DEEP Summer Academy

DEEP Summer Academy

DEEP Summer Academy is for high school students interested in learning about cutting-edge graduate-level research.

Applications Open

Round 1 applications close on March 23, 2025

When

Next season: July 7 – August 1, 2025
* See below for detailed schedule

Where

U of T’s St George Campus

Who

Grades 9–12

Program Fee

$725/week for domestic students

$1100/week for international students

Please note this is an application-based program, and an application fee applies. See the "How to Qualify and Apply" section below for more information.

Program Highlights

  • Gain hands-on experience working with real tools and equipment when exploring the knowledge frontier in STEM.

  • A collaborative and supportive learning environment, where attendees will work alongside other like-minded students and are encouraged to ask questions, take risks, and think creatively.

  • Led by graduate research students who have extensive experience in the STEM-fields, and are passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians.

  • Empowering students to see themselves as future STEM leaders and innovators.

  • fun and exciting atmosphere that encourages students to explore their passions, try new things, and build lasting friendships with others who share their interests.

Full Description

Organized by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, DEEP offers a diverse range of pre-university engineering and science courses.

The Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program (DEEP) is designed for highly motivated high school students with an aptitude for science and math. DEEP provides students from around the world with the opportunity for advanced study in a variety of engineering, technology, business, and science disciplines.

Since its inception in 2003, DEEP has brought together over 10,000 like-minded students to explore some of the most innovative topics in engineering and science today—taught by some of our faculty’s top alumni, PhD candidates, and Master’s and undergraduate students. The program is designed to expose bright young minds to concepts usually presented in the upper years of an undergraduate degree or in graduate school.

Get a head start on exploring your options for a university degree and career. Complement your current academic studies with this unique engineering experience.

 

Looking for more programs for high school students? Check out our CREATE: Engineering Design Challenges program. A discount on application fees is offered for students who apply to both DEEP and CREATE.

Program Details

Dates & Detailed Schedule

Summer 2025 Dates

Session A: July 7 - 11, 2025
Session B: July 14 - 18, 2025
Session C: July 21 - 25, 2025
Session D: July 28 - August 1, 2025


Schedule

Monday - Friday – 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM ET

Each course is one week long. Students accepted to the program are welcome to register for as many courses as they like, as long as the courses have space when they go to register.

How to Qualify and Apply

Eligibility

CREATE 2025 is open to students in Grades 9–12 (2024/2025 academic year). Applicants must have completed at least one year of high school.


Step 1: Fill Out Application Form and Pay Application Fee

  1. Click the ‘Apply Here’ button (available at the top or bottom of this page).
  2. Add the application to your cart and click continue.
  3. Complete the application questions, pay the application fees (see below), and submit.
  4. Be sure you receive a confirmation email after your submission- if you do not, please reach out to us.

Step 2: Submit Supplemental Documents

  1. Submit the following documents through Active:
    1. Report Card or Transcript

      • Provide most recent report card or transcript (within the past two years) showing a science course and a math course. We’re looking for students on track for undergraduate studies in STEM fields.
    2. Statement of Interest

      • Your statement (max 500 words) should answer these questions:
        • Why do you want to attend DEEP? What do you hope to gain from this experience?
        • How will learning about cutting-edge graduate-level research help you reach your goals?

Incomplete applications will not be evaluated. Application fees are non-refundable.


Step 3: Wait for Results

Applications are reviewed in rounds. You’ll hear back approximately two weeks after your round ends.

Application RoundsDatesFee
*Round 1 (Early Bird)Feb 25 – Mar 23, 2025$50
Round 2Mar 24 – April 13, 2025$60

*The application fee for this early-bird round is discounted to acknowledge that not all course information and schedule is available yet.

CREATE Discount

Applying to both DEEP and CREATE? You’ll get a discount on the second application:

  • Round 1: first application $50, second application $10
  • Rounds 2: first application $60, second application $15

Step 4: Course Selection for Admitted Students

Once accepted, you’ll receive instructions to select and register for courses.

