Residential & Commuting Options

Students can choose to live on campus or commute daily.

Residential Students experience campus beyond the classroom and live in Jester Dormitory during the program. As a Res Student, you’ll be fully immersed in academic life with endless opportunities to engage with friends on and off campus. Maybe one night you go to a Star Party at the Physics, Math and Astronomy Building (PMA), and the next you venture to Zilker Park for dog watching and frisbee. You won’t be bored!

Commuting Students dive into academic life by day while enjoying the comforts of home each night. As a Commuting Student, you’ll join friends on campus for classes each day and during the lunch break you can eat at J2 and even get in a quick workout session at the Gregory Gym. Many commuting students are from the Austin area while others travel to Austin and find housing with family and friends. UT Austin parking passes are available if you prefer to drive yourself.

Academics

Our non-credit courses highlight some of UT Austin’s most popular undergraduate degrees and Austin specialties. From the business of music festivals to careers in medicine, there’s a course for every aspiration. Full-Day Academies allow you to focus in one subject area throughout the program while Individual Courses let you pick and choose subjects that meet your unique passions. 

Students attend daily classes in classrooms and laboratories across the Forty Acres. You might even explore the city of Austin on field trips or engage with special guest speakers! Classes meet Monday–Thursday in the morning and afternoon.

All students receive a certificate of completion and campus grade letter upon program completion.

See our 2026 course offerings.

Schedule

Every day with Summer Discovery at UT Austin will be different, but here’s how you might spend your weekday:

8:00 a.m. – Hop out of bed and head downstairs to J2 for a quick breakfast taco or have your breakfast favorites made to order.
9:00 a.m. – Time for morning courses! Grab your laptop and stroll to Patton Hall with friends. 
11:00 a.m. – Stop by the Student Activity Center for sushi and a study break … or to just hang with friends over lunch. 
12:30 p.m. – Back to class and today we’re headed downtown to investigate native plants and invasive species in Lady Bird Lake. 
2:30 p.m. – After class it’s time to have fun with friends. Will you go to the Gregory Gym Pool Party or shop on South Congress?
6:00 p.m. – So many dinner options at J2. Our summer dining hub offers unlimited buffet-style meals and accommodates all dietary restrictions.
7:30 p.m. – Let’s head to Q2 Stadium for the Austin FC match!
10:30 p.m. – It’s time to unwind in the dorms with late night trivia before bed.   

Tuition

Tuition for Summer Discovery ranges from and varies based on session duration and whether you choose to commute or live on campus. Learn more about what’s included with tuition on the Summer Discovery site