12 Competitive International Relations Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 43 minutes ago
- 12 min read
If you’re interested in global politics, diplomacy, public policy, or international affairs, participating in a structured program can help you explore these subjects beyond what most high school classes offer. International relations is a broad field that combines politics, economics, history, law, culture, and national security, and many of its specialized areas are difficult to study in depth without external opportunities. Through competitive programs, you can engage with global issues through research, policy discussions, cultural exchange, language immersion, and mentorship while gaining exposure to possible academic and career pathways.
Why should I participate in a competitive international relations program in high school?
Selective international relations programs allow you to explore complex global topics while gaining experience in areas like diplomacy, public policy, national security, economics, and cross-cultural communication. You might conduct policy research, participate in simulations and debates, study foreign languages, contribute to think tank projects, or engage in exchange programs and government internships alongside mentors and peers with similar interests. Over time, these experiences can help you strengthen analytical and communication skills, build a deeper understanding of global affairs, and demonstrate sustained interest in international relations on college applications.
In this blog, we’ve narrowed down our list of 12 competitive international relations programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
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, including international relations. The program will pair you with a Ph.D. mentor in International Relations 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 across the field of international relations, and finish with a project you can use for student journals, academic competitions, college research supplements, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Programming is held in Washington, D.C., and Berlin, DE. Home stay placements are offered in cities across Germany.
Stipend: Free tuition for academic/language training plus fully-funded domestic and international travel, housing and meals (provided by host family during home stay portion), medical benefits, and a monthly living stipend. Additional stipends may be provided to low-income students to cover additional expenses and incidentals.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; <1% acceptance rate
Dates: Program runs from April/May to June/July of the following year. Approximately 10 months will be spent in Germany; the rest of the programming will be domestic.
Application Deadline: November; exact date varies. Application details vary slightly between U.S. states.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens aged 15-18 ½ on August 1 of the program departure year. Must be a current high school student with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Must commit to complying with the U.S. See more information here.
Co-sponsored by the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag parliament, CBYX is one of the most competitive international relations programs — and academic programs generally — for high school students. You’ll participate in over a year of programming focused on cultural immersion, international relations and diplomacy, academic training, and language learning. You’ll start your experience in the U.S., attending interactive workshops on citizen diplomacy, German customs, youth ambassadorship, and more. You’ll also study topics in global current affairs and German international relations, emphasizing economics, social life, and politics. When you arrive in Germany, you’ll spend a month completing intensive language training with your CBYX cohort before moving in with your German host family, where you’ll live independently and attend classes at a local high school. You’ll access impressive networking opportunities, including meeting members of the German Bundestag at the Reichstag Building, the parliament office, and American diplomats at a CBYX reception at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, as well as U.S. Department of State representatives. You’ll finish the program with international connections through the CBYX alumni network, strong competence in the German language, and first-hand knowledge of Germany’s sociopolitical climate.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions.
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus, study in small groups of 7-10, and learn from tutors from eminent universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. Participants can explore a wide range of subjects, spanning over 20 options, including international relations. The course is experiential, focusing on hands-on learning with applications to real-world international relations scenarios. You may find yourself studying diplomacy and global governance in academic seminars, conducting a research project on cross-national dynamics, participating in an international diplomatic simulation, or taking field trips to relevant sites in your host city. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and receive a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, North Macedonia, Senegal, Thailand, or Türkiye
Stipend: Free, including airfare and travel, room and board, in-country support, activities, tuition, medical benefits, visa fees, and a living stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; 65 students selected with a 3-5% acceptance rate
Dates: One academic year
Application Deadline: December 4
Eligibility: Current 9th-12th grade students aged 15-18 ½ by program start date. Must be a U.S. citizen. Students who have not previously participated in an in-person exchange program or lived abroad for 6+ months during the past 5 years are prioritized. Students with family members employed by the U.S. Department of State are ineligible. See more details here.
Hosted by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, YES Abroad is a fully-funded, competitive study abroad program focused on international relations and cultural immersion. You’ll stay in one of 12 participating countries, with locations from the Balkans to the Middle East to North and West Africa to Southeast Asia, where you’ll live with a host family and attend courses at a local school for an academic year. You’ll learn international relations skills by serving as an American ambassador to combat cultural stereotypes, building personal connections within a global community, and developing leadership skills. You’ll be immersed in your country’s culture, developing new language skills and participating in events and activities with both your host family and other YES Abroad students in your area. Your experience will culminate in a Capstone project on a topic and medium of your choice, providing an opportunity to explore a specialized topic in international relations that matches your interests. Former student projects have included books, websites, podcasts, research essays, and art. You’ll present your work to the program cohort, family, and friends upon returning to the U.S.
