14 Summer Research Programs for International High School Students
If you are a high school student looking for a productive way to spend your summer, a research program is worth considering. Research programs give you a chance to explore subjects you are interested in and learn how to conduct and present research. As a participant, you will work on independent or group research projects under the mentorship of researchers.
In the process, you will develop lab skills, connect with professionals, and work with tools and resources that researchers use. The experience can also help you assess your interests and make informed decisions regarding your future education. Many programs are open to students from around the world, allowing you a chance to collaborate on research with a diverse group of peers. Some of them allow virtual participation, allowing you to engage in research from anywhere in the world.
To make the search easier, we have listed 14 summer research programs for international high school students!
1. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school students who are not current seniors; typically rising high school juniors with strong academic and extracurricular backgrounds apply; check detailed eligibility requirements here.
RSI is a competitive summer research program that offers about 80–100 high school students opportunities to engage in STEM research each year. Here, you will work closely with researchers on a project in STEM. During the first week, you will attend intensive STEM seminars and explore current developments across disciplines like biology, physics, and engineering. Following this, you will investigate a research question and develop a project. The program culminates in the production of a written report and oral conference-style presentation. Field trips to science and technology organizations are also part of the experience.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by format; financial assistance available
Dates: June – August for summer cohort; multiple cohorts in a year
Application deadline: May/June for summer sessions
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate strong academic performance; those accepted typically have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.3 out of 4
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research program offering mentored project-based learning opportunities to high school students. Here, you will work one-on-one with a Ph.D mentor on a research project focusing on a topic of choice. Research areas span disciplines, from STEM to social sciences. You will also work with a writing coach to understand the scientific paper writing process. At the end of the program, you will have a complete research paper! You can find more details about the available research areas, program formats, and the application here.
3. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual or in-person at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee with need-based fee waivers available; no stipend
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
Application deadline: February 2
Program dates: June 18 – August 8
ASSIP offers on-campus as well as virtual research internships in various research areas, including neuroscience, chemistry, engineering, computer science, statistics, medicine, and physics. You can choose a mentor offering a suitable research format to engage in research and refine your scientific writing and communication skills over the course of eight weeks. During the program, you will also learn about STEM career paths through discussion forums led by professors, researchers, and professionals. The program ends with the annual ASSIP Research Symposium and Celebration. As an ASSIP participant, you may get to publish your work or present it at conferences.
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. UC San Diego Academic Connections Research Scholars
Location: Online or in-person at the La Jolla, California campus
Cost: Varies by program
Dates: Vary by program
Application deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school students
UC San Diego Academic Connections offers high school students in-person and online research-based courses. You can choose from subjects like bioengineering, business research, marine science, or sports medicine and engage in college-level coursework and research practices. You will work with research tools and resources and participate in the full research process, from literature review and study design to analysis, scientific writing, and presentation. You will also attend live sessions to learn about lab techniques and STEM research. Visits to labs and local biotech or engineering companies may also be a part of the experience, based on the track you choose.
6. The Summer Science Program (SSP)
Location: Various university campuses
Cost: $9,800; financial aid available
Dates: Starts in June and runs for five weeks
Application deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who have completed the relevant coursework by the summer and are at least 15 years old but not yet 19
The Summer Science Program is a five-week science research program for high school juniors. You will live on a college campus and work on real research projects in fields like astrophysics, biochemistry, bacterial genomics, or synthetic chemistry. You will use real lab tools, run experiments, and learn from scientists throughout the program. In the process, you will build research, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Outside the lab, you will engage in social events, interact with STEM professionals, and participate in field trips to local museums.
7. University of Iowa’s Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: $7,500; need-based financial aid available
Dates: June 18 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11
SSTP is a summer research program that allows high school students to join a group and work on a research project in areas like chemistry, anthropology, genetics, pathology, and psychiatry. You will spend five weeks with a faculty mentor engaging in research in real labs. In addition to lab work, you will attend seminars to gain insights into scientific research. The program ends with the submission of a research abstract, poster, and project presentation. Completing SSTP also earns you three semester hours of college credit. You can check out SSTP expectations and timeline to know exactly what to expect from the program.
8. Stony Brook University Garcia Center Summer Scholars Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: $4,000 (laboratory usage fee) + $2,687.25 (room, board, and health services) + $50 registration fee
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 an introduction to polymer science through a research-intensive summer experience. You will engage in original research under the guidance of 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 designing and executing experiments. After the summer program, you may continue your research work throughout the academic year by seeking a mentorship extension.
9. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 7 – 25
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11
SPINWIP offers high schoolers early exposure to research and concepts in fields like cosmology, quantum mechanics, and astrophysics. Here, you will build practical skills while exploring how to code in Python and apply what you learn to physics-based team projects. Stanford faculty and researchers will conduct lectures, and undergraduate students will lead group work and discussions, offering you mentorship throughout the program. The program offers sessions on college readiness and career pathways to help you chart your future education path.
10. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS): Virtual Track
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Five weeks in the summer
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in North America
JHIBS offers a five-week research-based summer internship to high school students in North America interested in biomedical research. Here, you will attend virtual sessions led by researchers and scientists, explore neuroscience research, and engage in experiments. You will also learn and use laboratory techniques, participate in scientific presentations, and connect with professionals and peers. The program offers access to professional development workshops and college prep classes to help you explore educational and career paths in the medical field.
11. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program
Location: University of California at Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $12,474 (residential) | $5,175 (commuter); financial aid available
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application deadline: March 17
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 and 11 with a weighted GPA of 3.8
The Research Mentorship Program at UC Santa Barbara allows you to work closely with university researchers on a topic you choose. You can explore areas like psychology, environmental policy, earth science, media, arts, or technology. During the program, you will spend 35 to 50 hours each week engaging in research, fieldwork, data collection, and coursework. You will learn how to write a research paper and present it at a final event. You will also earn college credit and build essential skills like critical thinking, writing, and communication in the process.
12. Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipends awarded to students experiencing financial hardship
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, in and outside the U.S., who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The Rockefeller SSRP is a team-based research experience. You will work within a team made up of peers and scientific mentors from Memorial Sloan Kettering, Rockefeller University, and Weill Cornell. Each team functions semi-independently, getting its own resources, lab space, and schedule. In the first week, you, along with your team members, will explore a broad topic, and by week two, your team will select a specific research question. In the remaining weeks, you will investigate the chosen question through experiments, data collection, and analysis, while receiving feedback from your mentors.
13. EnergyMag Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Program dates: Vary; half-time internships (2–8 weeks, 20 hours/week) available in the summer
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have completed at least one honors science or English class and maintain a GPA over 3.25
EnergyMag offers a small number of online internships to high school and college students interested in learning about renewable energy. As an intern, you will learn about energy storage, build research and analysis skills, and gain research experience. As an intern, you will research and analyze topics related to energy storage, focusing on a specific company, technology, or market. You will work with a mentor and gather and analyze relevant data, compile your findings, and create an analysis report. At the end of the internship, your report will be published on the EnergyMag website, and you will receive an Internship Letter of Accomplishment.
14. BioResearch Academy
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: $9,950; financial aid available
Dates: June 24 – July 11
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
The BioResearch Academy offers a residential program in Boston for students interested in lab-based biology research. You will explore the basics of biology research and experimental methods in a classroom setting and then engage in lab work, designing experiments, collecting and studying data. You will also study published papers to understand how researchers describe experiments. You will explore new tools and methods for research through discussions and reading sessions. The program also helps you prepare for competitions like the Biology Olympiad, contests like MIT THINK, and science fairs like Regeneron ISEF.