Frequently Asked Questions
Program Information
When and where is the Wolfram Summer Research Institute held?
The Wolfram Summer Research Institute will run from June 28 to July 18, 2026. Before the official program start date, from June 22 to 26, 2026, there is a virtual Week Zero designed to help students prepare for the demands of the program. Depending on their track, students may be expected to complete pre-program coursework, join synchronous meetings or begin project discussions.
The Summer Research Institute will be held in person at Bentley University in Waltham, MA, US. The program is an immersive experience, and participants can expect to be engaged in program activities, including instruction, project work and community activities, seven days a week.
Applications for 2026 are now open. Apply today or join the mailing list to be among the first to be notified when future application cycles open!
How much does the Summer Research Institute cost?
The cost of the program is $4,000 (USD), which includes a $500 non-refundable deposit. After acceptance, students reserve their spot in the program by paying the deposit. Remaining program fees can be paid in installments and must be paid in full (minus any scholarship awards) by June 15, 2026.
The program fee includes three weeks of dormitory accommodation on the Bentley University campus. It also includes a meal plan at the Bentley University dining hall for three meals per day, seven days per week for the duration of the program. (Special dietary restrictions and requests must be sent in advance, no later than May 15, 2026.) All relevant technical and facility fees for the duration of the program are included in the program fee.
Transportation to and from Bentley University is not included or provided.
Is financial support available?
We offer a limited number of scholarships that can cover up to 100% of the program fee. Scholarships can be requested at any point during the application process but will not be reviewed until after acceptance decisions are sent. We do not offer any financial aid to cover transportation to and from the program.
Scholarships are awarded based on a combination of demonstrated financial need and how students plan to use what they learn in the program. We offer very few scholarships each year (and full scholarships are even rarer) and typically reserve them for applicants with strong Wolfram Language (Mathematica) experience. Our goal is to make sure that the limited funds are allocated to applicants who will benefit most from the opportunity—those who will contribute meaningfully to the program and carry the experience forward into the broader Wolfram ecosystem.
What is the cancellation policy?
Students who need to cancel their registration for the Wolfram Summer Research Institute must submit their cancellation request in writing no later than 5pm US Central Time on Friday, June 12, 2026. A $500 (USD) non-refundable deposit is required to secure a student’s place in the program. Cancellation requests received by the deadline will be eligible for a refund, minus the deposit. Cancellations submitted after the deadline will not be eligible for a refund. Exceptions may be considered in cases of documented emergencies at the discretion of the program administration.
Do you provide assistance or special accommodations?
Individuals needing assistance or special accommodations to fully participate in the program should make their needs known, in writing, by May 15, 2026.
Eligibility and Admissions
How old do I have to be to attend?
Students must be 18 years or older before June 27, 2026.
Students who will not yet be 18 during the program, even if they have already graduated from high school or their country’s equivalent, should consider the Wolfram High School Summer Research Program.
Who should attend the Wolfram Summer Research Institute?
We welcome participants from all stages of life—current students (undergraduate, graduate or trade school), active researchers, professionals at any point in their career, entrepreneurs or those who are retired and want to continue learning and pursuing meaningful projects. Although many of our participants are graduate students and postgraduate researchers, we look for anyone who is curious, motivated and eager to think deeply about computational questions. Prior research experience is not required. What matters most is an interest in exploring ideas, asking meaningful questions and working toward answers through computation.
Many advanced projects require prior experience with Wolfram Language, but students who are newer to the language can build a strong foundation through preparatory coursework and support from mentors and teaching assistants. The program environment is intense and fast paced, so we seek applicants who are ready to commit to completing a high-level project within the short time frame.
We actively seek a community of participants with a wide range of perspectives from different parts of the world, academic disciplines and life experiences. Our goal is to bring together people who will engage fully with the opportunity by contributing to the program community, learning from peers and mentors and carrying their experience forward into the broader Wolfram ecosystem, the scientific and technical communities and the world at large.
