International Summer

Group of international students posing while visiting the National Mall

International Summer is an opportunity for visiting undergraduate and graduate students to engage in coursework at GW and be part of an international community. Participants can look forward to:

  • academic excellence and programs of global importance
  • a diverse and intellectual community
  • an immersive American university experience
  • study opportunities enhanced by GW's proximity to and collaboration with international development organizations, government agencies, embassies, museums and performing art venues
  • extra-curricular activities, including visits to historic sites, museums, parks and sporting events

International Programs for High School Students

Our Pre-College Program provides a variety of summer options for international high school students who are interested in previewing the college experience in the heart of Washington, D.C.

Spend Your Summer in the Center of It All

  • Join Us this Summer for a University Experience
    Aerial shot of University Yard on GW's Foggy Bottom campus

    Join Us this Summer for a University Experience

    Summer programs offer international students an immersive American university experience at the center of the nation’s political, intellectual and cultural activity.

Apply to the International Summer program

How to Apply

Students who wish to apply to International Summer at GW should be academically qualified to manage the challenges of university-level work.

Learn about application requirements
Students admitted to the international summer program

Admitted International Students

We welcome our newly-admitted International Summer at GW students, and have outlined the next steps for you to prepare for an unforgettable summer in Washington, D.C.

Take your next steps as an admitted student

Experience Washington, D.C.

Group of students posing for a photo during a visit to the World Bank

Visit D.C.'s Major Institutions

You will have the opportunity to visit major institutions that are world leaders in their fields, such as the World Bank or the National Institute of Health.

Brazilian students posing in front of the World War 2 Memorial

Immerse Yourself in U.S. History & Culture

Washington, D.C. is home to many world-renowned museums, as well as many of the United States’ national monuments and memorials. Experience U.S. history and culture firsthand while visiting these impressive sites.

International Student Experiences

  • Photo of Lulu Sun, International Summer at GW Alumna from China
  • Headshot of Ali Akash, International Summer alumnus from Kuwait
  • Headshot Photo of Dorina Sonic, International Summer Alumna
  • Headshot of Sa’na Syed Ayaz Qaiser

"I learned a lot through my classes because my teacher was very friendly and he encouraged us to participate in every part of the class. Because my classmates were from different parts of the world – some of them from South Africa, and some of them from Egypt, and of course, there were some Americans –we could express our different opinions and feelings about the same topic. We could also talk about our own experiences so that they could learn more about China and I could learn more about other countries."

Lulu Sun, International Summer Alumna, China

"Anthropology was really a good class because people in my class and my professor were very open minded. When they talked about something, it was open for discussion – it wasn't like anyone was going to get offended by what you said. It was a very open discussion and a safe place that you could say what you really felt and no one was going to judge you for it.”

Ali Akash, International Summer Alumnus, Kuwait

“What I liked about the classes is that they were very interactive, and the teachers were very friendly and they helped you understand the political systems in the U.S. To be in the center of politics - it’s not the same as reading it from the newspapers back home - you can actually feel it.”

Dorina Sonic, International Summer Alumna, Moldova

“The program was really very enriching because it allowed me to learn a lot of new things and also because of the availability of resources that we had on campus. It was also very enriching in the sense that you got to interact with a lot of new people from all around the world.“

Sa'na Syed Ayaz Qaiser, International Summer Alumna, Kuwait