If you’re interested in robotics and want to get a head start before college, winter is a good time to begin. Whether you’re curious about programming, engineering, or how machines work, there are open opportunities during the winter months.
Participating in one of these programs can help you understand how robotics is used in fields like manufacturing, medicine, environmental science, and more. You’ll also gain experience working in teams, solving problems, and applying concepts learned in school to practical projects. All of which can be helpful for future internships, jobs, or college applications.
Below is a list of 12 winter robotics programs for high school students. If you’re interested in summer robotics programs, check out our blog here.
12 Winter Robotics Programs for High School Students
1. Harvard’s CS50’s Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python
Location: Online
Cost: Free to audit; $299 for a verified certificate
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced (7 weeks)
Eligibility: Open to all; familiarity with Python programming required
This self-paced course introduces you to key artificial intelligence concepts using Python. You’ll study topics such as search algorithms, reinforcement learning, and optimization, with applications related to robotics and automation. As you work through the course, you’ll write programs that can make decisions, solve problems, and interpret data from their environment. You’ll also work with common machine learning libraries to complete practical projects that reflect real-world uses of AI. This course is a good option if you’re comfortable with Python and want to explore how AI can be used in robotics and other fields.
2. Udacity’s Robotics Software Engineer Nanodegree Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $846
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: 4-month program, with students typically spending an estimated 10 hours of work per week
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply
In this program, you’ll learn how to develop and control autonomous robotic systems by combining programming, math, and robotics concepts. You’ll work in simulation environments like Gazebo and use the Robot Operating System (ROS) alongside C++ to program robots. To follow the material, you should already be familiar with C++, basic linear algebra, statistics, calculus, and the basics of Lidar. You’ll work with 2D and 3D mapping tools and learn to plan robot movement across different environments, building practical experience in programming robotic behavior from simulation to implementation.
3. University of Pennsylvania (Robotics Specialization)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $158. Some need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: 6-month program, with students typically spending an estimated 2-6 hours of work per week
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply
This six-course specialization introduces you to key areas of robotics, including robot motion, flight, perception, and decision-making. You’ll explore how robots move through different environments, plan actions, and respond to real-world challenges, such as those found in disaster recovery or construction.
As you move through the program, you’ll build skills in areas like programming, sensing, and autonomy. The final Capstone Project asks you to apply what you’ve learned by programming a robot to complete tasks such as navigating space or manipulating objects.
4. Robotics with JavaScript for High Schoolers (UCSD Extended Studies)
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Pay as you go per course; specific cost per course not listed
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment; enroll by the start of each course session (Winter courses fill in advance)
Dates: Each course is 10 weeks during Winter
Eligibility: High school students (Grades 9–12) able to program at an introductory level
You learn the fundamentals of robotics and automation using the JavaScript programming language, progressing through a sequence of online, self-paced courses. The curriculum covers everything from basic JavaScript programming, such as variables, conditionals, loops, and data structures, to programming robotic arms and Arduino-compatible devices. You explore robot kinematics, 3D modeling using OpenJSCAD, and basic electronics by integrating drivers and sensors with a cardboard robot you assemble.
5. Robotics: Vision Intelligence and Machine Learning | University of Pennsylvania
Location: Online (Self-paced) via the edX platform
Cost/Stipend: Free to audit; verified certificate option
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Dates: Self-paced; start anytime, flexible completion schedule
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors recommended; background in programming and math advantageous
This course focuses on the robotics fields of computer vision, perception, and machine learning. You learn how robots interpret visual information, recognize objects, and make decisions based on sensory data. Hands-on programming assignments utilize Python and OpenCV, providing practical experience with real-world robotics problems. The course enhances your skills in AI-powered robotics and is suitable for motivated high school students who aim to deepen their knowledge in robotics perception and intelligent systems. The self-paced format allows balancing with school commitments.
6. Foundations of Data Science & Machine Learning for High School Students: Coding School
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $995, with financial aid available
Application Deadlines: Currently closed
Dates: Fall: September – December (tentatively)
Eligibility: This program is open to high school students (18 years & under)
In this program, you’ll explore areas like robotics, machine learning, and data science through project-based work. The internship focuses on building your coding skills while applying them to real-world problems in data analysis, algorithms, and engineering concepts. You’ll participate in guided labs, receive support from mentors with technical experience, and have chances to learn about the field from people working in tech.
