Summer at Michigan
For current or visiting students
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Attending U-M during the summer gives you a way to catch up on your courses, focus on more difficult classes, or jump ahead in your studies so you can free up your future schedule to engage in other programs and opportunities. There are many different options offered, giving you the flexibility to get ahead and still enjoy your summer. Courses are offered:
- During full and half terms, as well as some concentrated, shorter sessions.
- With day and evening schedules.
- On our Ann Arbor campus and off campus across Michigan, the U.S., and abroad.
If you happen to stay on campus, summer is an amazing time to experience the richness of Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas. Enjoy the incredible local food scene and outdoor dining. Take in Detroit Tigers ball games, Summer Festival performances, and the Ann Arbor Art Fairs. You can even sneak away for a weekend or two exploring Michigan — the world-famous Sleeping Bear Dunes or Mackinac Island. And pretty much any day has the potential to be a great day when you relax and unwind among the trees on the Diag or at the Arb.
Programs subject to change due to the pandemic. Please visit individual hyperlinks for program specifics.
Summer Programs
On Campus
Cardiovascular Center Summer Research Fellowship
The CVC offers a summer fellowship program to support undergraduate students interested in cardiovascular research. Any student who is currently enrolled at any degree-granting university or college is eligible to apply, with preference given to those students interested in a career in research.
Cancer Research Summer Internship Program
As part of its Cancer Biology Training Program, the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center provides exposure to cancer research for highly motivated and talented college undergraduates. This program gives the successful applicants an opportunity to explore potential careers in the field of cancer research.
Department of Pharmacology Summer Research Programs
The Pharmacology Summer Undergraduate Research Programs are designed for undergraduate students seeking additional research experience. Applications are especially encouraged from students with research experience who wish to pursue a Ph.D. in the basic sciences.
Development Summer Internship Program
The Office of University Development offers U-M undergraduates a unique, 12-week paid development internship where students work alongside top fundraising professionals. Students will also enroll in an associated three-credit course.
Engelhardt Social Justice Fellowship
The Engelhardt Social Justice Fellowship (ESJF) offers an opportunity for students and organizations to propose a mutually beneficial summer project. Students whose projects are selected will be paid $5,000 for ~300 hours of work with the sponsoring organization.
Future Public Health Leaders Program
The Future Public Health Leaders Program is a 10-week residential summer program at the U-M School of Public Health designed to encourage underrepresented college students to consider careers in public health. Students are not required to have previous experience in public health. Participants receive leadership training, orientation to the public health disciplines, and real-world work experience.
The Interdisciplinary Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in the Structure and Function of Proteins provides undergraduate students with a 10-week research experience in the areas of biochemistry, biophysics, cheminformatics, computational chemistry, enzymology, marine biology, molecular biology, and plant biology.
The Honors Summer Fellowship Program brings together an interdisciplinary cohort of LSA Honors Program students for 10 weeks in Ann Arbor during the summer months. Fellows spend most of this time engaged in full-time pursuit of their thesis project.
Michigan Clinical Outcomes Research and Reporting Program Summer Internship Program
Each summer, undergraduate, graduate, and medical students from various colleges across the country participate in a summer internship program at MCORRP. Students perform a wide variety of tasks, from data collection, analyses, and entering data into our various registries, to shadowing physicians and conducting their own research.
Michigan Community College Summer Research Fellowship
The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) at the University of Michigan (U-M), Ann Arbor offers a 10 week paid Summer Research Fellowship for currently enrolled sophomore and junior Michigan community college students who are interested in transferring to U-M, Ann Arbor in the future.
Michigan Health Sciences Summer Institute
The Michigan Health Sciences Summer Institute prepares students to become leaders in the health sciences field. The Institute comprises three residential academies that expose learners to health sciences careers, foster leadership development, enhance academic skills, and prepare students for admission to medical school.
Molecular and Integrative Physiology Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
The Department of Molecular & Physiology at the University of Michigan Medical School offers a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program to support undergraduate students interested in research in physiology and/or biomedical sciences.
Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Opportunity
The Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Opportunity allows undergraduate students to explore the field of neuroscience.This 10-week summer program provides research experience in the areas of behavioral and systems neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience, developmental neurosciences, molecular and cellular neuroscience, and sensory neuroscience.
Perrigo/Life Sciences Institute Summer Fellows Program
Each summer the U-M Life Sciences Institute offers an immersive, hands-on, 10-week fellowship in basic science research to undergraduate students from across Michigan.
Pharmacy Scholars Program (PSP)
The College of Pharmacy's PSP is for students interested in becoming pharmacists. The program brings juniors, seniors, or recent college grads to campus for a 6 week intensive program, focused on preparation for the Pharmacy College Admissions Test, shadowing, and admissions preparation.
