Ready to Explore Your Future at UC Davis?
At UC Davis Discovery Programs, we provide high school students with exceptional opportunities to discover new interests, explore potential careers or majors, and build skills for academic success—all at one of the world's top universities
Two Options, One World-class Education
Explore College Life on Campus
Spend two unforgettable weeks at UC Davis with our Pre-College Programs for high school students. Live in dorms, explore a major, and learn from UC Davis professors through hands-on classes and labs. These summer residential programs give you a real taste of college life while helping you build confidence, develop new skills, and strengthen your college applications.
Choose from academic tracks in areas where UC Davis leads the world in research and innovation—and discover what it’s like to learn, grow, and thrive on campus.
- Two-week residential program on the UC Davis campus
- Hands-on learning with UC Davis faculty and researchers
- Live in dorms and experience college life firsthand
- Boost your college readiness and stand out on applications
Enrollment Deadline: Apply by TBD to secure your spot
Program Fee: $6,985, which includes housing, meals, instruction, and all program activities
Explore Your Future at Aggie Square
Explore your passions and build real-world skills with UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education’s Summer at Aggie Square. These weeklong, hands-on commuter programs for students ages 14–18 combine expert instruction, interactive learning, and career exploration in media, business, and STEM.
Join one, two, or all three July sessions and experience what it’s like to learn, create, and innovate the UC Davis way.
- Explore your passions in digital media, business, or technology through engaging, hands-on activities.
- Experience life at UC Davis while learning from university instructors and industry professionals.
- Build real-world skills you can use in school, college applications, and future careers.
Enjoy a fun, supportive environment designed to spark creativity and confidence.
- Flexible enrollment: choose one, two, or all three weeklong programs
- Affordable opportunity: $500 per session with early enrollment or multi-session discounts available
Learn About UC Davis Summer Pre-College Programs
“The program helped me to narrow what I am interested in studying. I have applied this when researching colleges and have paid more attention to what I am looking for in a college’s science programs and the research they are doing.”
—Sigourney, 2023 Environmental Toxicology Student
What You'll Learn
@ The Campus You'll Learn...
- Chemical Engineering with Coffee
- Discover how chemical engineers turn science into flavor. Through hands-on experiments in roasting and brewing, you’ll explore how engineering design impacts the sensory qualities of coffee and learn the principles of chemistry, heat transfer, and process design in the most delicious way possible.
- Environmental Toxicology
- Explore how toxins affect our planet’s ecosystems, starting with the honeybee. In this hands-on lab program, you’ll conduct real experiments alongside UC Davis researchers to understand how chemical exposure impacts living organisms and the environment.
- Equine Science I & II
- Saddle up for an unforgettable experience in equine science. Learn about horse anatomy, nutrition, behavior, and reproduction through hands-on labs at the UC Davis Horse Barn—home to some of the best equine educators in the nation. Discover how our bond with horses has shaped human history while caring for and studying these amazing animals.
- Pre-Med I & II
- Take your first step toward a future in medicine. In this immersive two-week program, you’ll learn what it takes to become a doctor—exploring medical pathways, hands-on activities, and real-world insights from professionals. Get a head start on your pre-med journey and see what it means to care, lead, and heal.
- Forensics
- Step into the role of a crime scene investigator. Work in a real forensic biology lab to analyze DNA, identify evidence, and reconstruct a case from the ground up. Your two weeks as a forensic scientist in training culminates with your scientific testimony in moot court. Here, you will be called to testify as an expert witness about the crime scene evidence you collected and the scientific analyses you performed.
- Startup Entrepreneurship
- Build business ideas and pitch solutions. Learn how to identify opportunities, design solutions, and build products responsibly in industries like healthcare, energy, and agriculture. Gain practical experience, mentorship, and the mindset needed to become a next-generation innovator.
@ Aggie Square You'll Learn...
- Digital Content & the Creator Economy
- Plan, film, and edit content while building your personal brand.
- Starting a Business
- Turn ideas into action through market testing, budgeting, and pitching.
- Aerospace, Drones & Robotics
- Build and fly drones, explore flight principles, and experiment with technology and innovation.