If you’re a high school student interested in business research and wish to explore the field in an accessible way, apply to an online business summer research program! There is a lot to learn from these summer programs, from theoretical concepts like market research to skills like critical analysis and reasoning. If you participate in a business research program, you can expect to study the field in-depth, analyze data, and write scientific papers – handy skills to have once you head to college.
In this article, we have listed some great online business summer research programs that you can apply to. As virtual offerings, you can attend these programs from anywhere and save up on a ton of money and the logistical hassles of moving cities/states for a program!
While we have primarily focused on programs that directly involve business research, this list also includes general business and entrepreneurship programs that include elements and/or tools of research.
Here are 14 online business summer research programs for high school students!
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Online
Program dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, and the Spring from March to June
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility:
- You must be currently enrolled in high school
- Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note: students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
- No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program for high school students. As a participant, you get the opportunity to work on an independent research project under 1-on-1 guidance from a PhD mentor. You can choose to conduct research in the field of business and even customize your research topic according to your interests.
Through the process, you will get personalized guidance from your mentor. This program is a solid option if you’re looking to study the field in-depth and gain a university-level understanding of the subject. You can apply for the program here.
2. Veritas AI’s AI + Finance Deep Dive
Location: Online
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both.
Program dates: Multiple 10-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
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’s AI + Finance Deep Dive program offers a unique perspective on business research by exploring the intersection between AI and finance. During the program, you will study how predictive modeling can be used in finance, banking, wealth management, fraud detection, and more. The program consists of lectures, coding walkthroughs, and projects in which you will use artificial intelligence and machine learning models to predict future financial patterns using past data.
3. Wharton Global Youth Program’s Future of the Business World
Location: Online
Cost: $4,099. Full and partial scholarships are available
Program dates: Session 1 from June 16 – 27, Session 2 from July 7 – 18, Session 3 from July 21 – August 1
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12
Future of the Business World is one of Wharton’s online pre-college programs for high school students. The program aims to give you the skills and knowledge required to become part of the next generation of global leaders. You can expect to learn about various business topics, current issues facing the business world, and the changing business landscape.
You will then work with two interactive business simulations to put what you have learned into practice and solve a real-world problem. In the end, you will work on a final project that makes predictions about the future of business.
4. UC San Diego’s Business Research for Innovation, Design, Growth, and Entrepreneurship (BRIDGE)
Location: Online
Cost: $2,500
Program dates: Session 1 takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays from July 7 – 25, Session 2 takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 7 – 25
Application deadline: May 28. Students are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12
The BRIDGE course is part of UC San Diego’s Research Scholars program, which gives high school students the opportunity to engage in university-level research. The course will teach you the fundamentals of business while also covering innovation, entrepreneurship, and management.
You will learn through a combination of lectures, case studies, and venture simulations, and dive into topics like venture financing, growth strategy, customer needs, business models, and how to develop a business proposal. You can earn 3 pre-college units as part of this course.
5. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Online
Cost: None. There is a $25 application fee, but waivers are available for those who need them
Program dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students who are at least 15 years old
George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program is a mentored research internship for high school and undergraduate students. As an intern, you will get 1-on-1 guidance from a faculty researcher, gain hands-on research experience, and develop scientific writing skills. Under the school of business, the program offers two internship opportunities in the field of finance — one looks at blockchain, data analytics, finance, and mathematical modeling, while the second explores the economics of AI, market structure, investments, corporate finance, and FinTech.
6. EnergyMag Research Internship
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program dates: Rolling dates. You can choose between a half-time internship of 2-8 weeks or a quarter-time internship of 1-9 months
Application deadline: Open all year round
Eligibility: Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors only who have taken at least one honors science or honors English class
EnergyMag is a non-profit organization that offers a virtual internship for high school and college students to conduct research and get work experience. The program focuses on research in the fields of environmental science and business. As a virtual intern, you will be asked to research either a company, technology, specific market, or scientific issue.
You will then study the topic, reach out to relevant experts, and then compile all your research into a draft analysis report. You will receive mentorship in the process, and if your report is publishable, you will also receive a letter of accomplishment.
