Political Science Research Opportunities for High School Students
Updated: Sep 3
Updated September 2, 2026
TL;DR
Nine programs made this list, split into three groups by how you access them. Three are fully remote, so your location doesn't matter: the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), and the USC Center for the Political Future's environmental policy internship. Three put you inside a government office in person: the U.S. Senate Page Program pays an annual salary of $37,238, the Treasury Department internship is unpaid, and the NYC Mayor's Office internship pays $17 to $18 an hour but requires NYC residency. The last three are residential summer programs at UCLA, Penn, and Georgetown, running one to three weeks and costing between roughly $2,000 and $10,000. Look at the Lumiere Research Scholar Program if you want a real research paper out of the experience. It pairs you 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor for a project you design yourself.
Curious why governments do what they do, or want real experience before you pick a college major? You don't have to wait. Nine programs let high schoolers do real political science work right now: independent research with a mentor, a paid placement inside a government office, or a summer on a college campus.
If you're set on law, government, or international relations as a career, this kind of experience reads differently to admissions officers than a science fair project does. It shows you can handle real responsibility, not just coursework, and that matters most for the programs on this list that put you in an actual government office.
Why should you consider political science research?
Political science research teaches you to build an argument from evidence instead of just having an opinion, which is the actual skill behind law, policy, journalism, and international relations careers. It also gives you something real to talk about in essays and interviews: an actual question you investigated, not just a line on an activities list.
A completed research paper, like the one you'd produce through the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, gives you something concrete to submit to journals, competitions, or as a writing sample.
Programs with real name recognition, like the Senate Page Program, carry weight with admissions readers even without a stipend or a title.
In our own study of Lumiere alumni, students who completed independent research were about four times more likely than the general applicant pool to be admitted to a top university. Admissions officers evaluate research as a signal of depth and follow-through, not a checkbox.
Not sure whether research or a government internship is the better fit for you? We break down how research and internships compare for college applications, since this list actually includes both.
If you want more options beyond this list, see our guides to politics programs for high school students, government internships for high school students, political science internships for high school students, and political science camps for high school students.
Political science research topics to explore
Most political science research doesn't need a lab. A library card, public records, and a survey tool are usually enough. Here are a few starting points:
How local elections drive turnout differently than national ones. Compare turnout in a recent city council or school board race with turnout in the last presidential election in your county.
Media framing of a single policy issue. Pick one bill or Supreme Court case and compare how two or three news outlets covered it.
How redistricting changes who gets represented. Look at how your state's district lines shifted after the last census and what changed as a result.
What actually moves youth voter turnout. Survey your own school or town on political engagement and compare the results to national youth turnout data.
Comparative government on a single issue. Pick a problem like healthcare or climate policy and compare how two different countries have handled it.
The role of interest groups in a specific bill. Track a piece of legislation through Congress and identify which groups lobbied for or against it.
Where political polarization actually shows up. Analyze voting records, survey data, or public rhetoric around one specific issue.
How a Supreme Court decision changed policy in practice. Pick a landmark case and trace what changed at the state or local level afterward.
If one of these sounds interesting but you're not sure how to turn it into a full project, a mentor can help. The Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs you with a PhD mentor to shape a topic like this into a finished research paper.
Government research opportunities
These three put you inside an actual government office, in person. For a broader list of similar placements, see government internships for high school students.
Application deadline: No universal deadline. Each senator's office runs its own process and timeline, so contact your senator directly
Duration: Spring runs roughly January to June, Summer I and II run for a few weeks each in June through August, and Fall runs September through January
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents, 16 to 17 years old by appointment, rising juniors or seniors, minimum 3.0 GPA
Cost: Paid a stipend based on an annual salary of $37,238. Room and board at the Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence runs $780 to $1,200 a month and is deducted from pay
The Senate Page Program is the most recognized name on this list. You'll deliver correspondence, prepare the Senate Chamber for sessions, and support roll call votes, working directly with senators and their staff. You'll also attend the Senate Page School and live in supervised housing with other pages from across the country. Spots are extremely limited: only about 30 per term, and not every senator sponsors one.
Who it's right for: Students who want the most prestigious credential on this list and don't mind competing for one of a small number of spots. Our full guide to the Page Program covers what a typical day looks like.
