15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Canada

Key Takeaways

• These 15 programs span a wide range of fields across Canadian universities and organizations, from biomedical research at institutions like BC Cancer and the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute to leadership development at Ontario Pioneer Camp and WILDE, alongside Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs, which offers a virtual research track for students who want a fully remote option.
• Many programs are paid, including HYRS, RBC Summer Tech Labs, and techNL’s HSTIP, giving you a stipend or hourly wage on top of hands-on experience, while others, like Shad Canada and CREATE, charge substantial tuition.
• Program length varies considerably, from one-week experiences like the Science Unlimited Summer Camp to eight-week research internships like the Xavier Pelletier program and the Focused Ultrasound Research Program.
• Several programs restrict eligibility to specific provinces or regions, such as HYRS in Alberta and techNL’s HSTIP in Newfoundland and Labrador, while others, like Shad Canada and Horizon, are open more broadly regardless of location.
• Costs, time commitments, and eligibility requirements vary enough across this list that it’s worth shortlisting a few options based on your specific academic interests and whether you’re looking for paid research, leadership development, or flexibility in format.

15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Canada

If you’re a high school student in Canada looking to make the most of your summer, a summer program is one of the best ways to do it!

These programs let you explore a subject beyond what you learn in school, develop practical skills, and meet other students who are just as interested in the topic as you are. Whether you’re interested in STEM, business, writing, leadership, or the arts, you’ll often learn through projects, mentorship, and interactive workshops rather than traditional classroom lessons. Many programs are offered by Canadian universities and research institutions, allowing you to learn from faculty, researchers, and professionals working in the field.

Why should you choose a summer program in Canada?

Canada is home to many universities and research institutions that offer summer programs for high school students. Depending on the program, you might conduct research in a university lab, explore engineering, work on a business project, write creatively, or study a subject in more depth with guidance from faculty and mentors.

There are practical benefits too. Staying in Canada means you can avoid the extra costs and logistics of international travel while still getting access to strong academic opportunities. You’ll also meet students with similar interests, work closely with instructors, and build connections that can last well after the program ends.

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 15 summer programs for high school students in Canada! You can also check more Summer enrichment programs for high school students in Canada.

1. High School Youth Researcher Summer (HYRS) Program

The High School Youth Researcher Summer (HYRS) Program is a paid, six-week summer research placement that gives Grade 11 students hands-on experience in health research and innovation. You work in university laboratories across Alberta on active projects related to applied health research, digital health, data-driven systems, and emerging healthcare technologies. Depending on your placement, you may analyze datasets, support AI-enabled health research, evaluate digital health tools, or contribute to technology-focused research projects under the guidance of experienced mentors. The program concludes with a final presentation or report that highlights your research contributions and learning experience.

2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)

Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in subjects such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback you can use to improve future projects. Apply here!

3. Shad Canada Programs

Shad Canada Programs are immersive, month-long experiences that bring together Grade 10 and 11 students to explore STEAM, entrepreneurship, and innovation through hands-on learning. You work on real-world design challenges involving coding, artificial intelligence, robotics, and applied problem-solving while collaborating with university faculty, industry mentors, and peers from across Canada. The program combines academic projects with leadership development, teamwork, and entrepreneurship, encouraging you to develop creative solutions to meaningful challenges. You also take part in community-building activities and excursions that highlight Canada’s natural, cultural, and scientific landscapes.

4. Computers for Schools Plus (CFS+) Internship

The Computers for Schools Plus (CFS+) Internship is a paid technology internship that gives high school students practical experience refurbishing and preparing donated computers for schools, libraries, and community organizations across Canada. You’ll develop technical skills by repairing hardware, installing and testing software, configuring networks, and preparing devices for deployment while working in professional refurbishment centres. In addition to hands-on technical work, you contribute to community outreach, create communications materials, and gain experience in project management, teamwork, and workplace communication. 

5. Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute Student Internship

The Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute Student Internship offers Grade 11 and 12 students the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in biomedical research at Mount Sinai Hospital. Available as a one-week March Break placement or an eight-week summer internship, the program places you in active research laboratories where you work alongside scientists and trainees on ongoing biology and chemistry projects. You’ll observe scientific workflows, assist with laboratory experiments, and develop practical experience with fundamental biomedical research techniques. Throughout the internship, you’ll gain insight into how researchers investigate complex health and disease-related questions in a professional laboratory setting. 

