Brown's Pre-College Programs have built something genuinely hard to replicate: a suite of programs that let high schoolers do Ivy League-caliber STEM work before ever setting foot in a college classroom. These aren't survey courses dressed up for teenagers. They're substantive, student-centered experiences rooted in the same Open Curriculum philosophy that defines a Brown undergraduate education.
There are five STEM-relevant programs worth knowing.
Program Overview
Summer@Brown is the flagship — more than 150 STEM courses for students completing grades 9–12, offered on campus in Providence, online, or in a five-week hybrid format. Course categories span Biological and Natural Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Medical and Health Sciences, Physical Sciences and Math, and Course-Based Research Experiences.
STEM for Rising 9th and 10th Graders is a structured 12-day residential program for students completing grades 8–9. Every course combines rigorous academic content with laboratory or field work and culminates in a research project or design-build challenge presented publicly. More scaffolded than Summer@Brown — full daily schedule, supervised evenings — which makes it a strong fit for students who are motivated but newer to being away from home.
Course-Based Research Experiences (CREs) are five-week hybrid courses — two weeks online, three weeks on campus — for students completing grades 10–12. Students propose and conduct independent research on questions that are genuinely unanswered, working through the full process: literature review, hypothesis formation, experimental design, and a final public symposium. Real research, not a simulation of it.
Brown Environmental Leadership Labs (BELL) combine ecology, environmental science, and leadership development across three residential field programs. BELL: Rhode Island (12 days, on Brown's campus) examines human impact on ecosystems. BELL: Florida Keys (8 days) explores tropical marine ecology and conservation. BELL: Alaska (12 days) takes students into one of the most rarely accessible regions in the country to explore environmental stewardship and cultural preservation.
Brown Experiential Education: Oxford (BEE Oxford) is a 12-day residential program in Oxford, England, for students completing grades 10–12. The course — Basics in Biotech: From Genes to Innovation — covers CRISPR gene editing, cancer immunotherapy, and AI in drug discovery. Site visits take students inside Oxford's research ecosystem — the Big Data Institute, the Jenner Institute, and London's Francis Crick Institute — tracing how a discovery moves from lab to patient. Students live where scientists have worked for centuries. That context is part of the education.
Who It's For
Summer@Brown suits the self-directed learner who wants to choose their own path. STEM for Rising 9th and 10th Graders is for the younger student who thrives with more structure. CREs are for the student who wants to actually do research, not just learn about it. BELL is for the child whose curiosity about the natural world extends to why ecosystems are changing. BEE Oxford is for the student drawn to biology and medicine who wants to experience science at one of the world's great research universities.
Application & Eligibility
All programs require essays, a teacher recommendation, and transcripts. Some programs may have specific age requirements or ask for supplemental materials — check individual program pages for details. The application deadline is typically in May, but many high-demand programs fill by late February. The application fee is $60; fee waivers are available. For full requirements and deadlines, visit precollege.brown.edu/apply.
Cost & Session Information
Online courses start at $3,364. On-campus residential programs range from $3,748 to $8,372 depending on length. Off-campus and international programs run $4,708–$8,270. The five-week hybrid CRE is $10,858.
Residential fees include housing, meals, and access to Brown's fitness and athletic facilities where applicable. Travel, course materials, and textbooks are not included. Costs reflect the current year — check precollege.brown.edu/costs-aid/program-dates-and-costs for the most current pricing.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Need-based Sibley Scholarships are available on a first-applied, first-awarded basis to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, and undocumented full-time U.S. residents. Funds are limited — apply as early as possible. Partner scholarships are available through nominated partner organizations. No scholarships are currently available to international students. Brown does not offer merit scholarships. Full details at precollege.brown.edu/costs-aid/scholarships.