Physics Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates
The University of Michigan Physics Department Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates Program in Physics gives selected undergraduate students an opportunity to conduct 10 weeks of research with leading physicists in a range of experimental physics fields.
Profile for Success™ (PFS) is a six-week residential pre-dental summer program at the School of Dentistry. College juniors, seniors, recent graduates, or individuals who are making a career transition and are on track to enter dental school the academic year following their participation are encouraged to apply. Program participants will enjoy a variety of activities designed to strengthen test taking skills, provide exposure to career opportunities, and facilitate entry into dental school. Each participant is assigned a dental student mentor, and there are formal and informal opportunities for participants to interact with faculty and staff.
Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (PPIA)
The Ford School of Public Policy hosts Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (PPIA), an intensive seven-week summer program that focuses on preparing diverse undergraduate students from all over the United States for graduate programs in public policy and international affairs. PPIA’s mission and overall focus are to increase the participation and inclusion of traditionally underrepresented groups at the highest level of public sector leadership.
The REU Program in Biophysics provides selected non-University of Michigan undergraduate students from around the United States an opportunity to conduct ten weeks of summer research with some of the country's leading biophysicists in a range of biophysical fields. The program is conducted in concert with the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates Program and is supported by funds from the National Science Foundation.
Short Term Educational Program towards Digestive and Metabolic Physiology
Short Term Educational Program towards Digestive and Metabolic Physiology is a summer program specifically targeted to students from mathematics, physics engineering, computational sciences, and other quantitative backgrounds to encourage them to apply their expertise to research relevant to digestive and metabolic physiology and associated diseases.
Each summer, 18-25 undergraduate students from across the country come to Ann Arbor for eight weeks of education, mentoring, internships with health care organizations in Southeast Michigan, and preparation for graduate school success.
Summer at Michigan for Undergraduate Research Training (UM-SMART)
UM-SMART is designed for undergraduate students who are considering obtaining a combined M.D./Ph.D. degree leading to a career in academic medicine focused on basic research relevant to human disease. This program may help you decide if this is the right career for you, and could enhance your competitiveness when applying to M.D./Ph.D. programs.
Summer Research Opportunity Program
U-M’s Summer Research Opportunity Program is designed for outstanding undergraduate students who are underrepresented in their field of study. The goal of this program is to provide students with the opportunity to conduct an intensive graduate-level research project and culminates in a research symposium where each participant presents their project.
Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering (SURE)
SURE offers summer research internships to outstanding undergraduate students who have completed their sophomore or junior year (preference will be given to those who have completed three years of study) by the time of their internship. Participants have the opportunity to conduct 10-12 weeks of full-time summer research with some of the country’s leading faculty in a wide range of engineering disciplines.
Summer Undergraduate Research in Physiology
The Summer Undergraduate Research in Physiology program offers outstanding underrepresented undergraduates the opportunity to conduct intensive research across a variety of disciplines. The goal is to prepare students for advanced studies in one of the Ph.D. programs at the University of Michigan.
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program
UROP sponsors several summer research opportunities designed for U-M undergraduates seeking an intense research experience in traditional laboratory settings or in the community.
Off Campus
Located in northern Michigan, the Biological Station offers summer courses and research opportunities that allow students to engage in and learn about biology and environmental science by studying directly in the field with some of the world’s most respected experts.
Nestled in the mountains just south of Jackson Hole, WY, the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences Rocky Mountain Field Station has provided an unparalleled learning experience each summer since 1929. Camp Davis hosts courses in Introductory Geology, Geological Mapping, Ecosystem Science, and the History and Literature of the West.
CREES seeks applications from students in REES-related B.A., M.A., Ph.D., and professional degree programs for a limited number of grants toward summer research projects or internships at institutions and businesses in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
GLACE (Great Lakes Arts, Cultures, and Environments)
GLACE (Great Lakes Arts, Cultures, and Environments) is a new, interdisciplinary humanities program held in Northern Michigan during the Spring half-term. UM faculty and other instructors teach four interconnected, two-credit courses: two in English, one in Anthropology, and one in American Culture. The program takes place at the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS), a research campus situated on Douglas Lake, amid 10,000 undeveloped acres in Pellston, Michigan.
Global Internship Program in Hong Kong & Singapore
The Ross Global Internship Program in Hong Kong and Singapore allows U-M undergraduate students to expand their cross-cultural knowledge and gain professional skills that will set them apart in the increasingly interconnected business world.
International Programs in Engineering (IPE)
IPE summer programs are designed to give U-M engineering students experiences abroad, including earning credit toward their degree, building their professional network through industry site visits, and learning more about the culture of different nations.
