14 Programs in Sydney for High School Students
As a high school student, structured programs give you a chance to explore academic interests in a more focused setting that reflects how learning happens at the university or professional level. Instead of relying only on theory, you build practical skills through labs, workshops, research projects, and collaborative activities, and explore areas such as medicine, computer science, engineering, or business. These experiences also help you understand how different subjects connect to careers and further study and build a network with mentors in your field of interest.
Why should you attend a program in Sydney?
Sydney offers a strong range of in-person programs hosted by reputable universities, research centers, and cultural institutions such as the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales, and organizations like the CSIRO. Studying in Sydney can place you inside active campuses, laboratories, performance spaces, and innovation hubs while learning in a globally connected city. These programs are well-suited to students who live or study in Sydney and want early exposure to local universities, as well as international students interested in short-term academic experiences in Australia.
To help you get started, we’ve narrowed our focus to 14 in-person programs in Sydney for high school students.
If you are looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. University of Sydney’s International Science School
Location: University of Sydney
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 110 students (~70 from Australia and ~40 international)
Dates: July 6–19
Application Deadline: Generally, early in the year
Eligibility: Students in Years 11 or 12; applicants who are Australian citizens or permanent residents attending school in Australia must be studying at least 50% STEM subjects and hold an 'A' grade or >80% in English and STEM. International students are selected by ISS representatives in partner countries (USA, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom)
The International Science School is a two-week residential STEM program hosted at the University of Sydney for high-achieving high school students. You’ll spend your time attending lectures by leading scientists, including Nobel laureates, alongside hands-on experiments, lab tours, and interdisciplinary workshops across fields such as physics, chemistry, biosciences, engineering, IT, and geoscience. The academic program is complemented by activities like ethics and leadership workshops, researcher networking sessions, and the Science & Engineering Challenge. You will live in university accommodation with students from Australia and overseas, creating a highly immersive learning environment. A social schedule is built into the program, including formal events, cultural activities, and group outings around Sydney.
2. The University of Sydney – High School Outreach Program
Location: Various campuses and partner schools across Sydney
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size varies by event
Dates: Runs year-round, April & July: School holiday intensives; May – June: On-campus "Day in the Life" events; September: Exam preparation workshops.
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High-achieving high school students (exact specifications may apply)
The University of Sydney’s High School Outreach Program offers structured learning experiences focused on medicine, health, and biomedical science. You may take part in school visits, campus days, or specialist workshops led by academics, researchers, and postgraduate students. Depending on year level, your activities can include neuroscience workshops, hospital and campus tours, practical laboratory sessions, and virtual reality simulations. Stage 6 students may attend lectures, pathology museum sessions, or data analysis camps aligned with senior science curricula. Selected participants are also invited to seminars led by prominent medical scientists.
3. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Pathway
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. Students can choose from over 20 subjects, including biology, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, they complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
4. UTS U@Uni Academy – Summer School
Location: University of Technology, Sydney, and online
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Rate not publicly disclosed; approximately 300–400 students across the various partner schools
Dates: One week; dates vary by term; more details here
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: Year 11 students from partner schools
The U@Uni Academy Summer School introduces you to university-style learning through workshops in areas such as design, engineering, business, health, and technology. Sessions are led by UTS academics and student ambassadors and focus on project-based learning rather than lectures alone. You work on tasks that build academic writing, research, problem-solving, and collaboration skills while exploring the UTS campus. The program is part of UTS’s broader access and outreach initiative, supporting students from partner schools as they prepare for higher education. Activities are designed to help you understand university expectations and learning environments.
5. Future Doctors Australia
Location: Various sites, including Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth (venue varies by cohort)
Cost: $2,490
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-competitive; 24 students per program
Dates: January 22–25; April 9–12; April 16–19; July 9–12; October 1–4
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students ages 14–18
Future Doctors Australia is a four-day medical immersion program designed to help you understand what medical training and practice look like beyond standard work experience. Throughout the program, you learn directly from junior doctors, medical students, and specialists through workshops, demonstrations, and interactive discussions. Small-group sessions introduce you to clinical areas such as pediatrics, neurology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and obstetrics. The schedule also includes communication training, teamwork activities, and sessions explaining the medical school admissions process in Australia. The experience concludes with a graduation ceremony and a certificate of completion.
