University of Chicago Scholarships for High School Students

University of Chicago Scholarships Summer Session offers high school students an excellent opportunity to immerse themselves in an interesting academic area, explore UChicago’s intellectual culture, and experience college-level work surrounded by high-achieving and intellectually curious peers. UChicago makes needs-based scholarships available to all students interested in participating in the Summer Session in order to bring a variety of voices and perspectives to the campus.

University of Chicago Scholarships
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Students selected for each of the scholarship programs will be able to take part in a free Summer Session course. The scholarship will cover all costs – including tuition and room and board. All programs provide additional programming and workshops for selected students outside the class, related to college admissions and success.

Applicants are allowed, subject to eligibility, to apply for more than one scholarship program. If you determine that you are eligible for more than one program , please read the program requirements carefully to ensure that you understand when the program is being hosted, which courses are available, and what costs are being covered.

There are six programs covered under the University of Chicago Scholarships. Continue to read to discover more about each of the offered programs.

Emerging Rural Leaders

As part of University of Chicago Scholarships, Emerging Rural Leaders are offering two summer programs to top freshmen and juniors from rural and small town high schools. Selected students will be given free opportunity to take part in a Summer Session course.

This program is specifically designed for two grades of high school students, namely Emerging Rural Leaders I (for freshmen) and Emerging Rural Leaders II (for juniors).

Emerging Rural Leaders: Freshmen

Choosing Leadership: Learning and Leading in the 21st Century will receive a full scholarship for selected freshmen students to participate in a one-week Summer Session course. With the guidance of UChicago admissions counselors, students will learn about the development of leadership skills and the application process for highly selective universities through readings, lectures, discussion, and hands-on activities. Students will also be exposed to the kinds of opportunities available through activities that showcase the city of Chicago in a large urban center for academic work and professional development (as well as just for fun!).

In order to be eligible to participate in this program, you have to be a current high school freshman who are at least 15 years old.

Application materials include:

Emerging Rural Leaders: Juniors

Top high school students from rural and small towns across the United Sates are free to attend Summer Session Courses. The selected students will receive a full scholarship to take part in any Session I (June 20-July 10) Immersion or Summer Session Pathways course.

Selected students will spend their mornings learning through reading, lecturing, discussion and hands-on activities from teachers who are experts in their fields. Evenings with classmates from around the world will be spent exploring the campus and downtown Chicago. With guidance from UChicago admissions counselors, students will also learn in depth about the application process for highly selective universities. Selected students are required to attend all of the scholarship program events.

Current high school juniors, who are at least 15 years old by the start of the program are eligible to apply for this scheme.

Application materials include:

  • At least one parent confirmation email received
  • At least one teacher recommendation
  • Online application
  • Transcript (official or unofficial)
  • Writing sample

Latin American Phoenix Scholars

As part of the University of Chicago Scholarships, the Latin American Phoenix Scholars Program brings together top students who study across Latin America. This opportunity will give students an early taste of outstanding college experience in a model based on a cohort.

Selected students are invited to participate free of charge in a UChicago Summer Session Immersion or Pathways course and to participate in programming specific to the cohort. Students will have the opportunity to experience what life on a residential college campus is like, as well as explore the city of Chicago with other students of the Summer Session.

Students who are currently in high school in their junior year are invited to apply. As part of the application process, interested students should seek a nomination from their current high school counselor at their high school. The counselor should complete the nomination forms.

Neubauer Family Adelante Summer Scholars

The Neubauer Family Adelante Summer Scholars program brings talented, rising seniors from high school to the University of Chicago campus to get an early taste of an exceptional experience at college.

Exceptional students who share the commitment of the Neubauers towards the Hispanic / Latino communities are invited to apply. Students who are U.S. citizens, U.S. residents, students who are undocumented and students of the DACA are invited to apply. Please apply for the Latin American Phoenix Scholars program if you are a non-U.S. citizen and are attending high school outside the United States.

Students selected will receive a full scholarship to participate in one of the following six Summer Session courses:

  • Collegiate Writing: Awakening into Consciousness
  • Contagion: Infectious Agents & Diseases
  • Pathways in Human Rights
  • Pathways in Molecular Engineering
  • Power and the Presidency
  • The Physics of Climate and Weather

UChicago Police and Fire Summer Scholars

UChicago Police and Fire Summer Scholars, part of the University of Chicago Scholarships, provides talented students with a parent who is actively employed by a U.S. police department or fire department with the opportunity to get an early look at college-level classes and a sense of campus life.

Current high school sophomores or juniors, who are at least 15 years of age, and whose parents are active, full-time police officers or firefighters are welcomed to apply.

University of Chicago Scholarships Uchicago Summer Scholars

Being a Summer Scholar at UChicago is a great way to get an early look at college-level classes and get a feel for life on campus and in Chicago. Using guidance from UChicago admissions counselors, you will also learn in depth about the application process for highly selective universities. Topics include: writing essays, applying case studies and applying for financial aid. Students will have the opportunity to explore Chicago after class, and on weekends. Last year, students visited the Art Institute, the Field Museum, and took to Guaranteed Rate Field in a White Sox game.

Selected students will receive a full scholarship to participate in one of the following four Summer Session courses offered in Session II:

  • América and Its People, a Survey
  • Biology and its Modern Applications
  • Collegiate Writing: Awakening into Consciousness
  • The Global Political Economy: Power, Inequality, and Globalization

To be eligible for this program, you have to be a current high school junior. All programs expenses are covered by the program.

UWC Global Academy

The UWC Global Academy brings together top students from all 18 schools and colleges of the UWC to get an early taste of an exceptional college experience in a model based on the cohorts.

Selected students are invited to take part in a free course of UChicago Summer Session Immersion or Pathways and participate in cohort-specific programming that brings together UWC students from around the world. Students will have the opportunity to experience what life on a residential college campus is like, as well as to explore Chicago with other UWC students. All selected students require additional programming hosted by this scholarship program, including admissions based workshops.

Students who are at least 15 years of age are currently enrolled in their first year of IBDP and are invited to apply. Interested students should seek nomination as part of the application process from their current High School Advisor at their UWC.

All expenses for the UWC Global Academy are covered for all selected students. Students with financial need will also receive funding for costs associated with travel to/from the program.

Link to Official Website

University of Chicago Summer Session