INSEAD Summer School

The INSEAD Summer School is a two-week, full-time programme on the INSEAD Europe Campus in Fontainebleau, France, for young adults aged 18 to 24 who have completed high school.

Through faculty-led sessions, team challenges and experiential learning, participants build foundations in leadership, entrepreneurship, cross-cultural management and responsible decision-making, while exploring how AI is shaping business and the future of work. They learn alongside an international cohort, develop practical frameworks for further study or an international career, and earn five ECTS credits upon successful completion of the programme requirements.

Applicants must be aged 18 to 24 at the start of the programme and must have completed high school. The programme welcomes young adults at different stages of their academic or early professional journey, including those preparing to begin or currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree, recent graduates and those taking an early step in their career.

The programme takes place on the INSEAD Europe Campus in Fontainebleau, France, approximately 65 kilometres south of Paris. Accommodation is available separately at the Hotel Ermitage on the Europe Campus and is not included in the programme fee.

The programme is taught entirely in English. Students must be sufficiently proficient to participate fully and confidently in classes, case discussions, group work and social activities with an international cohort.

No formal English-language test, such as IELTS or TOEFL, is required. However, applicants must have a sufficient command of English to participate confidently in all academic and programme activities.

1. Complete the online application form and provide the required personal and academic information.
2. Upload a transcript or recent school report. If the document is not in English, include an English translation.
3. Optionally provide one recommendation letter in English.
4. Pay the €90 application fee when submitting the application.
5. Complete a motivational video and written statement through the Kira Talent platform. The platform can only be accessed after the application has been submitted, and the access link is sent by email.

No. A recommendation letter is optional. Applicants may submit one letter in English from someone in their academic, professional or personal network.

Application dates and deadlines may change from one intake to another. Places are limited, so applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Applications are reviewed only once the online application and all required supporting materials have been received. Applicants will be notified when an admissions decision has been made.

No formal admissions interview is required. The application process includes a motivational video and written statement completed through the Kira Talent platform after the online application has been submitted.

The 2026 reference tuition fee is €5,850. Fees for 2027 have not yet been confirmed and may change. A separate €90 application fee is payable when the application is submitted. Accommodation is not included in the tuition fee.

Included. The programme fee includes tuition and instruction, lunch and dinner each day, books and materials, medical and civil liability insurance, guest presentations, field trips, and scheduled cultural and social activities, including sports and excursions.

Not included. It does not include the €90 application fee, airfare, visa costs, travel insurance, airport or train station transfers, accommodation, breakfast or personal expenses.

Payment can be made by credit card or bank transfer. The admission offer provides the payment instructions and deadline.

The programme fee must be paid within two weeks of the admission offer. A place is secured only when INSEAD has received the payment. If payment is not received by the deadline stated in the offer, the place may be offered to another candidate.

Family members of the INSEAD alumni community may be eligible for a preferential tuition rate. Please contact the Summer School team to confirm eligibility and the applicable rate.

Requests for a tuition fee refund are reviewed case by case, taking into account the reason for cancellation. In some circumstances, INSEAD may agree to carry the payment forward towards participation in the following year's programme. Applicants should contact the Summer School team as soon as possible to discuss the options available in their situation.

Students may stay at the Hotel Ermitage, a four-star hotel on the INSEAD Europe Campus next to the Fontainebleau forest. Rooms include an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, international television, free Wi-Fi, a fridge, complimentary water and hot drinks, and a safe. Accommodation is booked and paid separately from the programme fee.

No. Students may arrange alternative accommodation in or near Fontainebleau. However, INSEAD can provide an accommodation certificate for visa purposes only when a student stays in INSEAD accommodation.

Lunch and dinner are included each day. Breakfast is not included in the programme fee. Students staying at the Hotel Ermitage may arrange breakfast through their hotel reservation, subject to the terms of their accommodation booking.

Lunch and dinner are usually scheduled from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm and from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Timings may vary according to the programme schedule.

Lunch and dinner offer a range of choices, including vegetarian options. Students with dietary requirements or food allergies should inform the Summer School team before the programme begins so that the available options can be reviewed with them.

The Europe Campus has controlled access and round-the-clock security. The Hotel Ermitage has a service desk open 24 hours a day. Students receive a room key and campus badge at check-in and must keep them secure throughout the programme. A €50 replacement fee applies if a room key or badge is lost.

Students are expected to arrive the day before classes begin. Participants staying in INSEAD accommodation should be checked in at the INSEAD residences by 5:00 pm. A compulsory welcome session for all participants takes place at 6:00 pm. Detailed arrival instructions are shared before the programme.

No. Students are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from Fontainebleau, including airport and train station transfers.

