15 Online Physics Summer Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in physics, online summer programs can help you explore the subject without needing to travel. These summer programs go beyond regular school classes, allowing you to work on projects and learn directly from university professors and scientists. Online programs in particular give you the flexibility to learn from anywhere, helping you save on travel and housing costs while still accessing top-tier academic resources and expert mentorship.
Why should you attend a physics program?
By participating in a physics program, you can enhance your problem-solving skills, gain insight into how research works, and build a strong foundation in programming, data analysis, and academic writing. You also have the opportunity to explore topics not typically offered in high schools, such as quantum mechanics and aerospace engineering, and learn from experienced professors. Altogether, these experiences can deepen your understanding of physics while connecting you with peers and mentors.
To help you get started, we have 15 online physics summer programs for high school students.
1. NASA and UT Austin’s STEM Enhancement in Earth Sciences (SEES) – Virtual Internship
Location: Virtual (on-site internships are also available)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June – July 21 (can change depending on project)
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors | 16+ | U.S. citizen
The SEES Summer High School Intern Program allows you to work alongside NASA scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research. You could determine the age and distance of star clusters, detect exoplanets using TESS mission data, or take part in other live NASA projects, depending on your chosen virtual internship. You’ll also have the opportunity to conduct field research with NASA’s GLOBE Observer app and use tools like Jupyter Notebooks, Colab, AppEEARS, and Google Earth Engine to analyze and visualize data. By the end of the program, you’ll present your findings at the SEES Virtual Science Symposium, contribute to real research outcomes, and may even co-author peer-reviewed papers.
2. Veritas AI Scholar program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application deadline: Rolling basis. 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 who are looking to get started with 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 get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance 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 and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. MITES Semester
Location: Online (with an in-person conference at MIT)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June – December
Application Deadline: Apply during the fall semester of junior year
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors with U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
The MITES Semester is a fully funded, immersive STEM program designed for high school juniors, running from June to December. It provides an interactive online learning experience in subjects such as Machine Learning, Thermodynamics, Astrophysics, Calculus, Physics, Computer Science, and Science Communication, with a focus on academic growth and career development. Beyond coursework, the program offers personalized college application support, including essay reviews, mock interviews, and guidance on school selection. You also have the opportunity to connect with admissions counselors during a dedicated college fair. The semester concludes with an in-person conference at MIT, where you can network with peers, mentors, and STEM professionals.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Physics Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies as per program (financial aid available)
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. The duration can range from 12 weeks to 12 months, depending on the type of program.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohorts
Eligibility: High school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week online research opportunity where you can work one-on-one with a PhD mentor from a top university on research projects in subjects like physics, astrophysics, or engineering. You’ll dive deep into your area of choice, develop a unique research question, and write an independent research paper with weekly guidance from your mentor and a writing coach. Along the way, you’ll build skills in scientific writing, data interpretation, and different research methodologies. If you get accepted into the Premium Research & Publication Program, you’ll also get expert support in improving your paper for submission to college-level journals. You can find more details about the application here.
5. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs
Location: Virtual and NASA centres across the country.
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend
Program 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 gives high school students the opportunity to take part in innovative projects in areas such as software system design, algorithm optimization, and robotics. You will build practical skills essential for a future in computer engineering while working closely with NASA engineers and gaining insight into how practical projects are designed and carried out. The program helps you strengthen technical, research, and professional skills while learning how a large scientific organization operates. Most internships offer a paid stipend and provide meaningful career development through mentorship, networking, and exposure to a wide range of STEM and non-STEM career pathways at NASA.
6. Carnegie Mellon OLI Engineering Courses
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free to audit; small fee of $25 per course taken for credit or certificate
Program 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 for high school students in subjects like Statics, Circuits, and Environmental Technology. In the program, you’ll take part in interactive lessons, virtual labs, simulations, and problem-solving exercises similar to college-level coursework. These courses help you build strong analytical and quantitative skills while learning to apply theoretical concepts to practical situations. You’ll also explore topics like mechatronics, structural analysis, and electric vehicle systems, giving you a deeper understanding of engineering and technology.
7. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)
Location: Virtual (except for mandatory in-person onboarding, equipment returns, and extreme IT troubleshooting at APL, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, MD)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 23 – August 21
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are at least 15 years old by June 1. Minimum 2.8 GPA.
The ASPIRE Program at Johns Hopkins will give you the chance to work virtually with APL scientists and engineers on real STEM projects in areas such as physics and aerospace engineering. Depending on your placement, you will use tools like MATLAB, C++, or Arduino Uno to model spacecraft trajectories, build electric-field sensors, or improve quantum algorithms. Throughout the internship, you will develop practical coding skills, learn to read and understand scientific papers, and strengthen your problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities. The program is selective, with an acceptance rate of around 10 percent.
8. Joint Science Education Project (JSEP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free of cost
Program Dates: One week in late July or August (exact dates TBD)
Application Deadline: January 31 (tentatively)
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens
The Joint Science Education Project (JSEP) offers a 5-day virtual program where you will collaborate with students from Greenland, Denmark, and the United States to study polar science and engineering. Throughout the program, Dartmouth faculty and graduate students will guide you through interactive sessions on topics like snow and ice physics, cold-region engineering, and Arctic ecology. You will take part in hands-on activities, receive mentorship from scientists, and work on a group research project that you will present at a global virtual symposium. The program also includes virtual tours of polar research stations, opportunities to connect with international peers and researchers, and talks from leading polar scientists. By participating, you will gain valuable skills in scientific reasoning, problem-solving, teamwork, and research, while experiencing the challenges and wonders of polar environments.