7. Advanced Robotics After-School Program | Evodyne Robotics
Location: Remote (via Zoom and FlexLabs) or in-person (Mountain View, CA)
Cost: $359/month (month-to-month)
Application Deadline: Not specified; classes begin week of September 15 (tentative, based on previous year’s schedule)
Program Dates: September – May (weekly sessions, 8 months total)
Eligibility: Three tracks: Elite Junior (10+), Elite (12+), Genesis (14+); advanced, long-term robotics education focus
This eight-month program is designed for high school students with prior robotics experience who want to deepen their skills. You’ll work on hands-on projects using Arduino, Raspberry Pi, sensors, 3D design, Python, C++, AI, computer vision, Linux, and ROS. Classes are offered in person, live on Zoom, or through FlexLabs for self-paced learning. Robotics kits are shipped every 5–6 weeks, and makeup options include recorded videos or instructor help.
8. Botball Educational Robotics Program
Location: Regional workshops, local host schools, and universities, USA
Cost/Stipend: $2,750 per team (includes robot kit and registration)
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Dates: Multiple workshops from January to March
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
The Botball program emphasizes autonomous robotics and programming for high school teams. You use C, C++, or Java to program your robot for competition tasks. Regional tournaments are educational, not just competitive, so you can expect technical learning and collaboration with engineers and educators. You also gain exposure to engineering documentation and iterative design while developing critical thinking in algorithmic robotics.
9. Coding in Python I | University of Washington Youth & Teen Programs
Location: Online (Zoom)
Cost/Stipend: $895
Application Deadline: December 1
Dates: January 13 – March 12
Eligibility: Grades 9–12; no prior programming experience required
This course introduces you to the fundamentals of Python programming, including control structures, data handling, debugging, and procedural drawing. You’ll build simple text-based games and learn to write and analyze code with best practices under instructor guidance. The skills learned here form a foundation for advanced robotics programming, where Python is frequently used to program microcontrollers and control robotic systems. Classes are live and interactive, emphasizing real-time feedback and peer collaboration.
10. Machine Learning in Python with Raspberry Pi Smart Robotic Car (Level 3) | Outschool
Location: Online (Live, via Outschool platform)
Cost/Stipend: More information on pricing here
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment; sessions typically scheduled monthly
Dates: Multiple offerings, including winter
Eligibility: Ages 11–15 eligible
This advanced online course focuses on applying machine learning algorithms in Python to control a Raspberry Pi-operated smart robotic car. You’ll learn to write Python code that enables the robot to interpret sensor data and make autonomous decisions using machine learning models. The curriculum covers training, testing, and deploying algorithms for real-time robot navigation and obstacle avoidance scenarios.
11. Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy – Coding and Computational Thinking With a Virtual Robot
Location: Online
Cost: $9 (for a single-user license)
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced, allowing students to progress at their own speed
Eligibility: High school students and teachers with an interest in STEM
In this self-paced program, you’ll learn programming and problem-solving skills by working with VICE, a virtual robot equipped with sensors like touch, color, and distance. The course includes nine units covering topics such as robot movement, loops, and sensor use.
The course uses a built-in learning management system that tracks your progress and saves your work. Lessons include video walkthroughs, animations, and interactive coding tasks, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Whether you’re just starting or building on existing knowledge, the program gives you a structured way to develop your understanding of robotics and computational thinking.
12. Fundamentals of Robotics | NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute
Location: Online (Self-paced)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced; start anytime
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 with an interest in robotics and AI; some programming experience recommended
This course provides an introduction to robotics fundamentals with an emphasis on integrating AI and deep learning. You learn about sensors, actuators, robot kinematics, perception, and control systems while exploring AI applications that enable robots to perceive and interact with their environment. Practical assignments involve programming simulated robots using NVIDIA Isaac SDK and open-source tools. The self-paced format allows you to learn at your convenience and gain foundational skills essential for robotics development and AI-enhanced automation.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like robotics, artificial intelligence, or related fields like machine learning, computer vision, and engineering, 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 – Carnegie Mellon University