Physics programs for high school students offer a closer look at how scientists study the fundamental laws that govern motion, energy, matter, and the universe itself. In these programs, you might explore topics such as mechanics, electricity and magnetism, optics, or astrophysics through lectures, lab experiments, and collaborative projects. Some physics programs emphasize research, allowing you to work with faculty or scientists on ongoing investigations and learn how experiments are designed and analyzed. Others focus on applied learning, where you build models, run experiments, or use data to understand how physical principles operate in real systems.
Why should you choose a program in Florida?
Florida offers a wide range of physics programs connected to universities, research institutes, and specialized laboratories. Many of these institutions are actively involved in fields such as aerospace science, photonics, materials science, and environmental research. This means that these programs allow you to observe how professional scientists conduct experiments, analyze results, and collaborate across disciplines. For high school students in Florida interested in physics, these programs provide a way to engage with both the theoretical ideas and practical tools used in scientific work.
Below are 15 physics programs for high school students in Florida. If you’re exploring more opportunities in the region, you can also browse other summer programs for high school students in Florida or look through a broader list of physics summer programs for high school students.
15 Physics Programs for High School Students in Florida
1. UF Student Science Training Program (SSTP)
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost: $5,500 (need-based scholarships are available for Florida high schoolers)
Dates: June 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 18
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (16+)
The UF Student Science Training Program is a research-focused physics and STEM program in Florida designed for high school students interested in scientific investigation. You spend much of the program embedded in a faculty research group, contributing to ongoing projects alongside university researchers. This work typically involves around 30 hours of weekly lab participation, exposing you to the pace and structure of real research environments. A daily lecture series introduces current topics in scientific research, while an honors seminar explores broader academic themes.
2. FSU Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Location: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Cost/Stipend: None; supplemental stipends are available for students with financial need
Dates: June 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Rising seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA, who have enrolled or completed pre-calculus, and have received a score in the 90th percentile or better in math on a nationally standardized exam
The Young Scholars Program at Florida State University is a residential STEM experience that brings Florida high school students together for advanced study in science, mathematics, and computing. You enroll in three specially designed courses that explore topics beyond the typical high school curriculum, such as the mathematical and conceptual foundations of quantum computing and quantum information. Alongside coursework, you complete an Independent Research Project with a faculty mentor, contributing to an existing research project in a university lab. This structure allows high school students to experience how interdisciplinary physics research in Florida connects with fields like materials science, atmospheric science, and computer science.
3. National MagLab High School Externship
Location: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, FL
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: September – May
Application Deadline: July 25
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in their high school’s Externship Program
The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory externship allows high school students in Florida to spend an academic year working with researchers at a major physics research facility. You are paired with a mentor and contribute to projects connected to the lab’s research on high magnetic fields and related technologies. Before beginning work, you complete safety training relevant to the equipment and experiments used in the laboratory. The experience concludes with a poster presentation where you communicate your project and research process to others.
4. UCF Laser & Photonics Summer Camp (CREOL)
Location: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Cost: $650 ($100 discount for early bird registration). Scholarships are available
Dates: July 6 – 10 | July 13 – 17 | July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: April 30 (early bird); June 15 (regular)
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders
The UCF Laser & Photonics Summer Camp introduces high school students to photonics, a branch of physics focused on the behavior and applications of light. In this Florida physics program, you explore topics such as lasers, fiber optics, imaging systems, and optical technologies used in computing and communications. The daily schedule combines lectures with hands-on sessions that allow you to experiment with photonics concepts and observe how light-based technologies are designed and tested. Industry professionals and faculty researchers also present examples of how photonics is used in areas like medical imaging and digital displays.
5. UCF High School Summer Internship Program
Location: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Stipend: Provided
Dates: June 8 – July 1
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The UCF High School Summer Internship Program introduces high school students to research on quantum materials and atomic-scale technologies. In this physics-focused program in Florida, you work within one of several research laboratories studying how materials behave at extremely small scales. Projects explore topics such as electronic structure, light–matter interaction, and the properties of layered quantum materials. Researchers investigate phenomena such as Dirac states, electron correlations, and ultrafast electronic dynamics. Through the internship, you observe how physics research connects with fields such as materials science, photonics, and electronic engineering.
6. Embry-Riddle Aerospace College Credit Camp
Location: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
Cost: $4,950
Dates: June 28 – July 17
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 15-18
The Embry-Riddle Aerospace College Credit Camp introduces high school students to the physics principles that shape modern spaceflight. You complete an introductory course on space technology that combines lectures, laboratory activities, and collaborative projects. Topics include propulsion theory, orbital mechanics, and the historical development of human space exploration. Throughout the program, you also examine how these concepts connect to current and future applications in commercial and government space operations. Team-based exercises provide opportunities to explore aerospace engineering and flight operations in a structured learning environment.
