If you’re a high school student interested in exploring a subject more deeply, research opportunities can help you build a strong academic base and develop skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and time management. These research opportunities often involve working with mentors, reading academic materials, and conducting hands-on investigations or analysis , giving you a chance to learn how research is done in academic or professional settings.
If you’re located near Yale or looking to apply there for an undergraduate program, you may also want to explore programs or outreach initiatives the university offers to high school students. These can provide access to campus resources, faculty-led projects, or structured research programs designed specifically for high school participants. Participating in such opportunities can help you understand how research ideas develop and evolve, while also giving you the chance to work on projects in a focused and supportive setting.
Here are 12 Yale research opportunities for high school students!
1. Yale University — Pathways to Arts & Humanities Summer Scholars Program
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: April 4
Program Dates: July 21 — August 1
Eligibility: New Haven, West Haven, or Orange (Amity) public school students currently in grades 9–11.
Pathways to Summer Scholars is a free, two-week summer program offered to high school students from the New Haven area. Hosted by Yale, the program centers on the arts and humanities and provides opportunities to engage directly with faculty, graduate students, and campus resources. During the program, you’ll take part in workshops that involve close analysis of materials across several disciplines.
For example, you might examine archival texts at the Beinecke Library, study visual works at the Yale University Art Gallery, or explore illustrated narratives at the Yale Center for British Art. You’ll also have the chance to work with tools and methods used in areas like photography, graphic design, and ancient language studies. The program emphasizes learning through exploration and approaches humanities topics through focused research and direct engagement with primary sources.
2. Yale School of Medicine’s Discovery to Cure High School Internship
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: Check here for updates
Application Deadline: February 14
Program Dates: Typically in the summer for 6 weeks. Check here for updates on specific dates.
Eligibility: Students must have completed their junior year of high school, be 16 years of age, and attend a local Connecticut high school to apply.
The Peter E. Schwartz Discovery to Cure High School Internship Program is a six-week summer research opportunity for rising high school seniors who are at least 16 years old. As a participant, you’ll work full-time in a Yale biomedical lab under the guidance of a Principal Investigator, contributing to an ongoing research project.
The program includes required training sessions and activities, and you’re expected to commit fully without joining other summer programs during this period. It’s designed to give you direct experience in biomedical research and exposure to academic lab environments.
3. Yale University — Yale Pathways Research Internships
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: Free! Students receive a stipend of $2,500.
Application Deadline: February 16
Program Dates: June 25 — August 15
Eligibility: Public high school students from the New Haven area; 16 by program start; GPA of at least 3.0
The Yale Pathways Research Internships (YPRI) program is a seven-week opportunity for high school students to take part in research within Yale science labs. You’ll be paired with a graduate student mentor who will guide you through your daily lab work and help you navigate the research process.
Alongside your lab placement, you’ll attend workshops that focus on scientific methods, data analysis, and other foundational research skills. The program is designed to give you practical experience in scientific investigation across different fields and lab settings.
4. Yale ITS High School Internship Program
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: No cost. Stipend provided.
Application Deadline: Check here for updates.
Program Dates: Six weeks during summer. Dates not specified.
Eligibility: You should be 16 years of age, residing in New Haven, West Haven, or Orange, and should be enrolled at an accredited high school
Yale’s ITS High School Internship Program is a six-week summer placement for students nominated by their schools. During the program, you’ll work alongside IT staff and managers, contributing to projects that explore the role of technology in a large institutional setting.
You’ll have the chance to learn how research and data inform IT decision-making and gain experience with tools used in areas like systems support, cybersecurity, or user services. The internship also includes workshops that introduce you to the structure of a university workplace.
5. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History EVO Internship
Location: Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven, CT
Cost: Stipend paid
Application Deadline: Check here for updates.
Dates: Takes place in the summer. Check here for updates.
Eligibility: New Haven and West Haven Public high school students can apply.
The Yale Peabody Museum’s EVOLUTIONS (EVO) Internship offers high school students a chance to participate in research through a combination of academic-year classes, part-time museum work, and summer lab placements. If selected for the internship, you’ll collaborate with Yale scientists and graduate students on research projects that may involve both laboratory and fieldwork.
These projects often focus on topics in natural history or related scientific disciplines. The program concludes with a research symposium at the Peabody Museum, where you will present your project outcomes to peers and mentors.
6. Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS)
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $6,500 (financial aid available) + $90 nonrefundable application fee (fee waivers available)
Application Deadline: January 10
Program Dates: Session I: June 22 — July 4 | Session II: July 6 — July 18 | Session III: July 20 — August 1
Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors (ages 16–18) from around the world
The Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) program includes a range of academic tracks that incorporate research-based learning through seminars, discussions, and collaborative projects. Each track is designed to help you approach problems from multiple perspectives and apply research methods to real-world questions.
