Summer College Program

2026 CICER Summer Program in Business & Economics

The Cornell Institute for China Economic Research (CICER) has been hosting an annual summer program for college students in economics and business since 2017. Through interactive courses in economics, finance, big data & business analytics, academic seminars, discussion-based activities, and interactions with Cornell faculty and students, participants have the unique opportunity to experience the Ivy League academic environment and learn about cutting-edge research from Cornell’s outstanding researchers. CICER’s elite summer program has attracted ambitious undergraduate and graduate students from around the world and offered invaluable opportunities for them to consult Cornell faculty, staff, and graduate students on academic paths and career planning, network with Cornell students, and make new friends!

The dates for the 2026 summer program are 13 July – 31 July 2026. Application will be open soon. We hope to see you on the beautiful campus of Cornell University in the summer of 2026!

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Courses by prominent professors: Applied Economics, Big Data & Business Analytics, and Finance (tentative).

• Research seminars by faculty.

• Business analysis simulation labs and competition.

• Information session about U.S. graduate school application.

• Panel discussion about working experience in the industry sectors by industry leaders and Cornell alums.

• Academic consultations with Cornell faculty.

• Social event and networking opportunities with Cornell professors and students.

• Certificate issued by CICER upon satisfactory completion of the program.

• Graded end-of-program exam. (Students with excellent performance may request a recommendation letter from CICER director for graduate school application.)

• Visitation to places of interest, including Niagara Falls, Corning Museum of Glass, Premium Shopping Outlet, New York City, Columbia University, etc.

INFORMATION SESSIONS

We will be hosting webinars to share about the program and answer questions. Please check back for dates of the webinars.

APPLICATION TIMELINE

• Application & rolling admission begins:^† TBD
• Early bird application deadline: TBD
• Regular application deadline:^* TBD
• Program begins: July 13, 2026

^†Upon admission and receipt of a non-refundable deposit amount of USD$1,500, CICER will provide an official invitation letter, tips, and a checklist for Visa application. (Applicants will apply for a B1/B2 Visa if they do not yet have a valid U.S. Visa.) Applicants will be responsible for paying Visa application-related fees.

Applicants will be notified of their application results via email. Admitted applicants must accept the offer by replying to the email and pay the program fee within 15 business days after the offer letter was sent. Failure to do so will be considered a decline to the offer, and other applicants will be given the available spots instead.

^*If you already have a U.S. Visa, we may accept your application after the deadline.

Considering the long wait time for a visa interview appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, if you’re interested in our program, we encourage you to apply sooner than later.

PROGRAM FEES

Early bird applicants are offered a discount of USD$200. In addition, merit-based scholarships are available to outstanding applicants.

• TBD (program fee) + TBD (other fees include accommodation at Cornell housing, hotel stay, entrance fees to places of visit, and transportation fees for CICER-organized events.)

  NOTE: International travel return flight tickets are not included in the fees. Please apply early to make arrangements for Visa application.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

All applicants are required to submit the following materials:

1. Completed online application form.
2. Personal statement (350-500 words). Describe yourself, your interests and goals, and explain why you want to join the program.
3. Official transcript (digital or scanned copy).
4. English proficiency exam scores (e.g., CET4/6, TOEFL, IELTS, DuoLingo, or GRE). If English is the language of instruction in your university, you may also upload a university-issued letter as proof.

Please note that we will not process any incomplete applications!

CONTACT US

Email: cicer@cornell.edu
WeChat Assistant: cicercornell
WeChat Official Account: cornellcicer