12 Fully Funded Summer Programs for International High School Students
If you are an international high school student, fully funded summer programs can provide access to academic, research, and cultural experiences that may otherwise be difficult to access. Depending on the program, you may conduct scientific research, study topics such as public policy or technology, participate in leadership workshops, or collaborate with students from different countries in university or virtual settings. These programs can also help you explore academic interests, develop new skills, and gain experience working in diverse learning environments.
Why should you attend a summer program as an international student?
Many fully funded programs are hosted by universities, nonprofit organizations, and government initiatives such as MIT, Purdue University, Rockefeller University, and the U.S. Department of State. Through these opportunities, you may work on research projects, attend seminars and workshops, participate in cultural exchange activities, or receive mentorship from faculty and professionals across different fields. Whether you are interested in STEM, public policy, leadership, or interdisciplinary research, these programs offer different ways to pursue those interests without the cost typically associated with pre-college summer programs.
Most fully-funded summer programs accept fewer than 10% of applicants. If you're building your application, independent research with a mentor is one of the strongest differentiators you can add to your profile. See how Veritas AI's research mentorship works here.
To help with your search, here are 12 fully funded summer programs for international high school students.
If you’re looking for online tech summer programs open to international students, check out our blog here.
A note on funding: All programs on this list cover core participation costs for international students. What "fully funded" includes varies — some cover tuition and housing only; others include flights, meals, and a stipend. Check each program's "What's covered" section below or the official program page for exact details.
Top picks
Most selective: MIT RSI, Rockefeller SSRP (32 spots), Clark Scholars (12 spots)
Best remote: Veritas AI, Lumiere Foundation, Kode with Klossy
Best for AI/CS: Veritas AI, Kode with Klossy, Girls Who Code SIP
Best for civic leadership: TASS, Youth Ambassadors, Purdue Ben Franklin
Key Takeaways
Application timeline: Earliest deadlines are in December (MIT RSI, Clark Scholars) and January (Rockefeller SSRP) — start preparing essays and recommendations in October
Visa notes: Most in-person U.S. programs require a J-1 exchange visitor visa for international participants. TechGirls, Youth Ambassadors, Purdue Ben Franklin, and NYSC arrange visas once accepted. Virtual programs (Veritas AI, Lumiere, Kode with Klossy, Girls Who Code) require no visa
Most selective: MIT RSI (highly competitive, ~100 spots globally), Rockefeller SSRP (32 spots), Clark Scholars (12 spots)
Recommended prep: Have a teacher recommendation, personal statement, and unofficial transcript ready before applying. Competitive programs like RSI and SSRP expect strong STEM coursework and prior independent work
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
What’s covered: Tuition, housing, meals, and program materials
Selectivity: Highly competitive; approximately 100 students selected each year globally
Program dates: Six weeks during the summer.
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors. Each participating country also has its own selection procedure and selection schedule.
At the Research Science Institute (RSI), highly motivated students join a select international group for a six-week STEM program held at MIT. The first week includes advanced coursework in subjects such as biology and mathematics, followed by a five-week mentored research project. You’ll review scientific literature, design and execute your own experiment or research model, and present your findings through a formal report and oral presentation. Through this prestigious programs, you'll have access to MIT labs and attend evening talks by scientists. Admission is highly competitive and fully funded, making it one of the most intensive pre-college research programs available.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
What’s covered: Full financial aid available — covers program tuition
Selectivity: Selective
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students looking to get started in AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and have the opportunity to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students have the opportunity to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. Telluride Association - Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and University of Maryland, College Park, MD
What’s covered: Tuition, housing, meals, and travel to/from campus
Selectivity: Highly competitive; small cohort of approximately 30–40 students per site
Program dates: June 21 – July 25
Application deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors, aged 15–18 years old. Preference is given to Black, Indigenous, and underrepresented communities.
Through the Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS), students from around the world can spend six weeks on a U.S. college campus, engaging in intensive daily seminars focused on themes such as Critical Black Studies or Anti-Oppressive Studies. These seminars involve extensive reading, essay writing, media analysis, lectures, and faculty-led group discussions, while also encouraging you to critically examine systems of power and inequality. This fully covered six-week fellowship focuses on community building through a student-run, democratic environment in which decisions are made collectively. You’ll also take part in public speaking sessions, volunteer work, and guest lectures.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
What’s covered: Full program tuition covered
Selectivity: Selective
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall, and you must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. You can apply here!
5. U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs - TechGirls
Location: Various locations across the United States
What’s covered: Flights, housing, meals, and program costs
Selectivity: Competitive; open to 37 eligible countries only
Program dates: July 12 – August 3
Application deadline: December 6
Eligibility: High school girls between the ages of 15 and 17 at the start of the program. International students must be citizens of one of the 37 eligible countries/territories and living in that country/territory at the time of the program.
If you’re a female high school student passionate about STEM, TechGirls offers a chance to spend three weeks in the U.S., participating in a tech camp at Virginia Tech. There, you'll participate in hands-on workshops that cover coding, AI, and robotics. This no-cost cultural exchange offers cultural immersion in a U.S. city, including staying with a host family, community service, and shadowing STEM professionals. Once you return home, your involvement continues with a seven-month virtual mentorship designed to support your own Community Action Project. These projects often focus on using technology to drive social impact in your community.