6. Focused Ultrasound High School Summer Research Program

The Focused Ultrasound High School Summer Research Program is a summer internship that introduces high school students to biomedical engineering research through hands-on work in a focused ultrasound laboratory. You’ll support ongoing projects in areas such as acoustic physics, medical imaging, device prototyping, experimental research, programming, and engineering technology development while working alongside experienced researchers. Throughout the internship, you will assist with research across three main project tracks: Engineering and Technology Development, Experimental Work, or Computer Programming, gaining hands-on experience at the intersection of acoustic physics, hardware engineering, and computational modeling.

7. WISEST Summer Research Program – University of Alberta

The WISEST Summer Research Program (SRP) is a six-week, paid internship that places high school students within active research teams at the University of Alberta. You’ll work alongside faculty members, graduate students, and researchers on hands-on projects in science, engineering, and technology, with opportunities that may include laboratory research, computational work, field studies, or data analysis. Research topics vary each year and can cover areas such as biology, engineering, environmental science, computing, and applied industry research. The program concludes with a Celebration of Research, where you’ll present a formal research poster showcasing your work.

8. RBC Summer Tech Labs

The RBC Summer Tech Labs is an eight-week paid internship for Grade 11 and 12 students in Ontario who are interested in coding, design, and technology innovation. Working in small teams, you’ll design, build, and present prototypes that solve real business challenges using technologies such as JavaScript, React.js, and GitHub while applying design thinking and agile development practices. You’ll receive mentorship from RBC professionals, collaborate with business teams to develop solutions, and gain experience deploying code in a professional environment. The program also includes workshops focused on technical development, communication, teamwork, and presenting ideas to senior leaders. By the end of the internship, you’ll have built practical software development experience while learning how innovation is applied in a large technology-driven organization.

9. Ontario Pioneer Leadership in Training 

The Ontario Pioneer Leadership in Training (LIT) program is a faith-based leadership experience that combines 2.5 weeks of leadership development with a two-week work placement at Pioneer Camps. During the training phase, you’ll build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills through group sessions, one-on-one coaching, small-group discussions, and outdoor experiences such as a three-day canoe trip. You’ll also receive ongoing mentorship while exploring servant leadership, personal growth, and community building in a supportive environment. In the placement phase, you’ll apply your training by serving in roles such as cabin leadership, kitchen operations, maintenance, or supporting individuals with special needs.

10. Science Unlimited Summer Camp

The Science Unlimited Summer Camp is a one-week program at the University of Toronto that introduces high school students to university-level science through hands-on workshops across multiple disciplines. You’ll rotate through sessions in astronomy, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, mathematics, physics, and environmental studies while working in university laboratories and classrooms. Each workshop is led by faculty members and researchers who guide you through experiments, demonstrations, and problem-solving activities that reflect real scientific practice. The program helps you understand how scientific ideas are explored, tested, and applied within a research university environment. 

11. CREATE: Engineering Design Challenges

CREATE: Engineering Design Challenges is a week-long summer program that introduces high school students to engineering through hands-on design projects inspired by real-world problems. Working in teams, you’ll follow the complete engineering design cycle by defining challenges, brainstorming solutions, building prototypes, testing ideas, and refining your designs across disciplines such as civil, mechanical, biomedical, and electrical engineering. The program includes practical laboratory activities, engineering design exercises, and opportunities to learn from undergraduate and graduate engineering students. You’ll also develop skills in systems thinking, CAD-based design, technical communication, and collaborative problem-solving while gaining insight into university-level engineering. 

12. McGill Summer Academy

The McGill Summer Academy is a two-week pre-university program that allows high school students to explore either Neuroscience & Health Sciences or Global Citizenship & Migration through university-style learning. You’ll attend lectures led by McGill faculty, take part in discussions, and complete collaborative projects and simulations that develop research, communication, and critical-thinking skills. The program combines academic coursework with experiential learning activities that help you prepare for the transition to university-level study. You’ll also interact with peers from around the world while exploring McGill’s campus and Montreal’s diverse neighborhoods and cultural attractions. By the end of the program, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your chosen field while experiencing life in an international university community.

