If you want to study medicine in the future, free summer programs for high school students are one of the strongest options to start early. You can learn how clinical research works, how to read lab reports, or how to work with real medical tools like ELISA kits or PCR machines. These programs let you build skills without putting pressure on your pockets.
Most programs focus on one or more areas: public health, anatomy, neuroscience, epidemiology, molecular biology, or healthcare systems. You might take part in patient case studies, collect data for a research mentor, or use tools like R or MATLAB to analyze medical results. If you’re not sure whether to study medicine, biology, or health science, these programs can help you figure that out.
To get started, here are 15 free medical summer programs for high school students!
15 Free Medical Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility:You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall and must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation stands as a non-profit research program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. Stemming from the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, renowned for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences at zero cost.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can apply here!
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Financial aid is available!
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: All high school students can apply!
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. In the AI + Medicine Deep Dive, you will learn how AI is used in the healthcare and medical industry. You’ll get a chance to work on real-world projects using AI & ML models to diagnose diseases, sharpen medical scans, and explain their outcomes to aid doctors and patients.
3. OPTIMUS Outreach Program
Location: San Diego, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline: Early Spring
Eligibility: 10th–11th grade students from select San Diego partner schools
The OPTIMUS Outreach Program is a free, eight-week summer experience hosted by UC San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center. You’ll study cancer biology, conduct lab research, shadow physicians at UC San Diego Health, and learn clinical skills like suturing under the guidance of surgical trainees. The program includes academic advising, science workshops, and mentorship from faculty and medical students.
4. Student Research Internship Program – Scripps Research Translational Institute
Location: La Jolla, CA
Cost: Free. A stipend is provided
Dates: June 2 – August 8 or June 16 – August 22
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ with strong interest in biomedical or translational research
The Student Research Internship Program at the Scripps Research Translational Institute is a 10-week summer opportunity for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. You’ll work with Scripps researchers on biomedical projects in genomics, digital health, and precision medicine. Training includes genome-wide association studies, digital phenotyping, and reproducible research methods. You’ll attend seminars, complete an independent research project, and present your findings at the end of the program.
5. STaRS Internship Program
Location: Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: November
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ by program start
The STaRS Internship Program at Stanford Medicine is a free, seven-week summer research experience for high school and college students. You’ll work in Stanford labs on projects in reconstructive surgery, tissue engineering, and medical device design. The program includes hands-on lab training, weekly seminars, prototyping sessions, and exposure to biomedical engineering tools. You’ll work with clinicians, engineers, and peers on translational research in regenerative medicine and biomaterials.
6. Project Success
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: None. A stipend is paid
Dates: June 30 – August 15
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from Boston or Cambridge, age 16+, minimum GPA 2.7
The Project Success program at Harvard Medical School offers a paid, seven-week summer research internship for high school juniors and seniors who live in Boston or Cambridge, MA. You’ll work in Harvard-affiliated labs on real biomedical research projects, learning lab techniques, data analysis, and academic writing. The program includes seminars with scientists and physicians, site visits to hospitals and biotech companies, and workshops in scientific communication.
7. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: Duarte, CA
Stipend: $4,500
Dates: June 3 – August 9
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy is a paid, 10-week research internship at City of Hope in California. You’ll join a biomedical research team, choose your own project topic, and work full-time in a cancer research lab. The program includes weekly seminars on ethics and communication, and ends with a poster presentation and written report. Many students contribute to publications or patents, and most receive a $4,500 stipend.
8. MD Anderson Cancer Center -High School Summer Program
Location: Houston, TX
Stipend: $6,800
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Texas high school seniors aged 18+ by program start
The MD Anderson Cancer Center High School Summer Program is a 10-week, full-time research internship in Houston, Texas, designed for Texas high school seniors. You’ll work full-time in top-tier oncology labs on projects like molecular diagnostics and cancer therapeutics, guided by faculty mentors. You’ll attend seminars led by physicians and scientists that focus on lab safety, data analysis, and scientific communication. By the end, you’ll present your findings through posters and abstracts, you’ll be paid a stipend for your work.