The INSEAD Europe Campus page provides current directions, transport options, shuttle information, parking details and campus maps. Transport schedules, availability and prices may change, so students should consult that page when planning their journey.

The programme ends after the final presentations and Closing Ceremony. Detailed departure instructions are shared with students before the end of the programme, including the applicable accommodation check-out time.

The curriculum is organised around three broad themes: Lead yourself and others, Navigate global business and your career, and Build, pitch and grow ventures.

Topics may include leadership, team dynamics and communication; cross-cultural management, societal progress and decision-making; entrepreneurship, operations and the development of AI-enabled ventures. Faculty-led sessions are combined with team challenges, simulations and experiential learning. Course topics and programme activities are indicative and may be adjusted.

Students should expect to complete assigned readings and preparation so that they are ready to discuss ideas and share their perspectives with the group. They should also plan time for teamwork and project preparation. Before the programme, students may be asked to read case studies or prepare a short introduction. Further details are shared closer to the start date.

A typical weekday combines a morning briefing and faculty-led academic session with an afternoon academic or experiential session. Selected evenings may include an interactive conference, a scheduled activity, teamwork or preparation for the following day.

Across these sessions, students test ideas through cases, simulations and team projects, and build practical frameworks for leadership, collaboration, venture development and decision-making that they can continue to use in further study and throughout their careers. Timings and activities vary throughout the two weeks.

Yes. Students are expected to remain for the full duration of the programme and participate in all scheduled classes, teamwork, company visits, meals, and cultural and social activities. A scheduled activity may be missed only in exceptional circumstances and with prior approval from the Summer School leadership team.

No. Students are not graded during the programme. Students who fulfil the programme requirements receive a certificate of completion during the Closing Ceremony.

Yes. The programme awards five ECTS credits. Students must attend all classes and participate in group work to earn the credits. Students who wish to transfer the credits should check with their home institution in advance to confirm that they will be recognised.

Beyond the core academic sessions, the programme may include interactive evening conferences, outdoor team-building, a visit to the Château de Fontainebleau, hiking and cycling, sports and games, cultural visits, local excursions and social activities.

Students can also use the Europe Campus gym and sporting facilities, subject to opening hours and availability. The precise activity programme may vary from one intake to another.

Students should bring business casual clothing for classes and professional activities, sportswear for physical and outdoor activities, and a more formal outfit for special occasions.

A laptop or iPad is highly recommended for academic work and project preparation, but it is not mandatory. Wi-Fi and computers are available in breakout rooms and across the campus.

Summer School students can use the Europe Campus learning environment, including lecture theatres, classrooms, breakout and study spaces, dining facilities, the café, bookshop, gym, sporting areas and common spaces. Wi-Fi is available across the campus, and computers are available in breakout rooms. Access to particular facilities is subject to opening hours and badge-access conditions.

The Summer School team, faculty members and alumni mentors guide students throughout the programme. During working hours, students may also seek assistance at the INSEAD reception desk. The Hotel Ermitage service desk is open 24 hours a day.

Students with accessibility or medical requirements should contact the Summer School team as early as possible before the programme begins. The relevant teams will review the request and provide information about campus access and any arrangements that may be available. A specific arrangement is confirmed only when the student receives written confirmation from INSEAD.

A lost room key or campus badge must be reported immediately to the Hotel Ermitage service desk or the Summer School team so that access can be secured and a replacement arranged. A €50 replacement fee applies.

Depending on their nationality, students may need a visa to enter France. Applicants should check the requirements with the relevant French embassy or consulate and apply as early as possible.

After admission, the INSEAD Admissions team provides a visa letter to support the application. INSEAD can also provide an accommodation certificate when the student stays in INSEAD accommodation, but not for accommodation arranged elsewhere.

The programme fee includes medical and civil liability insurance. Students should review the scope, limits and exclusions in the insurance information supplied by INSEAD.

Students must also arrange their own travel insurance for the full duration of their journey and stay. They should check that the policy meets any visa requirements and provides suitable cover for emergency medical and hospital treatment, medical repatriation, cancellation or interruption, and lost or stolen belongings. Eligible students from the European Union or European Economic Area should also bring a valid European Health Insurance Card. This card is not a substitute for travel insurance.

Family members may attend the Closing Ceremony. Seats are limited, so students must register their guests in advance using the instructions shared by the Summer School team. Guest numbers and access to any event following the ceremony depend on the arrangements for that intake.

Information about the Hotel Ermitage, other INSEAD hotels and accommodation in and around Fontainebleau is available on the INSEAD Hotels Europe and Europe Campus webpages.

Travel options, maps, parking information and directions to the Europe Campus in Fontainebleau are available on the Europe Campus webpage.

Students and applicants whose question is not answered on the programme webpages can contact the INSEAD Summer School team at [email protected].