Beaver Works is a joint venture between MIT Lincoln Laboratory and the MIT School of Engineering that is envisioned as an incubator for research and innovation. The Beaver Works Summer Institute is a four week summer program that facilitates project-based learning, a hallmark of an MIT education, and leverages the expertise and enthusiasm of MIT faculty, students, researchers, and Lincoln Laboratory staff to broaden partnerships across both institutions.
Beaver Works allows students to address real-world problems and issues, engages students in hands-on learning, and demonstrates an effective strategy for teaching complex engineering concepts.
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a rigorous, world-class STEM program for talented students who will be entering their senior year in high school. The four-week program teaches STEM skills through project-based, workshop-style courses.
All applicants to the summer program will need to take part in a winter online course in order to be eligible to apply for the Summer Institute
Read more about course details at the bottom of this page.
Location(s)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts & Remote
Schedule
- July 7th - August 3rd, 2025
Cost/Compensation
- For any family that has a family income $150,000 or greater the fee for the program will be $2,350. The program will be free for qualifying families. We do not offer, nor can we help find or pay for housing for students attending in-person programs.
- BWSI will be verifying the income of all who apply to the program if you select “< $150,000” (less than $150,000) on your application.
Eligibility Requirements
- Students must make significant progress in the online course by Summer Program application to ensure that they are ready and well prepared for participation in the BWSI programs
- The program is open to US citizens, permanent residents, and international students currently attending a high school in the US. Due to logistical challenges we cannot accept students outside of the United States, all students must be living in the US for the July program
Deadline
- March 31st
Application or Entry Requirements
The process to apply to attend BWSI is multi-step - students must register for online courses first - if not registered for online courses students will not be able to apply to the summer portion of the program. The selection criteria and application for the Summer Program include, but are not limited to:
- Demonstrated technical ability (determined through recommendation by school official and other supporting information, such as test scores, completed coursework, and grades collected in the application).
- Demonstrated commitment to extracurricular learning via participation and completion of the online course (participation/progress are tracked by the instructors).
- Application has three short essays (500 words or less for each essay).
- Teacher recommendation or Mentor (over 18) due by April 7th (link for teachers is in the application).
- Application will require parent(s) information and electronic signature.
- Application asks for honors/awards (limited to maximum of 200 characters, be specific)
- We cannot accept students outside of the US due to logistical challenges, all students must be living in the US for the July program.
Notifications of Decisions
- May 1
Financial Aid Details
There is no cost for the program for individuals whose family income is verified to be under $150,000.
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
- Online course begins February 3rd
- Summer Institute application opens March 3rd
Have other questions?
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT is renowned for its strong emphasis on scientific and technological research and innovation, and offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs in fields ranging from engineering and computer science to economics and architecture. MIT has a long history of producing notable alumni, including 96 Nobel laureates, 58 National Medal of Science recipients, and 29 MacArthur ""Genius Grant"" recipients. Additionally, its strong culture of entrepreneurship has led to the founding of many successful startups and companies by MIT alumni or faculty. Notable examples include Dropbox, Akamai Technologies, and Bose Corporation. The university's campus, situated along the Charles River Basin, features a mix of historic and modern architecture, including works by renowned architects such as Frank Gehry and I.M. Pei.
