10 Research Opportunities in the US for International High School Students
- Jahaan Singh
- Feb 13, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Feb 16
If you’re an international student looking to study abroad, getting some U.S.-based research experience under your belt is a good idea! Not only will this experience enhance your college applications, but it will also give you a glimpse into academic life in the States. A U.S. research program can connect you with professors, professionals, and like-minded peers from across the globe.
Even if further studies in the U.S. is not your final objective, these programs allow you to explore your interests and can help you gain a better understanding of your academic pursuits. The U.S. offers a variety of hands-on programs that equip students with highly valuable research and creative thinking skills.
While the idea of conducting research in a foreign country may feel daunting or even inaccessible, a large selection of excellent programs welcome international students! You may choose to pursue an in-person experience or a virtual option that you can participate in from your home country. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Not sure where to start? Don’t worry. We’ve done some groundwork for you. Here are 10 research opportunities in the US for international students!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Subject: 24 fields (e.g., biology, economics, engineering, mathematics, etc.)
Location: Mix of virtual and in-person in Santa Barbara, California
Cost: $4,700 (commuter), $6,599 (residential)
Application deadline: March 15
Program dates: June 20 - August 4
Eligibility: Must currently be a high school student in the 10th or 11th grade (outstanding 9th graders accepted on a case-by-case basis)
At UC Santa Barbara’s summer research program, each student is paired with a mentor to conduct university-level research over the course of six weeks. You will be presented with various interdisciplinary research topics at the beginning and asked to rank the ones you prefer to work on. You will spend an average of 30-40 hours per week working on your research. You will develop a thorough understanding of advanced methods of investigation, showcase your discoveries in technical papers, and even present your findings at a university symposium. You can earn up to 8 university credits by enrolling in two courses as part of their program - one is an introduction to research, and the other explores research presentation techniques.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase
Application deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Varies according to the cohort: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions about the student's background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI with a suitable environment in which to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship. The AI Fellowship program will allow students to pursue independent AI research projects. Students work on their research projects over 15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest.You can find examples of previous projects here.
Subject: Physics
Location: Virtual
Cost: $250
Application deadline: March 16
Program dates: July 17-28
Eligibility: At the time of application, they are in the final two years of secondary school (in Canada this means Grade 11 or 12- or first-year CEGEP); At the time of ISSYP, they will have completed Grade 11 physics (or international equivalent); They are fluent at speaking, reading, and writing in English.
ISSYP is a two-week online program for international high school students who are interested in physics and keen to pursue it in college. Courses cover the fundamentals of modern physics, and keynote sessions with Perimeter Institute researchers discuss their work. You will receive career guidance from ISSYP alumni and researchers during the course of the program. The program highly values building relationships amongst each cohort, and the researchers facilitate peer-to-peer interactions. The highly selective program usually accepts 30-40 students each year. Please note that this online program will follow Waterloo’s time zone.
Subject: Multiple (Medicine & Biological Sciences, Engineering & Computer Science, Government & Law, Design, Art & Media)
Location: Multiple states depending on your field (New York, California, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC., amongst others)
Cost: $3000-$7000 (Depending on your field)
Application deadline: TBA
Program dates: June-August (Exact dates vary per program)
Eligibility: Students must currently be enrolled in 6th-12th grade.
NSLC's summer sessions allow you to learn about research in your field of interest. They cover a range of subjects, including biotechnology, environmental science, forensic science, marine biology, medicine, business, engineering, cyber security, game design, aerospace, data science, journalism, architecture, theater, and a lot more! In each field, you will participate in research projects, receive training, and participate in interactive workshops.
You can review details about each field here, and read more about international students in the program here.
Subject: Bioengineering, Life Sciences, Marine Sciences, Medicine, Business
Location: Virtual or at UC San Diego
Cost: $2000- $3000, depending on the program you select
Application deadline: Depends on the program you select (earliest for Medicine: March 31)
Program dates: Spring, Summer, and Winter cohorts
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-12)
UC San Diego offers high school students the opportunity to conduct research alongside their faculty. As a research scholar, you will work with UCSD instructors to explore your subject area and learn how to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems. You will participate in research projects and learn about innovative techniques, creative thinking, problem-solving, and modern analytic tools. Courses are offered online and in person.
7. Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP) (University of Iowa)
Subject: Biomedical Engineering, Business Analytics, Geographical & Sustainability Sciences, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Physics & Astronomy, Religious Studies
Location: Virtual program associated with the University of Iowa.
Cost: $4,500
Application deadline: February 16
Program dates: June 19 - July 28
Eligibility: Grades 10-11
SSTP is a research program that selects a limited number of high school students for a series of workshops, events, courses, and research over the summer. As part of the SSTP, you will be paired with a faculty member who will serve as your mentor as you conduct research in your chosen field. The program is about 5 weeks, and while they offer an in-person component, international students can only apply for the online program. They are particularly interested in highly advanced students in their sophomore and junior years of high school. In addition to the research experience, you can also earn 3 semester hours of undergraduate credit from the University of Iowa.
Subject: Multiple (eg., Psychology+Neuroscience, AI & Machine Learning, Forensic Science, Engineering, Law, Business)
Location: Varies according to program
Cost: $7,350 (Additional fee of $75 for international students)
Application deadline: Varies according to program
Program dates: June to August
Eligibility: Grades 10-12
EXPLO offers a variety of programs for high school students to experience coursework, workshops, and research in their favorite subjects. Students who would like to specialize in a particular field can choose the EXPLO Career Concentrations and work with experts on real-world projects. They offer a variety of concentrations, including AI & machine learning, psychology & neuroscience, engineering, law, business, crime scene investigation, biomedical engineering, entrepreneurship, and more. You will produce a portfolio of projects by the end of your summer.
Subject: Biomedicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Early April
Program dates: June or July
Eligibility: Current 10th grade (rising junior), 11th grade (rising senior), or 12th grade (graduating senior) high school students who have not yet applied to college.
Seattle Children’s Research Institute offers high school students the chance to work with Ph.D.-level scientists over the course of one week. The program exposes you to lab work and courses in biochemistry, immunology, infectious diseases, and gene editing. You will also participate in various workshops and activities to prepare for college and explore potential careers.
Subject: Computer Science
Location: University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
Cost: $5,060
Application deadline: March 14
Program dates: June 18 - June 30
Eligibility: Students between ages 16 and 17 who are interested in computer science
The University of California, Berkeley offers high school students the opportunity to refine their computer science skills and experience life at college over two weeks. This Summer Academy welcomes all high schoolers, with no prior coding experience required. Based on one of UC Berkeley’s undergraduate courses, this program introduces you to computer science concepts, collaborative programming, problem-solving, and coding challenges. After an introduction to coding languages and computing fundamentals, you will develop your own programming project. Mentors and Resident Assistants at UC Berkeley will plan activities and excursions to help you connect with your peers.
Jahaan Singh is a writer and actor currently based in Mumbai. She spent most of the last decade living in New York City, where she worked with The New York Times. She graduated with honors in Economics and Dramatic Literature from New York University (NYU).