7. Wharton Global Youth Program’s Essentials of Leadership
Location: Online
Cost: $4,099. Full and partial scholarships are available
Program dates: Session 1 from June 16 – June 27, Session 2 from July 7 – July 18
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12
Another of Wharton’s pre-college programs, Essentials of Leadership is a 2-week program that aims to foster the essential skills to become a leader in today’s global economy. While the program will enhance soft skills like problem-solving and research-based theories of leadership, it will also improve your understanding of business.
You will engage with interactive business simulations, conduct an industry analysis of a leading company, profile its CEO and their leadership traits, and spend 1 hour every day developing business skills with a TA.
8. Babson Summer Study for High School Students
Location: Online
Cost: $6,295 and a $95 application fee. Limited partial and full scholarships are available
Program dates: July 7 – 28
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
This pre-college program hosted by Babson College is a 3-week intensive summer program that focuses on entrepreneurship. The curriculum uses an entrepreneurial lens to study social, economic, and environmental problems as listed by the UN’s Global Goals.
You will learn about leadership, marketing, finance, business communication, and real-world business challenges. You will also be assigned a mentor, who will guide you through the process. At the end of this program, you will earn 4 college credits!
9. MIT THINK Scholars
Location: Online, the visit to MIT’s campus is the only in-person element
Cost: Free
Program dates: Finalists are announced in February and projects are completed by June
Application deadline: January 1 of each year
Eligibility: All high school students can apply as individuals or in teams of two
Prize: A $1,000 budget, weekly mentoring, and a paid trip to MIT’s campus.
MIT THINK Scholars is a research competition that also offers high school students guidance on their research projects. If you already have an idea for a business research project and need resources or guidance in completing it, you should consider applying to this program.
As a finalist in the competition, you will receive weekly mentoring sessions and up to $1,000 of funding for your project. However, since this program is geared towards science, technology, and engineering, your project would need to look at the intersection of business with any one of these fields. At the end of the program, you will present your findings to the THINK team and other MIT students.
10. Georgetown University’s Online Business Course
Location: Online
Cost: $1,795. Need-based scholarships are available
Program dates: You can choose between 1-week, 2-week, or 4-week programs. Multiple sessions are available
Application deadline: Varies with each session
Eligibility: Students who are at least 13 years of age
Georgetown University’s “Becoming an Entrepreneur: An Inside Look at Innovation” course explores the entire process of launching a business, from identifying target customers to delivering a business pitch. As a participant, you will learn the history of entrepreneurship, networking techniques, various business models, market research, and how to deal with failures. The program culminates in a capstone project, which presents your business idea. You will also have the support of a mentor during the program.
11. PHC Group’s Mary Miller Summer Program
Location: Online
Cost: None. This is a paid internship, but the amount hasn’t been specified
Program dates: Not specified; runs during the summer months
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
PHC Group’s Mary Miller Summer Program is an internship program that offers high schoolers the chance to get work experience with a global team. As an intern, you will contribute to the team’s social media projects, online community interaction, technical support, and relationship building. Your tasks will include planning meetings for collaborative exchanges, conducting social marketing research, analyzing social interactions, and implementing suggestions from team members in a prompt manner. Your work will involve a fair amount of industry research, data analysis, and experiences with real-world business challenges — all of which are elements crucial to business research.
12. Center for Talented Youth’s The Mathematics of Volatile Markets
Location: Online
Cost: Ranges from $1,365 – $1,433
Program dates: Summer sessions run from June 16 – July 3 and July 14 – August 1
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 7-10
Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth offers this course for students interested in the financial aspects of business. The program explores the cycles of financial markets and how economic events affect businesses and individuals. As a participant, you will analyze stock- and bond-market patterns, understand various investment mechanisms for businesses, study major events using mathematical simulations, and explore various solutions to mitigate market volatility. You will learn through a combination of group meetings, assignments, quizzes, and multiple projects.
13. Building-U High School Internship
Location: Online
Cost: None
Program dates: Takes place over three months at any time of the year
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: All high school students
Building-U is an online platform that offers high school students support with preparing for postsecondary opportunities. One of its offerings is a three-month internship which gives high school students the chance to get an inside look at how the organization works.
The organization includes several student-run teams like Resource R&D, Multimedia, Marketing, Business and Development, Social Media Content and Analytics, Data Analytics, and more. You will be assigned to one of these teams and contribute to the strategizing and decision-making involved in the team’s work.
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like business, finance, and more, 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 – Wharton, University of Pennsylvania
