The University sponsors a formal program of summer study for Brown students. Among the many advantages offered by summer courses at Brown are: the luxury of small classes with some of Brown's best faculty and expert visiting faculty; a curriculum that includes innovative courses presently available only in the Summer Session; the opportunity to devote concentrated attention to one subject; and the availability of small sections of courses that are typically over-enrolled during the academic year.

In addition, Brown undergraduates can find summer courses helpful to either maintain progress towards their degree or to accelerate their degrees by earning a maximum of four summer or winter credits at Brown (no more than 2 summer in any given session). Effective 2025, Brown summer and winter courses DO earn enrollment units and can be used to satisfy the minimum 32 enrollment unit requirement. They do not, however, advance a students semester standing which is used for course registration timing/restrictions, housing, etc..

Summer courses are equivalent to courses offered at Brown during the fall and spring semesters. They are intensive, meeting a minimum of seven hours per week. Courses carry full credit for undergraduates enrolled at Brown, and as many as four of these courses may count toward the baccalaureate degree. No more than 2 courses can be earned in any given summer whether done at Brown or through transfer study. NOTE: Brown-RISD Students can enroll in summer courses but they do not count towards minimum degree requirements. 

Similar to the 7 week Brown summer session mentioned above, the Winter Session is a further compressed academic experience available to Brown students. Courses carry full credit for undergraduates enrolled at Brown (maximum one per session), and as many as four of these courses may count toward the baccalaureate degree on their own or when combined with Brown summer session classes (cannot exceed 4 altogether).  There is no provision to transfer winter courses from elsewhere. Effective July 2025, the same regulation regarding Brown summer courses in that they DO count towards the enrollment unit requirement holds for Brown Winter session courses yet do not advance semester standing for other purposes.

NOTE: Brown-RISD Dual degree students can enroll in Brown winter courses but they do not count towards minimum degree requirements.