10 Free Biomedical Engineering Programs for High School Students
For high school students considering a future in biomedical engineering, summer programs provide a valuable opportunity to gain early exposure to the field. These programs equip you with real-world skills, introduce you to laboratory research, and facilitate connections with mentors—often at no cost.
Many of these programs are hosted by top-tier universities and institutions, with several being fully funded or offering stipends, thereby increasing accessibility for students from diverse backgrounds. Whether you're looking to strengthen your academic profile, explore a potential college major, or simply experience hands-on learning, these 10 free biomedical engineering programs provide a good starting point.
1. The Immersive Summer Program for Education, Enrichment, and Distinction (ISPEED) in Biomedical Engineering
Location: John Hopkins Biomedical Engineering, Baltimore, MD.
Cost: Free!
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective.
Application Deadline: February 28.
Dates: June 30 - July 25.
Eligibility: High-school sophomores or juniors (10th or 11th grades) are eligible to apply. Applicants must be at least 15 years of age on move-in day and not yet 18 years of age on the last day of the program.
The ISPEED program at Johns Hopkins University offers a project-based, hands-on introduction to biomedical engineering. Over four weeks, you will live on campus, earn college credit, and explore advanced topics such as cell and tissue engineering, healthcare design, and machine learning. You will engage in lab work, research projects, and presentations while collaborating with peers from across the country. The program also includes career exploration, lab tours, college readiness workshops, and seminars led by faculty and industry experts.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world are eligible to apply. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions about the student's background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
Founded by Harvard graduate students, Veritas AI offers several programs for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars Program introduces you to the fundamentals of AI, machine learning, and data science through a structured 10-session boot camp, culminating in real-world project work. For more advanced learners, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase allows students to work one-on-one with mentors from leading universities on individual AI research projects. The program includes support from an in-house publication team to help students publish their work in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS)
Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA.
Cost: Free!
Acceptance Rate: Selective.
Application Deadline: March 31.
Dates: July 1 - August 15.
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years of age by the start of the program are eligible to apply. Applicants must be residing in one of the following cities or towns in MA—Medford, Somerville, Arlington, Cambridge, Malden, Everett, Melrose, Revere, Chelsea, Winchester, Boston, and Quincy.
TUBERS is a six-week research program that allows you to conduct original research in Tufts’ biomedical engineering labs. Working alongside faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates, you will learn how to design experiments, test hypotheses, and apply advanced techniques to real-world problems. The program culminates in a formal presentation to peers, parents, and educators, and students are encouraged to submit their work to science fairs and competitions. This experience provides a rigorous introduction to scientific research in a university setting.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - Biomedical Engineering Track
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year. Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Eligibility: Current high school students demonstrating a high level of academic achievement are eligible to apply. (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4). No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a highly selective research opportunity for motivated high school students. Over a 12-week period, you will work one-on-one with Ph.D. mentors to develop an independent research project and complete a full-length academic paper. While not limited to biomedical engineering, the program offers options in engineering, chemistry, biology, and related fields. Lumiere emphasizes academic depth, personalized mentorship, and the development of analytical skills. More information and application details can be found here.
5. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program - Bioengineering Track
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee, that can be waived. All students receive a minimum $500 stipend.
Cohort Size: 50.
Application Deadline: Not specified.
Dates: June 9 - July 31.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors in the Fall who are at least 16 years old or older by the program start date are eligible to apply.
SIMR is a prestigious eight-week research internship for high school juniors and seniors, hosted by Stanford University. You will work in Stanford research labs and receive one-on-one mentorship in areas such as bioengineering, cancer biology, and neuroscience. The program also features a Bioengineering Team Internship, where you will collaborate to design and prototype medical devices using technologies like 3D printing, circuit design, and machine learning. The program concludes with a public research poster session.
6. Columbia Engineering's Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE) - Biomedical Engineering Track
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY.
Cost: Commuter: $5,875 | Residential: $10,705. Need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance Rate: 25 per class.
Application Deadline: March 3.
Dates: Session I: July 7 - July 25 | Session II: July 28 - August 15.
Eligibility: Current high school students are eligible to apply. Students who are 16 years and older are eligible to apply for the residential option as well.
SHAPE is a three-week academic program hosted by Columbia University, offering high school students an intensive introduction to biomedical engineering. You will explore medical technologies and innovations through hands-on projects and coursework led by Columbia faculty. Key focus areas include biomechanics, medical imaging, and bioinstrumentation. You will work with tools such as 3D printers and laser engravers to design and prototype biomedical devices, all while building critical problem-solving and design skills.
7. RISER Summer Program
Location: Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ.
Cost: Free!
Acceptance Rate: Selective.
Application Deadline: May 16.
Dates: June 23 - August 1.
Eligibility: High school rising seniors residing in or attending high school in South Jersey are eligible to apply.
The Research Immersion in Biomedical Science and Engineering (RISER) program is a six-week, non-residential research opportunity for rising high school seniors in South Jersey. You will be placed in Rowan University labs, either in biomedical engineering or biomedical sciences, and work under the mentorship of university faculty. You will explore research topics aligned with your lab placement and present your findings at a closing symposium. The program is held at Rowan’s Glassboro, Camden, or Stratford campuses.
8. Duke Research in Engineering Program (DukeREP)
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC.
Cost / Stipend: No cost. Students receive a stipend.
Acceptance Rate: Selective.
Application Deadline: February 16.
Dates: June 16 – August 1.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years or older are eligible to apply.
Hosted by Duke University’s Biomedical Engineering Department, DukeREP is a seven-week summer program designed to introduce high school students to academic research in engineering. You will be integrated into active research labs and contribute to ongoing biomedical engineering projects. In addition to lab work, the program includes weekly seminars, college and career advising, and social events. DukeREP places a strong emphasis on increasing diversity in STEM, and encourages applications from underrepresented backgrounds.
9. BIOMED Summer Academy
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.
Cost: $1,500. Need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance Rate: Selective.
Application Deadline: Rolling basis starting from January 1.
Dates: Session I: July 7– July 11 | Session II: July 14– July 18 | Session III: July 21– July 25 | Session IV: July 28–August 1.
Eligibility: Rising 11-12 graders residing in the Philadelphia area and beyond are eligible to apply.
Drexel University’s BIOMED Summer Academy is a one-week, hands-on program that introduces high school students to the fundamentals of biomedical engineering. You will gain experience with basic lab techniques and explore how biomedical engineers develop innovative healthcare solutions. The curriculum includes seminars, guest lectures, and site visits, giving students broad exposure to the field. Topics range from prosthetics to medical imaging to biotech research.
10. Boston Leadership Institute - Biomedical Engineering Program
Location: Boston Leadership Institute, Wellesley, MA.
Cost: Three-Week Tuition: $2500 | Three-Week Residential Fee: $2097. Need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance Rate: Selective.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Dates: Session 1: June 23 – July 11 | Session 2: July 14 – August 1.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply.
This program offers a deep dive into the science behind medical technologies through research, lab work, and design challenges. You will gain experience in areas such as 3D modeling, DNA analysis, and device prototyping. You will also explore the societal and ethical implications of biotechnology. The program concludes with a team-based final project in which you will present an original medical innovation supported by scientific evidence.