9. Young Scholars Research Program — NASA Data Science Analysis and Scholarly Research Paper Writing
Location: Virtual (with in-person options at the George Mason University, Fairfax Campus, VA)
Cost: Contact ExecEd@gmu.edu for information about fees and scholarship opportunities
Program Dates: June 14 – August 30
Application Deadline: Opens in the first week of February; admissions are first-come, first-served
Eligibility: High school students
The NASA Data Science Analysis and Scholarly Research Paper Writing Program is a primarily online summer research experience for high school students interested in astronomy, space exploration, and data science. Over the course of 10 weeks, you will work on guided research analyzing real data from NASA’s TESS and James Webb Space Telescope missions, focusing on your assigned exoplanetary system. You will gain hands-on experience with tools like Python, AstroImageJ, and Jupyter Notebooks, learn to handle FITS files, and apply statistical techniques such as time-series analysis and Bayesian inference. By the end of the program, you will have completed a professional-grade research paper based on your findings and will present your work at a scholarly conference hosted by George Mason University.
10. Stanford Physics Innovation Network: Women and Underrepresented Minorities in Physics
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free of cost
Program Dates: July 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: May 1 (tentative)
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11. International students can apply
The SPINWIP program, run by Stanford’s Physics Department and the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, lets you study advanced physics topics such as quantum mechanics, black holes, cosmology, astrophysics, and quantum computing. Throughout the three weeks, you’ll learn directly from Stanford professors, work in small groups led by undergraduate mentors, and take part in sessions that focus on college preparation and STEM career paths. You’ll also get daily support through office hours and guided problem-solving activities. In addition, the program teaches you the basics of Python and introduces you to scientific libraries like NumPy and Matplotlib.
11. Python4Physics – UC Berkeley
Location: Virtual (On-campus options are also available)
Cost: Free of cost
Program Dates: Six weeks starting from June 16 to July 11
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: High school students with a strong understanding of basic Algebra
Python4Physics is a free hybrid summer program at UC Berkeley designed for high school students who want to explore physics through coding and data analysis. The course starts with the basics of Python, making it accessible even if you’ve never coded or studied advanced physics before. As you progress, you’ll learn fundamental ideas in physics, math, and statistics, and immediately apply them by working through numerical problems. You’ll also use Python to analyze datasets, build simple models of physical systems, and complete interactive exercises that help you understand how programming can be used to solve real scientific questions.
12. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) Online Programs – The Physics of Sports
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,365 + $15 application fee (financial aid available)
Program Dates: Year-round online opportunities
Application Deadline: varies as per seasons
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–10 | Check your eligibility here!
The Physics of Sports course from CTY is a live online program for students who want to see how physics applies to real athletic situations. Throughout the six weeks, you’ll explore key topics such as kinematics, momentum, energy, impulse, and power, and examine how these principles influence athletic performance. You’ll attend live lectures, conduct experiments, and run simulations to understand how conservation laws, work, energy, and power shape efficiency and technique in different sports. By the end of the course, you’ll strengthen your data analysis and problem-solving skills and gain a clearer understanding of how physics drives speed, accuracy, and movement.
13. Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE)’s Illinois Aerospace Institute (IAI) Summer Camp
Location: Virtual (residential options also available)
Cost: Residential: $1,000 plus a $25 deposit; Virtual: $150 plus a $25 deposit
Program Dates: July 13 - 19 (Residential); July 20 - 26 (Virtual); June 22 - 28 (Residential)
Application Deadline: March 30 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students
The Illinois Aerospace Institute (IAI) is a one-week summer program that introduces you to the core principles of aerospace engineering through lectures, hands-on activities, and computational design work. You’ll explore topics such as aerodynamics, rocket propulsion, satellite design, and flight mechanics. In the model-building workshops, you’ll apply what you’ve learned by constructing and testing gliders and egg-drop landers with guidance from experienced instructors. The program also teaches you how to use Excel for aeronautics calculations and Python for basic astronautics design. Along with the technical learning, you’ll take part in a college prep session that highlights academic pathways and career options in the aerospace field.
14. Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Studies (Online)
Location: Online
Cost: $ 3,200 per course
Program Dates: Session One: June 15–June 26, and Session Two: July 6–July 17.
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Advanced high school students (grades 8-11) with a strong academic record
The Stanford Pre‑Collegiate Studies Online Program offers over 60 interactive summer courses for advanced high school students. You can explore subjects such as computer science, physics, mathematics, engineering, and bioscience in a rigorous, immersive learning environment. Although the courses are non-credit and ungraded, they emphasize analytical thinking and independent problem-solving. Hands-on projects ranging from cryptography to genetics allow you to work with scientific software and real-world applications. Taught by expert instructors, the program provides a strong foundation for college-level academics.
15. Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation Pre-College Programs – Online Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,225 (includes application fee, tuition, and lab kit fee)
Program Dates: June 29-July 31
Application Deadline: May 27 (tentatively)
Eligibility: High school students | Completed Algebra II and a full year of high school Chemistry and/or Physics. Familiar with trigonometric functions
Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI) is a college-level summer course from Johns Hopkins University for high school students who want to see how math, science, and engineering work in real life. This online, three-credit course introduces you to core ideas in civil, chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering through hands-on lab activities, assignments, and team projects. Online students receive a lab kit by mail to run experiments at home and work on projects with classmates from around the world. You’ll collaborate on activities like building a spaghetti bridge and creating simple electronic devices, while learning to use tools such as MakeCode, JavaScript, or CircuitPython. By the end of the program, you’ll gain college-level engineering experience along with practical skills like technical writing, project documentation, and clear communication.
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