15 International Business Summer Programs for High School Students
International business summer programs give you the chance to explore how economics, trade, culture, and global markets connect. Through classes, projects, and case studies, you can learn how businesses operate across countries and how areas like finance, marketing, and policy influence international markets.
Many of these programs are organized by universities and professional institutions, offering structured learning and guidance from faculty or industry experts. You’ll also be introduced to topics such as entrepreneurship, supply chains, and cross-cultural communication, which show how different aspects of business intersect on a global scale.Along the way, you may take part in group projects, discussions, and presentations that build collaboration and communication skills. With both in-person and virtual options available, these opportunities are accessible to students no matter where you’re based.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 15 of the best international business summer programs for high school students.
15 International Business Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Redmond, Washington and Atlanta, Georgia
Cost/Stipend: None / Paid internship, amount not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive / Not specified
Duration: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: February-March (tentative)
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are also residents of and attend schools near Redmond, Washington, or Atlanta, Georgia | Should also have completed pre-calculus or an equivalent course by the start of the program | For the Atlanta, Georgia location, applicants must attend Atlanta Public Schools, Dekalb, Fulton, Cobb and Gwinnett County School Districts
The Microsoft Discovery Program is a paid internship for high school seniors interested in making a career in technology. You will work in small teams to analyze customer challenges and develop solutions, giving you insight into how technology products are created. The program introduces you to different roles, including software engineering, program management, and user experience design. Alongside project work, you will also be part of professional development sessions that teach about workplace environments. You will also have access to mentorship from Microsoft employees, who guide you as you navigate the program. At the end, you present your projects and get feedback on them.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available / None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 25% / Around 100 students per cohort
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts; Summer Cohorts I and II start June 2 and July 14 respectively
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort; Summer Cohort I: May 11; Summer Cohort II: June 23
Eligibility: High school students, undergrads, or gap year students who can work 10–20 hours a week for 8–16 weeks
Ladder Internships connect you with startups and organizations where you take part in live projects associated with the organization’s goals. You work with companies in areas such as technology, finance, sustainability, and media, contributing to tasks that range from market research to strategy development. The program gives you exposure to how early-stage businesses grow and adapt, and you see the decision-making that shapes these environments. You also receive structured support through mentorship and coaching, which helps you understand your project and broader business practices. By the end, you present your work to your host company. The program also provides formal documentation of your participation, recognizing your contributions to the organization.
3. Bank of America Student Leaders
Location: Local nonprofits across eligible U.S. communities; includes a national summit in Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: None / Paid internship; all expenses covered for the D.C. summit
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective / About 300 students selected annually across 100 communities
Dates: Eight-week internship, typically early June – late/mid August
Application Deadline: Typically January
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors | Legally authorized to work in the U.S. | Cannot be a Bank of America employee or immediate family member | Have not been previously part of the program
The Bank of America Student Leaders program allows you to participate in an eight-week paid internship at a local nonprofit, where you work about 35 hours per week. During the internship, you learn how nonprofits operate and how they partner with businesses and governments to address community needs. In addition to the internship, you take part in the week-long Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., which brings together students from across the country to explore civic engagement, leadership, and social impact. The program emphasizes service, leadership development, and collaboration across sectors, giving you practical exposure to how change is made at the community level.
4. Young Founders Lab
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; need-based financial aid is available / None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective / small annual cohorts
Dates: Individual Program: Rolling start date | Group Program, Summer 1: June 9 – 29 | Group Program, Summer 2: August 4 – 24
Application Deadline: Early Summer II: May 30; Final Summer II: June 23; apply here
Eligibility: All high school students
The Young Founders Lab offers high school students the chance to gain hands-on business experience through a virtual boot camp founded by Harvard entrepreneurs, where participants learn essential skills for creating and launching authentic startups. The program guides you through building a functioning, revenue-generating company that addresses genuine challenges, offering interactive workshops, brainstorming and case study sessions, and regular panel discussions. You receive mentorship from professionals at well-known firms such as Google, Microsoft, and X, while the curriculum combines hands-on experience with foundational business learning. You collaborate in teams or work individually and take part in live online workshops covering key business topics, to launch and pitch your startup at the end of the program.
5. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Meta headquarters, Menlo Park, California
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipend paid, amount/rate not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective / fewer than 50 interns chosen each year
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Current high school sophomore living full-time in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City, CA | Minimum 2.0 GPA
The Meta Summer Academy is a six-week paid internship where you work 30 hours per week at Meta’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California. The program pairs you with a Meta employee (mentor) who provides guidance, feedback, and career coaching. In the first week, you take part in orientation, meet your mentor, and learn about potential project areas. In the second week, you begin working on assigned projects in fields such as software engineering, data science, and social technologies. You also participate in workshops on topics like presentation skills, resume building, and professional communication. At the end, you present your project to colleagues, mentors, and managers.
6. Wharton Global Youth Program
Location: On-campus at the University of Pennsylvania, online, and select global locations (e.g., Cambridge, UK; San Francisco, CA)
Cost: Varies as per program type between $329 – $11,399 + $100 application fee; financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective / Varies by program
Dates: Vary as per program
Application Deadline: Varies as per program type
Eligibility: High school students who are in grades 9–12; academic requirements vary by program
The Wharton Global Youth Program offers on-campus, online, and location-based options, each designed to introduce you to specific areas of business such as entrepreneurship, data science, product design, or international management. Academic sessions are taught by Wharton faculty and supported by structured projects, group collaboration, and case studies. Specialized academies, such as the Moneyball Academy or the Leadership in the Business World program, give you the chance to study targeted subject areas in detail. Additionally, the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition provides an online team challenge where you develop strategies using a simulated stock market environment.
7. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) High School Entrepreneurship
Location: University of California, Berkeley (Residential)
Cost: California Resident $6,292; Out of State Resident $7,332 + $80 application fee (tentative, fee amount varies each year); limited needs-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective / Around 50 students per session
Dates: Session I: July 5–19; Session II: July 19–August 2
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising 10, 11, or 12th grade high school student
In this two-week program, you work in teams to develop a business idea and create a comprehensive business plan that you present at the end of the session. Classes are taught by Berkeley Haas faculty, PhD candidates, and undergraduate students, with guest speakers from industry adding professional insight. Your schedule includes lectures, independent research, computer lab work, and group collaboration, all designed to help you understand the process of building and running a business. You study core business areas such as marketing, finance, accounting, entrepreneurship, and management, alongside specialized topics like game theory, negotiation, and corporate social responsibility. Additionally, you will also attend workshops on public speaking and presentation skills.
8. Business Is Global: Summer Business and Language Program, Indiana University
Location: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (Residential)
Cost: $2,000; limited need-based scholarships available (up to full tuition)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective / Around 55-60 students
Dates: June 22 – July 5
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
In this program, you study international business while also learning about less commonly taught languages such as Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, and Estonian. Each morning includes business sessions led by Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business faculty, followed by language classes that introduce you to communication styles and cultural contexts of the regions where these languages are spoken. Afternoon sessions focus on regional culture, politics, and business climates, along with career development workshops covering topics such as resumes, networking, and professional communication. You also get to spend time working with peers on a team project that you present at the end of the program.
9. Georgetown University Entrepreneurship Academy
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. (Residential or Commuter)
Cost: Residential: $5,950; Commuter: $4,145 (Estimates) + $50 application fee (waived if applying before January 31); limited need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective / small-to-moderate cohorts
Dates: Typically mid-to-late June; runs for 2 weeks
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Current 8-12th graders during the academic year prior to summer program | Minimum 2.0 GPA | At least 15 years old for select Non-Credit Academies
The Entrepreneurship Academy at Georgetown University is a two-week residential or commuter program designed for high school students who want to explore business and entrepreneurship. You will learn about the different phases of starting and managing a venture, including market research, prototyping, finance, and expansion. The program combines lectures by Georgetown faculty, seminars with industry leaders, and field visits with business lab activities. A key highlight is the capstone project, where you and your team will create and pitch a business plan, while also strengthening communication, leadership, and networking skills. The program emphasizes soft skills such as public speaking, team-building, and branding.
10. USC Exploring Entrepreneurship Program
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Cost: Commuter (Domestic): $7,812; Residential (Domestic): $11,347; International: Approximately $11.949 + $ 535 additional fees paid to U.S. Government + $65 application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective / Around 30-50 students per session
Dates: June 15 – July 12
Application Deadline: Domestic students: May 2; International students: March 14
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least 10th grade by June 15 of the application year
The Exploring Entrepreneurship program at USC introduces you to the process of starting and managing a business. You will study topics such as accounting, marketing, business planning, innovation, and personal branding. The program combines classroom instruction with guest lectures from entrepreneurs and field trips to companies and startup hubs in Los Angeles. You will also work in teams to design and present your own business venture, applying the concepts you learn during the program. Classes are taught by USC Marshall School of Business faculty and industry professionals. At the end of the course, you can earn college credit for your work.
