The Advanced Academic Program (AAP) provides an opportunity for students to challenge themselves in an academic university setting during the summer months. Designed for high school students with a strong level of English, the Advanced Academic Program will immerse students in engaging projects and discussions using course material and activities typical of a Canadian educational institution.
During this 3-week all-inclusive program, students will be immersed in an English language environment at Canada’s top university and learn about, analyze, and explore a range of concepts related to the subject they are taking. The course will culminate with an independent research project and academic presentation. Students have mandatory morning and afternoon courses, and will participate in co-curricular evening activities and weekend excursions.
Courses
Duration (M-F)
Age
English Level
World Economics
3 weeks, Morning
15 - 18 yrs
Advanced+
Language & Literature
3 weeks, Morning
15 - 18 yrs
Advanced+
Law, Ethics & Society
3 weeks, Afternoon
15 - 18 yrs
Advanced+
Film & Cinema Studies
3 weeks, Afternoon
15 - 18 yrs
Advanced+
Critical Thinking in Statistics
3 weeks, Afternoon
15 - 18 yrs
Advanced+
Please note that the International Programs Office may change course offerings due to availability and your selected course may not be available. Please be prepared to select a second choice if your first choice is no longer available. If you have any concerns, please contact the International Programs Office at summeracademy@utoronto.ca.
World Economics
Course Length: 3 weeks
Classes: 15 hours/week
Minimum Level Required: Advanced+
In this course, students will apply fundamental economic concepts, such as scarcity, wealth, productivity, trade-offs and markets, to learn how our economic behaviour influences, and is influenced by, a globalized, interconnected world. Students will be encouraged to research and reflect upon how these concepts are understood in their own countries and to share their knowledge with their classmates.
Language & Literature
Course Length: 3 weeks
Classes: 15 hours/week
Minimum Level Required: Advanced+
What can the written word tell us about a culture? How does what we read and write influence us? Through class discussions and personal reflections, students will critically analyze a range of fiction (such as novels, short stories, or poetry), investigating its original social, cultural and historical contexts; they will then be encouraged to consider how their own cultures and life experiences affect how they interpret a text.
Film & Cinema Studies
Course Length: 3 weeks
Classes: 15 hours/week
Minimum Level Required: Advanced+
This course will explore how film communicates beyond words. Topics covered include genre traditions (sci-fi, horror, documentary, etc.), production techniques, and principles of visual composition. During in-class screenings and discussions, students will analyze the many ways in which filmmakers convey stories, ideas, emotions, and biases. For their major project, they will have the opportunity to try out some of these strategies for themselves.
LAW, ETHICS & SOCIETY
Course Length: 3 weeks
Classes: 15 hours/week
Minimum Level Required: Advanced+
How do we decide between right and wrong? Why do we need laws? What are our rights and obligations as citizens? This course challenges students to take on some of society’s toughest questions. Through case studies, group projects, guest speakers and field trips, students will learn the basic principles behind the Canadian legal system, exploring how it compares their own.
CRITICAL THINKING IN STATISTICS
Course Length: 3 weeks
Classes: 15 hours/week
Minimum Level Required: Advanced+
In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of mathematical statistics and data analysis, critically examining how statistical data is collected and used to model reality. Through individual work, class discussions, and group projects, students will also apply their analytical skills to explore cognitive bias, game theory, and decision-making.