If you’re a high school student based in Toronto and looking to deepen your academic experience, joining a research program can be a valuable step. Many research opportunities for high school students in Toronto allow you to explore real-world scenarios across various fields, including STEM, medicine, and the humanities, often in collaboration with university labs, hospitals, or research centers. By participating in research early on, you can develop advanced skills like data analysis, critical thinking, and academic writing.
Many of these programs also offer mentorship from professors and graduate students, providing you with insights into both the research process and potential future careers. They’re a strong addition to your resume or college applications, especially if you’re considering pursuing a research-based major later on.
In this blog, we’ve put together 15 research opportunities for high school students in Toronto that offer hands-on experience, expert guidance, and a closer look at academic research environments.
14 Research Opportunities for High School Students in Toronto
1. University of Toronto: Summer Psychology Research Initiative (SPRINT)
Cost: Free
Location: University of Toronto, St. George campus (Virtual accommodations can be made)
Program Dates: Last 2 weeks of July; July 15 – 26
Application Deadline: Opens sometime between April to May, tentatively
Eligibility: High school students studying in Ontario; however, 11th to 12th graders are preferred. Applicants who identify as Black, Indigenous, PoC, or belong to other underrepresented groups are prioritized
If you’re a student in Ontario, try the SPRINT program, which will introduce you to psychology as a research discipline through two tracks: Lecture and Research. In the Lecture Stream, you’ll explore areas like cognitive psychology, social behavior, and neuropsychology through academic sessions and researcher panels. The Research Stream adds training in research design, hypothesis generation, and proposal writing, guided by undergraduate and graduate mentors. You’ll develop skills in literature review, experimental reasoning, and scientific communication.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Cost: Varies by program type; Financial aid is available
Location: Remote
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts, ranging from 12 weeks to 1 year, throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (GPA of 3.3 out of 4); No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs ambitious high school students with PhD mentors from top universities to conduct individualized research projects across a wide range of disciplines—from machine learning and economics to neuroscience and environmental science. Over 12 weeks, you will work one-on-one with your mentor to design a research question, explore scholarly literature, and produce an original research paper or project. By the end of the program, you will not only gain insight into the research process but also develop a strong foundation in critical analysis, academic writing, and scholarly communication.
3. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
4. University of Toronto: Medicine Youth Summer Program
Cost: CA$1,668
Location: University of Toronto, St. George campus
Program Dates: Multiple week-long modules from July to August
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12; Module 4 is open to 9th graders
Med YSP offers high school students exposure to university-level medical science through intensive, week-long modules focused on specific areas of human biology. In Human Physiology, you will study organ systems through labs that measure lung function, blood pressure, and neural response times. Pharmacology & Toxicology introduces pharmacokinetics, drug-receptor interactions, and pharmacogenetics using clinical case studies and lab simulations. Molecular Biology & Genetics encompasses techniques such as DNA fingerprinting, genetic transformation, and CRISPR, with practical applications in forensics. Microbiology includes lab work on Gram staining, antibiotic resistance testing, and water microbiology. Across all modules, you will engage in structured lab experiments, data analysis, and scientific discussions to build research skills in diagnostic and therapeutic sciences.
5. Focused Ultrasound High School Summer Research Program
Cost: Free
Location: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Program Dates: The program will run between July and August
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school students; 16+ by July 1; Strong academic performance in math and sciences
This program places high school students in an active research lab focused on medical applications of focused ultrasound (FUS) technology. As a participant, you will assist with experiments and data collection involving acoustic physics, biomedical imaging, and therapeutic ultrasound systems. Through hands-on work, you will develop skills in signal analysis, experimental design, and hardware/software integration related to device prototyping. The interdisciplinary nature of the lab provides exposure to concepts from physics, mechanical/electrical engineering, and biology, particularly in the context of non-invasive medical treatment development.
6. Math Mentorship Program
Cost: $255 + Tax
Location: University of Toronto, St. George campus
Program Dates: January – May
Application Deadline: November 9
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders
The Math Mentorship Program at the University of Toronto is a highly competitive program that connects high school students across Canada with mathematicians, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty, to work on original math research projects. The program includes regular one-on-one meetings where you will explore advanced mathematical ideas and receive feedback as your projects develop. Top students may be invited to present their work at the Canadian Undergraduate Mathematics Conference. This is a selective, research-intensive experience designed for students with strong mathematical interest and ability.
7. DEEP Summer Academy
Cost: CA$725/week for domestic students; CA$1,100/week for international students; Financial aid may be available
Location: University of Toronto, St. George Campus
Program Dates: Multiple one-week sessions between July and August
Application Deadline: Round 1 (Early Bird): February 25 – March 23; Round 2: March 24 – April 13
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12; Must have strong performance in science and math; International students can apply
Taught by graduate students and researchers, the program offers courses in fields like robotics, data science, biomedical engineering, and cybersecurity. As a participant, you will gain exposure to experimental design, rapid prototyping, algorithm development, and systems modeling through lectures, lab sessions, and group research projects. The curriculum emphasizes conceptual depth and technical skills while encouraging you to critically investigate real-world problems. DEEP provides a rare opportunity to experience the rigor of research-based STEM education before university.
