International Relations

Pre-College Program Outcomes

• A unique academic experience at one of the nation’s top International Relations schools, earning 3 Tufts Credits (P/F) along the way*
• A college-level argumentative research paper
• Academic and real-world skills including conducting research, synthesizing concepts, drafting and revising persuasive prose, and evaluating sources
• Improved language skills
• An official Tufts transcript upon request

Pre-College Program Format

Orientation

 All program orientations will begin on the Monday of the program start. During this required orientation, we will review the overall program schedule, discuss policies and safety, and answer questions. Staff will be on-hand to address any issues. Check in for residential students is on Sunday preceding program start - see ‘Residential Student’ dropdown for more information.

Program Format

Our program is broken into four exciting components that introduce Tufts' unique approach to international relations in complementary ways:

• Language Classes: In keeping with Tufts’ strong emphasis on the importance of language and cultural proficiency for the understanding of global issues, students will immerse themselves in intensive college-level foreign language training. Summer 2024 options will include Beginning Russian, Beginning Arabic, Beginning Chinese, Intermediate French, Intermediate Spanish, and Advanced Spanish. Additionally, English language learners will have the opportunity to participate in an all-English college-level writing seminar, which will prepare students for their final research paper and beyond. During the application process, students will be asked to indicate their top 2 language course preferences. Placement will depend on remaining capacity in the section and, if it is an intermediate or advanced course, passing a placement exam.

• Faculty Lectures: Members of Tufts' world-class faculty share their insights and research and answer student questions about critical topics, giving participants an introduction to the latest topics and scholarship in the field of IR.

• CA Discussion Groups: Work in groups mentored by an advanced Classroom Assistant (CA) as you reflect on the topics discussed each day. Students will learn how to annotate and identify arguments in academic texts, consider how policies impact individuals in diverse locations, and consider the broad, long-term implications of the day’s lecture.

• Skills-Building Workshops: Gain marketable skills in academic research, writing, critical thinking, and analysis, among other topics, that are essential to work in virtually any field.

• Field Trips: Participate in interactive and perspective-taking activities across the greater Boston area.

Closing Ceremony

On the last day of the program students and program staff will gather for a closing ceremony, which will mark the end of the program and recognize the hard work everyone has put in over the two-week duration. We’ll hear from guest speakers as well as student-selected presenters, and get a last chance to come together as a group to celebrate our accomplishments. Parents and/or guardians will be invited to attend the Closing Ceremony. The Ceremony will occur on the last day of the program, and will conclude by 2pm. Exact details and invitations will be forthcoming. 

Capstone Project

All students will complete an independent research paper on an International Relations topic of their choice. Students will work closely with university library staff and their TAs to develop a research question and explore supporting primary and secondary source material. Some students use this paper as a writing sample for future applications.

Sample Research Paper Titles from previous years:

• An Analysis of the US Decision to Withdraw Support from the WHO through the Lens of Political Theory
• Art and The Arab Spring Revolution: The Relationship Between Artistic Expression and Political Change
• The Utilization of History in International Relations Theories
• Brexit: Causes and Implications for the Future of the European Union
• Is a Negotiated Agreement Between India and China Possible?
• A New Era: The Evolution of Globalization Post COVID-19

Language Course Descriptions

Beginning Russian: Intended for Students with no prior experience with Russian. The Intro to Russian introduces students to the vocabulary, the foundations of grammar, and basic sentence structures needed for communication on topics related to family and friends, university studies, languages, studies, daily schedules, and personal possessions. Reinforced by short readings and compositions, the primary emphasis of this short intensive course is placed on developing basic oral and written communication skills. These basic skills lay a firm basis that can prepare the students for further language development in college.

Beginning Arabic: Intended for students with no prior experience with Arabic. Intro to Arabic is designed for those students who never studied Arabic before and it begins with introduction of Arabic sounds and letters. In addition to learning to read and write Arabic script, students will learn the basics of everyday conversation relating to one’s self. Topics include: greetings, introductions, numbers, expressing likes and dislikes, hospitality and more.