Location: Philadelphia, PA or Remote
Stipend: Free; most internships are unpaid, but limited stipends are offered to students with financial need
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; few high school students are accepted
Dates: Spring: February - April | Summer: June - August | Fall: October - December
Application Deadline: Varies; typical deadlines are in November (Spring Internships), March (Summer Internships), and July (Fall Internships)
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and graduate students. The majority of interns are undergraduate and graduate students. Strong language, research, and data analysis skills are valued, as is study abroad experience. Some internship focuses have additional requirements.
FPRI Internships are a competitive international relations opportunity for students, offering professional-level work experience at a national think tank. You’ll contribute to international relations projects on national security and on improving American foreign policy, with target audiences including both federal policymakers and the general public. In Research Internships, you’ll work directly under the mentorship of an FPRI researcher and other institute scholars, conducting specialized policy research on Eurasia, Asia, or National Security. Internships are also offered in Administration & Operations; placements in Communications and Special Events/Development are sometimes offered as well. You’ll participate in academic and professional development opportunities, including weekly foreign policy seminars, career planning workshops, a guest speaker series, and other special events. You’ll also have the opportunity to contribute to a research paper that may be published on FPRI’s “Intern Corner.” FPRI emphasizes its commitment to maintaining relationships with former interns after their internship term ends, which may lead to future opportunities at the Institute.
Location: Placements offered in Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; exact numbers not provided, but you will be considered alongside undergraduate and graduate students
Dates: Varies by internship
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Full-time high school upperclassmen, undergraduates, and graduate students aged 16+. Many positions require U.S. citizenship; check details to confirm. Minimum 3.0 GPA. Background check, drug screening, and (typically) security clearance required.
Sandia National Laboratories’ Student Internships offer a STEM-focused research experience and insight into international relations in a prestigious federal research setting. You’ll focus your work on one of Sandia’s Programs from the options of Global Security, National Security, Energy, or Nuclear Weapons. You’ll collaborate with current Sandia researchers to advance federal projects that develop technologies for the global management of dangerous materials, counterterrorism initiatives, nuclear deterrence, and more. Your work will focus both on the security of the U.S. and on contributing research to support international treaties and agreements on security technologies and practices. You’ll work closely with an experienced employee in your department and have opportunities to meet one-on-one with staff from other fields to learn about other research focuses at Sandia. Your other professional development opportunities include learning about Sandia post-graduate career opportunities at the intern career fair, networking and social events, educational presentations, and more.
Location: Placements are offered in Jordan and Morocco (Arabic; location cycles yearly), Taiwan (Mandarin), South Korea (Korean), and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Latvia (Russian; location cycles yearly).
Stipend: Free, including programming (before, during, and after travel), tuition, travel, accommodations, alumni activities, healthcare coverage, and a stipend.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; ~15%
Dates: Summer: 6-7 weeks | Academic Year: 8-10 months | Virtual: 10 weeks (meets 2x/week)
Application Deadline: Summer/Academic Year: November 12 | Virtual: June
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 15-18 for the duration of the program. Must be a U.S. citizen attending high school in the U.S. Students with Advanced-Mid or higher proficiency levels of a given language are ineligible to study that language through NSLI-Y. You can select up to two language preferences in your application. Virtual participants must be beginner/novice language learners in their chosen language.
NSLI-Y is a competitive cultural and language immersion program focused on strengthening U.S. international relations and preparing talented students to pursue careers related to nations and languages critical to U.S. national security. You’ll study Arabic, Mandarin, Korean, or Russian in a host country where your target language is primarily spoken, staying with a local family to gain linguistic and cultural immersion. You’ll learn about local customs and traditions, the history of your host country and city, and more. You’ll learn about the importance of your target language (and other NSLI-Y languages) to U.S. national security and international relations, and be trained in ambassadorship and sharing American culture with a global community. While exact programming will vary based on your country placement, you’ll also participate in activities like lectures and lessons from program staff in your host country and other regions where your target language is spoken, field trips to cultural sites, and service projects.
Location: United States Senate, Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: $38,547 yearly salary, prorated based on term of service. Pages must live in the Senate Page Residence on Capitol Hill, with a rent of $1,290/month (includes 2 meals/day).
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; 30 students selected
Dates: Spring: late January - early June | Summer I: early June - late June | Summer II: mid-July - early August | Fall: September - January
Application Deadline: Varies by office.
Eligibility: Semester Pages: 11th-grade students; Summer Pages: Rising 11th-12th-grade students. All applicants must be 16-17 years old on or before the date of appointment. 12th-grade students must not have an anticipated early graduation date in their year of service. Minimum 3.0 GPA. citizens or permanent residents of the United States or subject to agreements of the Department of State, and must have a Social Security number. Students may apply to Page roles only through their Senator’s website.
