If you’re a high schooler living outside the US and are considering an undergraduate degree in the country, consider a research program for international high school students!
Research programs for international high school students offer an opportunity to explore subjects that interest you, in a structured manner. These programs give you a chance to work on real-world projects, often alongside university researchers or professionals in the field. They support your academic profile for global college applications by demonstrating your research experience and initiative. By participating, you’ll be exposed to methods of inquiry and problem-solving that go beyond the standard high school curriculum. The hands-on nature of these programs allows you to develop a better understanding of the challenges and techniques used by professionals, preparing you for future academic and professional pursuits.
Here are 15 research programs for high school students from all over the world!
1. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free of cost, stipend provided
Application Deadline: January
Program Dates: 2 months between June and August (tentative, based on previous years).
Eligibility: High school juniors, including international students, with recommended PSAT or ACT scores. For more details, click here.
The Research Science Institute (RSI), in collaboration with MIT, provides an opportunity to explore research in a range of disciplines. The program begins with a week of introductory classes focused on research methods. After that, you’ll spend five weeks working on a research project, receiving guidance from experts in the field. You’ll have the option to select a research topic that interests you and take part in hands-on lab work. At the end of the program, you’ll present your research findings to an audience.
2. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Location: Residential at Stanford University, CA, or Online
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 3
Program Dates: Online: June 16 — July 4, July 7 — 25 | Residential: June 22 — July 18
Eligibility: Students who are in 10th or 11th grade — including international students — at the time of application and who demonstrate genuine interest in mathematics are encouraged to apply.
If you’re a high school student interested in mathematics, you might consider applying to Stanford University’s Mathematics Camp (SUMaC), a free summer program. Since it started in 1994, SUMaC has included students from around the world. The program is aimed at students in grades 11 and 12 and offers a structured curriculum with lectures, research opportunities, and group problem-solving activities. Participating in SUMaC can strengthen your college applications if you are planning to major in math or a related field.
3. Penn Arts and Sciences Social Justice Research Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, PA
Cost: $9,949. Scholarships are available for selected Philadelphia students!
Application Deadline: April 27
Program Dates: July 5 — 26
Eligibility: Current 9th – 11th grade students — including international students — are eligible to apply!
The Social Justice Research Academy at Penn Arts and Sciences offers you the opportunity to explore key topics such as inequality and resistance. Through a mix of lectures and workshops, you’ll examine these issues from historical, political, and social perspectives. As part of the program, you’ll choose a social justice-related question to research and develop a project around it. Previous projects have looked into topics like AAPI representation in Hollywood, redlining, and gun violence. This program provides a chance to build research and communication skills while learning how to analyze social issues critically.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2990 (12 weeks) | $5900 (16–20 weeks). Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Summer deadlines are usually in March, April, and May.
Program Dates: June to August (summer). Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available.
Eligibility: High school students from all over the world with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA can apply.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, created by Harvard and Oxford researchers, offers high school students the opportunity to develop an independent research project with guidance from a PhD mentor. You’ll work closely with experts in your chosen field to produce a research paper at a college level, with additional support from writing coaches. The program allows you to specialize in subject areas across STEM, social sciences, or the humanities, with direct mentorship from a PhD professor. The program concludes with a symposium where you can present your research, and there is the potential for publication of your work.
5. Horizon Academic Research Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines. The next is March 23.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year.
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. International students are welcome to apply!
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in areas like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and more. You can choose between quantitative and qualitative research tracks.
Once you select your subject and research type, you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar from a top university who will guide you throughout your project. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper, which you can submit to academic journals for publication. The program also provides a letter of recommendation and detailed feedback to help with future projects and college applications. Apply here!
6. Telluride Association Summer Seminar
Location: Cornell University and the University of Maryland
Cost: Fully funded
Application deadline: December 3
Program dates: Jun 22 — Jul 26
Eligibility: Open to 10th and 11th graders, typically students from underrepresented backgrounds.