How does the pre-program training work?
All participants in the Wolfram Summer Research Institute will be expected to attend at least part of the Wolfram Language Programming Proficiency course series before the program begins. Participants who have completed this course series or similar courses from Wolfram U before, or who have a Level 1 or 2 Certification of Proficiency in Wolfram Language, may submit documentation of their proficiency in lieu of attending these courses.
While we strongly recommend that all participants in WSRI take all three courses in this series, the courses can be done separately.
• Participants in the Philosophy & Strategy and Educational Innovation tracks must complete the first course in the series, Wolfram Language Programming Fundamentals.
• Participants in the Ruliology & Pure Computation Track must complete the first two courses, Programming Fundamentals and Practical Programming with Wolfram Language.
• Participants in the Applications of Computation track must complete all three courses in the series.
• Participants in the Foundational Science track are generally required to have at least an intermediate-level knowledge (the equivalent of the first two courses from the Programming Proficiency series) of Wolfram Language to be eligible for consideration for this track.
The Programming Proficiency series will meet once a week during the first three weeks of June. Enrolling for the full series also provides an invitation to special office hours sessions with the instructors. This course series is also being offered in March, and is a good option for strengthening your application to the program.
The Programming Proficiency series provides an excellent foundation for a successful project at WSRI, but is intended for participants with at least introductory-level skill in any programming language. For participants without programming experience, we recommend the Wolfram Language Crash Course series.
Who should attend the Wolfram High School Summer Research Program instead?
The Wolfram Summer Research Institute is only able to accept students who will turn 18 years old before the program start date.
Students who will not yet be 18 during the program, even if they have already graduated from high school or their country’s equivalent, should consider the Wolfram High School Summer Research Program, which accepts students aged 14 to 17. Younger girls and gender-nonconforming students should consider the Wolfram Middle School Summer Camp.
International Participants
Do you accept students from outside the United States?
Yes, we welcome international participants. All Wolfram Summer Research Institute participants from outside the US are responsible for securing any necessary visas or other documentation before attending. Please be advised that Wolfram Research cannot intervene with any US Embassy abroad or within the US Department of State on behalf of any Summer Research Institute student.
Participants in the Wolfram Summer Research Institute should apply for a visitor (B-1 or combination B-1/B-2) visa. For further information, please refer to the US State Department website for information about visitor visas or FAQs.
What language is used at the Summer Research Institute?
All aspects of the program, including lectures, workshops, discussions and project meetings, are conducted in English. To succeed in this intensive, collaborative environment, participants must be comfortable reading, writing and speaking English with fluency.
Program Experience
What is involved in doing a project at the Summer Research Institute?
Projects are the heart of the Wolfram Summer Research Institute. Each project is designed to explore a research question, solve a problem or investigate an area of study in depth. Students work closely with mentors to design and carry out computational experiments using Wolfram Language, gaining hands-on experience with computational thinking while developing programming skills. The program emphasizes independent inquiry, experimentation and creativity.
How are the projects at the Summer Research Institute chosen?
Projects are designed to align with each student’s interests, skills and goals. Students can select or adapt an idea from a curated list or bring their own project ideas to propose. Project selection is collaborative, and the best projects combine the student’s creative vision with guidance from Stephen Wolfram, balancing the student’s goals with the program’s vision for impactful computational research.
What do students create during the program?
While the exact details of a project can vary depending on the project type and scope, students can expect to create an interactive notebook and publish a final report on Wolfram Community. Some students develop interactive applications, some run computational experiments, some develop content or materials for others to use, and some focus on producing an essay. In addition to the final report, students give a short presentation of their work to their fellow students and program staff and create a poster to display during our short poster session.
See the Program page for more information about projects.
What is Stephen Wolfram’s involvement in the Summer Research Institute?
The program is set up so that every student has an opportunity to interact with Stephen Wolfram. Stephen leads the project selection meetings and offers ongoing suggestions about projects. He tries to meet with as many students as possible during the program individually or in small groups, gives talks or does Q&A sessions on strategic topics and attends the final presentations.