Beginning Chinese: intended for Students with no prior experience with Chinese. Beginning Chinese is an introductory course to Mandarin Chinese. It covers the most basic elements of the major components of the Chinese language: pronunciation and conversation, pinyin and characters, vocabulary and structures. Specifically, students will learn the first 8 chapters in the New Practical Chinese Reader, including all the phonetics, pinyin, 92 basic characters, 200 frequently used characters (optional), 208 new words, 53 key sentence patterns, everyday conversations, and information about the Chinese language, culture and society.

Intermediate French: Intended for students with one or more years of French instruction. This elementary/intermediate French course is designed to develop skills in speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills. It aims to foster fluency and the functional use of language, focusing on International Relations and cross-cultural awareness through short articles and video clips. The coursework consists of grammar exercises, short essays, role-plays, oral presentations, and class discussions. Conducted in French.  

Intermediate Spanish: Intended for students with three or more years of Spanish instruction. In this course, we will explore contemporary topics affecting the Hispanic world and also their connection to the United States. The in-person sessions will be discussion-based in full immersion in Spanish. In order to register for this course, the students should be able to read and understand authentic news and articles and carry out discussions in Spanish.

Advanced Spanish: Intended for students with five or more years of Spanish Instruction. This is a task-based course geared to enhance your oral production/conversational skills and expand your vocabulary while reviewing some grammatical structures (language functions) at the advanced level. The course is organized around different topics that we will explore through videos, songs, and short readings that will serve as the foundation for conversations /discussions and vocabulary expansion. 

English as an Additional Language: Intended ONLY for students whom English is not their native language. This is a course intended to hone academic English skills for those who already know a different language. The course is organized to not only improve writing skills, but also to imbue students with high-level reading strategies.

Sample Schedule

Please note: The below represents a sample schedule based on our best expectations for the in-person iteration of this program. The schedule is subject to change as we continue to develop the program to be as meaningful as possible for our students.

Program Eligibility

General Requirements

• Entering high school grades 11-12 *or* a Spring 2025 high school graduate
  • Please note that students entering grade 10 are eligible for specific courses and programs only. Please see individual program websites for grade-level eligibility requirements. 

Residential Students

Students electing to live in the dorms or to attend a residential program must be at least 15 at the start of the program and no older than 19 before the program end date.

International Students

Both domestic and international students are welcome to apply to and attend our pre-college programs, although please note we cannot sponsor visas for this program.

Non-Native English Speakers

If you indicate that English is not your primary language, you will be asked to submit evidence of English Language proficiency. Please see our "How to Apply" page for details.

Application Requirements

Step 1: Complete an Online Application (Summer 2025 application coming soon)

The online application will ask you for the following information:

• Basic personal information, including parents/guardians and emergency contact (if you are under 18, we will contact a parent for permission to enroll)
• Contact information for 1 individual to submit a Letter of Recommendation - this individual can be a teacher, counselor, or mentor. We will contact this individual on your behalf
• Test scores - optional, unless you must submit scores as evidence of English proficiency
• Program specific-requirements (e.g. language course selection, letter of interest, etc. - individual requirements will appear after selecting a program option on the application).
• Warrants and signatures

If you need to log back into your application after starting, click here: return to my application.

Step 2: Upload Your High School Transcript

During your application process, you will be asked to provide us with contact information for an official from your high school. They will receive an email with further instructions to upload your transcript.

Step 3: Parental Consent and Letter of Recommendation

As a part of your application, you will be asked to provide contact information for both a parent/guardian and a recommender. Once you submit your application, our systems will automatically email the parent/guardian and recommender you listed in the application with instructions for how to fill out the online permission or recommendation form.

Please note your application will not be considered submitted and review of your application will not begin until the materials from Step 2 and Step 3 have been received by Tufts Pre-College Programs.

Pre-College Admissions Decision

Once an applicant has submitted an application and all required admissions documents are received, the applicant will be considered for admission by the Tufts Pre-College Programs review committee for the specific program(s) to which they applied.