8. STEAM Design Program
Cost/Stipend: No cost; CA$1,600 stipend
Location: University of Toronto, St. George Campus
Program Dates: July 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: October 1 – March 21
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-11 from underrepresented communities in health sciences
As a participant, you’ll engage in problem-based learning led by university researchers and professionals, focusing on identifying systemic challenges in healthcare and proposing actionable solutions. You’ll apply principles from biology, public health, and engineering while developing skills in needs assessment, stakeholder analysis, and prototype design. The program culminates in a judged Design Competition, where you present your work to experts. Emphasis is placed on teamwork, iterative feedback, and solution-driven inquiry, and top projects receive extended mentorship and support beyond the program.
9. SciHigh – Quinn Family Summer Internship Program
Stipend: CA$17.20/hour
Location: Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital
Application Deadline: April 2
Program Dates: June 30 – August 22
Eligibility: Grade 11-12 students (16+) who have taken grade 11 Biology and Chemistry; Must be eligible to work in Canada and comply with Sinai Health’s vaccination rules
SciHigh – Quinn Family Summer Internship Program places high school students directly in biomedical research labs at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute for an immersive eight-week experience. You will engage in ongoing research alongside graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, contributing to experimental design, data collection, and lab-based techniques in fields such as molecular biology, developmental biology, and cellular physiology. The program also includes regular seminars, safety training, and lab meetings, offering a comprehensive introduction to academic research culture.
10. Emily Stowe Scholar Program
Cost: No cost
Location: Women’s College Hospital, Grenville St, Toronto
Program Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: 11th-12th graders who are 16+ by program start; Must have taken grade 11 or 12 biology and chemistry; More details here
This six-week research program at Women’s College Hospital offers high school students, particularly those who identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized women, trans, two-spirit, non-binary, or living with a disability, the opportunity to work on health sciences research projects. You will collaborate with mentors on real-world health research, attend weekly seminars on equity and medical systems, and develop skills in data collection, literature review, and critical analysis. The program emphasizes inclusive mentorship and encourages interdisciplinary thinking in health contexts. It concludes with a student-led Research Symposium, where you will present your work and receive peer and professional feedback.
11. Spark Lab Summer Program
Cost: CA$495; Financial aid offered
Location: York University, Keele Campus
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: High school students (each course has different grade requirements)
The Spark Lab Summer Program at York University offers high school students a chance to explore physics, biology, chemistry, and interdisciplinary science through hands-on experimentation. You will get to engage with experimental modules in undergraduate lab spaces and work with lab techniques such as titration, microscopy, basic spectrometry, and data collection. In the Research Spark stream, you will be introduced to current faculty-led research projects, learning how to form hypotheses, analyze scientific literature, and understand real-world applications of ongoing studies.
12. CREATE: Engineering Design Challenges
Cost: CA$725/week for domestic students; CA$1,100/week for international students
Location: U of T, St George Campus
Dates: Multiple sessions from July to August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school student
CREATE is a week-long summer program that introduces high school students to the fundamentals of engineering through hands-on design challenges modeled after real-world problems. As a participant, you will work in teams to apply the Engineering Design Cycle—problem identification, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration, across domains such as civil, mechanical, biomedical, and electrical engineering. The program emphasizes systems thinking, technical communication, CAD-based design, and team-based problem solving, offering a practical introduction to engineering as a research-driven and interdisciplinary field.
13. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Dates: July 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: Application typically closes in May
Eligibility: High school students between 9th to 11th grade at the time of application
Over three weeks, you will explore quantum mechanics, cosmology, quantum computing, and astrophysics through lectures from Stanford professors and guided small-group projects led by undergraduates. You will gain hands-on coding experience in Python and apply it to physics-based simulations and analyses. The program also includes college planning and career workshops and offers mentorship from Stanford faculty and researchers. No prior physics or programming experience is required, and students from underrepresented backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply.
14. Youreka Canada
Cost: CA$80 registration fee
Location: Various university campuses across Canada
Program Dates: 10 weeks from January – April
Application Deadline: January 6 (all other universities); December 28 (Kingston applicants)
Eligibility: Canadian students in grades 9-12
Youreka Canada is a 10-week research and mentorship program that pairs high school students with undergraduate students who act as mentors. During the program, you will work on a research project under the guidance of your mentor and will even get to compete at regional and national symposiums. Each week, you will attend workshops that cover topics like experimental design, statistical analysis, and effective use of the R programming language for analyzing large datasets. You’ll also get to participate in other workshops and seminars that focus on professional development.
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 – Youreka Canada