6. The Honors Performance Series – Sydney Opera House
Location: Sydney Opera House
Cost: Tentatively, $3,400 + $49 nonrefundable application fee + $200 deposit; need-based partial scholarships and grants are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 200–250 students
Dates: Summer (late July or early August)
Application Deadline: First Round: Spring; Final Review: Fall
Eligibility: Students must be in U.S. grades 9–12 (or the international equivalent) during the school year
The Honors Performance Series at the Sydney Opera House is an audition-based music program for high school musicians selected through nomination and recorded auditions. If accepted, you rehearse and perform as part of a large ensemble under the direction of experienced conductors who specialize in youth performance. The program brings together students from different countries to prepare for a formal concert on one of Sydney’s most recognized stages. Rehearsals focus on ensemble technique, musical interpretation, and performance discipline. In addition to rehearsals, you participate in varied cultural and sightseeing activities.
7. CIEE High School Summer Abroad – Global Entrepreneurship
Location: Sydney
Cost: $6,650 + $25 application fee; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; typically 20–30 students per session per location
Dates: Session I: June 16 – July 6; Session II: July 9–29
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Students ages 14+
CIEE’s Global Entrepreneurship program in Sydney explores how businesses operate within Australia’s startup and innovation ecosystem. As a participant, you’ll attend workshops on entrepreneurship while meeting founders and professionals at locations such as startup hubs and innovation centers. Much of the program revolves around developing a business idea in a team and preparing a final pitch presented to a panel for feedback. Classroom learning is balanced with site visits and cultural activities across Sydney and nearby regions. Housing is arranged in shared hostel or hotel accommodations with other participants. The program integrates business fundamentals with exposure to Sydney’s economic and cultural landscape.
8. University of Sydney – Engineering Summer School
Location: University of Sydney, Camperdown/Darlington Campus
Cost: $800; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 100–150 students per intake
Dates: December 7–12
Application Deadline: Summer: Mid-November; Winter: Mid-May
Eligibility: Students entering Years 11 and 12
Engineering Summer School is a five-day residential program supported by the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer and Engineers Australia. You’ll stay on campus at the University of Sydney while visiting multiple universities and engineering organizations across the Sydney region. The program introduces you to a wide range of engineering disciplines through workshops, site visits, and discussions with practicing engineers and recent graduates. Sessions focus on explaining how engineering is applied across industries rather than teaching technical theory alone. You also engage in networking and group activities with other participants interested in engineering pathways.
9. CIEE High School Summer – Wildlife Conservation
Location: Sydney
Cost: $6,650 + $25 application fee; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically 15–25 students per session
Dates: Session I: June 16 – July 6; Session II: July 9–29
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Students ages 14+
The Wildlife Conservation program focuses on Australia’s marine, coastal, and bushland ecosystems through field-based learning around Sydney. You work with local guides and environmental specialists to observe wildlife, collect data, and study conservation strategies in urban coastal environments. Activities include coastal surveys, biodiversity analysis, and discussions on human impacts on ecosystems. Cultural components introduce you to Aboriginal perspectives on land stewardship through guided experiences and storytelling. The program also includes visits to sites such as Shelly Beach, the Royal Botanic Garden, and Sydney Harbour.
10. University of Sydney – Sydney Summer School
Location: University of Sydney
Cost: January course: £5,995 ($8,054); July course: £6,495 ($8,729); limited bursaries are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: High acceptance; ~7 students per class
Dates: January 4–17; July 5–18
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students ages 13–15 and 16–18
Sydney Summer School offers high school students the opportunity to study advanced academic subjects in small, discussion-based classes. You learn in groups that average around seven students, allowing for detailed feedback, debate, and close interaction with instructors experienced in undergraduate teaching. Subject options span areas such as engineering, psychology, international relations, creative writing, business, and veterinary science. Alongside academic sessions, workshops focus on building study strategies, productivity skills, and preparation for university-level learning. You complete an individual project and present your work to peers at the end of the course, and tutors provide a written academic report that reflects your engagement and progress.