Decisions are made on a rolling basis and students will typically receive an official email informing them of their admissions status within 10 business days of Tufts receiving all required materials.

If you do not receive your email within two weeks of all materials being submitted, please contact us at precollege@tufts.edu or 617-627-2926.

For more on our admissions policies, please visit our Policies page here.

Post-Enrollment Materials

Admitted students must do the following prior to the start of the program:

• A $550 deposit must be received within 10 days of admission until the payment deadline of May 15th or until the program fills, at which time enrollment is secured only by full tuition payment
• Pay your balance in full prior to the stated deadline
• Complete all enrollment forms and/or follow-up requests prior to the stated deadline

Should the above not be completed prior to the stated deadlines, the student will be automatically withdrawn from the program.

Pre-College Program Tuition & Fees

Other Key Financial Policies

Refund Policies

Billing & Payment Policies

All Policies

Program Fees - Summer 2025 

Commuter Program Fee: $4,225

• Includes: all program activities, materials and supplies, 1 meal per weekday (lunch), opening/closing events, use of select campus facilities, included program excursions and daily activities.
• Excludes: residential accommodations, breakfast/dinner/weekend meals, airfare/transportation to and from home city or residence, courses and activities shown to have an extra fee, laundry, spending money, souvenirs, meals eaten away from program, trip cancellation insurance, medical insurance, required vaccinations, medical and dental expenses, any non-program-related transportation needs, and anything not explicitly stated above.

Residential Program Fee: $5,750

• Includes: all program activities, materials and supplies, bed in a double-room in a Tufts dormitory, 3 meals per day (brunch / dinner on Sundays), use of select campus facilities, included program and residential excursions and daily activities, bed linens, pillow and towels, 24-hour residential care and support, staff-accompanied airport transfer during specified windows.
• Excludes: airfare/transportation to and from home city, courses and activities shown to have an extra fee, laundry, spending money, souvenirs, meals eaten away from program, airport transfers outside of specified windows, trip cancellation insurance, medical insurance, required vaccinations, medical and dental expenses, any non-program-related transportation needs, and anything not explicitly stated above.

Non-Refundable Program Deposit: $550

• A pre-payment on program fees is required to reserve space in the program within 10 business days of admission to the program
• This deposit will be applied toward program fees and is not an additional fee
• The balance of payment for program fees is due upon notification of charges, and no later than May 15
• This deposit is non-refundable in the event of withdrawal from the program

Health Fees - TBA

Health Insurance: TBD, only if evidence of valid U.S.-based health insurance for the entire duration of the program is not presented (Summer 2024: $53)

• Coverage Dates: TBA
• Students carrying sufficient, U.S.-based health insurance valid for the entire duration of the program do not need to pay this fee
• All high school students enrolled in Tufts Pre-College Programs must carry valid U.S.-based health insurance valid for the entire duration of the program
• Students will be asked to provide evidence of sufficient insurance during the enrollment process. If your student has sufficient insurance, no further action will be necessary
• Those who do not have sufficient insurance, and are an international student, will be automatically enrolled in and billed for a qualifying plan for the duration of the program. If evidence of qualifying insurance is presented by June 15, we will reverse the insurance enrollment and charges.

Vaccinations: TBA, only if evidence of required vaccinations is not presented (Summer 2024: $50-$180 per vaccine)

• Students who can demonstrate that all required vaccinations were received prior to the program start date do not need to pay these fees
• All high school students enrolled in Tufts Pre-College Programs must show evidence of required vaccinations during the enrollment process. If your student has all required vaccinations, no further action will be necessary
• Those who do not have all required vaccinations will be asked to provide further documentation or will be required to receive the vaccination, with parental consent, while on campus. If a student receives the vaccination while on campus the student will be responsible for the associated fee and grades / transcripts will be with-held for non-payment. If a student does not provide appropriate documentation or agree to receive the vaccination while on campus, Tufts reserves the right to remove the student from the program

Availability of Awards

Tufts Pre-College Programs are committed to aiding students from all backgrounds. Although we have only limited need-based financial aid available, we do our best to distribute the funds to students for whom it can make the greatest difference in their ability to attend.