Application deadline: Spring internship: apply in October. Summer internship: apply in December. Fall internship: apply in June
Duration: Spring runs January to May, summer runs May to August, fall runs September to December
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in or accepted at an accredited high school, college, or graduate program, maintained throughout the internship
Cost: Unpaid
Treasury interns are placed in one of the department's offices, working on economic policy, tax policy, or international affairs. Duties include collecting and analyzing policy data, researching academic literature, drafting briefing materials, and attending Congressional hearings. It's unpaid, but the exposure to a cabinet-level federal agency is hard to find elsewhere at the high school level.
Who it's right for: Students who want federal policy experience and can afford to work unpaid for a semester in D.C. Our full Treasury internship guide has application tips.
Application deadline: The 2026 Fall to 2027 Spring cycle closed August 23, 2026. A separate summer term typically opens applications in February or March; check the site for the next window
Duration: The fall/spring term runs October to April. The summer term runs June to August
Location: New York City, in person
Eligibility: 16 or older, current working papers or employment certification, enrolled in high school or accepted into an undergraduate program, NYC resident
Cost: Paid, roughly $17 to $18 an hour depending on education level
You're placed in a city department that matches your interests, working on research, data analysis, briefing documents, and event staffing. You'll also attend a biweekly speaker series with deputy mayors and commissioners, and join a group service project benefiting NYC communities.
Who it's right for: NYC residents who want paid, hands-on experience in city government. Our full guide breaks down the departments you can request.
Remote programs
These three are accessible to high school students worldwide! All you need is an internet connection. For more remote options beyond these three, see our guide to online political science internships for high school students.
Application deadline: Rolling, with spring, summer, fall, and winter cohorts
Duration: 12 weeks to 1 year, depending on cohort
Location: Fully remote, open worldwide
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school with strong academic achievement
Cost: Full financial aid is available
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs you with a PhD mentor for one-on-one work on an independent political science research project. Because it's individual rather than cohort-based, you pick the topic. Past students have researched everything from voter behavior and campaign strategy to comparative government systems. The program ends with a university-level research paper you can submit to journals or competitions, and longer cohorts add support for that kind of publication.
Who it's right for: Students outside the US, freshmen and sophomores who can't yet apply to campus programs, and anyone who wants a finished paper instead of a poster session. See the application details here.
Application deadline: Spring term applications open November 2 to 20. Summer and fall applications for 2026 are closed; check FPRI's site for the next window
Duration: Spring runs February to April, summer runs June to August, fall runs October to December
Location: Remote, or in-person in Philadelphia, PA
Eligibility: Open to students at all stages, including high schoolers, though most interns are college or graduate students. No citizenship restriction, but FPRI doesn't sponsor visas
Cost: Free. A limited number of paid stipends are available based on financial need; unpaid part-time internships are also offered
FPRI is a foreign policy think tank, and its research internship pairs you with a scholar working on Asia, Eurasia, or national security topics. You'll attend weekly seminars with foreign policy professionals and have a shot at publishing a research paper on FPRI's Intern Corner. Be honest with yourself about the odds here: the program leans toward college-level applicants, so a strong writing sample matters more than it would elsewhere on this list.
Who it's right for: Students who want foreign policy exposure specifically, and who can put together a competitive writing sample even as a high schooler. Our full FPRI breakdown covers the application in more depth.
Application deadline: Closed for summer 2026. The program typically opens applications in spring
Duration: Runs over the summer
Location: Fully remote
Eligibility: Current high school student with a minimum 3.0 GPA; graduating seniors are not eligible
Cost: Free (unpaid)
This program is now run jointly with USC's Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability, and it's narrower than it used to be: you'll write a legislative policy memo and a legislative process analysis on an environmental or sustainability bill of your choosing, at the local, state, or federal level. Completed work gets published online and you're credited as an official research intern. If you're expecting a broad political science internship, know going in that the focus here is specifically environmental policy.
Who it's right for: Students interested in the intersection of environmental policy and government process, who don't mind a fully written, essay-based format instead of hands-on placement work.
Campus-based summer programs
These three run on a university campus and require tuition. For more campus options, see our guide to political science summer programs for high school students.
