University of Virginia Summer Session
Charlottesville, United States
About University of Virginia Summer Session
University of Virginia Summer Session runs the University of Virginia's summer credit courses in Charlottesville. It sits within UVA's Office of the Provost and is run by the Office of Summer and Special Academic Programs. Its courses carry UVA credit and are taught in short, intensive sessions between May and August. High school students mainly come in through UVA Advance. It's a four-week residential precollege program for rising juniors and seniors, and it awards six undergraduate credits. The 2027 program runs from 10 July to 6 August 2027. Students pick either the STEM and Humanities Track or the new World Languages Track. Applications open on 1 December 2026 and close on 1 March 2027. Summer Session also runs the Summer Language Institute, which has taught intensive language courses since 1981. Its other programs are Morven in Summer, a set of sustainability courses, and archaeology field schools at Monticello, Poplar Forest and Jamestown. The field schools award graduate credits. The Summer Language Institute says it's built for people preparing for study abroad, graduate research or international careers. UVA says more than 400 visiting students join Summer Session each year.
Teaching style
Summer Session classes are short and intensive. In Sessions I, II and III, each class meeting lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes. Each session has 19 class meetings plus one exam day. UVA expects students to attend every class meeting, and instructors may set penalties for absences. In UVA Advance's STEM and Humanities Track, students take two three-credit classes. The core class is only for Advance students, but it follows the same curriculum as regular undergraduate sections. The elective is an introductory course that students take alongside UVA undergraduates. The World Languages Track places students in intermediate French, German, Italian or Spanish, with undergraduates and community learners in the same class. The language courses stress teamwork, projects and using the language in class. In the Spanish course, every student signs a pledge to speak only Spanish.
Reputation & Succeed take
UVA's own pages make the main claims about quality. UVA says UVA Advance classes are small, intensive and taught by leading UVA faculty. The Summer Language Institute posts short comments from past participants, who praise its professors and its balance of grammar and culture. These are UVA's descriptions of its own programs, not independent reviews.
Our take
For a high school student, UVA Advance is the part of Summer Session worth a close look. It gives six undergraduate credits and a month living on UVA's Grounds. At least one of your classes is taken with UVA undergraduates. We'd suggest it for students who are ready to handle six credits of college coursework in four weeks. Know the limits before you apply. Only rising juniors and seniors can join, and the application closes on 1 March 2027. UVA calls the credits transferable, but each college decides what it accepts, so check with the schools on your list. UVA also says acceptance to Summer Session isn't admission to the University.
Who this provider suits
Who should choose them
This may suit you if you're a rising junior or senior who wants to take real college classes for credit and live on campus for four weeks. The STEM and Humanities Track lets you try undergraduate subjects such as history, statistics, economics or philosophy. The World Languages Track suits students who've already studied French, German, Italian or Spanish. In one summer, they can complete the second-year (intermediate) level of university language study. Applicants to that track take an online placement test before UVA reviews the application.
Who it may not suit
Who should skip it: students below the rising junior year, since UVA Advance takes only rising juniors and seniors. It's also a poor fit if you want a light summer, because the program fits six credits of college coursework into four weeks. You'll need to be free for the full residential dates, 10 July to 6 August 2027. If your main goal is getting into UVA, remember that UVA says acceptance to Summer Session doesn't count as admission to the University.
Contact
Frequently asked questions
Programs by University of Virginia Summer Session
Program
UVA Advance: STEM & Humanities Track
Organized by University of Virginia Summer Session
Dates
10 Jul – 06 Aug 2027
Cost
From $11,046
Duration
4 weeks