Financial Aid awards are made on a rolling basis to students with demonstrated need. We aim to provide enough aid to eligible students so that they are able to successfully enroll and participate in the program. Seasonal aid awards are as follows:

• Fall: We currently do not offer aid for the Fall term
• Spring: We will typically distribute awards monthly and will continue until the enrollment deadline or until aid is fully distributed.
• Summer: We will typically distribute awards twice monthly beginning in February and will continue until the enrollment deadline or until aid is fully distributed.

If financial assistance is essential to your ability to attend the program, we recommend that you wait to pay the $550 non-refundable deposit until you have received your financial aid decision. Award decisions will be issued twice per month.

Students with undocumented status are considered for financial aid like any other U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If you are undocumented or have DACA status and want more information about how to apply for financial aid, please call our office at 617-627-2926.

Please note:

• International students are not eligible for financial aid at this time. Families should expect to contribute to the remaining portion of the program cost as well as other expenses like travel, books, etc.

Process

1. Complete the Admissions Application for the pre-college program you would like to attend.
2. During the application process, you will be asked to indicate whether you are interested in being considered for financial aid.
3. After submission, you will have the option of completing a financial aid application in your student portal.
4. We will review your financial aid application. Your financial aid application will be considered for the next monthly aid award(s). Award decisions will be issued twice per month.
5. If you receive an award,
   1. You will be notified by email of the amount of the award.
   2. You will have 6 days (including weekends and holidays) to accept the award by completing your Financial Aid Award Form. If you have received a full financial aid scholarship you are not required to pay your deposit, as it is covered by your scholarship.
   3. Tufts Pre-College Programs will then credit your student account with the amount of financial aid you received.
   4. Please note: Your enrollment in the program is still contingent on payment of any remaining balance after the award is applied to your account, and on receiving your enrollment forms.
6. If you do not receive an award you will be notified via email.

Please see the Policies section of this website for a complete list of applicable policies.

University Facilities

Students will have full access to the university’s facilities including the libraries, computer lab and student center. Students will also have full access to Tufts’ Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness center, featuring racquet courts, a swimming pool and cardio and weight-training equipment.

In addition, SMFA Studio Art Intensive students will have access to supervised studios and resources including, the W.Van Alan Clark Library, the media stockroom (where you can borrow any equipment necessary for your art), the School Store, the computer lab. See more details about our studios.

Health & Wellness

Tufts works hard to ensure the health and well-being of all of its students. Once accepted to the program, Tufts will ask all students to submit information related to their health and will collect details regarding allergies and accessibility concerns. Tufts and Residential Life staff will work together to ensure students’ routine medical needs are met.

Tufts also has procedures in-place for students with urgent or emergency needs, illnesses, or injuries. Our procedures combine on-campus and hospital-based care depending on the nature and severity of the issue. A student’s emergency contact will be notified, if one is provided, in the event of an issue. Please see our Health & Wellness Services page for additional information.

Please note that the Pre-College Program does not offer onsite mental health counseling for participants. Participants are encouraged to stay in touch with their local provider as needed.

In any type of health & wellness emergency, students should immediately contact Tufts University Police at (617) 627-6911.

Please note: medical fees of any kind will be billed to the student and are not included in program fees.

Campus Security

Tufts University is considered very safe among U.S. college campuses. Although crime on campus is unusual, we do have an open campus in a major metropolitan area and we expect our students to exercise good judgment and responsibility as they navigate the campus. Tufts University maintains its own police department, on the job 24 hours a day, if an emergency arises. Each location is equipped with an emergency blue light phone system and residence halls require a current and valid Tufts ID card for entry and a mechanical key for access to bedrooms. Emergency processes and protocol will be reviewed during orientation.

For more information, please visit our Campus Safety page

Tufts takes the safety of its students seriously. All programs are staffed with resources appropriate to care for the size and nature of the program. Tufts makes reasonable efforts to secure background checks and provide Title IX training to every staff person responsible for students in its Pre-College Programs.