11. SciX@UNSW
Location: UNSW Sydney (Kensington Campus)
Cost: $497; fee waivers are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 12–15 students
Dates: January 19–23
Application Deadline: January 7
Eligibility: Year 11 and 12 students
SciX@UNSW is an on-campus research program that supports high school students interested in experiencing real scientific research at the university level. You join a UNSW research group and work on an independent project that can align with HSC Extension Science, IB internal assessments, or personal research interests. The program’s core component is a one-week intensive Summer School held on campus in late January, where you develop a research question, design methods, and begin data collection. Projects span diverse areas including neuroscience, astronomy, quantum chemistry, marine biodiversity, materials science, and data analytics. Throughout the program, you are mentored by UNSW PhD researchers who guide you through laboratory techniques, data analysis, and scientific reasoning.
12. The McDonald College – International Summer School
Location: North Strathfield, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Cost: Junior (Ages 7–10): ~$443; Senior/Pre-Professional (Ages 11–20): ~$476; 10% Early Bird discount; 10% discount for past participants or current McDonald College students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; large cohort sizes
Dates: January 12–16
Application Deadline: No fixed deadline, but spots are limited
Eligibility: Students aged 7 to 20; includes Junior, Senior, and Pre-Professional dance streams
The McDonald College International Summer School, a prestigious five-day intensive in Sydney, is designed to elevate your dance training to a global level. The program explores diverse topics ranging from classical ballet and contemporary dance to repertoire, Broadway jazz, and professional audition techniques. Throughout the week, you will engage in rigorous masterclasses, refine your technical skills in specialized workshops, and prepare for a final performance showcase. The program gives the chance to learn directly from international masters representing world-class institutions like The Royal Ballet and Vassar College. By participating, you’ll sharpen your technical precision, artistry, and musicality while building valuable industry connections and global friendships.
13. Sydney Youth Orchestras (SYO) Summer School
Location: Santa Sabina College (Strathfield, NSW, Australia) and Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Cost: ~$463 (Final Release fee); Early bird rates start at ~$432; A 1.4% processing fee applies; Regional Scholarships (for those living >200km from Sydney) provide partial/full fee waivers and travel bursaries. Creative Kids Vouchers ($50) are also accepted
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; approximately 400 musicians
Dates: January 12 – 17
Application Deadline: December 9
Eligibility: Primary and High School students (ages 5–18) who play an orchestral instrument and receive private tuition
Through the Sydney Youth Orchestras (SYO) Summer School, you dive into an intensive week of music-making that covers orchestral performance, chamber music, and music theory. You will participate in large ensemble rehearsals, attend specialized sectional workshops led by industry professionals, and perform in a final gala concert. The program stands out by offering you direct mentorship from world-class conductors and a collaborative environment with peers from diverse backgrounds. Beyond technical mastery, you develop essential skills in ensemble discipline, leadership, and sight-reading. This immersive experience helps you refine your artistry while building lasting connections within the global youth music community.
14. National Institute of Dramatic Art Open – Summer School
Location: Primarily Kensington
Cost: Typically ~$477 – $1,021; partial or full tuition coverage for students experiencing financial hardship is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; approximately 12 – 16 students per class
Dates: Summer, Autumn, and Winter Terms available (dates vary as per course)
Application Deadline: No fixed deadline; registration closes once the class is full
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 11 or 12
The National Institute of Dramatic Art Open Summer School in Sydney helps you explore acting, design, filmmaking, musical theatre, writing, and presenting. You will engage in hands-on activities like improvising original scenes, developing nuanced characters, and rehearsing in professional-grade studios. You receive mentorship from industry-leading experts and access to the same world-class facilities used by global stars like Cate Blanchett. This immersive experience builds your artistic confidence while providing a prestigious global perspective on the dramatic arts. You’ll leave the program with a professional edge and a significantly sharpened creative voice.
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