is the cost you can't pin down in advance. UC Davis's International Housing office helps with homestays, apartments and residence halls, but the halls are open only in summer, so winter students need another option, and no housing price is published for this program. Residence hall meals are served in campus dining halls, while a homestay lets you choose whether to eat with your host family. Flights, any optional weekend trips and any US visa fees come on top as well.

    What should you do next?

    Pick the session that fits your school calendar. In 2027, the winter session runs 25 January to 5 February, and the summer sessions run 5 to 16 July and 19 to 30 July. To apply, email UC Davis at cpeinternational@ucdavis.edu. No application deadline is published, so it's worth getting in touch well ahead, with a plan for housing and health insurance, since the program fee covers neither.
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    Frequently asked questions

    Yes. It's run by the international programs team at UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education, with classes at the UC Davis International Center at 463 California Avenue in Davis, and it's adapted from the university's Communication and Culture Program for international university students and professionals.

    UC Davis describes it as a four-week program, but every session it lists, such as 5 to 16 July 2027, runs two weeks. Confirm the length with UC Davis when you apply, since it affects your housing and insurance costs.

    UC Davis says it is authorized to enroll international students, advises on F-1 and J-1 visas and has an immigration advisor for pre-arrival questions. It doesn't say which visa this program requires, so ask before booking travel, and check visa fees with the US government.

    Sources

    Facts checked against the official page on 12 Nov 2026

    Editor: Ben Stacy

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