Students are required to attend all elements of the program schedule, and any expected absences must be communicated to program staff in advance. Tufts takes the safety of its students very seriously. As such, our current policy for Pre-College students states that students cannot be in a lab or leave campus during their program without the supervision of a staff member or explicit parental permission received through official processes.

Some elements of our supervision plan vary depending on how the student is interacting with our campus. Below is a brief overview of where to find information about this. Please note that not all programs offer residential/commuter/virtual options, but the below applies when they do:

• Residential Students: Safety in the dorms is also paramount. Please see the Residential Students section below for more information about how our Residential Life program is staffed.
• Commuter Students: The commute to campus and time outside of the program will not be monitored by program staff, although the Tufts University Police Department and other safety protocols (in which students will be trained) are available to Tufts community members at all times. Detailed information about traveling to each of our campuses, including details on parking, can be found here. Please check the course list if you do not know the campus on which your course meets. Please note: Commuter students are not permitted to enter any residence halls on campus.
• Virtual Students: Students are required to attend all elements of the program schedule, and any expected absences must be communicated to program staff in advance. Tufts takes the safety of its students very seriously, even in the virtual environment. Students who enroll will receive more information about our virtual safety protocols.

Check-in

Check-in will begin at 9 am on the first Sunday of the program (or Monday, 7/1, for Tufts College Experience & Tufts Summer Research Experience). Students are welcome to arrive on campus and check in on Sunday between 9 am and 5 pm, and between the hours of 12 pm and 3 pm if arriving by car. During check-in, room assignments will be distributed and students will have the opportunity to meet their Residential Coordinator (RC) and roommates and unpack.

For students arriving from out of town on their program's arrival day between 9 am and 5 pm, there is a shuttle service from the airport and train/bus station for students arriving from out of state. All details about arrival and departure travel will be communicated after you have been admitted to the program.

Students arriving outside of the specified window should be in touch with us to discuss what accommodations can be arranged. While we make reasonable efforts to accommodate students who need to arrive early or depart late, we cannot guarantee the same services will be available to students arriving or departing outside of the specified windows.

Residential Life

Residential students will get the full Tufts University experience by living on-campus in one of Tufts' undergraduate dorms! Rooms are air-conditioned with 24/7 security and hospitality; accessible rooms may be available upon request.

Bedrooms will be doubles in a common hall. Halls are divided by gender and age, and students are grouped into smaller communities known as Resident Advisor groups. Roommates and RA groups are determined based on the pre-program housing questionnaire, taking into account age and geographic diversity. Full bedding and towels will be provided and replaced weekly. Wi-Fi is available throughout campus.

Resident Coordinators (RCs) will live in each hall and work to create a strong, supportive residential community. A Resident Coordinator's role is to support students in every aspect of their summer experience while serving as a mentor and active leader.

The residence hall is secured at all times, and students are required to use a current, valid Tufts ID card for entry into the building. Each individual dormitory room is secured with either a mechanical or digital lock.

A dedicated residential staff oversees student safety during the entirety of the program. Students are honor-bound to follow clear safety protocols, whether on campus or in the city, and are required to use the buddy system during free time. Tufts takes the safety of its students seriously. All programs are staffed with resources appropriate to care for the size and nature of the program. Tufts makes reasonable efforts to secure background checks and provide Title IX training to every staff person responsible for students in its Pre-College Programs.

See our policy section for additional information, and please do not hesitate to contact us with questions and concerns.

Residential Staff

Residential staff will support students as they adjust to living in a dormitory and being responsible members of a summer program community. The residence staff will include a director, senior staff, and one resident advisor for every ten students. Prior to the program, residence staff will be trained to lead student groups, manage student conflict and resolution, and oversee all safety aspects of the program. They will begin the program well-prepared to meet the needs of all Tufts Pre-College Program students.

