Level Up Academics Summer Program
Level up your skills
Leadership and academic writing enhancement program for high school students
Spend three weeks improving your college readiness skills while learning about U.S. culture! Hosted by the English Language Institute at the University of Delaware, Level Up Academics is a fun and skill-building short-term program that combines high-quality instruction with leadership, presentation, research, and college entrance essay writing skill development. If you study in an IB high school program, you have the possibility of working toward your CAS requirements! Level Up Academics includes several excursions, allowing students to visit important cultural and historical sites on the East Coast of the U.S.
All students are protected under UD’s Protection of Minors Policy. To learn more about Level Up Academics or for help with the admissions process, please contact eli-admissions@udel.edu.
Requirements
Students must have intermediate-advanced levels of proficiency (5.0 or higher on the IELTS or a 55 TOEFL). If students place lower, they can participate in the Language Adventure USA program.
Level Up Academics is meant for high school students, 15 to 17 years old. If you are older than 18 years, we encourage you to enroll in Intensive English Program or our English and American Culture program.
Program Dates and Duration
Summer 2025
| Dates | Duration |
|---|---|
| July 20–August 8, 2025 | 3 weeks |
Price
Summer 2025
| Duration | Price |
|---|---|
| 3 weeks | US $5,495* |
*Scholarships may be available upon request.
*NOTE: Chaperones are responsible for their own costs unless prior arrangements are made with ELI.
Included |
Details |
|---|---|
| Coursework | Students attend Academic Writing every day from 8:15 a.m. until 12:10 p.m. |
| Course materials | Books and handouts. |
| Certificate | Students in good academic standing will receive a certificate that verifies that they have completed the program. They will also receive a transcript (grade report) showing the grades earned in each class. |
| University student ID card | Provides students with access to the University’s facilities, including the gym, pool, library, computer labs, sporting events, etc. |
| Housing | Students will live in UD residential halls. |
| Meals | Students will receive a meal plan for UD dining halls. |
| Airport transportation | Transportation is provided to/from the Philadelphia International Airport for groups of students arriving/departing at the same time. |
| University health clinic | Free consultation, treatment and prescriptions provided by medical doctors and nurses. |
| Health insurance | Health insurance is included (USD $135 value). |
| Excursions | Saturday bus trips may include New York City, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Hershey Park Amusement Park or Ocean City. Optional train/bus trips may also be available. |
| Activities | Afternoon and evening activities include hikes, picnics, tournaments, concerts and sports games. |
| Writing Skills Acquired | Students who complete their writing course will either have a completed college entrance essay or a digital project they could include in a portfolio to show the research writing skills they have acquired. |
| Not Included | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | Citizens of countries that participate in the US Visa Waiver Program will pay an ESTA fee to U.S. Customs and Border Protection of approximately US $21. |
| Airfare | Students are required to pay for their plane ticket to travel to/from Philadelphia. |
| Spending money | Remember, Delaware has no sales tax on most purchases. |
What do Level Up Students do every day?
Morning schedule
Level Up Academics students take two courses in the morning: a leadership and an academic writing/college entrance essay course. These courses meet from 8:15 a.m. until approximately 12:10 p.m. each day (Monday to Friday).
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. |
Breakfast |
| 8:15 – 12:10 p.m. | Two classes |
| 12:30 – 1:45 p.m. | Lunch |
| 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Activities at English Language Institute, UD and Newark with UD mentor |
| 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. | Dinner |
| 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | Evening activities with all high school summer programs at UD |
| 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. | Student study and break time |
| 11:00 p.m. | Lights out |
Activities
A variety of activities are available to English Language Institute students:
- Optional Hub Programs: Extensive reading books, conversation couch, e-game stations and tutors.
- ELI Activities: Structured or guided activities in the afternoons and evenings, including International Coffee Hour, hikes, concerts, local attractions, pool party, movie-viewing party, picnic, team-building challenges, ice-cream making, trail hiking, painting party (with instruction), guitar club/American music, intro to photography, downtown photo scavenger hunt.
- Activities around campus: gym, weights, indoor track, pool, table tennis, badminton, basketball and volleyball. The Hen Zone at UD's Perkins Student Center has billiards, video games, board games, table tennis and Quad Air Hockey.
Cultural Excursions
Discover some of the most famous sites on the East Coast of the USA, which may include New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and the Delaware beaches.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The English Language Institute coordinates housing for students in short-term programs like Level Up Academics.
Apply
Applying for Level Up Academics is easy! Simply follow these instructions. Questions? Contact ELI admissions at eli-admissions@udel.edu:
- Complete our online application.
- Pay the non-refundable US $300 tuition deposit. Pay this fee with a credit card using our secure online payment system.
- Send a copy of your passport to ud-eli@udel.edu.
About the English Language Institute
The English Language Institute (ELI) is an academic unit of the University of Delaware’s College of Arts and Sciences and has a long tradition of providing high-quality intensive English programs to international students and professionals from around the world.
The University of Delaware is considered to be one of the best institutions of higher learning in the USA and is currently ranked #44 among public institutions by the US News and World Report, 2025.
UD Capture Video: Welcoming students waving on the balcony of a building at the University of Delaware: https://capture.udel.edu/media/1_m7sjx33v/