11. Brown Leadership Institute
Location: Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island and Virtual
Cost: Residential On Campus (2 weeks): $5,788; Commuter On Campus (2 weeks): $4,540; Online (4 weeks): $5,528 + $65-$100 application fee; Application fee waivers and scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive / About 25 students per cohort
Dates: On campus: June 29 – July 11; July 13 – 25; Online: June 23 – July 18
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9–12 | Ages 14–18 by June 15
In this program, you will study topics such as civic engagement, social entrepreneurship, and communication while working with peers from diverse backgrounds. The program asks you to design an Action Plan, which is a project you can implement in your own community after the program ends. Courses are taught through workshops, discussions, and group activities that focus on collaboration and problem-solving. Students in the residential program live in university housing and participate in campus life, while online learners join through a mix of live sessions and independent work. All participants receive a certificate and a performance report at the end of the program.
12. Kelley Women’s Leadership Institute
Location: In-person at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, virtual multi-day options offered online
Cost: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective / Typically 40-50 students per session
Dates: In-person: Typically offered multiple days in June and July; Virtual: Multi-day sessions: November 5 and 12
Application Deadline: In-person: vary by session; Virtual: October 3
Eligibility: In-person: Rising juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.5; Virtual: Current sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Kelley Women’s Leadership Institute allows you to explore business, leadership, and the career opportunities available to women in the field of business. During this program, you will attend sessions led by faculty, where you will learn about different business disciplines such as finance, marketing, and management. You will participate in interactive workshops that explore leadership styles, problem-solving, and decision-making in business contexts. There will be opportunities to hear from women professionals and Kelley alumni who will share their career experiences and insights. Throughout the day, you will engage in group discussions, case-based activities, and networking sessions with faculty, current students, and other participants.
13. Bentley University Wall Street 101 Program
Location: Online and in-person at Bentley University
Cost: Online: $1,490, Commuter (in-person): $2,250 + $75 application fee; limited scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective / About 45 students per session
Dates: Multiple sessions in June and July
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors | Must have completed at least two years of college preparatory coursework at the high school level | Must be 16 years old by September 1 of application year
The Bentley University Wall Street 101 Program is an in-person summer program designed to introduce you to the fundamentals of finance and investing. You’ll be taking part in classes led by Bentley faculty who have industry experience, and learn in a fully equipped trading room that uses Bloomberg, FactSet, and the Financial Trading System. You’ll also work in teams to analyze stocks, prepare investment pitches, and take part in economic simulations and policy discussions. Throughout the week, you will get to participate in research using professional databases, apply valuation models, and study topics such as risk management, macroeconomics, and ESG investing.
14. California Academy of Science Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
Location: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Stipend: Above minimum wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective / About 44-50 interns per cohort
Dates: Year round and multiyear lasting 2 to 3 years through high school; during the school year, interns work on Saturdays and after school
Application Deadline: Typically early April
Eligibility: 9th or 10th grade student in an SFUSD school | Minimum CGPA OF 2.5 a grade of C or higher in science and math | Be able to obtain a valid work permit
The Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program at the California Academy of Sciences allows you to explore science through long-term, paid internships. Over the course of two to three years, you will take part in activities such as outdoor fieldwork, supporting research projects, and engaging with visitors to share scientific knowledge. The program also provides training in areas like communication, financial literacy, and college preparation. As you progress, you can join projects in exhibit design and leadership through the CiS Leadership Council. You can commit to after-school, weekend, and summer shifts at the Academy while receiving guidance from scientists and educators.
15. Warner Bros. Reach Honorship Program
Location: Burbank, California
Cost/Stipend: None / $5,000 scholarships paid over four summers ($1,250 installments)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective / Not specified
Dates: 4 years during your college years beginning the summer you graduate
Application Deadline: Varies each year; typical annual deadlines are in early months
Eligibility: Graduating high school senior in Burbank or Los Angeles County | Minimum CGPA of 3.0 upon graduation
You begin this program after graduation and continue through four consecutive summer internships during your college years. You rotate through departments such as production, marketing, business operations, and post-production, which gives you structured exposure to both creative and corporate functions of the entertainment industry. This multi-year format allows you to see how large-scale media projects are planned, produced, and distributed from different vantage points. Each summer, you work with mentors who provide guidance and feedback on your professional development. In addition to departmental rotations, the program introduces you to the broader culture of Warner Bros. Discovery, including its collaborative workflows and industry standards.
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