6. Purdue University - Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
What’s covered: Housing, meals, program costs, and U.S. travel
Selectivity: Competitive
Program dates: June 23 – July 21
Application deadline: March 9
Eligibility: High school students from the US (aged 16-18 years) and Europe. International applicants must contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their respective country to apply.
As a participant in this four-week academic and cultural exchange by Purdue University, you’ll join students from across Europe and the U.S. to explore transatlantic relations through modules on diplomacy, civic education, media literacy, and volunteerism. Held at Purdue University, this program includes seminars, simulations, workshops, and group projects designed to foster dialogue and enhance global understanding. You'll also visit historically significant sites, such as the U.S. Capitol and Independence Hall, attend cultural celebrations, and engage with local communities. The experience aims to foster intercultural exchange while helping you develop skills in public speaking, media literacy, and project design.
7. Kode with Klossy - Summer Camps
Location: Virtual and in-person options available
What’s covered: No program cost
Selectivity: Not specified
Program dates: June 1 – 12 | July 6 – 17 | July 20 – July 31 | August 3 – 14
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school girls and gender-expansive teens aged 13-18 years from around the world
High school students worldwide who are passionate about technology and identify as underrepresented in STEM can consider participating in Kode with Klossy, a free, two-week virtual coding program. You’ll be placed in a track such as web development, mobile apps, machine learning, or data science based on your interests and prior experience. The curriculum emphasizes real-world applications, enabling you to create functional projects, such as websites or chatbots. Sessions include collaborative work, guest speakers from the tech industry, and community-building events. The camps are designed to promote both technical proficiency and collaborative problem-solving.
8. Rockefeller University - Summer Science Research Program
Location: RockEDU Science Outreach Laboratory, Rockefeller University, New York, NY
What’s covered: Housing, meals, and program costs
Selectivity: Highly competitive; 32 students selected annually
Program dates: June 22 – August 6
Application deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old at the start of the program
During this seven-week residential program in New York City, students collaborate with scientists from institutions such as Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan Kettering on real-world research in fields like molecular biology and neuroscience. After learning lab methods, you'll help define a research question aligned with your team, carry out experiments, and present your findings at a symposium. In addition to lab work, the program includes elective seminars, skills workshops, and guest lectures to broaden your perspective on careers in STEM. Only 32 students are selected, making this program highly competitive.
9. World Learning - Youth Ambassadors Program
Location: Virtual or in-person at various locations in the United States
What’s covered: Travel, housing, meals, and program costs
Selectivity: Not specified
Program dates: 3 weeks between June and August. Exact dates vary by exchange country
Application deadline: Varies by exchange country
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18 years at the start of the program. Applicants must have at least one semester of school remaining after program participation; be citizens and residents of the country they are representing; and have sufficient proficiency in the language of the exchange (English, Spanish, or French).
As a participant in the Youth Ambassadors Program, you’ll join peers from the Americas in a U.S.-based exchange focused on civic leadership and cross-cultural collaboration. Activities include workshops on environmental issues, innovation, and social entrepreneurship, as well as volunteer service and homestays with American families. You’ll participate in group projects and eventually design a community-based initiative to implement back home. Throughout the program, you’ll engage with nonprofit leaders and community activists, gaining insight into grassroots change and transnational problem-solving. Ambassadors also have the chance to connect with civic leaders and changemakers for additional insights.
10. Girls Who Code - Summer Immersion Program
Location: Virtual
What’s covered: No program cost
Selectivity: Not specified
Program dates: July 28 – August 8
Application deadline: April 11
Eligibility: Current 9th - 11th graders from around the world
The Summer Immersion Program is a free, two-week virtual course where you’ll learn the basics of computer science while building games and exploring concepts like UX design, data science, and artificial intelligence. Instruction occurs in real-time, and there’s a strong emphasis on collaboration through group projects and peer feedback. You’ll also join sessions with guest speakers from the tech industry and get access to mentorship and career readiness resources. The virtual program is open internationally and encourages applicants of all skill levels and backgrounds.
11. National Youth Science Academy - National Youth Science Camp
Location: Monongahela National Forest, Huttonsville, WV
What’s covered: Housing, meals, and program activities
Selectivity: Competitive
Program dates: July 10 – August 2
Application deadline: Varies by country for international applicants
Eligibility: High school students from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago are eligible to apply. Applicants must be aged 16–18, eligible for a J-1 Visa, and proficient in English.
The National Youth Science Camp offers students a unique blend of scientific learning and outdoor activities amid West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest. You’ll attend daily lectures from leading scientists, take part in research sessions, and go on field trips that explore science policy. The program also includes recreational activities such as mountain biking and stargazing, as well as a visit to Washington, D.C. Designed for high-achieving students from the U.S. and select other countries, the camp aims to help students develop skills in leadership, creativity, and intercultural understanding.
12. Texas Tech University’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
What’s covered: All program expenses + $750 stipend on completion
Selectivity: Highly competitive; 12 students selected annually
Program dates: June 21 – August 6
Application deadline: February 24
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 17 years old and are going to graduate in the current or the next year
If you’re looking for a focused academic research experience, the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University gives 12 high-achieving high school students the chance to conduct in-depth research in fields like biology, physics, and the humanities. Over seven weeks, you’ll work closely with a faculty mentor at Texas Tech and contribute to an ongoing research project at either the main academic campus or the Health Sciences Center in Texas. You’ll also attend seminars and field visits that support your academic development. The fully funded summer program covers all expenses and includes a $750 stipend upon completion of your final report, which documents your research process and results.