10 Engineering Winter Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in engineering, winter programs can be a worthwhile way to explore the field in great detail and build valuable skills. Winter programs provide you with practical experience through projects and lectures, helping you develop problem-solving and analytical skills. You also have the opportunity to work with and learn from professionals and experts, helping you start building a network. Winter programs usually have smaller cohorts than in the summer, allowing you to receive more personalized support from mentors.
Engineering programs in particular provide you opportunities to build robots, code applications, or design simple machines using software programs, electronics kits, or design platforms. Many programs also feature team-based challenges, problem-solving workshops, and capstone projects where participants showcase their final work. Some programs provide you with certificates of completion, which can improve your college or internship applications by showing your initiative and commitment to engineering.
To help you get started, we have put together 10 engineering winter programs for high school students.
1. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program type
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Varies depending on the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply here.
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI offers programs for high school students who are passionate about the field of AI and are looking for a suitable environment to explore their interests. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI Scholars program before joining the fellowship. The curriculum includes collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. The AI Fellowship program allows students to conduct independent AI research projects over 15 weeks, with an option to combine AI with any other field of interest. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
2. U.S. Department of the Treasury Student Internship Program
Location: Washington, DC
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Varies depending on the sessions; exact dates to be announced
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the sessions; exact dates to be announced.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled full-time at an accredited high school
The U.S Department of the Treasury Student Internship Program is designed for high school students interested in government, economics, public policy, law, or technology. In this program, you will gain hands-on experience working on real projects in areas like tax policy, economic research, cybersecurity, communications, and human resources. You’ll work on tasks such as analyzing data, creating reports, and attending meetings that help you gain insight into federal government operations. Along the way, you’ll also take part in mentoring sessions, career discussions, and skill-building activities to develop your communication, teamwork, and critical thinking.
3. Lumiere Research Scholars Program—Engineering Track
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type; full financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Varies depending on the cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort.
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school and demonstrates a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week intensive research experience designed for high school students interested in exploring academic research under expert mentorship. Through this program, you’ll be paired one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to ideate and complete an independent research project in a field of your choice. You can choose from a wide range of subjects, including engineering, physics, robotics, and computer science. By the end of the program, you’ll have produced a full-length research paper and gained valuable experience in academic writing, data analysis, and critical thinking skills that prepare you for future college-level research and scholarly work.
4. Sandia National Laboratories Internship Program
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, Livermore, California, and various locations across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Competitive pay provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Year-round internships available during academic terms (up to 25 hours a week)
Application Deadline: Internships are posted year-round with rolling deadlines
Eligibility: U.S. citizens at least 16 years old and enrolled as a full-time high school student; minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 (for high school students applying for Research and Development, Technical, or Business positions); more details here
The Sandia National Laboratories Internships program provides high school students with hands-on experience in science, engineering, and national security-related areas. You will work full-time on real projects and can also take advantage of year-round part-time internships that fit your school schedule. The program also offers co-op opportunities, allowing you to balance full-time work with school when required. You will be paired with mentors who guide you through research and development tasks in areas like cybersecurity, engineering design, software development, and energy. Beyond gaining practical experience, the program provides access to professional development workshops, networking events, and health services, helping you to build skills and connections that are valuable for college and future careers.
5. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs
Location: NASA centers across the country.
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Varies depending on the semester
Application Deadline: Summer: February 27 and Fall: May 22
Eligibility: U.S. citizen and full-time student, have a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), minimum age of 16 years at the time of application
The NASA OSTEM Internship Program allows high school students to work on exciting, cutting-edge projects in areas like software system design, algorithm optimization, and robotics. You develop practical skills that are important for a future in computer engineering. Interns collaborate closely with NASA engineers, getting insights into how real-world projects are planned and executed.
6. AI4ALL @ University of Washington
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly Competitive
Dates: September 8 – January 26
Application Deadline: July 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and college freshmen from underrepresented backgrounds
AI4ALL at the University of Washington is a program for high school students worldwide, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, interested in data science and machine learning. You will be part of beginner-friendly lessons, work on practical coding exercises, and join small group discussions led by faculty and researchers from the University of Washington. You’ll gain hands-on experience in programming and data analysis, learn to think critically about AI, and explore society's impact on technology. The course also emphasizes fairness and reducing bias in AI, helping you understand how your work in technology can make a difference. By the end of the program, you will gain stronger technical skills and a clear sense of how AI can impact your future studies and career.
7. PRIMES-USA AT MIT
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Runs year-round
Application Deadline: November 18
Eligibility: Current High school juniors and seniors residing in the United States outside the Greater Boston area.
The PRIMES-USA program offers high school students who are passionate about mathematics and eager to explore it at a deeper level. You will start with guided exercises to practice mathematical reading and writing, preparing you for research. Students work 1-on-1 or in small groups with mentors who guide them through challenging problems, provide feedback, and support their projects. You’ll then choose research topics based on your interests and work on open problems, developing original solutions and writing your own research paper. The program also helps you grow academically and professionally by teaching you to explain your work clearly, think critically, and gain experience that prepares you for future studies in mathematics and other STEM fields.
8. Fundamental Skills in Engineering Design – University of Leeds (FutureLearn)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free to access.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: 2-week self-paced course where you can devote 3 hrs/week
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: High school students
Fundamental Skills in Engineering Design is a 2-week FutureLearn program offered by the University of Leeds. Throughout the program, you will learn how to define design problems, explore product life cycles, and apply conceptual design techniques using real-world examples like solar trackers. You will also develop important skills such as abstraction, problem-solving, and teamwork through short lectures, quizzes, discussions, and a final assessment, with guidance and feedback from instructors. Students who choose the paid track and complete the course can earn a certificate to showcase their learning.
9. Carnegie Mellon OLI Engineering Courses
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free to audit; small fee of $25 per course taken for credit or certificate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not competitive
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: High school students with foundational math/science knowledge
The Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) offers self-paced engineering programs such as Statics, Circuits, and Environmental Technology. Throughout the program, you’ll engage in interactive lessons, virtual labs, simulations, and real-world problem-solving exercises that mirror college-level coursework. Each course is designed to strengthen your analytical and quantitative reasoning while guiding you to apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios. You’ll also learn about topics such as mechatronics, structural analysis, and electric vehicle systems.
10. Cornell Precollege Program
Location: Cornell's Ithaca Campus(Both online and in-person opportunities are available)
Cost: $1,940/credit hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not competitive
Dates: January 2 – 17
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Varies depending on the program
Cornell University School of Continuing Education (SCE) offers winter, summer, and fall courses that allow high school students to earn academic credits before the spring semester. The program covers a wide range of topics, including applied economics, art, cognitive science, communication, engineering, and medicine. You will learn through college-style lectures, assignments, and assessments, gaining skills in data interpretation, economic modeling, design thinking, scientific writing, or public speaking. You’ll also get hands-on experience with field-specific tools, including statistical software, design platforms, and lab simulations.
Image Source - NASA logo