If you are serious about exploring a subject before college, spending a summer at a university like Duke is one of the more purposeful ways to do it. Duke’s programs attract high school students interested in STEM, medicine, business, public policy, psychology, and research-heavy fields for good reason. The academic environment here is genuinely rigorous, and the programs reflect that.
What you experience goes well beyond sitting through lectures. Depending on the program, you might work through research activities, lab exercises, case studies, collaborative projects, or seminars connected to your field of interest. The learning is built around applying and discussing ideas actively, which makes it feel noticeably different from a regular school class.
Why should you choose a Duke summer program?
Duke’s reputation in medicine, engineering, neuroscience, public policy, and business is well earned, and its summer programs reflect that academic seriousness directly. You will be engaging with subjects through the kind of discussion-heavy, project-based, workshop-driven learning that mirrors how university education actually works.
The environment also pushes you in ways that are harder to find elsewhere. Working through challenging material alongside equally motivated students from different backgrounds changes how you think and how you approach problems.
Without further ado, here are 15 Duke summer programs for high school students! Check out our other blog post for more summer programs available for high school students!
15 Duke Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Duke STAR (Summer Training in Academic Research) Program
Location: Duke University
Cost: None. A stipend of $4,000 is paid
Dates: June 22 – July 24
Application Deadline: November 17-January 2
Eligibility: High school students, typically rising juniors and seniors
The Duke STAR (Summer Training in Academic Research) Program places you in a research environment where you work on ongoing projects in areas related to science and clinical medicine. Over several weeks, you are guided by faculty and researchers as you contribute to lab-based or data-driven research tasks. Your work may involve reviewing scientific literature, assisting with experiments, or analyzing data, depending on your assigned project. The program introduces you to how research is structured, including hypothesis development, data collection, and interpretation of results. You also interact with mentors regularly, gaining insight into academic and clinical research pathways.
2. Duke ODE Summer Design Camp
Location: Duke University (commuter program, Durham area)
Cost: Free (meals provided)
Dates: June 29 – July 30
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders (priority to students in Durham and nearby areas)
The Duke ODE Summer Design Camp introduces you to biomedical engineering through a five-week design and prototyping experience focused on healthcare-related challenges. During the program, you work in teams to identify medical problems, brainstorm solutions, and build prototype biomedical devices using engineering design methods. You will attend workshops, labs, lectures, and innovation sessions where you will apply concepts directly to your ongoing projects. Mentors and guest speakers also provide feedback throughout the design process while students refine ideas and test prototypes. The experience ends with a final project presentation where teams explain how their solution addresses a specific healthcare need.
3. Duke Research in Engineering Program (DukeREP)
Location: Duke University
Cost: Free. A stipend and daily lunch are provided
Dates: June 15-July 31
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are 16+ years old and be a resident of North Carolina student
The Duke Research in Engineering Program (DukeREP), hosted by the Biomedical Engineering department, introduces you to engineering research through hands-on project work. You are placed in a research setting where you work with faculty and mentors on topics such as robotics, sustainable energy, or biomedical engineering. Throughout the program, you engage with tasks like experimenting, prototyping, or analyzing data, depending on your project area. You also learn how engineering research is structured, including how problems are defined, tested, and refined over time. The program emphasizes collaborative work, where you contribute to team-based research and discuss findings with peers and mentors.
4. Duke IGNITE
Location: Duke University
Cost: Free
Dates: September through April each year
Application Deadline: Applications open in May
Eligibility: High school students
The Duke IGNITE Makers Program introduces you to design, prototyping, and problem-solving through hands-on maker projects. You work with tools such as fabrication equipment, digital design software, and basic prototyping materials to turn ideas into functional models. Throughout the program, you focus on solving real-world problems by designing and building solutions in a structured, collaborative setting. You receive guidance from mentors with experience in engineering and design, who help you refine your concepts and improve your builds. By the end, you gain practical experience in making, design thinking, and developing projects from concept to prototype.
5. Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)
Location: Duke University
Cost: Free with stipend and daily lunch
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: High school students, with priority for those from underrepresented backgrounds (You must attend one of 17 designated public/charter high schools located within Durham, NC)
The Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE) places you in a research-focused environment where you work on neuroscience-related projects under mentor guidance. You spend the summer engaging in lab-based or data-driven work, learning how research in brain science is conducted and analyzed. Alongside research, you attend lectures and workshops that cover scientific concepts, research methods, and academic pathways in neuroscience. The program also includes structured sessions focused on skill-building and collaboration with peers. Throughout the experience, you interact with researchers and mentors who guide your work and provide feedback on your progress.
6. Business Administration: Organizational Psychology
Location: Duke University
Cost: $6,050
Dates: June 28 – July 9
Application Deadline: Varies by program cycle
Eligibility: High school students
In the Business Administration: Organizational Psychology course, you explore how psychological principles influence behavior in workplaces and business environments. You engage with concepts from social, cognitive, and organizational psychology to understand motivation, leadership, decision-making, and team dynamics. Through case studies and applied exercises, you analyze real-world business scenarios, including workplace culture, negotiation, and consumer behavior. You also examine how biases affect decisions and how organizations manage challenges such as conflict and collaboration. Throughout the course, you apply research-based ideas to develop structured solutions to business problems.
