If you are a high school student interested in the scientific study of life, consider enrolling in a life sciences program. Participation in such a program will allow you to explore fields such as zoology, botany, genetics, ecology, and neuroscience, as well as specialized areas like molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, and more. Most life sciences programs give you the chance to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. You’ll also gain relevant hands-on experience and develop skills in lab techniques, research, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Why should you choose an online life sciences program?
Compared to in-person programs, online life sciences programs offer a flexible platform for studying advanced topics, using interactive tools and virtual labs to simulate real-world experiences. They also give you the chance to work under leading scientists or industry professionals, forming valuable connections from the comfort of your home. Many online life sciences programs incorporate challenging experiments and collaborative projects that help develop a comprehensive understanding of biological systems. These experiences typically establish a strong foundation for future academic and professional endeavors and serve as a meaningful addition to your resume or college applications.
Here are 15 online life sciences programs for high school students. However, if you’re interested in exploring other facets of science, check out this blog on free science programs.
15 Online Life Sciences Programs for High School Students
1. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Online
Cost: $2,400 program fee + $45 application fee; Up to 100% financial aid offered
Cohort Size: 50 students
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26; Session B: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 20
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (14+); Applicants with strong math or programming skills or experience with a healthcare project preferred
This two-week virtual internship provides an introduction to the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare technology. Throughout the program, you will engage in expert-led lectures and collaborate on small-group research projects that explore how machine learning models analyze medical imagery. Mentorship sessions with Stanford researchers allow you to navigate the complexities of interdisciplinary science while building a professional network. By participating in “Meet the Expert” sessions, you’ll gain a holistic understanding of various career trajectories within the bio-industry and academia. The program is designed to be fast-paced, ensuring you gain practical exposure to applied AI research in a medical context. By the end of the program, you’ll earn a Certificate of Completion.
2. Columbia University’s Pre-College Online Summer Program
Location: Online
Cost: Varies; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions in July and August
Application Deadline: February 2 (early); April 2 (general)
Eligibility: Students in grades 8-12
Columbia University’s online summer program offers an Ivy League academic experience with a wide variety of courses tailored to future doctors and biologists. You can choose from tracks like Cell and Molecular Biology of Medicine or the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, all of which are delivered through a rigorous online platform. These courses follow a collegiate format, requiring active participation in discussions, the completion of high-level assignments, and a deep engagement with undergraduate-level materials.
3. UChicago Summer Session: Introduction to Biological Psychology
Location: Online
Cost: $4,980 + $75 application fee; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 15 – July 2
Application Deadline: February 11 (priority); March 12 (regular)
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th graders; Prior biology coursework strongly recommended
The Introduction to Biological Psychology course introduces you to the life science foundations of behavior through the lens of biological psychology and neuroscience. You’ll study how biological processes in the brain and nervous system influence human and animal behavior, using the same curriculum taught to UChicago undergraduates. The class meets frequently over a short time frame, which means you’ll move quickly through core topics and are expected to keep up with readings and lectures. The focus is on understanding the biological mechanisms behind behavior, not just psychological theory. You’ll be learning alongside college students, with only a small number of seats set aside for advanced high schoolers.
4. Excel High School: Online Biology Course
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by course and duration
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Self-paced; Year-round enrollment
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students seeking standard high school biology credit
This online biology course gives you a broad, college-preparatory foundation in life science, starting with the chemistry of life and moving through cells, genetics, evolution, and ecology. You’ll work through 11 self-paced modules that include interactive readings, virtual labs, simulations, and applied assignments focused on real biological systems. The life science emphasis is strong, especially in units on cellular processes, DNA structure and regulation, inheritance patterns, and natural selection. You’ll practice analyzing data, designing investigations, and applying biological concepts rather than just memorizing vocabulary. The course is designed to mirror a full-year biology class, using the Carnegie credit system to allow deeper engagement with core life science topics.