Application deadline: Rolling, typically closes in early June
Duration: 3 weeks, late June through mid-July
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, residential
Eligibility: Grades 9 to 12, at least 15 years old
Cost: Tuition runs about $385 per unit for 5 units, plus document and technology fees. Total cost including housing has historically run over $4,000. Scholarships are available
This program introduces you to U.S. political institutions, collective action, and how social scientists actually study politics, taught through college-level coursework. You'll earn 5 units of transferable college credit, sit in on a career panel with guest speakers, and get mentorship from graduate and undergraduate teaching staff.
Who it's right for: Students who want a taste of college-level political science coursework and transferable credit, rather than a research placement.
Application deadline: Rolling until full; apply early, since recent cohorts have filled before the summer
Duration: 2 weeks in July
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, residential or online
Eligibility: Current high school students
Cost: $6,700 tuition, plus a $100 application fee. Cost does not include travel or food
This program, previously run as a longer research-focused academy, now runs as a 2-week academy covering the political, historical, and cultural dimensions of inequality and resistance. Penn faculty lead lectures and workshops on topics like immigration policy, reproductive rights, and civil rights history, ending with a capstone project where you develop your own research question.
Who it's right for: Students more interested in the intersection of political science with social justice history than in a straight government or policy track.
Application deadline: Early-bird deadline January 31 (application fee waived). Final deadline: May 15
Duration: 1 week, typically the first week of June
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., residential or commuter
Eligibility: Grades 8 to 12, minimum 2.0 GPA
Cost: $3,725 residential, $3,095 commuter
You'll dig into the three branches of government through lectures, congressional simulations, and debate exercises, and hear directly from elected officials, Capitol Hill staff, and lobbyists. It's shorter and less research-intensive than the other campus programs on this list, which makes it a lower-commitment way to get a real D.C. experience.
Who it's right for: Underclassmen who want a short, structured introduction to how Washington actually works, without a semester-long commitment. Note: this is a newer addition to Lumiere's list, replacing the ABA's Judicial Intern Opportunity Program, which we previously and incorrectly listed here. That program is open only to law students, not high schoolers.
How should you start with research in political science?
If this is your first research project, don't try to plan everything at once. Our guide to starting research in high school walks through picking a topic, finding a mentor, and producing something you can actually put on an application. For more on landing a placement specifically, see how to get research experience in high school and how to get a research position in high school. If you decide the paper route is right for you, applying to Lumiere is the fastest way to get matched with a mentor.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ABA's Judicial Intern Opportunity Program (JIOP) open to high schoolers?
No. JIOP is a summer internship exclusively for first- and second-year law students, part of the American Bar Association's diversity initiative. It's commonly and incorrectly listed on other high school program roundups. If you're looking for judicial or courtroom exposure as a high schooler, none of the programs on this list place you directly with a judge, but the Senate Page Program gets you closest to the legislative process.
Are any of these programs free or paid?
The Senate Page Program and NYC Mayor's Office internship both pay you directly. FPRI offers limited paid stipends based on financial need. Treasury is unpaid but free to attend. UCLA, Penn, and Georgetown charge tuition, ranging from about $3,000 to over $4,000 depending on the program. Lumiere charges tuition but offers full financial aid.
Are any of these open to students outside the United States?
Only the Lumiere Research Scholar Program is fully remote and open worldwide regardless of citizenship. FPRI doesn't restrict by nationality but won't sponsor a visa, so it only works if you can already work remotely from the U.S. or nearby time zones. Every other program on this list requires U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or in-state and city residency.
Can freshmen or sophomores apply to any of these?
Yes, several will take you: the Lumiere Research Scholar Program (any enrolled high schooler), UCLA's Summer Institute (grade 9 and up), and Georgetown's American Politics Academy (grade 8 and up). Most of the government placements require you to be a rising junior or older.
How does a government placement compare to a research paper for college applications?
They read differently, not better or worse. A finished research paper, like the kind you'd produce through Lumiere, gives you something concrete to submit as a writing sample or to a journal. A government placement like the Senate Page Program or a Treasury internship shows you can handle a real job with real stakes, working alongside adults. If you're aiming at law, government, or international relations programs, that tends to carry more weight than a research credential would.
What if my child is still in middle school?
Georgetown's American Politics Academy explicitly takes current 8th graders, and it's the only program on this list that does. If your child is younger, our guide to political science programs for middle school students covers age-appropriate options instead.