9. Helios Scholars – Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)
Location: Phoenix, AZ or Flagstaff, AZ
Stipend: $14.70/hour
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: December 16 – February 5
Eligibility: Arizona high school seniors (age 16+) with U.S. work authorization
Helios Scholars at TGen is an intensive, paid 8-week summer internship designed for Arizona high school graduates and college students who want hands-on experience in biomedical research. You’ll work full-time in labs at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), focusing on real-world projects involving cancer, diabetes, neurological diseases, and public health pathogens. Alongside your lab work, you’ll learn genomics, computational biology, and bioinformatics tools while honing your coding workflows and mastering data reproducibility.
10. Seacole Scholars Program – Lifespan
Location: Providence, RI
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–19 with a CNA license
Seacole Scholars Program – Lifespan is a summer employment opportunity for high school students aged 16 to 19 who hold a valid Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license. Based at Rhode Island Hospital and run by Lifespan, the program places you directly in hospital nursing units for seven weeks, where you’ll work four days a week alongside healthcare professionals. You’ll gain hands-on experience with patient care protocols, clinical workflows, and the day-to-day responsibilities of a CNA
11. UCSF Science & Health Education Partnership (SEP) High School Intern Program
Stipend: $3,200 (part-time); $4,500 (full-time)
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: January – March 2
Location: San Francisco, CA
Eligibility: High school juniors attending SFUSD schools, SF charter schools, or College Track San Francisco
UCSF Science & Health Education Partnership (SEP) High School Intern Program is an 8-week paid summer internship that places you in UCSF research labs. You explore fields like immunology, molecular biology, neuroscience, and more. If you’re a high school junior attending an SFUSD school, SF charter school, or College Track San Francisco, you’re eligible to apply. You’ll work closely with UCSF scientists to learn experimental methods, analyze data, and present your findings through posters and presentations.
12. University of Chicago Medicine & Partners ResearcHStart
Location: Chicago and Urbana-Champaign, IL (multiple university campuses)
Stipend: $3,000
Dates: Second week of June – First week of August
Application Deadline: January 20
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors (age 16+) from the Chicago or Urbana-Champaign areas
ResearcHStart is an intensive 8-week summer internship that places you in cancer research labs across five top institutions: University of Chicago, Northwestern, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago, and Rush University. You’ll work full-time on cutting-edge projects in cancer immunology, bioengineering, and experimental therapeutics, guided by experienced faculty mentors. The program includes rigorous training in research methods, data collection, and scientific communication, plus career development workshops and a faculty lecture series. It all culminates in a research symposium where you present your findings to peers, scientists, and family.
13. Brigham and Women’s Hospital Student Success Jobs Program (SSJP)
Location: Boston, MA
Stipend: $2,500 – $4,000
Dates: Year-round; start dates vary
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Boston public high school students from partner schools with interest in healthcare or medical careers
Brigham and Women’s Hospital Student Success Jobs Program (SSJP) is a year-round internship designed for Boston high school students interested in healthcare, science, and medical careers. You’ll work part-time during the school year (7–10 hours/week) and full-time in the summer, placed in hospital departments where you’ll take on real tasks and learn clinical workflows, data handling, and professional communication. You’ll be matched with mentors who guide you through authentic work experiences and expose you to career paths in medicine and research.
14. Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Program
Location: Seattle, WA
Stipend: $2,000
Dates: July 14 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 6 – March 9
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 who can commute during the program
The Seattle Children’s Research Institute offers a four-week, in-person Research Training Program (RTP) for high school students entering grade 11 who live locally and can commute to Seattle. Led by PhD scientists, the program focuses on biomedical research in areas such as biochemistry, gene editing, and infectious diseases. You will gain lab skills, receive mentorship, and attend college and career workshops.
15. Massachusetts General Hospital Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: Boston, Cambridge, or Somerville, MA
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: November 1 – January 31
Eligibility: Rising seniors or recent graduates living or studying in Massachusetts; U.S. work authorization required
Massachusetts General Hospital Youth Neurology Education and Research Program is a six-week, full-time summer internship for rising seniors and recent graduates living or studying in Massachusetts. You’ll begin with a boot camp that covers lab safety, research methods, and clinical training, then join a neurology research team to work on real projects in neurobiology or neuroscience. Throughout the program, you’ll attend weekly seminars led by top neurologists, practice hands-on lab techniques, and present your findings at a closing symposium.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – University of Chicago Medicine