5. Cornell SCE Pre-College Studies – Introductory Biology: Ecology and the Environment
Location: Online
Cost: $5,820
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple cohorts and sessions in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort and format
Eligibility: High school ising juniors and seniors (ages 15-19)
Cornell’s Introductory Biology: Ecology and the Environment course provides a deep dive into the mechanisms governing our natural world and its complex ecosystems. You will examine the interactions between organisms and their environments across multiple scales, utilizing both analytical and experimental biological approaches. The curriculum is designed to tackle pressing global issues, including biodiversity loss, disease ecology, and climate change, challenging you to apply theoretical knowledge to real scenarios. Upon successful completion, you’ll earn three transferable Cornell University credits, giving you a head start on your undergraduate transcript.
6. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Location: Online
Cost: $3,200; Need-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions; Varies by course
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 8-11
Stanford’s Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer focused, small-group courses that allow you to explore specialized niches within the life sciences. You’ll get to explore several bioscience courses, including ones like Equity in Medicine, Investigations in Genetics, and Surgical Technology, all of which are taught by university-affiliated instructors. The instruction model moves beyond traditional lectures, incorporating lively discussions and applied assignments that simulate a college seminar. By finishing the challenging coursework, you’ll receive a certificate that shows you’ve mastered advanced biological concepts.
7. Georgetown University’s Pre-College Program – Medical Research: Clinical Trials Resulting in Medical Discoveries
Location: Online
Cost: $1,895; Scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple 1-, 2-, and 4-week sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students age 13 and older
Georgetown’s medical research program serves as an introductory bridge for students passionate about a career in clinical medicine. The curriculum focuses on the essential skills required for modern research, including the ability to critically evaluate scientific literature and formulate ethical research questions. You will explore specific case studies in cancer research, gaining a nuanced view of the challenges facing today’s oncologists and medical scientists. The program culminates in a capstone project where you’ll synthesize your findings into a professional video presentation.
8. Oregon State University – Biochemistry Blast for High School Students: Molecular Biology of Viral Disease
Location: Online
Cost: $199
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
The Biochemistry Blast for High School Students: Molecular Biology of Viral Disease course focuses on the science behind viral disease, with an emphasis on biochemistry and molecular biology. You’ll learn how different viruses infect humans, how they enter cells, and how the body responds at the cellular level, including mutation and viral evolution. The class is asynchronous, so you can move through the content on your own schedule, checking in daily to review material and complete small projects or games. Most of the learning is applied, with mini-projects that help you practice thinking like a biomedical science student rather than just reading or watching lectures. You’ll also have direct access to an OSU instructor, which gives you a clearer look at science and medicine-related careers.
9. Brown Pre-College Online: Biological and Natural Sciences Track
Location: Online
Cost: Varies; Scholarships available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions (June – July)
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9-12, ages 14-18
Brown Pre-College Online embraces the university’s “Open Curriculum,” allowing you to engage in advanced biological study without the traditional pressure of letter grades. This model encourages a pure love of learning, as you explore topics ranging from cancer biology to animal behavior and psychopathology. You will spend your sessions analyzing scientific literature and participating in discussion-based classes that mirror the Brown undergraduate experience. The program emphasizes the development of critical thinking and inquiry-based research skills, preparing you for the self-directed nature of college academics. Because the offerings are so diverse, you can customize your summer to focus on your specific biological interests.
10. miRcore Computational Biology Research Camps
Location: Online (in-person options available)
Cost: $610 + $75 application fee; Limited partial scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions (June – July)
Application Deadline: June 1 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students, including incoming 9th graders
The miRcore camps provide in-person and online opportunities for you to master the tools of computational biology and transcriptomics. During the virtual experience, you will work in small collaborative groups to analyze real patient RNA expression data to identify biomarkers for specific diseases. The curriculum emphasizes the use of professional research software, teaching you how to navigate the same databases used by genomic scientists. Unlike traditional classrooms, the camp encourages an open-ended exploration of data, where you are tasked with discovering potential novel diagnostics or treatments. This hands-on approach to “big data” in biology is essential for anyone interested in the future of personalized medicine.
11. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth – The Science of Neurological Disorders
Location: Online
Cost: $1,365 (additional fees apply)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts and sessions in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by session and cohort
Eligibility: High school students who qualify at the CTY-Level in Quantitative or Verbal identification
In The Science of Neurological Disorders course, you’ll study how neurological disorders develop and how clinicians and researchers think about diagnosis and treatment. You’ll work through fictional and real-world case studies on conditions like schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, depression, and visual agnosia, using diagnostic tools and evidence to support your conclusions. The structure is discussion-based and analytical, with readings from scientific articles and virtual lab activities built into each week. A major focus is learning how to evaluate evidence and reason through neurological data, not just memorizing conditions or symptoms. You’ll also spend time comparing normal and abnormal brain function to understand what changes in the brain actually mean.
12. Rice University Pre-College Program – Genome Engineering: Changing the Future of Medicine
Location: Online
Cost: $1,795; Need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple 1, 2, and 4-week sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
The Rice University Precollege Program’s Genome Engineering: Changing the Future of Medicine course offers a sophisticated exploration into the cutting-edge world of genome engineering and personalized medicine. Through a series of expert-led video lessons, you will dive into the mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas9 and the ethical considerations surrounding modern biotechnological breakthroughs. The curriculum is designed to move beyond passive learning, requiring you to complete a capstone project that demonstrates your ability to synthesize complex biological data.
13. UCLA eSCIP – Life Sciences
Location: Online
Cost: ~$1,540 per 4-unit course + $350 registration fee; Scholarships offered
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: May 1 (Registration opens Feb 18)
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-11 with a minimum 3.8 unweighted GPA
The eSCIP program allows you to take real UCLA online courses in areas like life sciences, biology, health, or related scientific fields while earning college credit. You’ll enroll in one or two approved UCLA courses that fit around the program’s required co-curricular schedule, which means you’re balancing college-level science coursework with structured academic workshops. The academic side is paired with lectures from UCLA faculty, including researchers and clinicians connected to medicine and biomedical science. The program offers UCLA-level life science content while learning how college science courses are structured and assessed. You’re expected to manage deadlines, readings, and assignments much like an actual undergraduate, not a summer camp student. This program works well if you want a broad introduction to college-level life sciences and are comfortable handling online classes alongside mandatory live sessions several afternoons each week.
14. Wake Forest University: Virtual Regenerative Medicine Academy
Location: Online
Cost: Details provided upon application
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; Limited to 30-40 students
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: February 15 – March 15
Eligibility: High school students ages 14-18
Hosted by the world-renowned Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), this intensive one-week academy introduces you to the future of tissue engineering and organ biofabrication. You will engage directly with world-class faculty and researchers to explore how stem cells and 3D bioprinting are used to solve critical medical challenges. The virtual curriculum includes live demonstrations, interactive case studies, and career-focused workshops that highlight the diverse pathways within the STEMM disciplines. This program is particularly well-suited for students who have a “big picture” interest in how biology, engineering, and clinical medicine converge to save lives. It offers a rare window into a highly specialized field that is rarely covered in standard high school biology curricula.
15. Boston Leadership Institute: Biotech Research Remote
Location: Online
Cost: $1,200; Scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – July 10
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 8-12 grade students
The Boston Leadership Institute provides a unique remote platform for students to engage in high-level biotechnological experiments from their own homes. Under the instruction of a university professor, you will explore the frontiers of genetic engineering, drug development, and biomedical innovation. The institute ships professional-grade lab equipment directly to you, allowing you to practice sophisticated techniques safely. The program is structured to balance theoretical lectures with active laboratory work, reinforcing the practical applications of biotech in various industries.
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!
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