14 STEM Winter Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in science, a winter program gives you the chance to learn beyond the classroom. These winter programs help you develop skills in problem-solving, research, and teamwork, while learning more about your subjects of interest. Winter programs are usually of a shorter duration, allowing you to utilise your winter break without the commitment level of a summer program. Many programs are hosted by top universities, research centers, and laboratories, giving you access to expert mentors and advanced resources.
Joining a STEM program in winter is especially rewarding because it keeps you engaged during school breaks and helps you gain skills that make you stand out. With projects and guidance from mentors, you get to practice critical thinking, apply science in real situations, and share your ideas more clearly. These experiences also help you prepare for college and future careers, allowing you to explore fields like engineering, computer science, or medicine to discover what interests you most.
To help with your search, we have found 14 STEM winter programs for high school students.
1. Fox Chase Cancer Center’s Immersion Science Program
Location: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: The 11-week Winter session of the Immersion Science Program begins in early January and runs through mid-March
Application Deadline: The application link is active for about 3.5 weeks, running from early to mid-October into early November (the year before the January start of each session).
Eligibility: Students aged 16 or older from the Philadelphia tri-state area who have completed high school chemistry and biology
Fox Chase Cancer Center offers high school students a chance to explore biomedical research with a focus on mapping nutrient targets during development. The program runs on Saturdays for about three hours each week and includes lectures, lab work, and an independent project. You will develop skills in research, critical thinking, and presentation as you complete the program, with a day to share your project. Only 16 students are selected for each group, and the program is fully funded. It is open to students in the Philadelphia tri-state area who want to work with professional scientists. To apply, you need two recommendations and an interview.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type. Need-based financial aid is available.
Program Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Rolling basis. The winter cohort application deadline is October 19. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. 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 interested in getting 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.
3. Partnership for Scientific Inquiry (PSI)
Location: Virtual and in person, Oregon and the Portland metro area
Cost: Free
Program Dates: January – May
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Sophomores, Juniors, and Senior high school students at least 16 years old
PSI gives high school students a chance to learn biomedical research through a semester-long online course with weekly two-hour lectures and guidance from OHSU and Portland-area researchers. ∫ After the course, you can apply for a summer internship at OHSU that includes at least 250 hours of hands-on research. Most internships are in-person, with some virtual options. You will complete the program by presenting your work at a poster symposium in August.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Program Dates Duration: Varies by cohort – summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). Winter cohort application deadline is November 16
Eligibility: High school students demonstrating high academic achievement ( min. GPA 3.3)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Internships at the American Psychological Association
Location: Remote
Cost: No cost; paid and unpaid internships are available
Program Dates: Internships are offered year-round; exact dates vary depending on the selected internship. Internships are available during the winter months
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Eligible to work in the U.S. through e-verify and live in a state where APA is registered as an employer. You must also be enrolled in an academic institution at least part-time. If you are under 18, you must submit a District of Columbia Work Permit with your application
Internships at the American Psychological Association (APA) give students interested in psychology a chance to gain valuable experience. APA is the largest organization of psychologists in the United States and offers roles in areas like policy, research, communications, and financial services. These internships, both paid and unpaid, let you use psychology skills to benefit society. Winter internships with APA help you learn more about professional psychology in a national organization. Your work will depend on the office and your skills and interests. You can develop skills in research, writing, and web projects. You may also support staff with administrative tasks and special projects.
6. UCSD Research Scholars Pre-College Program — Marine Sciences
Location: Varies based on the course selected. University of California, San Diego, CA, or online
Cost: $2,000 (Online course) or $3,000 (Hybrid course); need-based scholarships sometimes available
Program Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12. On-campus housing is not available for the hybrid course
UC San Diego’s Academic Connections Research Scholars program for winter 2025 offers two marine science courses. The first course, Advanced Seafood Fraud Detectives, teaches you how to fight seafood fraud using molecular biology. You will build skills in lab research, data analysis, and communication while working with culinary experts, fishermen, and NOAA scientists. You will also create a research poster for the Marine Science Website and possibly for Birch Aquarium. The second course, Advanced Sustainable Seafood Science, is an online course that lets you design your own research project on seafood mislabeling and fraud. You will practice independent research, problem-solving, and community-based study with a focus on social issues in traceability. Both courses give you 4 pre-college units and help you understand sustainability and challenges in the seafood industry.