7. Business of Sports
Location: Duke University
Cost: $6,050
Dates: June 28 – July 9
Application Deadline: Varies by program cycle
Eligibility: High school students
In the Business of Sports course, you explore how the sports industry operates as a global business system. You examine how teams, leagues, and organizations make strategic decisions around revenue, branding, and competition. Through case studies and class activities, you analyze areas such as sports marketing, media rights, sponsorships, and athlete management. You also look at how financial structures and league strategies shape both professional and collegiate sports. The course includes applied components where you work through simulations and real-world scenarios to understand how business decisions impact teams and fans.
8. Biomedical Engineering
Location: Duke University
Cost: $6,050
Dates: June 28 – July 9; Session 3: July 13 – July 24
Application Deadline: Varies by program cycle
Eligibility: High school students
In the Biomedical Engineering course, you explore how engineering principles are applied to solve problems in medicine and healthcare. You learn how technologies such as medical devices, imaging systems, and wearable sensors are designed to diagnose and treat medical conditions. The course introduces you to core concepts in human anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics, and shows how these connect to areas like prosthetics, biomaterials, and tissue engineering. Through case studies and applied learning, you examine how engineers approach challenges in healthcare, including technical constraints and ethical considerations. You also explore how different systems work together in medical technologies, building an understanding of interdisciplinary problem-solving.
9. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Location: Duke University
Cost: $6,050
Dates: July 13 – July 24
Application Deadline: Varies by program cycle
Eligibility: High school students
In the Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course, you explore how AI systems are built and used across different industries. You learn core concepts such as machine learning, algorithms, and data-driven decision-making, and how these systems process information to make predictions or automate tasks. The course also introduces you to real-world applications of AI, helping you understand how it is used in areas like business, healthcare, and technology. Alongside technical concepts, you examine ethical issues such as bias, privacy, and accountability in AI systems. Through interactive activities, you see how models are trained and evaluated, and how decisions are made based on data.
10. Marine Biology & Ecology
Location: Duke University
Cost: $6,050
Dates: June 13 – June 24
Application Deadline: Varies by program cycle
Eligibility: High school students
In the Marine Biology & Ecology course, you explore how ocean ecosystems function and how living organisms interact with their physical and chemical environments. You study major marine systems such as coral reefs, open oceans, and coastal habitats, while examining biodiversity, food webs, and species interactions. The course also introduces you to ocean processes like circulation and chemistry, and how these connect to climate systems. You analyze how human activities such as overfishing, pollution, and coastal development impact marine environments. Through data-based exercises and case studies, you investigate changes in ecosystem health and learn how scientists interpret environmental data.
11. Sustainable Design & Environmental Engineering
Location: Duke University
Cost: $6,050
Dates: June 28 – July 9
Application Deadline: Varies by program cycle
Eligibility: High school students
In the Sustainable Design & Environmental Engineering course, you explore how engineering is used to address environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, and resource use. You learn about systems like renewable energy, sustainable materials, and infrastructure design, and how these are applied in real-world contexts. The course introduces you to environmental impact analysis and how engineers evaluate trade-offs between efficiency, cost, and sustainability. Through case studies and applied exercises, you examine how different solutions are designed and implemented. You also explore how engineering decisions are shaped by environmental and social considerations.
12. Creative Writing
Location: Duke University
Cost: $6,050
Dates: July 13 – July 24
Application Deadline: Varies by program cycle
Eligibility: High school students
In the Creative Writing course, you explore how stories are developed across genres such as fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. You learn how to build narratives using elements like character, voice, structure, and imagery, while also experimenting with different forms and styles. The course combines writing exercises with close reading, helping you understand how published authors make craft decisions. You also participate in workshop sessions, where you share your work, receive feedback, and revise your writing based on peer and instructor input. Throughout the program, you focus on the writing process, from drafting ideas to editing and refining final pieces.
13. Game Design
Location: Duke University
Cost: $6,050
Dates: June 13 – June 24
Application Deadline: Varies by program cycle
Eligibility: High school students
In the Game Design course, you explore how interactive games are created by combining creative ideas with structured design principles. You learn how gameplay mechanics, rules, and player choices shape the overall experience, along with how storytelling and level design contribute to engagement. Through guided projects, you design and refine your own game concepts, testing how different elements affect player interaction. The course also introduces you to how designers balance creativity with constraints to build functional and engaging systems. You work through iterative design cycles, where you test, receive feedback, and improve your ideas.
14. Duke Summer STEM Academy
Location: Duke University (commuter program, Triangle area)
Cost: Free
Dates: Typically a 3-week summer program
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who can commute locally
The Duke Summer STEM Academy introduces you to different STEM fields through workshops, collaborative projects, and hands-on scientific activities across a short summer session. During the program, you attend faculty-led sessions where you work through engineering and science challenges connected to real-world problems. You will also participate in group-based problem-solving activities that require experimentation, discussion, and project development with peers. Since the curriculum moves across multiple STEM disciplines, you get exposure to how areas like technology, engineering, and science connect together in practice. Much of the learning happens through active participation and guided project work rather than lecture-only instruction.
15. Financial Markets & Investments
Location: Duke University
Cost: $6,050
Dates: June 13 – June 24
Application Deadline: Varies by program cycle
Eligibility: High school students
In the Financial Markets & Investments course, you explore how financial systems operate and how investment decisions are made across different asset classes. You learn how stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and alternative assets function, and how markets respond to economic forces like interest rates, inflation, and risk. Through market simulations, you analyze real financial data, assess trade-offs between risk and return, and evaluate how different investment strategies perform under varying conditions. The course also introduces you to financial ethics, including how responsible investing and economic considerations shape financial decision-making.
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!
Image source: Duke University