15 Research Programs for International High School Students
If you are a student looking to explore your academic interests beyond the school curriculum, research programs can be a great way to get started! Research programs are designed to introduce you to advanced topics in various fields under the mentorship of professors, Ph.D. candidates, or industry experts. Some of these programs also offer publication support and opportunities for collaboration, making them worth considering if you are looking to expand your academic portfolio.
As a participant, you will develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills, which are valuable to have for your future education and career. The research programs in this list are open to international high school students, offering opportunities to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
Here we have listed 15 research programs for international high school students. Whether you want to develop an independent research paper, contribute to a team project, or collaborate on interdisciplinary challenges, you will find a program here that aligns with your interests.
1. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <5%; 100 students selected each year
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors with strong academic and extracurricular backgrounds; around one-third of accepted applicants are international students. Check here for more detailed eligibility requirements.
The Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT is a research program where you will work in a real laboratory setting under the guidance of experienced scientists and researchers. During the first week, you will attend intensive STEM seminars and explore current developments across disciplines like biology, physics, and engineering. By week two, you will be immersed in independent research: reading scientific literature, developing a methodology, and collecting and analyzing data. The program culminates in the production of a research paper and a conference-style presentation, both of which are reviewed by academic and industry experts. Field trips to local science and technology facilities are also part of the experience.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by format; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application deadline: Varies by cohort; August 24 for the upcoming cohort
Eligibility: High school students around the world
The Lumiere Research Program is a selective mentorship-based research program for high school students, offering one-on-one guidance from researchers affiliated with Ivy League and top global universities. Here, you will work on a college-level research paper on a topic of your choice over a 3- to 12-month period. Your final output can range from an academic paper to a potential publication or competition entry. You can choose from various program formats, including the standard Individual Research Program, Premium Research & Publication Program, Lumiere Research Fellowship, and Professor Premium Publication Program. Depending on the chosen format, along with coaching on academic writing, you may also get support for submitting your work to high school or undergraduate-level journals.
3. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact information is unavailable
Dates: July 7 – 25
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11
While not a traditional lab-based program, SPINWIP provides early exposure to research and key concepts in fields such as quantum mechanics, cosmology, and astrophysics. You will build practical skills while exploring how to code in Python and apply what you learn to physics-based team projects. Lectures are led by Stanford faculty and researchers, with undergraduate mentors offering guidance for group work and discussions. The program includes sessions on college readiness and career pathways, giving you the opportunity to explore how your interests might connect with future academic work in physics. SPINWIP is designed to ignite interest in physics among high school girls and gender minorities, although admissions are open to all students.
4. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program 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.
5. Summer Science Program International (SSPI)
Location: Various university campuses
Cost/Stipend: $9,800 program fee; full financial aid available + a need-based stipend of $3,000 offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 500–600 participants each year
Dates: Five weeks starting in mid to late June
Application deadline: January 24
Eligibility: High school juniors who are 15–18 years old and have completed relevant coursework by the start of the program; international applicants are required to have a visa by the general admissions deadline (February 16)
SSPI offers high school students advanced STEM immersion through experimental research. Over five weeks, you will work in a small research team to investigate real scientific problems in fields such as astrophysics, biochemistry, or synthetic chemistry. You will have access to the mentorship of scientists, researchers, and educators. SSPI builds its curriculum around intensive lab and data work, often involving actual experimentation rather than theoretical projects. The program emphasizes collaboration and is structured to mirror how research teams function in academic and industry settings.
6. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program (RMP)
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $5,175 (commuter) | $12,474 (residential); scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; acceptance rate not officially disclosed but is believed to be under 10%
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application deadline: March 17
Eligibility: High school students in the 10th or 11th grade with a minimum 3.80 academic weighted GPA
At RMP, you will spend six weeks immersed in university-level research under the guidance of a faculty member, postdoc, or graduate student. The program begins with a virtual orientation, where you will explore available projects and meet your mentor before starting hands-on work on campus. You will have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of disciplines, including STEM, social sciences, and the arts, depending on current faculty research. The program requires a significant time commitment, often 35 to 50 hours per week, and includes activities such as fieldwork, lab experimentation, and data analysis. You will also write a technical paper and present your findings at a formal academic symposium.
7. Stony Brook University Garcia Center Summer Scholars Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 (laboratory usage fee) + $2,687.25 (room, board, and health services) + $50 registration fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 26 – August 8
Application deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old with an unweighted GPA of 3.8/4.0, have standardized test scores of at least 60%, and have taken three of the following subjects: English, Chemistry, Mathematics/Calculus, Physics, Biology; international students who have the required documents to be legally present in the U.S. during the program can apply
The Garcia Center Summer Scholars Program offers a focused introduction to polymer science through a research-intensive summer experience. You will engage in original research alongside faculty, graduate students, and staff, contributing to projects that may lead to publication, patents, or submissions to national science competitions. You will explore both theoretical foundations and lab techniques while also designing and executing your own experiments. The experience doesn’t end with summer; you may continue your research work throughout the academic year through a mentorship extension.
8. Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipends awarded to students experiencing financial hardship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 32 students per cohort
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program; international students can apply; however, the program doesn’t provide visa assistance
At the Rockefeller SSRP, you will join a small research team in a lab environment designed to simulate the operation of real-world scientific collaborations. This research program for international high school students places you alongside peers and scientific mentors from Memorial Sloan Kettering, Rockefeller University, and Weill Cornell. During the first week, your team will explore a broad topic area; by week two, you will have selected a specific research question to explore. The remaining weeks are spent investigating the selected question through experiments, data collection, and analysis, while receiving regular feedback from your mentor group. Each team functions semi-independently, with its own lab space, project direction, and schedule.
9. Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research Molecular Medicine Workshops
Location: Virtual or in-person at various university campuses
Cost: Online workshops: Intro to Cellular and Molecular Medicine: $510; Medicinal Chemistry: $670; Medical Bioinformatics: $1,070 | University-based workshops: $3,680 (residential) or $2,280 (commuter); scholarships available for students from low-income households
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Exact information is not available
Dates: Workshops run from June – August
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 11–18, with exact age-level varying by workshop; international students should have travel and visa arrangements in place
The Rosetta Institute’s Molecular Medicine Workshops offer in-depth exposure to biomedical topics through a mix of lectures, lab work, and individual research projects. Taught by PhD-level instructors, these workshops cover subjects like molecular neuroscience, cancer biology, immunology, and multiple branches of bioinformatics. You will start by studying normal molecular processes, then examine how these are altered in disease, with an emphasis on experimental design. At the end of the program, you will apply what you have learned to design and present an original research proposal centered on a gene or molecular pathway.
10. The New York Academy of Sciences Junior Academy
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: September – November | February – April
Application deadline: July 8 for the fall cohort
Eligibility: Students who are 13–17 years old
The Junior Academy is an online, project-based research program where students work in international teams to solve real-world STEM challenges. Here, you will engage in applied problem-solving guided by industry experts and STEM mentors. Each challenge focuses on addressing timely global issues through data analysis, design thinking, and interdisciplinary research methods. The experience begins with a preparation phase that helps you build foundational skills before you begin working in a team and developing your solution. Throughout the process, mentors provide feedback while professionals from partner organizations evaluate final submissions.
11. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual/George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee with waivers available; no stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: Students must be at least 15 years old for remote and computer lab internships and at least 16 years old for “wet lab” internships
ASSIP is a research program where you will work one-on-one with a faculty mentor. You will gain exposure to advanced lab technologies and contribute to ongoing research in fields ranging from molecular medicine and renewable energy to machine learning and exoplanet discovery. You will be embedded in a live research environment, engaging in work that may result in co-authorship on scientific publications or conference presentations. You will also participate in discussions on STEM careers and develop communication skills through written reports and presentations.
12. University of Maryland MathQuantum Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost or stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 10 high school students accepted each year
Dates: July 25 – August 6
Application deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school students; international students can apply, but will not receive stipends (they still get other benefits, including $1,000 to attend workshops/conferences)
The MathQuantum Fellowship allows you to spend two weeks exploring quantum information science (QIS). Here, you will focus on the mathematics behind QIS through lectures, seminars, collaborative sessions, and project work. During the program, you will have access to the guidance of researchers and professionals in the field of QIS. You also have the opportunity to be one of the select few participants who get to attend the Quantum Computing Summer Camp for free. This section of the program can help you develop skills and explore future opportunities in the field of quantum science and related disciplines.
13. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS): Virtual Track
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Five weeks in the summer
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in North America
JHIBS is a five-week research-focused summer internship for students in North America interested in neuroscience and research. Here, you will attend virtual sessions led by researchers and scientists, learn about the scientific method and biomedical research, and participate in experiments. You will learn and apply laboratory techniques, participate in scientific presentations, and connect with professionals and peers. Additionally, the program offers professional development workshops and college prep classes to help you explore educational and career paths in the medical field.
14. CrowdMath
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Year-round availability
Application deadline: November 30
Eligibility: High school and college students worldwide
CrowdMath is a collaborative, year-long mathematics research program run by MIT PRIMES and Art of Problem Solving for students interested in unsolved mathematical problems. Here, you will join an international community of high school and college students working on open-ended research topics like number theory, combinatorics, or abstract algebra. Projects are mentored by experienced researchers. Your contributions may be reflected in the form of co-authorship in published academic papers. You don’t need to specialize in a particular field beforehand, but a strong foundation in high school math is essential.
15. SHTEM: Summer Internships for High Schoolers and Community College Students
Location: Virtual or on-site; exact format TBA
Cost: $50 application fee (can be waived)
Cohort size: Around 60 students are accepted
Dates: Typically June – August
Application deadline: March 1 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 14 years old, as well as full-time community college students
The SHTEM Summer Internship at Stanford is a virtual, team-based research program focused on the intersection of STEM and the humanities. Over the course of eight weeks, you will collaborate with a small group (usually two to five students) on projects that combine disciplines like neuroscience, linguistics, computer science, philosophy, or design. You will explore diverse topics in engineering and interdisciplinary research. You will have access to mentorship of Stanford Ph.D. students, faculty, and staff affiliated with the Stanford Compression Forum. The program concludes with a group presentation where you will communicate your project outcomes to peers and mentors.
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