STEM-focused sessions involve investigating current topics in science, such as dark matter, neuroscience, or quantum systems, often requiring you to interpret data, evaluate scientific literature, and engage in group analysis. Alternatively, in the “Politics, Law, and Economics” session, you’ll examine case studies and explore policy questions by working through complex scenarios.
7. Yale Citizens Thinkers Writers Program
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: Free (includes tuition, room, board, and travel expenses)
Application Deadline: March 20
Program Dates: July 13–25
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors from New Haven public schools. Preference is given to students who would be the first in their family to attend college.
The Yale Citizens Thinkers Writers Program is a two-week summer seminar followed by academic-year meetings that introduce high school students to research in the humanities. As a participant, you’ll study primary texts in philosophy, literature, and political theory through guided seminars with Yale faculty.
The program emphasizes close reading, analytical writing, and discussion as tools for exploring historical and contemporary ideas about citizenship and society. After the summer session, you’ll continue to engage with faculty and peers to further develop your understanding of the material and refine your research and writing practices.
8. Yale University — Morse Summer Music Academy
Location: Yale School of Music, New Haven, Connecticut
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March (tentative)
Program Dates: June 24 — July 19
Eligibility: New Haven public high school students who are enrolled in their school’s music program and have a recommendation from their school’s music teacher.
The Morse Summer Music Academy is a free program for high school musicians involved in band, choir, or orchestra at an intermediate or advanced level. Over the course of the program, you’ll work with instructors and teaching artists from the Yale School of Music to study music theory, performance, and composition.
In addition to rehearsals and ensemble work, you’ll explore the structure and interpretation of musical pieces, gaining experience that supports both performance and academic approaches to music. Placement in the program is determined through an in-person audition.
9. The Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA)
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $8,000 with financial aid options available.
Application Deadline: March 8
Program Dates: June 23 — August 2
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a passion for astrophysics can apply.
The Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA) is a six-week program for rising high school seniors that combines a two-week online introduction with a four-week residential research experience. If you’re interested in astronomy, physics, mathematics, or computer science, you’ll have the opportunity to work on a small research team under the guidance of Yale instructors.
Throughout the program, you’ll learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret astronomical data, develop programming skills for scientific applications, and present your findings in a formal research setting. The program emphasizes collaborative work and direct mentorship in a focused academic setting.
10. Yale Social Robotics Lab High School Internship
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: Check here for updates.
Program Dates: 6 weeks, typically between June — August. Check here for updates.
Eligibility: High school students entering their junior or senior years who will be at least 16 years old at the start of the internship.
The Yale Social Robotics Lab High School Internship is a six-week, unpaid summer program for students interested in robotics and human-social interaction. During the internship, you’ll collaborate with researchers, faculty, and fellow students in a Yale lab, contributing to ongoing projects focused on social robotics.
This hands-on experience allows you to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world research, develop technical skills, and engage with the methods used in robotics research. You’ll also receive mentorship from Yale researchers, which includes insight into academic research practices in the field and future academic career paths.
11. Yale Young Writer’s Workshop
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $3275 (on-campus with housing) | $2905 (on-campus without housing) | $1,320 (online)
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: June 21 — 27
Eligibility: Open to students who are between the ages of 16 and 18 and are rising high school seniors.
The Yale Young Writers’ Workshop offers a writing program for high school students with the option of participating either on-campus or online. During the workshop, you’ll choose a genre — fiction, nonfiction, or poetry — and engage in focused writing exercises, research, and discussions.
Through small group settings, you’ll receive personalized feedback on your work and have the opportunity to refine your writing techniques. The program emphasizes exploring new ideas and improving your writing through research, critical reading, and revision, while connecting with both peers and faculty who provide guidance and insight into the writing process.
12. Yale Summer Sessions
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $5,270 (for 1 course credit with 4 semester credit hours). More details here.
Application Deadline: Varies based on course and session selected. Here is the breakdown.
Program Dates: May 26 — June 27 | June 30 — August 1
Eligibility: For current juniors entering their senior year or current seniors entering their first year of college. Must be at least 16 years of age or older by the program’s start date.
Yale offers summer college courses for credit to high school students, allowing you to take college-level classes alongside university students. These courses provide an opportunity to explore subjects in-depth, such as programming, medicine, and theater, through research-driven assignments and case studies. You’ll engage in analytical discussions, complete readings, and apply concepts to practical scenarios. These courses offer an opportunity to gain credits, experience Yale’s academic environment, and develop research and critical thinking skills.
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 – Yale University