Updated: 27th August, 2026

TL;DR

SIP is a selective, mostly in-person summer research internship at UC Santa Cruz for high schoolers ages 14-17. The most recent cycle (SIP 2026) ran January 16-February 27, 2026 for applications, with the program itself running June 15-August 8, 2026: one remote onboarding week plus seven weeks in person on campus. Need-based financial aid covers up to 100% of these costs for about a third of interns each year. We estimate a 4-7% acceptance rate for 2026-2027. If you want a real research experience with a PhD or faculty mentor and don't want to leave it to a single competitive program, Lumiere's Research Scholar Program pairs you directly with a mentor for a 1-on-1 research project you can start working on right now.

UCSC SIP, the University of California, Santa Cruz's Science Internship Program (SIP) is one of the most established research internships open to high schoolers. As a SIP intern, you'll work on an open-ended research project in an active UCSC lab, under the direct mentorship of faculty, postdocs, and PhD students, alongside a small group of fellow interns.

Founded in 2009 by UCSC astronomy professor Raja GuhaThakurta, SIP has grown from three students in one lab to a program spanning dozens of research groups across science, engineering, social science, and the arts.

What Is UCSC SIP?

UCSC SIP is a summer research internship for high schoolers that places you inside an active UCSC research group, working alongside faculty, postdocs, and PhD students on a real, open-ended project. You're not shadowing or doing a pre-packaged experiment. You're contributing to research that's actually ongoing in that lab.

Subject areas in the 2026 cohort included:

• Anthropology

• Astronomy and Astrophysics

• Biomolecular Engineering

• Chemistry and Biochemistry

• Computational Media

• Computer Science and Computer Engineering

• Earth and Planetary Sciences

• Economics

• Education

• Electrical and Computer Engineering

• Environmental Art and Social Practice

• Environmental Studies

• Film and Digital Media

• Latin American and Latino Studies

• Linguistics

This list is much broader than SIP's earlier cohorts, which leaned almost entirely on hard sciences. If you're interested in research but don't see yourself as a "STEM kid" specifically, it's worth a look.At the end of the program, you'll present your research at a poster or presentation session, get feedback from your mentor and faculty advisor, and in some cases go on to submit your work to research competitions or journals.

What will you actually work on?

Every SIP project is tied to a specific faculty lab and comes with its own mentor, task list, and deliverables. Projects change every year based on what each lab is actively working on. A few examples from the 2026 cohort:

• Astronomy: Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope to map the environments around distant galaxies, working with Python and real JWST datasets.

• Biomolecular Engineering: Investigating how repetitive regions of the human genome affect cancer-mutation detection pipelines, contributing directly to a mentor's ongoing research on pangenomics and deep learning.

• Environmental Studies: Running a real chemistry-lab analysis of nitrogen pollution in agricultural runoff, including hands-on lab work with spectrophotometry and a mentor-designed dataset.

• Computer Science: Designing and simulating a simple CPU from scratch, learning Verilog and chip-design fundamentals with an open-source tool flow.

• Anthropology: Analyzing interview transcripts on digital research ethics and data governance, building toward a group research presentation.

You can see the complete, current list of research projects for the upcoming cycle on SIP's Research Projects page once mentors are confirmed. It's worth reading through before you apply, since your subject-area preferences (not a specific project) shape which lab you're matched with.

What is UCSC SIP’s acceptance rate? Is it hard to get into?

UCSC SIP has an unofficial acceptance rate of 4-7%, calculated based on the thousands of applications they receive each year + the 300-400 interns they accept per cohort.

It is also hard to get into if you don’t showcase interest in independent research well. A strong personal statement about why you want to do open-ended research (not just "resume building") matters more here than at a program that's purely GPA-gated.

But UCSC SIP is a prestigious opportunity, specifically because it's mentor-led research rather than a lecture-based summer camp, and past interns have gone on to attend schools like UC Berkeley, Harvey Mudd, and Princeton. You can read about their past projects here. It's a legitimate research credential to list on a college application, especially if you can speak specifically to what you contributed to the project.

UCSC SIP Application Deadlines

Applications for the SIP 2026 cycle opened January 16, 2026 and closed February 27, 2026, roughly six weeks earlier in the year than in past cycles. I

Based on the pattern of recent cycles, expect the portal to open in mid-January and close in late February, with the program itself running mid-June through early August. Check SIP's Applying to SIP page directly before you plan around any specific date.

One reference letter is required from a teacher or mentor. Get this request out early since the reference deadline follows shortly after the application deadline, and late submissions aren't accepted.

Who can apply to UCSC SIP? Can international students apply?

• You must be 14 to 17 years old on the program start date. Some specific research placements require you to be at least 16 (usually ones involving lab safety training, human-subjects research, or mature content).

• You must be currently enrolled in high school and not graduating before the program starts.

• International students are eligible to apply, though as with any U.S.-based summer program, it's worth discussing travel logistics and visa considerations with your family before accepting an offer.

• There's no coursework requirement, though some programming experience helps for computational projects, and SIP does look at your grades in relevant high school courses.

How much does UCSC SIP cost? Will you get a stipend?

Here’s the breakdown of costs from the UCSC website - 

That puts the realistic total for a student staying in full-week housing at roughly $12,350 once you add tuition, deposit, and housing together (application fee is separate and paid up front).