LSA Opportunity Hub Internship Program
The LSA Opportunity Hub’s Internship Program is a collection of curated, high-quality experiences in the U.S., abroad, and online. These transformative opportunities are exclusively for LSA students and are often hosted by LSA alumni.
Michigan Ross Global Immersion Courses
For two to three weeks in May or August, undergraduate students can expand their perspectives on how business is conducted around the world during company visits, cultural activities, and interactive lectures with business leaders.
New England Literature Program (NELP)
NELP is an academic program that takes place at Camp Kabeyun on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire during the spring half term. U-M faculty and instructors from other colleges teach the courses. Students earn 9 regular U-M credits in upper-level English. For six and a half weeks, students live and work together, reading New England authors, writing, and exploring New England.
Public Service Internship Program
The U-M Career Center's Public Service Intern Program prepares undergraduate students to obtain summer internships in Washington DC, educates them to build career development skills, and supports participants while they live and study in our nation's capital.
Take time between academic years to immerse yourself in Detroit. During the spring Semester in Detroit program, you will grow in your knowledge of the city, ability to enter and engage with communities justly, and use your talents in a meaningful real-life context.
Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies Summer Fellowship (WCED)
The WCED seeks applications from students in B.A., M.A., Ph.D., and professional degree programs for a limited number of grants toward summer research projects or internships in Europe/Eurasia that engage the theme of "emerging democracies past or present."
Ann Arbor Summer Activities
During a week in in mid-July, the streets of downtown Ann Arbor are packed for one of the largest outdoor art fairs in the nation. The Ann Arbor Art Fairs comprise four different fairs, original works of art, street performances, culinary treats, and a variety of sidewalk sales can be found during the annual event, which features artists from around the globe.
Summer means the Ann Arbor Summer Festival is here. The festival includes the Top of the Park series, which runs from June through early July. The annual three-week international arts gathering offers an array of ticketed and free events, both indoors and out, featuring a mix of local, national, and international artists, as well as nightly movies and other activities.
Take your friends for a float down the Huron River! Canoe and kayak rentals are available at Argo and Gallup parks, or bring your own raft.
Hit the Kerrytown Farmers Market any Wednesday or Saturday before 3pm to stock up on fresh, local produce, and artwork and crafts from local artisans in the open-air atmosphere. The market is located off Fifth and Catherine near Community High School and Zingerman’s Delicatessen.
Fourth of July Parade
As in many towns across America, celebrating the 4th of July in Ann Arbor starts with the annual parade through downtown. The mile-long parade route winds its way down Liberty and Main streets, and features floats, music, acrobats, and activities for kids.
Enjoy the beauty of the Huron River in an event for the whole family in early July. The event, which features discounted canoe and kayak rentals, live music, and food, takes place from noon to 4 p.m. at Gallup Park.
The City of Ann Arbor Mayor's Office celebrates the community’s environmental leadership during its annual Mayor's Green Fair. Held in early June, Main Street closes to car traffic between Huron and William streets, and guests can check out displays of environmental information, "green" products, live music, and organic food.
Peony Garden at Nichols Arboretum
While a day trip to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum is a great excursion all summer long, the best time to visit is during late May and early June, with its famous peony garden offering more than 10,000 flowers blooming in the largest collection of heirloom herbaceous peonies in North America.
Rolling Sculpture Car Show
Custom and classic cars flood downtown Ann Arbor for the annual Rolling Sculpture Car Show in July. Last year’s show featured more than 300 exotic, antique, classic, and concept cars.
Now a decade-old tradition in downtown Ann Arbor, the free outdoor Sonic Lunch concert series features noted bands and artists from Michigan and beyond every Thursday at lunchtime on Liberty Plaza.
Want to get a taste of what Ann Arbor’s diverse culinary scene has to offer? The annual Taste of Ann Arbor event offers a wide variety of restaurants in early June on Main Street. Ann Arbor's Main Street Area Association hosts the annual event, which also provides a number of fun attractions for children.
For More Information
Discover things to do in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area.
The official travel and tourism website for the state of Michigan.
Michigan offers three terms during spring/summer (two half-terms of seven weeks each and one full term that lasts 14 weeks) and each term has a different course listing. You can search the full course schedule by school or college.
Information about tuition and fees for the spring/summer terms can be found on the Registrar’s Office site.
The spring/summer financial aid process is a bit different for students entering U-M or attending as continuing students during these terms. Learn more about the options for your situation.
Learn more about employment options on and around campus during the spring and summer.
Find out about campus housing options during the spring and summer months.
Non-degree-seeking students who wish to take courses at U-M during spring and summer terms will need to complete a Guest Application.