  • Course registration also happens in rounds, with early applicants registering first.
  • Some courses may fill quickly and will be marked as “Full” on the course descriptions page.

Important: Only one course can be taken per week. A $135 non-refundable deposit is required to secure each course.


Key Dates for Course Payment

Your balance must be paid in full 30 days before your course start date. Unpaid registrations will be canceled after this deadline.


Waitlist Information

If a course is full, you can join the waitlist. You’ll be notified in order of registration if a spot opens up.

Need more info? Check the course descriptions and updates on this page for the latest details.

Fees

Course Fees

$725/week for domestic students
$1100/week for international students

Discounts:
Register for 4 weeks (any combination of DEEP and CREATE courses) and receive a $100 rebate. 
Register for 6 weeks (any combination of DEEP and CREATE courses) and receive a $150 rebate.


Application Fees

Please note students must apply and be accepted into the program in order to register for courses. There are fees associated with the application; please see the "How to Qualify and Apply" section for more details. 


Cancellation Policy

The DEEP application fee is non-refundable.

For students accepted into the program and registered for a course, a refund, less a $120 administrative fee, is available for cancellation requests received by 11:59 PM ET on the Sunday the week before (7 days before) the session start date. No refunds or credits will be issued after this point. Please note that this charge is to cover administrative processing fees. Thank you for your understanding!

For more details regarding cancellation deadlines, please refer to your confirmation email once you have completed the registration process.


Bursaries and Financial Aid

Our bursary program is currently on hold. If you are interested in hearing if bursaries become available in the future, please add your email to our Bursary Mailing List here.

Residence

We look forward to bringing back residence in 2025.

You can read more about our residence option on our Summer Residence Program page.

Please note: registration for residence closes on Friday, June 13, 2025.
Contact Us

Questions?

Do you have questions about DEEP?

Contact us at outreach@engineering.utoronto.ca

FAQ

Does DEEP qualify for a High school credit?
No, DEEP is not a credit-bearing program.


Can a student who has just finished grade 8, going into grade 9 in the fall of 2024, attend DEEP?
Our DEEP courses are for students who have completed at least one year of high school, so a student who has just completed grade 8 would not be eligible for this year’s program.


Do you have language requirements for international students?
Students are expected to be able to communicate and learn in English in our programs. Here are requirements for various language frameworks/tests:

  • CEFR: Upper B2 is the minimum, but we recommend C1
  • IELTS: 6.5 minimum, 7.5 recommended
  • TOEFL iBT: 79 minimum, 102 recommended
  • Duolingo: 105 minimum, 120 recommended

If a student is accepted into DEEP, can they enrol in CREATE courses (or vice versa)?
DEEP and CREATE have separate applications, so if a student is interested in both DEEP and CREATE they will need to complete an application for both programs.


Are lunches and snacks provided during DEEP courses?
No, students need to bring their own lunches, or buy their lunch on campus. Students are not supervised during the lunch period.


Do you offer financial assistance?
Our bursary program is currently on hold. If you are interested in hearing if bursaries become available in the future, please add your email to our Bursary Mailing List here.


When will I be able to choose classes?
Application evaluations happen after each round closes. If you are accepted during your round, you will be send a link to register for your courses. Please note, if you are accepted to the program in round 2 or round 3 it is possible some courses may be full (but you may add yourself to the waitlist for any full courses).


How many courses can I register for?
If you are accepted into the program, you can attend as many weeks of DEEP as you like. Please note you can only attend one course per week.


If I’m an international student, do I need a student visa to attend?
No, since this is not a credit bearing course you do not need a student visa.


Will residence be offered this year?
Yes! Please see our Summer Residence Program page for more information.


Is there an advantage to applying early?
Yes- if you apply early, you may be considered for multiple acceptance rounds.

Course Offerings

Courses for 2025 to be announced soon!

Course descriptions for 2025 have not yet been confirmed, but to see examples of courses offered in 2024 please see below. 

The application fee for Round 1 is discounted to acknowledge that not all course information is available yet.

Examples of Courses Offered in 2024

Applications Open

Round 1 applications close on March 23, 2025