What is the program schedule like?
Students will receive the program calendar before arrival. The schedule includes a few required activities but is designed to be flexible to accommodate the diverse personalities, working styles and project needs of the Wolfram Summer Research Institute community.
Throughout the program, the schedule includes lectures from mentors, teaching assistants and guest speakers. While some broadly applicable lectures are required for all students, most of them are optional, and attendance can be decided according to each student’s project needs. Optional social activities, Q&A sessions with Stephen Wolfram, panel discussions and other academic or community events round out the experience.
Most of the schedule is intentionally unscripted to allow students to devote significant time to their projects, whether individually, in meetings with mentors or in collaboration with peers. Many participants find that the informal conversations and connections built during this unstructured time are some of the most lasting and valuable parts of the program.
Meals are served at standard times in the Bentley University cafeteria, and students may come and go as needed within those hours. While students are expected to treat the program as their primary focus, they are also free to use personal time to recharge, whether that means taking a walk, relaxing with peers or even spending a day in nearby Boston. Ultimately, students are encouraged to shape their experience in the way that best supports their project goals and personal growth.
The Wolfram Summer Research Institute is a full-time commitment. It is not possible to balance employment, coursework or other major responsibilities alongside this program and still expect success. Students should plan to fully dedicate themselves to the program. Trying to split your focus will undermine both the program experience and external obligations. Any potential conflicts should be discussed with the program director before confirming participation.
See the Program page for an overview of the program schedule and a sample daily schedule.
What is living and working on campus like?
The program is fully in person and based on campus at Bentley University. We live in the university apartments, eat in the dining hall and work together in classrooms. Each apartment houses one to three other participants and includes a shared bathroom, living room and small kitchenette. Each student has their own bedroom.
The Bentley dining hall accommodates a wide range of dietary needs, and special meals for strict dietary requirements can be arranged. All requests must be submitted to the program director by May 15, 2026.
Admitted students will receive a packing list and campus information before arrival. Every participant must bring a reliable, Wi-Fi-enabled laptop that meets the system requirements to run Wolfram|One. All necessary software licenses for computation and collaboration are provided.
The program operates under a clear code of conduct designed not just for safety but to ensure that every participant has a meaningful, productive and enjoyable experience.
Because the Summer Research Institute is designed as an immersive, residential experience, we are not able to accommodate remote or commuting students. Participation requires being fully present and engaged on campus.
After the Program
What opportunities are available after completing the Wolfram Summer Research Institute?
Many participants continue to build on their projects after the program, either independently or in collaboration with their mentor or the Wolfram Institute for Computational Foundations of Science. Projects may be developed further for publication in academic journals and conference presentations or applied in professional or educational settings. Graduates bring new computational perspectives as well as new systems, methods, applications and programs to their colleagues, students and workplaces.
Past Summer Research Institute participants have continued their research in fundamental physics, metamathematics and ruliology as affiliates of the Wolfram Institute. Talented attendees have been offered positions at Wolfram companies; in fact, nearly all current program mentors and teaching assistants were once Summer Research Institute students themselves.
Program graduates may also be invited to join or work for one of our other educational programs. The Wolfram Emerging Leaders Program allows undergraduate students to pursue longer-term research projects with expert mentorship. The Wolfram Student Ambassador Initiative supports students in creating content or running computation-focused events. The Wolfram Middle School Summer Camp and High School Summer Research Program often recruit program graduates to join as mentors.
How can I join the staff team?
If you are interested in serving as a mentor or teaching assistant, please contact school-admin@wolfram.com. Mentors are expected to have strong experience with Wolfram Language, expertise in a STEM-related field and experience guiding research projects. Teaching assistants help students with technical questions and coding, support the preparation of final reports, assist with program events and activities and may give lectures on topics within their area of expertise.
Want to learn more?
Contact us at summer@wolfram.com.