The U.S. Senate Page Program is a competitive opportunity for high school students that offers an intensive work experience by serving as an assistant to a U.S. Senator. You’ll assist with a range of operations and administrative work, including preparing the Chamber for Senate Sessions, working on the Senate floor during roll-call votes and debates, delivering correspondence to Representatives’ and Senators’ offices, and more. You’ll build a close mentorship relationship with your Senator sponsor and network with other policymakers and governmental officials throughout your experience, providing a first-hand look at life as a politician and the role of Senators in foreign policy and international relations. You’ll be able to continue your high school education while attending the Senate Page School; all standard junior-year courses are offered and will appear as Honors courses on your transcript.
Location: U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: Free and unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Spring: January – May | Summer: May – August | Fall: September – December
Application Deadline: Spring: October | Summer: December | Fall: June
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and graduate students who are U.S. citizens.
U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internships are a competitive opportunity for high school students interested in international relations and federal government careers. You’ll apply for consideration by one to three of the Treasury Offices; if accepted, the Treasury will determine your placement. For international relations programs, the Office of International Affairs provides the most direct fit; Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Tax Policy, and Economic Policy also address international issues relevant to domestic financial policy. Your work will vary by placement and departmental needs, but assignments may include analyzing and presenting data on policy priorities, drafting talking points and briefing materials, and reporting on Congressional hearings and other governmental meetings. You’ll access professional development opportunities, including networking with leaders from the Treasury and other U.S. government agencies, learning about career opportunities in federal government and the public sector, and professional training and work experience in politics and international relations.
Location: Multiple U.S. locations
Stipend: Paid; varies by internship and term. A limited number are free and unpaid.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; most specific postings recruit only one intern.
Dates: Varies by internship
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ are eligible for many internships; each internship has its own eligibility criteria and requirements. Must be a U.S. citizen. Background check, security clearance, and drug test are required; check each posting for additional details.
High schoolers seeking federal experience in international relations can apply to the U.S. Department of Justice’s competitive internship program. You’ll apply for a specific internship posting; most high school opportunities are offered within the Offices of the United States Attorneys, Office of Justice Programs, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. You’ll work alongside current federal employees on assignments in fields like public policy, legal investigations, and more. Through this program, you’ll build international relations experience by contributing to projects of national and international significance, networking with high-ranking individuals in U.S. policy, and gaining firsthand experience with Secret and Top Secret government operations. Depending on the internship, you may be eligible for the College Pathways Internship Program, where you’d continue serving as an intern throughout college with a guaranteed job offer post-graduation upon successful completion of your internship.
Location: Multiple U.S. locations, including Air Force bases, laboratories, and the Pentagon.
Stipend: $506.80/week. Some locations with a higher cost of living offer larger stipends ($715.60/week at Whiteman AFB and $813.60/week at Edwards AFB). Additional travel stipends may be available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 8-10% acceptance rate.
Dates: Varies by site and internship; typically a minimum of 8 weeks with most internships running 10-12 weeks in the summer. Limited internships are offered in the Spring and Fall.
Application Deadline: Summer: January 10 | Fall/Spring: TBA
Eligibility: Upper-level high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students pursuing and/or intending to pursue a STEM degree. Must be a U.S. citizen. Specific placements/projects may specify additional required or preferred credentials.
The AFRL Scholars Program is a strong option for high school students with a dual interest in STEM and international relations. You’ll take on professional-level research assignments under the mentorship of laboratory researchers, contributing to an AFRL project with implications for national security. Your research focus areas may include machine learning, model identification techniques, optics and metasurface design, or developing software to predict the effects of weapons on targets of interest. You’ll work in departments such as Munitions, Air Force Global Strike Command, or Space Vehicles. You’ll learn about international relations through the lens of defense, gaining direct exposure to the technical research behind the United States’ national security operations. Rather than a general program, you’ll apply to join up to three specific research projects of interest at each host site; make sure you meet the educational and experience requirements of your preferred projects, as some are limited to college and graduate students and/or require specific technical skills.
Location: UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost/Stipend: Commuter: $5,675 | Residential: $13,274 | Limited financial aid offered; California residents prioritized
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 6-8% acceptance rate
Dates: June 15 – July 31 | Mandatory Preparation Webinar on May 28 or May 30
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th grade students (outstanding rising 10th graders considered on a case-by-case basis) with a minimum 3.80 GPA (weighted)
UCSB’s Research Mentorship Program is a competitive option for high schoolers to pursue international relations research through the Global Studies placement. After an intensive multi-day orientation, you’ll be matched with a research project aligned with your interest in international relations. You’ll spend 35-50 hours per week on your research, working under a mentor while taking initiative to leverage UCSB’s library resources and facilities to build independent research skills. You’ll enroll in two college-level interdisciplinary courses: the lecture-based Introduction to Research and the exploratory Presentation Techniques course, totaling 8 transferable college credits. You’ll study skills including writing formal research papers, developing research goals and methodologies, designing research posters, delivering oral presentations, and more. You’ll merge your research experience and coursework to write a technical research paper on your work and deliver a presentation at a program Symposium.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.