The Brown Leadership Institute is a pre-college social justice leadership program run by Brown University's Pre-College Program. Students spend their days exploring complex social issues, practicing collaborative leadership, and developing an Action Plan they can bring back to their school or community.
Format options:
| Format | Length | Dates (2026) | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| On campus (residential) | 2 weeks | Jun 21–Jul 2 or Jul 12–24 | $6,052 |
| On campus (commuter) | 2 weeks | Jun 21–Jul 2 or Jul 12–24 | $4,748 |
| Online | 4 weeks | Jun 22–Jul 17 | $5,778 |
On-campus students live in Brown residence halls and eat in dining halls. Online students access coursework through Canvas, Brown's learning management system.
Course topics:
Students choose one course of study. Past courses have included:
- Women and Leadership
- Leadership and Social Justice
- Leadership and Intercultural Communication
- Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship
- Leadership, Law and Social Movements
- More than a Game: Leadership and Social Change in Sports
- Reimagining Leadership: Art and Social Change
What students build:
Each student develops an Action Plan — a concrete proposal for addressing a social issue in their school or community — by program's end. Examples are available at Brown's website.
Skills developed:
Active listening, public speaking, problem-solving, teamwork, and socially responsible leadership. Students work in diverse peer groups with an interdisciplinary academic focus.
Completion recognition:
All students who complete their course receive a Digital Certificate of Completion. Students in 2-week or longer courses also receive a Course Performance Report.
Financial aid:
Need-based Sibley Scholarships are available to US citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and DACA recipients. Brown explicitly does not offer any scholarship opportunities to international students. There are no merit scholarships.
International students:
International applicants are welcome. On-campus participants typically enter the US on a B-2 visitor visa or through the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA); Brown Pre-College does not sponsor F-1 or J-1 student visas, though Brown can provide a letter confirming program participation upon request. The online format has no visa requirement.