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The Visiting Owls program offers high school juniors, seniors, and visiting undergraduates a chance to earn college credits online or on-campus from a top 20 university that’s redefining learning with a wide range of rigorous, engaging, and unique courses.
Summer Semester 2023: Online or On-Campus
- Special summer tuition at a top 20 university
- High school students get a jumpstart on college credits
- Small class sizes with world-class instructors
- Unique courses covering a range of relevant topics and requirements
- Choose from 6 summer blocks to fit your family’s schedule
Stay up to date for
Summer 2023
Summer 2023 Application is Now Open
From May through August, we offer 6 summer blocks to fit your family’s schedule, along with small class sizes to provide the best experience for your student.
Special summer tuition: $750 per credit hour
| Block | Application Deadline | Block Dates | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Block B1 | May 1, 2023 - APPLICATION CLOSED | May 8 - June 23, 2023 | 7 weeks |
| Summer Block C1 | May 8, 2023 - APPLICATION CLOSED | May 15 - June 23, 2023 | 6 weeks |
| Summer Block D1 | May 22, 2023 - APPLICATION CLOSED | May 30 - August 4, 2023 | 10 weeks |
| Summer Block E1 | June 5, 2023 | June 12 - July 28, 2023 | 7 weeks |
| Summer Block B2 | June 19, 2023 | June 26 - August 11, 2023 | 7 weeks |
| Summer Block C2 | June 26, 2023 | July 3 - August 11, 2023 | 6 weeks |
Resources & FAQs for Parents & Families
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s no such thing as a typical Visiting Owls applicant. So, while we did our best to answer the more common questions below, please reach out if you have something else to ask or need more information to share for your school.
- Who is eligible to apply?
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All visiting undergraduate students are invited to apply, and high school students in the Classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept applications from high school students graduating in 2026 or later at this time.
Currently enrolled Rice students should register online via ESTHER as per normal registration processes and procedures for courses they wish to register for.
- How do I apply?
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Step 1: Find an online course you want to take for credit by viewing our Summer 2023 Semester course catalog.
Step 2: Complete the online application and submit it with the $75 application fee.
Step 3: Send your official transcripts for all educational institutions that you have attended to Rice.
- Are non-U.S. (international) students eligible for the Rice Visiting Owls program?
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Yes, we would encourage non-U.S./International students to apply for an eligible online summer course. For the Visiting Owls summer program, Rice University does not sponsor foreign visas for on-campus attendance at this time.
- I'm a Visiting High School student. For which courses am I eligible to apply in Summer 2023?
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Visit the 2023 Course Schedule and look for the "HS Eligible" icon to see which online or face-to-face summer courses will accept current HS seniors (class of '23), HS juniors (class of '24) or sophomores (class of '25).
If you are a Visiting Undergraduate/College Student, HS eligibility rules don't apply.
- I'm a current High School student who has started my Visiting Owls application. Now, where do I send my official transcript?
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Typically, students should contact their High School to request an official version of their transcript. If you're not sure where to start, ask your High School Guidance Counselor. The process for each school can be slightly different, but official transcripts are usually sent directly to Rice by you or your HS Counselor, preferably as an email to visitingstudents@rice.edu.
- Where to email official transcripts (preferred method): visitingstudents@rice.edu
- Where to mail official transcripts:
Rice University - Visiting Student Programs
Office of the Registrar - MS 57
P.O. Box 1892
Houston, TX 77251-1892 - When are the application deadlines?
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The application deadlines are tied to the individual course(s) for which you are applying. If you plan to take courses in multiple sessions, your deadline would be the earliest session’s deadline — you do not need to submit multiple applications.
Block Application Deadline Block Dates Duration Summer Block B1 May 1, 2023 May 8 - June 23, 2023 7 weeks Summer Block C1 May 8, 2023 May 15 - June 23, 2023 6 weeks Summer Block D1 May 22, 2023 May 30 - August 4, 2023 10 weeks Summer Block E1 June 5, 2023 June 12 - July 28, 2023 7 weeks Summer Block B2 June 19, 2023 June 26 - August 11, 2023 7 weeks Summer Block C2 June 26, 2023 July 3 - August 11, 2023 6 weeks - What is the cost of attending?
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Reduced summer tuition: $750 per credit hour. For more information, visit the Cashier's Website.
- Will this help my chances of being accepted as a Rice undergraduate?
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Admission to Rice Summer Sessions does not in any way influence your admission to Rice as an undergraduate.
- Have more questions?
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Visit our FAQs page or contact us at visitingstudents@rice.edu.
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Unconventional Courses, Online or In-Person
Rice's engaging content and world-class experiences are designed to challenge, engage, and redefine high-quality learning.
Earn college credits online or face-to-face at a top 20 university
Choose from 6 summer blocks to fit your schedule
High-demand STEM+ courses with special summer tuition of $750 per credit hour