Dining

Residential program fees include three meals per day and brunch/dinner on Sundays. All meals on the Medford/Somerville campus will be at Dewick-MacPhie Dining Center, conveniently located a few minutes from student housing. Dewick-MacPhie provides a wide variety of menu choices, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and an organic salad bar. All meals on the Boston Fine Arts (SMFA), Boston Health Sciences, or Grafton campuses will be provided through boxed lunches or by Tufts staff. Tufts staff will also provide meals for program-related activities taking place off-campus. Tufts Dining is able to accommodate most dietary restrictions and preferences. Please advise us of dietary needs during the application process.

Activities & Trips

We want your summer to be fun too! It is summer after all! Residential Life staff will be planning trips and activities throughout the summer that will allow students to make friends, build relationships, and relax from the world-class academic work they will be doing in the classroom.

Daily Activities

Daily activities might include ice cream socials, midnight pancakes, trips to local coffee houses for poetry readings, lectures around campus, visits to Davis Square, etc. The cost of most of these activities will be included, however, incidentals like coffee at the coffee house or public transportation fares for an optional activity will not be covered by the program.

Many programs are also planning their own program-specific activities, often thematically relevant to the program content itself. Look out for these activities in the program description above and in the information provided after you enroll!

Trips

Examples of past weekend trips include excursions to Six Flags New England, Crane Beach in Ipswich, Downtown Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts, Duck Boat tours, Charles River Cruises, and more! Please note that weekend trips vary from year to year and these are only examples of the kinds of trips this program might include. The cost of any such excursions (including transportation, entrance fees, regularly scheduled meals, and supervision) is included in the cost of the program, although souvenirs, extra food, and other incidentals are not.

Commuting to the Program

We know that for some students, living on campus is not the best option. We welcome you to our program! For commuter students, the program will begin at 9:00am on the first Monday of the program with an orientation and end at 2:00pm on the last Friday of the program with a closing event. Saturdays and Sundays are not program days and commuter students are not expected on campus on these days.

Medford/ Somerville: For more information on commuting to the Medford Campus click here.

SMFA: During each day of the program, commuter students should arrive on the Fenway (SMFA) campus at 9:30am, and proceed directly to their program's location. Students must depart from campus at 4:30pm. Students remaining on campus past 4:45pm, arriving before 9:15am, or on non-program days will not be under the care of program staff (parents accept responsibility). Detailed information about traveling to the Fenway (SMFA) campus, including details on parking and public transportation, can be found here. Alternatively, commuter students may opt to take the bus with residential SMFA Studio Art participants travelling between Tufts Medford/Somerville campus and the SMFA Fenway campus. Commuter students opting for this option must arrive at the Somerville/Medford campus by 8:45am and be picked up at the Somerville/Medford campus at 5:15pm. No alternative transportation will be provided for students who arrive to campus after the bus departs. Specific meeting location and updated times (as needed) to be provided closer to program start.

AVM: During each day of the program, commuter students should arrive on the Grafton campus at 9:00am, and proceed directly to their program's location. Adventures in Veterinary Medicine students have the option to meet at Medford and take the bus to the Grafton campus, or meet at the Grafton campus. Students must depart from campus by 6:00pm at the latest, though students may leave at the end of their afternoon sessions at 5:00pm on most days. Students remaining on campus past 6:00pm, arriving before 8:45am, or on non-program days will not be under the care of program staff (parents accept responsibility)

Commuter students and their parents are responsible for ensuring their student travels to and from campus safely and on time each day. Detailed information about traveling to the Medford / Somerville campus and the Grafton campus, including details on parking, can be found here.

Please note: commuter students are not permitted to enter any residence halls on campus. Breakfast / dinner are not provided for commuter students.

Dining

Students can purchase breakfast or dinner onsite at the Medford / Somerville campus with credit card, debit card, cash, or JumboCash. All meals on the Medford/Somerville campus will be at Dewick-MacPhie Dining Center, conveniently located a few minutes from student housing. Dewick-MacPhie provides a wide variety of menu choices, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and an organic salad bar. All meals on the Fenway (SMFA), Boston Health Sciences, or Grafton campuses will be provided through boxed lunches or by Tufts staff. Tufts staff will also provide meals for program related activities taking place off-campus. Tufts dining is able to accommodate most dietary restrictions and preferences. Please advise us of dietary needs during the application process.