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar in Critical Black Studies (TASS-CBS) offers high school students the opportunity to study the histories and cultures of people of African descent over the course of six weeks. The program includes seminars led by university professors, where you’ll explore topics such as history, politics, literature, and art.
Throughout the program, you’ll look at the contributions of the African diaspora to society and discuss how historical narratives influence modern culture. The focus is on developing skills in critical reading, writing, and thinking, encouraging you to approach these topics from various perspectives. Admission is highly selective, with an acceptance rate between 3% and 5%.
7. Biotech Summer Experience at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
Location: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Discovery Center, Livermore, CA
Cost: No cost.
Application deadline: March 14
Program dates: July 14-25
Eligibility: Students must be 16 or older by the start date, have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher, be entering grades 10–12 in Fall 2025, and meet the access requirements of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which restricts access to certain national security facilities for citizens of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea unless they hold dual U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residence.
This two-week program at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is designed for high school students interested in molecular biology and bioinformatics. The focus of the program is the genetic study of the freshwater plant Landoltia punctata (Duckweed). During the program, you’ll gain hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques, such as plasmid DNA isolation and purification, polymerase chain reactions (PCR), restriction digests, and gel electrophoresis.
You will also use bioinformatics tools to analyze gene sequences and connect your findings with established research methods. Additionally, participants will submit DNA sequences to GenBank, contributing to the global scientific database and participating in ongoing scientific research.
8. Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
Location: Stanford Campus, CA
Cost: $8,575 (Financial aid is available).
Application Deadline: February 3
Program Dates: 3 weeks, typically between June and August!
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 10 and 11 at the time of application submission. Participants who will be 18 years or older during the program are not eligible.
The Stanford Summer Humanities Institute offers high school students the opportunity to explore humanities subjects beyond the typical high school curriculum. Through this program, you’ll work on original research projects that will help you develop critical thinking and academic independence. You’ll collaborate closely with Stanford professors and mentors to design and carry out an independent research project, allowing you to dive deeply into topics such as sociology.
One of the courses, “Racial Identity in the American Imagination,” focuses on how racial identity has evolved in the U.S., analyzing historical, legal, and literary texts, along with films. This course, and others in the program, will help you build research skills and gain a deeper understanding of complex social issues, providing a foundational knowledge for future studies in sociology and related fields.
9. Biological Research: Synthetic Biology at the Boston Leadership Institute
Location: Olin College, Greater Wellesley, MA, and Gann Academy/Bentley University, Waltham, MA. The institute offers a few online program options as well.
Cost: $2,500
Application Deadline: There is no deadline, but the institute recommends that students submit their applications early.
Program Dates: June 23 — July 11 | July 14— August 1
Eligibility: International high school students are eligible to apply.
This three-week research program offers high school students an introduction to biological research with a focus on laboratory work and hands-on experience. You’ll study topics such as synthetic biology, gene therapy, and genetic engineering, which are important for understanding and addressing genetic diseases. Under the guidance of Dr. Maria Lazebnik, an adjunct assistant professor at Bentley University, you’ll participate in lab experiments that help build your research and lab skills.
The institute also provides a variety of other programs in different areas of biology, including Biomedical and Surgical Research (online), Biotech Research (online), Marine Biology, Neuroscience Research, and other programs in medicine. Additionally, there are short one-week programs in biology and medicine available.
10. Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: Up to $7,000 for the residential program. The program is fully funded for applicants whose families make an annual income of $80,000 or less.
Application Deadline: March 3
Program Dates: June 29 — August 9
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 years old, have completed 9th grade (or its international equivalent), and are not yet enrolled as a full-time college or university student.
PROMYS is a six-week program for high school students interested in mathematics. Each day, you’ll attend a lecture on number theory, with the rest of the day dedicated to an advanced seminar of your choice. In 2024, the seminar options included topics like Discrete Dynamical Systems and the Poincaré Recurrence Theorem, Galois Theory, and Graph Theory.
