15 Physics Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in exploring physics beyond the classroom, a structured program in the field is worth considering. Physics programs introduce key scientific concepts while helping you develop practical skills in research, data analysis, and problem-solving. These programs allow you to explore how the world works through structured learning and experimentation.
Hosted by leading universities and research institutions, physics programs often provide access to expert mentorship and networking opportunities. Many of these opportunities are affordable or even fully funded, making them accessible options to explore. They also offer exposure to practical applications of physics, from aerospace engineering to quantum computing, giving you a glimpse into professional STEM environments.
To help you get started, we have curated a list of 15 physics programs for high school students.
1. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~3–5%; 80–100 students/year
Application deadline: December 11
Dates: June 22 – August 2 (dates can vary by year)
Eligibility: High school juniors
MIT’s RSI is a six-week intensive program that allows you to conduct advanced research in STEM fields. The experience begins with a week of lectures from distinguished professors, followed by five weeks of mentored research within a laboratory setting. You will review scientific literature, design and execute your own experiments, and present your findings through formal written and oral reports. Evening seminars with leading researchers will offer you some insight into current scientific advancements. Field trips to local science and tech organizations/facilities are also part of the experience.
2. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts. You can apply to the program here.
Dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI with a suitable environment in which to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI Scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. The AI Fellowship program will allow students to pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. You can find examples of previous projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. Texas Tech’s Anson L. Clark Scholar Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; $750 stipend
Cohort size: 12 students/year
Application deadline: February 16
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 by the start date, are U.S. citizens/permanent residents, and are graduating in the current year or the next year
The seven-week Anson L. Clark Scholar Program at Texas Tech University offers high school students the chance to conduct advanced, faculty-mentored research across fields like science, technology, the humanities, and the arts. You can indicate your preference for a physics-focused research experience. During the program, you will collaborate with peers from around the world on active research projects, gaining hands-on experience in academic investigation. Weekly seminars and field excursions will provide a broader context for how research connects to real-world issues. Under the guidance of university mentors, you will build key research skills and create original work in your chosen area of study.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Physics Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies according to program type; full financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Dates: Several cohorts throughout the year; dates vary by cohort and program format, with options ranging from 12 weeks to a year.
Eligibility: High-achieving high school students; no previous research experience required
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program allows high school students to participate in individualized research under the guidance of Ph.D.-level mentors. The program spans a wide range of disciplines, including physics, giving you the chance to explore your interests in depth. Over 12 weeks or more, you will collaborate one-on-one with a researcher to design and complete an independent project that culminates in a full-length academic paper. The program also offers sessions with a writing coach, who can help you develop scientific writing skills. You will get to present your work at a virtual symposium at the end of the program.
5. Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: March 15
Dates: Five to six weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students who are 16 or older by June 15 and are enrolled in a local U.S. high school
Princeton’s Laboratory Learning Program is an opportunity to engage in mentored research. Here, you will join a research team for five to six weeks and work on a science or engineering project. You will be placed in a lab under the guidance of a faculty mentor, assisting them with experiments, data collection, and analysis during the week. Each placement is structured according to the lab’s research schedule and project goals, so the exact tasks can vary. The experience can offer you practical exposure to scientific research methods and laboratory environments. You will submit a two-page research summary report at the end of the program.
6. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Free; a stipend is provided.
Acceptance rate: ~5%
Application deadline: February 7
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: Students in their junior year of high school, ages 16 and up, who are U.S. residents/permanent citizens
The Simons Summer Research Program is an on-campus opportunity to engage in hands-on scientific research under the guidance of a Stony Brook University faculty mentor. As part of a lab team, you will contribute to an ongoing project while developing technical and analytical skills through direct experimentation. Weekly lectures by prominent scientists and group activities are part of the experience. Over the course of eight weeks, you will complete a research abstract and present your findings at a final poster symposium. You will receive a stipend for your contributions at the end of the program.
7. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual and in-person at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost: $25 application fee with waivers available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: February 2
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Eligibility: Students who are 15 or older by June 18
ASSIP offers high school students the opportunity to engage in hands-on STEM research alongside faculty mentors. You can choose a mentor who is engaging in physics research. During the program, you will contribute to research, explore lab environments, and practice lab and research techniques. You will also find opportunities to refine scientific writing and research presentation skills. The program ends with a research symposium, where you will learn about the research conducted by your peers during the summer. Following the summer experience, you may go on to present your findings at conferences or publish your work.
8. STARS Physics Camp @ UT Southwestern Medical Center
Location: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Cost: Free
Cohort size: 30 students/camp
Application deadline: Not specified
Dates: July 10 – 18
Eligibility: Current 10th-grade students
The Physics Camp, part of STARS camps conducted at UT Southwestern Medical Center, offers high schoolers an introduction to key physics principles through experiments and group projects. You will explore topics like motion, electricity, forces, and optics while practicing measurement and data analysis techniques. Guided lab sessions will cover concepts such as harmonic motion and resonance. The program also features afternoon activities, including team challenges, lab visits, and a straw rocket contest. Throughout the camp, you will learn how physics applies to fields like orthotics, prosthetics, and crystallography while enhancing your analytical skills.
9. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship Program
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: March 1
Dates: June 30 – August 1
Eligibility: Graduating seniors who are at least 16 years old and authorized to work in the U.S.
The PPPL is a leading national laboratory responsible for researching plasma applications. Through its internship program, PPPL offers graduating high schoolers the chance to work on a project with in-house research or engineering staff. As an intern, you will contribute to multidisciplinary scientific research, learn about topics like fusion energy, and engage in lab work. You will spend 40 hours a week working on an experimental or computational plasma physics project. This can be an opportunity to gain insights into the work of researchers and familiarize yourself with professional lab environments.
10. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Summer High School Intern Program
Location: NIST campus at Boulder, CO, or Gaithersburg, MD
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid internship
Cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: February 6 (tentative)
Dates: June 23 – August 8 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the U.S. who have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and live close to either the NIST Boulder or Gaithersburg Campus.
NIST’s Summer High School Intern Program is an eight-week program for students interested in exploring physical and engineering science research. As a participant, you will get some exposure to NIST’s ongoing research work and work with NIST scientists and engineers on a research problem. NIST research is split among six labs, each focusing on meeting the industry’s needs for tools, data, measurement methods, and technology; you can highlight your preference for physics-based research placement while applying. While exact tasks can vary, you will get to engage in research that focuses on meeting industry needs for measurement data, methods, tools, and tech. During the program, you will also work on your own research project and participate in a poster session, where you will share your work with the NIST community.
11. Fermilab’s Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Location: Fermilab, Batavia, IL
Stipend: $500/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: March 1
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Eligibility: High school seniors and recent graduates in Illinois
PRISM is a four-week summer program designed to introduce students to particle physics, engineering design, quantum science, and AI. Here, you will interact with Fermilab professionals and learn about STEM topics as well as careers. You will work on a research project under the guidance of a mentor and share your findings with others by presenting an abstract and a poster at the end of the program. You will also attend lectures, engage in STEM-focused activities, and tour Fermilab’s research facilities. This experience can help you get insights into a particle physics laboratory’s work and the fields of engineering and physical sciences.
12. University of Illinois Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Program
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Stipend: Students receive a fellowship payment
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~30 lab spots; acceptance rate was ~5% in the past few years.
Application deadline: March 30
Dates: June 20 – August 1 + orientation earlier in June
Eligibility: Rising 10th – 12th graders from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin
The Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Program conducted at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a six-week immersive research experience for high schoolers. As a participant, you will work on projects in fields such as physics, neuroscience, bioengineering, or artificial intelligence under the mentorship of faculty and graduate researchers. You will spend about 30–35 hours per week conducting research and developing your projects. Weekly seminars on college preparation and scientific communication are part of the experience, designed to support students from diverse STEMM backgrounds. The program concludes with a research symposium, where you will present your research to peers and faculty.
13. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Summer Intern Program
Location: Virtual and in person at the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Space Research, Austin, TX
Cost: None; housing, meals, and local transportation provided for on-site portion; limited travel scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies; 215 students selected out of ~2,000 applications in the past.
Application deadline: February 22
Dates: Distance learning modules: May 19 – July 1 | On-site internship: July 6 – July 19 | Virtual symposium: July 21 – 22
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors who are 16 or older
NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Summer Intern Program provides students with hands-on experience in Earth and space science research. Here, you will collaborate with NASA scientists and engineers on projects related to planetary geology, environmental studies, climate research, and space technology. You will use real satellite data to design prototypes, conduct simulations, and enhance coding and analytical abilities. Research topics span astrophysics, Earth science, and aeronautics, ranging from Mars exploration to atmospheric and flight physics. Throughout the program, you will apply STEM skills and creativity to solve real challenges connected to NASA’s current missions.
14. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: May 1
Dates: July 7 – 25
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11; those from underrepresented backgrounds in physics are encouraged to apply.
SPINWIP is a three-week virtual summer program hosted by Stanford University and designed to inspire high school girls to explore physics. As a SPINWIP participant, you will learn Python programming and how to apply it to concepts like quantum computing and astrophysics through collaborative projects and interactive lectures. The program offers mentorship from Stanford faculty and undergraduates, along with workshops on college readiness and STEM careers. All sessions are beginner-friendly, requiring no prior experience in physics or coding. You will also connect with Stanford students and faculty during the program.
15. UT Austin’s HSRA Summer Program
Location: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $4,000; need-based scholarships covering tuition and offering additional stipends are available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: March 23
Dates: June 9 – July 16
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors living in Texas who will be 15 years old or older by June 1
The High School Research Academy, or HSRA, at UT Austin is a five-week summer program that immerses high school students in hands-on STEM research. You will work in active College of Natural Sciences laboratories with faculty and undergraduate mentors on interdisciplinary projects in fields like physics, neuroscience, ecology, data science, and engineering. The program features seminars led by UT researchers, specialized lab training sessions, and a concluding Research Symposium for presenting your work. You will earn UT course credit and gain direct experience in scientific experimentation and inquiry.
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