7. AFRL Scholars Program
Location: Eglin Air Force Base, Valparaiso, FL
Stipend: $506.80/week
Dates: 8–12 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are 16+ and enrolled in an educational institution
The AFRL Scholars Program allows high school students in Florida to participate in research internships alongside scientists and engineers working in defense-related laboratories. You join a research team and contribute to projects focused on emerging technologies and scientific problems. Depending on the lab, research topics may include areas connected to physics, such as electromagnetic structures, optical devices, and advanced materials. Work typically involves assisting with experiments, data collection, or computational modeling under the supervision of professional researchers.
8. USF Anatomy of a Roller Coaster
Location: University of South Florida/Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL
Cost: $795
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school students
Anatomy of a Roller Coaster is a physics-focused program in Florida that uses amusement park rides to demonstrate engineering and motion principles. You investigate how concepts such as force, momentum, and energy influence the movement and design of roller coasters. Through hands-on experiments and design challenges, you test components like pulley systems, gears, and lift mechanisms. Lessons also explore how friction, braking systems, and safety engineering affect ride performance. A field experience analyzing real roller coasters allows you to observe these physics concepts in action. The program concludes with a project where you design and model your own roller coaster using digital tools.
9. Max Planck Summer Research Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Stipend: $14/hour
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (16+) who live in Palm Beach or Martin Counties
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience Summer Research Internship places high school students in active research laboratories studying the brain and related technologies. You work alongside scientists on a defined project while learning how experimental research is designed and documented. Some tracks involve computational or engineering work that draws on physics, mathematics, and programming concepts. In the scientific programming track, for example, you may help develop software for analyzing large datasets generated by imaging technologies. The program concludes with a written research abstract and a short presentation summarizing your project.
10. UF Research Immersion in Science and Engineering (RISE)
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost: $1,200 (scholarships available for Florida high schoolers)
Dates: Session 1: June 7 – 12 | Session 2: July 12 – 17
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: Rising 10th graders
RISE is a short-term STEM program in Florida that introduces high school students to scientific and engineering research. You visit active laboratories, attend discussions about current projects, and participate in experiments led by UF faculty and graduate researchers. Through demonstrations, case studies, and lab activities, you explore how scientists test ideas and refine them through experimentation. The program concludes with a collaborative group project where you apply concepts encountered during the week.
11. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: DoN labs nationwide
Stipend: New participant: $4,000; Returning participant: $4,500
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: 10th to 12th graders and graduating seniors (16+) who are U.S. citizens
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program places high school students in Department of Navy laboratories where they assist with ongoing scientific research. Projects vary by laboratory and may include physics-related work involving materials, electronics, or experimental testing. During the program, you gain experience observing how research teams organize experiments, analyze results, and develop technical solutions. Mentorship is a central component, with researchers explaining both the scientific background and practical applications of their work.
12. FIU Summer Research Internship (SRI)
Location: Florida International University, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: June 12 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Juniors or graduated seniors (16+) from South Florida high schools who have committed to attend FIU or are FIU transfer students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
The FIU Summer Research Internship provides high school students with an introduction to biomedical and cardiovascular research in a university laboratory setting. You divide your time between structured coursework and research conducted under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Many participating laboratories are interdisciplinary, incorporating physics and other basic science concepts that support biomedical investigations. Before beginning lab work, you complete safety training and orientation sessions related to research procedures and laboratory conduct. The program concludes with a research abstract and a presentation where you summarize the work completed during the internship.
13. FAU Crystal Summer School
Location: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 30 – July 3
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
The FAU Crystal Summer School introduces high school students to crystallization and materials science through lectures and hands-on activities. Many topics connect to physics concepts, including crystal structure, nanoscale imaging, and the physical processes that shape mineral and biological materials. You examine samples using advanced microscopes and study structures found in corals, shells, and plant materials. Laboratory activities may include growing geodes or observing crystal formation in controlled experiments. The program also explores how crystallization appears across several scientific fields, including chemistry, geology, and engineering.
14. Perimeter Institute GoPhysics! Workshops
Location: Virtual
Cost: $CAD 250 (Approx. $185)
Dates: July 7 & 8
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students who are enrolled in or have completed Grade 11 Physics (Gravity & Black Holes); 9th and 10th graders (Exoplanets & the Universe)
The GoPhysics! Workshops introduce high school students to topics in modern physics through guided discussions and group activities. You explore questions related to gravity, black holes, and the structure of the universe while comparing different scientific models. Activities examine how Newtonian physics and Einstein’s theories describe gravitational behavior in different contexts. Other sessions focus on astrophysics topics such as exoplanets, cosmology, and the expanding universe.
15. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Frontiers in Physics
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,200 (financial aid available)
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – 26 | Session 2: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: 10th to 11th graders who have completed an algebra and physical science course, and are comfortable with basic trigonometry
Stanford’s Frontiers in Physics course examines several breakthroughs that shaped modern theoretical physics. In this advanced program, high school students study quantum mechanics, particle physics, and Einstein’s theories of relativity. You analyze historical experiments, explore the development of major scientific ideas, and work through mathematical proofs connected to concepts such as time dilation and mass–energy equivalence. Coursework may also involve solving equations used in quantum mechanics and discussing well-known thought experiments. Assignments include scientific writing tasks and analytical projects related to modern physics topics.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This selective virtual research program enables you to conduct advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choice. 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 – Florida International University