Applications open December 7, 2026 for Summer School 2027.
Summer School is the best way to experience what life at UWC ISAK Japan is really like. For 14 days, students aged 13 to 14 from more than 30 countries live together on our campus in Karuizawa, Japan. They learn, challenge each other, and discover what they are capable of when they step outside what is familiar.
This is not a typical summer program. It is an introduction to leadership as a daily practice, and it asks students to bring curiosity, honesty, and a willingness to sit with diverse ideas, cultures, and stories.
At Summer School we explore the core ideas of UWC ISAK Japan:
One Life.
Realize Your Potential.
Be a Catalyst for Positive Change.
The classroom at Summer School takes many forms. Sometimes it is around a table indoors. Sometimes it is on the grass, in the forest, or halfway up a mountain. Students have access to our full campus facilities and the natural environment that surrounds them.
Faculty-led courses challenge students to find new ways of thinking and expressing themselves. Students are introduced to concepts, skills, and ideas that deepen their understanding of themselves, their communities, and society.
Every student belongs to a small group that meets daily with two counselors. This is where students make meaning of what they are experiencing, deepen their connections with each other, and learn they do not have to navigate this experience alone.
Parts of Summer School are intentionally designed for students to lead and curate. They practice understanding the needs of their peers and taking the initiative to make an impact.
Curated spaces for students to learn new skills, develop hobbies, and join conversations they otherwise might not. Most are led by our team, with room for students to lead activities they are passionate about.
For many students, living away from home for 14 days with people they have never met is itself the most significant part of Summer School. Students eat together in the campus cafeteria, take part in daily cleaning routines, and spend evenings in shared spaces. They learn to share space with students from other parts of the world and encounter different ways of living.
Karuizawa’s mountains, forests, and waterfalls are not a backdrop. They are integral to Summer School. Time outdoors builds resilience, perspective, a kind of wonder no classroom can replicate, and a deeper connection with nature.
Beyond the diversity students bring with them, Summer School engages with the culture of the place itself: joining a local festival, meeting people working to preserve regional traditions, and visiting the farms around us.
Some of the best learning happens outside any schedule. These are the spaces where friendships deepen and conversations challenge and encourage growth. We intentionally leave blank space for students to create the experiences they need.
Some of what students remember
most never appears on a schedule.
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98.6% of students rated Summer School positively in 2025.
Here is what some of them said.
Each year, Summer School runs a set of courses designed around real-world themes. Below are the courses offered in 2025.
Summer School is the most direct way to experience UWC ISAK Japan’s approach to education before applying to the high school program. Attendance is not a prerequisite for admission, but many students find it changes how they think about what they want from their education.
Program dates – July 18 to July 31, 2027 (14 days)
Tuition – $3,850 USD / ¥600,000 JPY
Location – UWC ISAK Japan Campus, Karuizawa, Nagano
Language of instruction – English
Application period – December 7, 2026 to January 31, 2027
Age eligibility – 13 or 14 years old at the start of Summer School (born between July 2012 and June 2014). If your birthdate falls just outside this range, we encourage you to apply anyway.
Language – Summer School is conducted in English. A conversational level is sufficient. What matters most is your willingness to engage and challenge yourself.
Step 1
Check your eligibility
You are born between July 2012 and June 2014. If your birthdate is close to this range, we still encourage you to apply.
Step 2
Register on the application portal
Create your profile to begin the application.
Step 3
Wait for eligibility confirmation
Once your eligibility is approved, you will receive an email with a link to the full application form.
Step 4
Submit your application
Complete and submit by January 31, 2027. Apply as early as possible.
Step 5
Results
Decisions will be communicated by March 16, 2027 at 11:59 PM JST.
Applications open December 7, 2026 for Summer School 2027.
How do I know if I am eligible?
You must be 13 or 14 years old during Summer School, born between July 2012 and June 2014. If your birthdate falls just outside this range, apply and we will consider your case.
Is the application available in Japanese?
Applications must be completed in English.
What is the application deadline?
January 31, 2027.
I attended Winter School. Can I still apply?
Yes. Summer School builds on Winter School. In your application, tell us why you want to experience both.
I attended Summer School last year. Can I apply again?
Yes, but we give priority to first-time applicants to give as many students as possible the chance to participate.
I have applied to the Grade 10 high school program for 2027 entry. Can I also apply to Summer School?
No. Please do not create a separate Summer School application if you have already applied to the high school program.
What level of English is needed?
Summer School is conducted in English. You do not need to be fluent. A conversational level is fine, and your willingness to engage matters more than language ability alone.
How will my application be assessed?
Through a set of short written responses and a 2 to 3 minute video, both submitted via the application form.
Is there a quota per grade or nationality?
No. There are no fixed quotas. Selection is based on individual qualities and the overall diversity of the cohort, including age, nationality, gender identity, and personality.
Are there interviews?
No. Your 2 to 3 minute video introduction is your opportunity to show us who you are. Make the most of it.
Is there a waitlist?
Yes. Strong applicants who are not initially offered a place may be added to the waitlist and offered a place if one becomes available.
Is financial assistance available?
Yes. Submit a financial assistance form alongside your application. Assistance is available as full or partial scholarships, determined by demonstrated financial need. An interview with the applicant and guardians may be requested as part of the process.
Can my child attend part of the program only?
No. All students are expected to participate in the full program. Partial attendance is not possible.
Can parents visit during the program?
If you are in Japan, you are welcome to drop off or collect your child from campus, but entry to school buildings is not permitted during the program. We will send a daily newsletter and photographs, which will give you glimpses into your child’s experience.
How do students get to and from Summer School?
Transportation to and from Karuizawa is not included in the program fee. Students are responsible for arranging their own travel to Japan. We will assist with transport between Karuizawa Station and campus. A bus from Tokyo Narita Airport is also available to book closer to the program dates.
How are classes divided?
We aim for a balance of nationalities, genders, and personalities across classes.
What are the dormitories like?
Our residential buildings are townhouse-style, with rows of attached units, each with its own entrance. Faculty live in adjacent units with internal access to student units. Student units are single-sex, housing approximately 12 students each, in rooms shared by two or four. A communal living and seminar space in each unit gives students room to study and spend time together. During Summer School, counselors also live in the student units.
Can students have single rooms?
No. Rooms are shared by two or four students. Shared living is central to the Summer School experience.
What food is provided?
Can dietary needs be accommodated?
Students eat three meals a day in the campus cafeteria, included in the program fee. Our catering team has extensive experience with the dietary needs of international school communities and can accommodate vegetarian, religious, and medically necessary dietary requirements.
What happens if a student becomes ill or injured?
A full-time nurse is on campus during the day (08:30–18:30). Karuizawa Hospital is ten minutes away by car. Saku Central Hospital is 30 minutes away. A staff member will accompany any student who requires a hospital visit.
Can students use their phones during the program?
No. To support full engagement with the program and with each other, phones and other personal electronic devices are held by staff for the duration of Summer School and returned on departure.
Do students need to bring a laptop or tablet?
No. Devices are available on campus for students to contact family during the program.
Do students need spending money?
No. All activities are included in the program fee. There are no shopping excursions during Summer School.
When is payment due?
Tuition must be paid by April 1, 2027.
Under what circumstances might Summer School be cancelled?
Summer School may be cancelled in the event of a natural disaster, public health emergency, or other unforeseen circumstance that makes safe delivery of the program impossible. In such cases, tuition will be refunded in full.
What if a student needs to cancel?
Cancellations made by April 25, 2027 are eligible for a full refund. No refund is available for cancellations after this date. To cancel, please contact us by email.
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