Boston Architectural College’s (BAC) Pre-College Summer Academy is perfect for high school students curious about architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and more. Work alongside leading professionals and peers from around the world to explore design and start building your future in the field. Summer Academy students can choose between two tracks -Exploration or Investigation. The Exploration Track is recommended for first-time Summer Academy students and students with no design experience. This track prioritizes fundamental skills with learning across multiple design disciplines. The Investigation Track is recommended for students with prior design experience or for those who wish to more strategically focus on singular design disciplines and challenges.
There are two Summer Academy offerings:
- Summer Academy - Boston is an in-person, half-day program held weekday afternoons at the BAC’s Boston Campus in the Back Bay. Students need only bring their curiosity—supplies, materials, and tools are provided. Participants also have the opportunity to earn college credit. In the BAC Summer Academy program, students explore key design skills through hands-on challenges, including ideation, sketching, drawing, digital design, digital fabrication, model making, and presentation techniques.
- Summer Academy – Global is an online program that welcomes students from around the world. This virtual experience brings the creativity and energy of the BAC directly to you—no matter where you are. All supplies, materials, and tools are shipped to students in advance, so all you need to bring is your curiosity. Through curated design challenges, students delve into Ideation, Iteration, Sketching, Drawing, Digital Design, Digital Fabrication, Model Making, and Presentation Skills throughout the Summer Academy program.
Location(s)
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Remote
Schedule
- July 6 - July 31, 2026
Cost/Compensation
- Base Price, credit bearing (3 college credits): $2,000
- Base Price, not for credit: $1,800
- Register by March 1 to receive $200 off
Eligibility Requirements
- High school students anywhere in the world (grades 9–12) are welcome to participate in this summer program. No experience is required, just a passion for design.
Deadline
- Boston: June 22, 2026
- Remote: June 9, 2026
Application or Entry Requirements
- A completed application is required.
Notifications of Decisions
Financial Aid Details
- The BAC’s mission to provide excellence in design education emerging from practice includes fostering the next generation through hands-on engagement. Through the Pre-College Design Access Fund, government grants, and the generosity of sponsors such as Prellwitz Chilinski Associates, Inc. and Robert Houseman, scholarships and fellowships are available to students for all our Pre-College programs, including Summer Academy - Boston, Summer Academy - Global, and Urban Design and Planning Studio.
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
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The Boston Architectural College (BAC) is a private, nonprofit college of architecture located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1889, BAC is now the largest independent, accredited college of spatial design in New England, with a student body of over 1,200 students. The college offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and design studies. BAC is known for its extensive co-op program, which allows students to gain real-world experience by working in architecture and design firms, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.
