Pioneer Academics
The Global Problem-Solving Institute
Go to The Global Problem-Solving Institute's website
Stories from students at Pioneer Academics
Overview of The Global Problem-Solving Institute
The Global Problem-Solving Institute is a virtual innovation lab where outstanding high-school students from across the globe collaborate to solve complex, wicked problems. It offers a unique opportunity to work individually and in teams and to engage with multiple university professors to synthesize systems-thinking principles, multi-disciplinary knowledge, and design-thinking methods to craft solutions. Students can earn two college credits from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill upon successful completion.
📍Location
Online
📅 Application deadlines
- Aug 25, 2025
Term Break: November 23-29 (U.S. Thanksgiving Holiday) Program dates are subject to change
💸 Costs & Aid
- 3,100 USD
- Includes the cost of two college credits from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill upon successful completion with a final grade of C- or higher. Reduced rates are available for teams through schools and non-profit organizations.
- Pioneer is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated need for admitted scholars whose financial need can be reliably verified.
Eligibility Requirements
📋 General Requirements
Academic excellence across multiple disciplines, intellectual curiosity and a sense of engagement with important issues, exceptional written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Applicants should be able to complete undergraduate-level coursework. Academic requirements include an unweighted GPA at or above 3.3 and a maximum of one single course semester or full-year grade at C across all high school academic history. English proficiency is required, with several ways to meet the minimum, including attending a school where English is the primary language of instruction, achieving a B+ or higher in two full years of English study (or A- in one year), or submitting qualifying standardized test scores (TOEFL 95+, IELTS 7.0+, SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing 600+, ACT English and Reading Subscores 28+, AP English Language and Composition 3+).
📚 Grade Requirements
High school students.
🌍 Eligible Countries
High school student of Worldwide🌎
Application Process
Requires an official transcript from your school, a teacher evaluation completed on your behalf, and a completed GPSI application which includes multiple short answer questions. These documents can be requested through the application portal. Applicants may only apply to one course per term.
📅 Spring
Duration
~3 months
Program Dates
Jan 25 - Apr 19
Application Deadlines
- Dec 8, 2024 — Open Enrollment
Open enrollment is available for students who apply independently, without being part of a school team or receiving a special invitation from Pioneer.
📅 Program dates are subject to change
Duration
~3 months
Program Dates
May 31 - Aug 23
Application Deadlines
- May 5, 2025 — Open Enrollment
Open enrollment is available for students who apply independently, without being part of a school team or receiving a special invitation from Pioneer.
📅 Term Break: November 23-29 (U.S. Thanksgiving Holiday) Program dates are subject to change
Duration
~3 months
Program Dates
Sep 13 - Dec 13
Application Deadlines
- Aug 25, 2025 — Open Enrollment
Open enrollment is available for students who apply independently, without being part of a school team or receiving a special invitation from Pioneer.