Summer Courses at Brandeis
- If you attend another college or university during the regular Academic Year, but would like to take classes as a Visiting Student, start your Brandeis Summer experience here.
- If you are a current Brandeis student, be sure to learn about the differences between summer term and the regular academic year, and how you can enroll.
- If you are a current high school students, start your Brandeis journey here.
About the Brandeis Summer School
For over 50 years, the Brandeis University Summer School has made it possible for both Brandeis undergraduates and guest students to access to the university's rigorous academic programming.
Brandeis Summer School courses are offered on-campus and online in two five-week summer sessions and one 10-week session, students can explore their academic interests and complete their degree requirements in accelerated and flexible formats.
Course topics include a range of subjects, including biology, psychology, literature, film, mathematics, Hebrew, economics, and more.
Open Enrollment
Admission to Brandeis Summer School rests on the assumption that each student knows best what they want to do, and what they can do. Enrollment is open to:
- Current Brandeis Students
- Students enrolled at other colleges or universities
- Individuals not currently engaged in a formal education program, but who hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
- Exceptional high school students (for select courses)
On-Campus vs. Online Courses
For on-campus Brandeis Summer School courses, classes occur in-person at the Brandeis University campus in Waltham, MA with multiple class meetings per week in addition to out-of-class assignments. Students have the option of living on campus or commuting to campus for classes.
For online Brandeis Summer School courses, courses are offered in two different online formats:
- In the 10-week asynchronous online format - videos, readings, course materials, and assignments are administered and completed online. There is generally no set class meeting times or set timezone required for students. Students progress through the course and engage with the instructor, the course material, and their fellow students at times that work best for them - all while using a common course calendar. Some courses include additional offline activities, but most aspects of the course can completed remotely.
- In the 5-week Zoom-based Remote Learning courses, the classroom experience is replicated with live, online class meetings. Brandeis instructors utilize Zoom and other technologies to engage with students around the world in real-time. In addition to live online class meetings, students naturally have out-of-class work to complete between class meetings.
More details for Brandeis Summer School courses can be found in course descriptions and course syllabi.
How Do I Get to Campus?
Located just nine miles from Boston in the beautiful suburban town of Waltham, Massachusetts, the campus is located a short drive from the major highways of Route 128 and I-90. There is also an MBTA Commuter Rail station that borders the campus (Brandeis/Roberts Station on the Fitchburg line. See MBTA commuter rail schedules).
Once a student has enrolled in Summer School, they are eligible to receive a free summer parking permit that allows them to park in specific lots on campus.
View an interactive campus map.
Outside the Classroom
Taking summer classes doesn't have to mean spending your whole summer in the classroom. We host a range of extracurricular activities, events, group outings, and day trips throughout the summer, to encourage social engagement, community building, and fun.