13. Xavier Pelletier High School Internship Program

The Xavier Pelletier High School Internship Program is an eight-week summer research internship for rising Grade 12 students at BC Cancer’s Deeley Research Centre in Victoria. You’ll work alongside researchers on projects related to cancer biology and immunotherapy while gaining hands-on experience with modern laboratory techniques and biomedical research methods. The program also includes seminars and research activities that introduce you to how cancer research is conducted in a professional scientific environment. Throughout the internship, you’ll collaborate with experienced scientists and gain insight into the latest advances in cancer research. 

14. WILDE Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI)

The WILDE Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI) is a two-week outdoor leadership program for teens ages 15–17 that develops leadership through hands-on experiences in nature. You’ll build practical skills in bushcraft, canoeing, navigation, camping, and environmental stewardship while strengthening teamwork, communication, and decision-making through real leadership responsibilities. Throughout the program, you’ll mentor younger campers, receive guidance from experienced educators, and reflect on your progress through structured feedback and a personal leadership portfolio. The experience also includes leadership-focused outdoor expeditions where you gradually take responsibility for planning and guiding group activities. 

15. techNL High School Tech Immersion Program (HSTIP)

The techNL High School Tech Immersion Program (HSTIP) is a six-week paid work-integrated learning program that introduces Grade 10–12 students to careers in technology through hands-on industry experience. You’ll begin with structured digital skills training before completing a four-week placement at a local tech or tech-enabled company, where you contribute to projects in areas such as software development, engineering, business operations, or customer success. Alongside your placements, you’ll attend networking events, career exploration sessions, and workshops that introduce different post-secondary pathways in technology. The program is designed for students of all experience levels, with both in-person and remote placements available depending on location. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of summer programs are available to high school students in Canada?

You’ll find a mix of formats, including biomedical research placements like the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute Internship and the Xavier Pelletier program, technology and business-focused internships like RBC Summer Tech Labs and the CFS+ Internship, and leadership-focused experiences like Ontario Pioneer LIT and WILDE’s Youth Leadership Initiative. Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs offers a different kind of option, letting you conduct independent, mentored research remotely across subjects like data science and political theory rather than joining a fixed in-person program.

Do you need prior research or coursework experience to apply?

It depends on the program. Some, like the HYRS Program and the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Internship, require you to have completed specific courses like Grade 11 Biology and Chemistry before applying. Others, like the Science Unlimited Summer Camp and CREATE’s Engineering Design Challenges, are designed as introductory experiences without heavy subject-matter prerequisites.

Are there paid options available?

Yes, several programs on this list are paid. HYRS pays CAD $15 per hour, RBC Summer Tech Labs and techNL’s HSTIP both offer a stipend, and the WISEST Summer Research Program and the Focused Ultrasound Research Program pay a stipend as well. The Xavier Pelletier program offers a $3,000 CAD bursary toward post-secondary education instead of an hourly wage.

Which programs are restricted to specific provinces or regions?

Several programs have geographic requirements. HYRS is limited to students in or north of Red Deer, Alberta, RBC Summer Tech Labs is limited to Ontario-based students, and techNL’s HSTIP is limited to Newfoundland and Labrador. Others, like Shad Canada Programs and Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs, are open to students regardless of province, with Horizon also welcoming international applicants since it runs entirely online.

Which programs focus specifically on leadership development rather than academics or research?

If leadership is your main interest, Ontario Pioneer Leadership in Training and the WILDE Youth Leadership Initiative both center on outdoor, experiential leadership training rather than academic coursework or lab research. These programs build skills like teamwork, communication, and decision-making through hands-on responsibilities like camp leadership and outdoor expeditions.

Is there a way to pursue independent research beyond a structured Canadian program?

Yes. If you want a mentored research experience without needing to commute to a specific Canadian university or research institute, Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs pairs you with a professor or PhD scholar to develop a 20-page research paper you can submit for academic publication, entirely online. The program also provides a letter of recommendation and detailed feedback, and covers over 600 research specializations. You can find the application here.

When should you apply?

Deadlines for these programs are spread throughout the year, so it helps to plan ahead. Shad Canada Programs has one of the earliest deadlines at January 5, while several others cluster in March, including the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Internship, the Xavier Pelletier program (March 16), and McGill Summer Academy (March 22). April brings a few more deadlines, including WISEST (April 1) and techNL’s HSTIP (April 30). Horizon, by contrast, has multiple deadlines throughout the year across its Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts, giving you more flexibility if you miss an earlier cutoff.

Image source:  University of Alberta