If you’re a high school student looking to build a strong skillset in STEM without the logistical and financial hassles that come with an in-person program, an online STEM program is the perfect way to do so!
Physics, particularly, is a field that is offered through a ton of great inline programs for high school students. Building a strong skillset in the field can come in handy, especially while applying to advanced research internships, or research programs in physics.
Online physics programs are accessible and allow you to spend time developing a skillset and engaging fully with the program’s content, without worrying about having to potentially move to another state.
Online STEM programs can help high school students advance academically and build a solid foundation for future goals.
Here, we have compiled a list of 15 online summer physics programs specifically designed to help high school students engage in rigorous physics content, all before college!
Note: Many of the programs are free of cost as well, making them free + online physics programs for high school students.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs in areas like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and psychology. You can choose either quantitative or qualitative research methods.
After selecting your track, you’ll collaborate one-on-one with a professor or Ph.D. scholar from a leading university to develop a 20-page research paper, suitable for journal submission. The program provides specialized field knowledge, expert guidance, a recommendation letter, and feedback to improve future projects and college applications. Apply now for this unique opportunity!
Subject Areas: STEM
Location: Virtual
Program Dates:
- Summer seminar - June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024
- Fall seminar - October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Application Deadline: May 21, 2024, for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024, for the fall cohort
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program —Physics Track
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, created by Harvard and Oxford researchers, allows high school students to work one-on-one with PhD mentors on an independent research project. You’ll get guidance to develop a college-level research paper, with additional support from writing coaches.
You can choose subjects like physics, biology, data science, economics, psychology, business, gender studies, linguistics, environmental studies, philosophy, astrophysics, and more. The program ends with a symposium where you can present your research, with the potential for publication.
Subject Areas: Multiple Tracks available to choose including math.
Location: Remote
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Cost: $2,990 (12 weeks) | $5,900 (16-20 weeks). Full financial aid d available!
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!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The main summer deadlines are March 15, April 15, and May 15
SPINWIP is a three-week virtual summer program aimed at high-school girls interested in physics. It provides exposure to advanced topics like quantum physics and astrophysics and includes Python coding instruction. No previous experience in physics or coding is needed. Participants will join online lectures, work in small groups, and attend workshops focused on college planning and career development. There are also mentorship opportunities with Stanford students and professors, which can come in handy while requesting a LOR or an advanced research project later in the school year.
Subject Areas: Quantum physics and astrophysics
Location: Virtual. Lectures will be held via video chat.
Program Dates: July 8 to July 26, 2024
Cost: None
Eligibility: Preference will be given to first-generation students, those from underrepresented backgrounds in physics, and 11th-graders. Eligible applicants must be female or gender minority students in grades 9 to 11 at the time of application. Applications are open to students worldwide.
Application Deadline: NA
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory is the national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy. Its internship program allows graduating high schoolers to collaborate on projects with research or engineering staff, providing hands-on experience in research and lab work vital for a career in physics. If selected, you will work on an experimental or computational plasma physics project, gaining insights into plasma physics, fusion energy, and related fields.
Subject Areas: Plasma physics, fusion energy, and other related fields.
Location: Remote and in-person commuter options (at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ) are available.
Program Dates: The program runs for 8 to 10 weeks in the summer after graduation.
Cost: No cost. A stipend is offered.
Eligibility: Graduating seniors in the U.S. who are at least 16 years old are eligible to apply. Ideal candidates should have relevant experience in plasma physics and familiarity with coding/computer languages or computer-aided design.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
MIT's Classical Mechanics course is a core part of undergraduate physics education, focusing on angular momentum, work, energy, and Newton's laws. It’s ideal for high school students with strong math and physics skills who want an early start in college-level physics.
The course combines interactive problem sets, automated assessments, and video lectures from well-known physicists, including Professor Walter Lewin, to help students strengthen their conceptual understanding and technical abilities. It offers a solid introduction to the subject and helps build problem-solving skills.
Location: Online
Program Dates: Self-paced; available year-round
Cost: Free (with an optional paid certificate)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students with a strong background in calculus and basic physics
Application Deadline: No application required; self-paced enrollment
The University of Pennsylvania offers a course on the fundamentals of electromagnetism, covering electric fields, magnetic fields, electromagnetic waves, and circuits. Through problem sets and interactive lectures, students build a solid foundation for advanced studies or careers in fields like electrical engineering or technology development. This course serves as an excellent starting point for those pursuing these areas.
Location: Online
Program Dates: Self-paced
Cost: Free (with an optional paid certificate)
Eligibility: High school students with prior knowledge of algebra and basic physics
Application Deadline: Open enrollment throughout the year
Stanford's Introduction to Quantum Mechanics delves into subatomic particles, covering topics like the Schrödinger equation, wave-particle duality, and quantum uncertainty. This course is a great starting point for students interested in advanced theoretical physics or careers in quantum computing and nanotechnology.