7. Molecular Medicine Workshops
Location: Online and UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Columbia University, University College London, and Alameda, CA
Cost: Varies by workshop and location
Program Dates: Winter Break- December 26 – 30 (online workshops). Residential workshop dates not specified
Application Deadline: Late summer
Eligibility: Mature middle and high school students aged 11-18
Molecular Medicine Workshops offer online and in-person programs that let you explore molecular and cellular biology with a focus on disease, drug development, and personalized medicine. Taught by Ph.D.-level instructors, you will build skills in research, lab work, and data analysis through lectures, labs, and original projects on genes and molecular processes. Residential camps give you a college-like experience with dorm living and guidance from teaching assistants and advisors. Topics include molecular neuroscience, cancer biology, immunology, and different bioinformatics tracks. Online workshops cover areas like cellular medicine, medicinal chemistry, and medical bioinformatics. Winter sessions focus on bioinformatics and medicinal chemistry and require an application, but not letters of recommendation.
8. Ocean Literacy, Climate, and Conservation Leadership
Location: Hybrid; live online via Zoom and in-person at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Diego, CA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: February 10 – March 22 (Cohort 1), March 24 – May 3 (Cohort 2)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-11 living in San Diego
This course teaches you about ocean literacy and its role in climate, human health, and conservation. You will take part in four in-person Saturday workshops at Scripps, along with live online sessions. You will build skills in data analysis, fieldwork, and problem-solving as you use tools such as ArcGIS, scientific diving equipment, and remote sensing technologies. The course helps you understand the health of marine ecosystems and develop leadership skills for conservation. After completing the course, you can apply for the Conservation Leadership Dive Program, which focuses on field research.
9. UC San Diego’s Academic Connections Research Scholars – Bioengineering Track
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA
Cost: $2,600 (Project A), $2,600 (Online), $3,000 (Hybrid), in addition to a potential $500 lab fee (Project B)
Program dates: January 14 – March 4 (Project A)
Application deadline: September 13 (Project A)
Eligibility: Students aged 15 and older in grades 10-12 with a minimum GPA of 3.0
The UC San Diego Academic Connections Research Scholars program lets you study advanced topics in specific subjects. The Bioengineering track comprises three levels: introductory, research, and internship. The internship typically takes place in the winter and usually requires completing the earlier levels first. In this program, you will build skills in research, problem solving, and presentation as you design an independent project, carry out lab experiments, and share your results. At the end, you will also earn 3 pre-college credits.
10. UW: AI4ALL
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Program Dates: September 8 – January 26
Application Deadline: July 31
Eligibility: High school students entering 11th or 12th grade
The University of Washington’s AI4ALL is a free 20-week program that introduces you to data science and artificial intelligence. You will build skills in understanding, analyzing, interpreting, and discussing how data science and machine learning are used. You will learn from UW students, researchers, and professionals in the field. The program emphasizes small group learning and discussions. Currently, the focus is on teaching you geographical information science and helping you develop skills to examine equity and bias in urban spaces.
11. Rice University Precollege Online STEM Programs
Location: Online
Cost: $1,795 per course
Program Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: Students, aged 13+
Rice University’s STEM programs enable high school students to learn about science and engineering before college. You can choose from tracks like genome engineering, physiology, medicine, space exploration, engineering, and psychology. Each course gives you video lectures from Rice faculty and guidance from mentors. You will spend 20 to 30 hours on lessons and activities, build skills like problem solving, critical thinking, and research, and learn at your own pace with feedback from experts. At the end, you will complete a capstone project to demonstrate what you learned.
12. Dartmouth Precollege Online STEM Programs
Location: Online
Cost: $1,895 per course
Program Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and above
Dartmouth’s Precollege Online STEM Courses give you the chance to study STEM subjects anytime and from anywhere. The courses are created by Dartmouth instructors and include topics such as psychology, regenerative medicine, and biology. You will develop skills in research, critical thinking, and problem-solving as you work independently under the guidance of mentors. You can take more than one course if you want. Each course takes 20 to 30 hours to complete and concludes with a capstone project, where you demonstrate what you have learned through a creative presentation.
13. Northwestern Pre-college Online Program: Engineering
Location: Online
Cost: $1,895
Program Dates: Sessions available throughout the year
Application deadline: One week before each session start date
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and above
This online course teaches you the design process and problem-solving methods that engineers use in different fields. You will learn how engineers work together to solve real problems while thinking about ethics, technology, and people’s needs. You will practice skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, and decision making. The course concludes with a capstone project, where you apply what you learned to an actual engineering problem with help from a mentor. You will learn through video lessons, simulations, and expert guidance.
14. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Programs
Location: Online or at various university campuses
Cost: Varies by course
Program Dates: Varies by course
Application deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: Students in grades 2-12 who are academically advanced learners
The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth offers online and in-person courses in various subjects, including STEM. In STEM, you can enroll in courses in areas like environmental science, chemistry, competitive math, robotics, and creative coding. Each course is taught by experienced instructors. You will build skills like problem-solving, coding, and research as you attend lectures, complete assignments, and work on projects both independently and in groups. If you choose online courses, you can study on your own schedule while still getting help from your instructor.
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