You’ll also work in small groups on a research problem specifically designed for the program. With guidance from your research mentor, you’ll explore the problem and present your findings at the end of the program. Past participants have published their work and shared it at academic conferences.
11. Yale Young Global Scholars: Politics, Law, and Economics
Location: Yale Campus, New Haven, CT
Cost: $6500
Application Deadline: January 10
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout June to August.
Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years old, a current sophomore or junior (or any international equivalent), and a first-time participant. International participants are welcome.
The Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE) session offers high school students a chance to explore the connections between law, economics, and government. The program covers topics like public policy, human rights, market regulation, and international law, aimed at students interested in economics and legal systems.
Through an interdisciplinary approach, you’ll develop critical thinking and legal analysis skills, applying legal theories to contemporary global issues such as political change and economic regulations. This program provides insights for students planning to study law or related fields.
12. U.C Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $5,175 (commuter) | $12,474 (residential). Limited scholarships available, priority given to California residents.
Application Deadline: March 17
Program Dates: June 16 — August 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 (9th graders may be accepted on a case-by-case basis) with a minimum 3.80 weighted GPA. International applicants are welcome.
The UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program offers a summer opportunity for high school students interested in interdisciplinary research. You can choose projects from various STEM fields, such as Biology, Economics, Physics, Computer Science, and Sociology, and work alongside experienced mentors. Before starting the residential program, you’ll complete an online training session. During the program, you’ll spend 35–50 hours a week conducting research, learning how to use library resources, gathering data, and presenting your results both in writing and through presentations.
13. Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics
Location: Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $8,000. Limited, need-based financial aid is available, usually up to a 75% tuition remission.
Application deadline: March 8
Program dates: 2-week directed self-study online from June 23 — July 4, followed by a four-week residential program from July 6 — August 3
Eligibility: Open only to rising seniors who are 15.5 years or older by the start of the program. International students are welcome to apply, but applicants must be proficient in English.
The Yale Science & Engineering Program for High School Students (YSPA) offers a structured experience combining research, practical work, and an introduction to college life. Participants, organized into a cohort of 36 students, take classes on observational astronomy, spectroscopy, telescope optics, and related subjects. They use the telescopes at the Leitner Observatory and analyze data in the observatory’s computer lab. Students work in teams of four on a research project, which concludes with the preparation of a scientific paper and presentation. Some of these projects have been published in scientific journals.
14. Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology Summer Institute (M&Tsi) — University of Pennsylvania
Location: University of Pennsylvania, PA.
Cost: $9,000 On-Campus Program Fee + $100 application fee.
Application Deadline: January 29 (priority deadline) | April 2 (final deadline)
Program Dates: July 6 — 26
Eligibility: High school seniors and rising high school juniors. International students are strongly encouraged to apply by the priority deadline.
The M&Tsi summer program offers high school seniors and a select group of incoming juniors the chance to combine management principles with technical concepts. This program provides you with the opportunity to earn college course credit from Penn upon successful completion.
Throughout the program, you’ll attend courses and guest lectures from Penn faculty and industry professionals. You’ll then apply what you’ve learned by developing a prototype and market strategy for a high-tech company. At the end of the program, you’ll present your research project and receive feedback from Penn faculty, entrepreneurs, and industry experts, helping you gain practical experience and insights.
15. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) — Haas School of Business, University of California (Berkeley)
Location: University of California (Berkeley) campus, CA.
Cost: California Resident $6,292 | Out of State Resident $7,332.
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: July 5 — 19 | July 19 — August 2
Eligibility: US and international high school students can apply.
This two-week course provides a solid introduction to key business skills, including teamwork, communication, presentations, business plan development, and research methods. The program admits a small group of 50 students, allowing for a more focused and personal learning experience.
Throughout the course, you’ll engage in campus life, participating in various activities such as social events and guest lectures. You’ll work in teams to create a business plan, which you’ll present at the end of the program. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to connect with UC Berkeley undergraduates, offering opportunities for networking and learning from their experiences.
Image source – Berkeley Haas