You will engage with both the conceptual and mathematical aspects of quantum mechanics, working through problem sets designed to deepen your understanding of quantum systems.
Location: Online
Program Dates: Self-paced
Cost: Free (with an optional paid certificate)
Eligibility: High school students with calculus and basic physics knowledge
Application Deadline: Open year-round
Stanford University's course explores Albert Einstein's groundbreaking concepts of motion, space, and time, including the science behind the famous equation E = mc². With a focus on conceptual understanding, the course is accessible to those with basic math skills. Participants will engage in video lectures, problem sets, and thought experiments to understand the broader implications of relativity in the universe.
Location: Online
Program Dates: Self-paced
Cost: Free (with an optional paid certificate)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students with basic knowledge of algebra and physics
Application Deadline: Open year-round
Harvard's Astrophysics: Exploring Exoplanets course delves into the science of detecting and studying planets outside our solar system. It covers planetary orbits, exoplanet searches, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Students will learn both the theory and real-world data analysis, along with advanced techniques in the field.
Location: Online
Program Dates: Self-paced
Cost: Free (with an optional paid certificate)
Eligibility: Suitable for high school students with an interest in astronomy and a basic understanding of physics
Application Deadline: Open year-round
This course covers the fundamental principles of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, focusing on key concepts like heat, entropy, and thermodynamic cycles. You will learn how the microscopic properties of atoms and molecules relate to the macroscopic behaviors of larger systems.
Location: Online
Program Dates: Self-paced
Cost: Free (with an optional paid certificate)
Eligibility: High school students with knowledge of algebra and basic physics
Application Deadline: Open year-round
This course explores the potential for life beyond Earth, focusing on habitable zones, conditions for life, and extreme environments in our Solar System and exoplanets.
Using inquiry-based learning, you'll create annotated drawings of alien skies, build orbital resonances in a simulator, discuss astrobiology in science fiction, and compare scientific papers with news articles. The course also covers space exploration politics, scientific discoveries, and science career paths.
Location: Online
Program Dates: Two sessions available:
- June 24 - July 5, 2024
- July 15 - July 26, 2024
Cost: Ranges from $3,064 to $5,998, with 100% scholarships available.
Eligibility: High School Students who have completed Algebra I and at least one year of high school science (earth and space science, physics, chemistry, or biology).
Application Deadline: Application closed for 2024. For next year, applications will open soon.
Frontiers of Physics is an advanced physics course that covers key 20th-century discoveries in quantum mechanics, particle physics, and Einstein's special and general relativity. Designed for high school students with strong math and science skills, it explores concepts like time dilation, mass-energy equivalence, and paradoxes such as the twin and barn-pole paradoxes.
Location: Online
Program Dates: Two sessions available:
- June 17 - June 28, 2024
- July 8 - July 19, 2024
Cost: Ranges from $3050, with need-based 100% scholarships available.
Eligibility: High School Students who have completed an algebra course, a physical science course, and exposure to basic trigonometry.
Application Deadline: NA
This Coursera course, in collaboration with the University of New South Wales (UNSW), teaches the fundamental principles of mechanics, including motion, forces, energy, and momentum. It explains both everyday phenomena and the mechanics of celestial bodies.
The course includes multimedia tutorials, animations, and problem-solving exercises, making complex topics accessible. You will solve practice problems and can complete at-home experiments using simple materials.
Location: Online
Program Dates: Approximately 29 hours of content; Self-paced.
Cost: Free without a certificate.
Eligibility: Open to all. You will need high-school-level arithmetic, algebra, quadratic equations, and basic trigonometry (sine, cosine, and tangent). Calculus is not required, but a study aid is provided for those interested.
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
This self-paced course reviews fundamental physics to bridge the gap between high school and university, focusing on topics essential for engineering fields like Applied Physics, Aerospace, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering. It revisits high school concepts and introduces how they are approached in university, making it ideal for those pursuing engineering or physics.
Location: Online
Program Dates: 5 weeks; Self-paced.
Cost: Free without a certificate (Certificate costs $50)
Eligibility: Open to all; specifically designed for high school students preparing for university-level physics.
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
PHYS 1112 Physics I: Mechanics and Heat is the first in a three-semester introductory physics sequence, commonly offered by universities like Cornell. It covers particle mechanics and thermodynamics, including kinematics, dynamics, conservation laws, rotational mechanics, and thermodynamic principles.
Location: Online
Program Dates: Offered during the summer (exact dates vary)
Cost: $1,840 (with approximately 100% scholarships available)
Eligibility: High School Students who have completed one year of physics and the equivalent of Mathematics 1110.
Application Deadline: Not specified
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.