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Tufts Summit: High School Study Abroad

What is the Tufts Summit Program?

The Tufts Summit program, established in 1993, is 4-week pre-college summer program designed to offer a select group of rising high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to study abroad and take college-level courses in an extraordinary environment for learning and growth.

 Tufts Summit students take two non-credit courses: International Relations in a Changing World and La Langue et La Culture Française. Both are taught by instructors who bring enthusiasm, experience, and extensive knowledge of their individual fields into the classroom.  Classes are complemented by excursions to relevant sites in Geneva and the surrounding region, to give students a real and experiential component to their learning.

Students live with carefully selected French host families, most often with another Summit student. The host family accommodation provides endless opportunities to improve French language skills and deepen their understanding of French culture. Group activities give students a chance to connect with each other and with the beautiful region around Talloires. An experienced team of Tufts staff is on-site full-time to support students with all aspects of their Tufts Summit experience.

Tufts Summit is considered an enrichment program, highly academic in nature but without offering college credit. Students are expected to keep up with readings and assignments.

A Day in the Life of a Summit Student!

While each day will offer you new and unique experiences, the program includes a regular daily schedule of classes and activities:

Each weekday, you will

  • Walk or use public transport to come to the European Center in Talloires
  • Spend the morning in your two classes
  • Enjoy a lunch break with your fellow ‘Summit-ers’
  • Spend the afternoon in an academic workshop, IR simulation, cultural activity or on a hike!
  • Return to your Host Family home for dinner and an evening “en famille!”

Wednesdays are reserved for full day excursions to class-related sites.

Weekends are for resting, spending time with your host family, exploring Talloires and Annecy, and connecting with your Summit friends and classmates.

Tufts Summit Courses

International Relations in a Changing World 

This course, taught in English, is designed to examine competing answers to the fundamental questions challenging analysts of international affairs, such as:  What should provide the basis of world order: power, or law?  Under what conditions is it legitimate to use military force in foreign policy?  Is there a global obligation to protect human rights in sovereign states?  More than a tête-à-tête about current events, this introductory college preparatory course will give students, regardless of academic background, the theoretical frameworks to think critically and speak intelligently about international issues, diplomacy and conflict resolution.  

La Langue et la Culture Française 

This interactive French language course helps students expand their vocabulary and develop new ways to express themselves and support their opinions. Emphasizing listening comprehension and speaking, as well as colloquial French usage, expressions, and pronunciation, our Tufts Summit French course aids students in achieving linguistic proficiency and enhances their cultural integration. Classes and small group discussions are conducted in French. French language instruction is enhanced by living with a local host family. Our French language instructors are native French speakers with extensive experience teaching at the secondary school level. 

Sample Activities and Excursions

In addition to your classes, the Tufts Summit Program includes group activities that let you take advantage of the rich and exciting area around Talloires! These activities might include: 

  • A tour of the nearby Château de Menthon! This medieval castle looming over Lake Annecy is rumored to have inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty’s castle; 
  • A group hike up the Roc de Chère, a nature reserve in Talloires that offers beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding mountains; 
  • A class trip to the nearby city of Chambéry to explore the farmer’s market at the Marché des Halles, visit the Château des Ducs de Savoie, learn about La Fontaine des Éléphants, and enjoy the Musée Savoisien; 
  • An excursion to the Bauges Mountains to explore rural life in the area around Talloires – including a visit to a local fromagerie to see how cheese is made; 
  • A group activity around sustainability and climate change called the Fresque du Climate; 
  • A walking tour of the historic center of Geneva, followed by a visit to the Museum of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent and the United Nations Palais des Nations; 
  • A chance to learn how to play pétanque with French locals. 

Please note: These activities and excursions are based on previous programs and may be adjusted to accommodate local conditions and participant feedback.  

FAQs for Students 

What Tufts Summit Alumni Are Saying

“The Tufts Summit Program has been one of the best experiences of my life thus far, and I greatly appreciated the opportunity to learn more about international relations as well as constantly and consistently improve my French. It was certainly challenging, both from a standpoint of academics (writing a research paper, participating in debates) and social experiences (living with a host family, being a temporary member of a community in a different country) but so rewarding! It’s not something I’ll forget in a hurry.“

Elinor P., Tufts Summit Alumna ‘24

Before You Apply

We feel that it is very important that you consult our Preparing to Go pages before you apply to study at the Tufts European Center in Talloires.  Living in another country and navigating a new culture are wonderful experiences but not without challenges. Understanding this ahead of time will help you make an informed decision about applying to and participating in the program. There are also many important practical aspects to consider before you apply including finances, visa status, etc. 

The Tufts Summit Program is open to applications from all students who meet the following criteria: 

  • Students must be rising high school juniors or seniors (having completed a minimum of two years of high school) 
  • Students must have completed a minimum of two years of formal French instruction