However, UCSC SIP offers need-based scholarships to about one-third of interns each year, and if you qualify, aid can cover up to 100% of your deposit, tuition, shuttle transportation, housing, and meals. Financial need doesn't factor into admission decisions, so it's worth applying for aid regardless of your family's situation if cost is a barrier.

Is UCSC SIP In-Person or Online?

As of the most recent cycle, SIP is an in-person program, with one remote onboarding week at the very start to let you get oriented with your mentor before moving to campus. This is a change from SIP's pandemic-era hybrid model, where a fully remote track was available. If you're planning around a remote or hybrid option based on older info, that option is no longer offered except in extreme circumstances like documented travel restrictions.

If you're staying on campus, housing is provided at Crown College with three daily meals included. Commuting students can use SIP's shuttle service or arrange their own transportation; you can't drive yourself or park on campus during the program.

8 Reasons to Apply to UCSC SIP

1. You get real, hands-on research experience

You'll read primary research literature, write code or run lab experiments depending on your project, and present your findings the way an actual researcher would. Admissions officers consistently look for students who've gone beyond coursework to explore a subject independently, and SIP gives you a structured way to do exactly that.

2. You're mentored directly by UCSC faculty and PhD researchers

You're matched to a mentor based on the subject area and skills you list in your application, and you work with them one-on-one (or in a small group) for the full internship. Mentors have included faculty across astronomy, chemistry, computer science, psychology, and more.

3. You join a genuinely diverse cohort

SIP has historically drawn interns from dozens of countries and U.S. states, and the subject-area range has only expanded in recent cohorts. If you want exposure to peers outside your own school or region, this is a real opportunity for that.

4. You build a research network that outlasts the summer

Between your mentor, your faculty advisor, and your fellow interns, you leave SIP with real professional connections, including people who can eventually write you letters of recommendation or point you toward future research and internship opportunities.

5. You can carry your project into research competitions

Past SIP interns have gone on to present at Regeneron ISEF and the Regeneron Science Talent Search, among other competitions. Your SIP mentor's consent is required to use your research for outside submissions, so talk to them early if a competition is a goal.

6. Your work can have a real research impact

SIP projects aren't simulations. Interns have contributed to published research and ongoing lab work, including studies later cited in academic papers. You're producing something a lab actually uses, not just something you're graded on.

7. You get flexibility in how you commute or live

Choose full-week on-campus housing for the full college-life experience, or a weekly commuter option if you're local to the Bay Area. Both options include the same research experience; the difference is just where you sleep and eat.

8. It's a legitimate credential for competitive college applications

SIP doesn't offer academic credit, but it's a well-regarded research program, and being able to speak specifically about your project, your mentor, and what you contributed is a much stronger application story than a generic "did a summer program" line.

FAQ

What is UCSC SIP? UCSC SIP (Science Internship Program) is a summer research internship for high schoolers where you're matched with a UCSC faculty mentor and work on a real, open-ended research project for about eight weeks. If a structured 1-on-1 research match sounds appealing but you want to start earlier or explore more flexible topics, Lumiere's Research Scholar Program works on a similar mentor-matched model year-round.

What is the acceptance rate for SIP at UCSC? We estimate 4-7%. SIP doesn't publish an acceptance rate. It receives a few thousand applicants each year for a limited number of spots, making it highly competitive.

Is UCSC SIP prestigious? Yes, within the context of high school research programs. It's respected because interns do genuine mentor-led research rather than a simulated project, and alumni have gone on to schools including UC Berkeley, Harvey Mudd, and Princeton.

Is SIP hard to get into? It's selective, but fit and motivation matter more than pure academic stats. SIP looks for demonstrated interest in your chosen subject area, analytical thinking, and (for computational projects) some basic programming background, plus willingness to commit to the full program.

How much does UCSC SIP cost? Total cost for on-campus housing runs about $12,350, combining a $750 deposit, $4,250 tuition, and $7,350 for full-week housing, plus a separate $68 application fee. Need-based financial aid covers up to 100% of these costs for about a third of interns each year.

Is UCSC SIP in-person or online? It's in-person, with one remote onboarding week at the start before you move to campus. A fully remote track isn't offered except in extreme, documented circumstances.

When should I apply to UCSC SIP? Recent cycles have opened applications in mid-January and closed in late February, several weeks earlier than in past years. Check SIP's official applying page as soon as it's live for exact dates, since the window is short and a teacher reference is due shortly after.

What if I don't get into SIP? You can reapply the following year, and SIP doesn't penalize past rejections. In the meantime, programs like UC Santa Barbara's Research Mentorship Program, the Simons Summer Research Program, and Lumiere’s Research Scholar Program

 follow a similar mentor-matched research model and are worth having as backups.

Want to do research with a mentor? 

SIP is a strong program, but it's also a single, highly competitive application with a short window and no guarantee of the subject area you want. Lumiere's Research Scholar Program pairs you 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor from Harvard, Oxford, or a similar research institution to complete an independent research paper in a subject you choose, on a timeline that isn't limited to one summer application cycle. Apply here to get started.

Stephen Turban is the co-founder of Lumiere Education and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics before beginning a PhD at Harvard Business School. A former McKinsey & Company consultant and former researcher, his research has been covered by the Harvard Business Review, The Economist, BBC News, Freakonomics Radio, and the Washington Post. In his articles for Forbes, he writes on what students and professionals can learn from high school research, high school passion projects, critical thinking, and mentorship. At Lumiere, he leads a selective research program where students work one-on-one with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper. Connect with him on LinkedIn.