15 Best UK Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 16 minutes ago
- 10 min read
If you’re currently in high school, you might be trying to figure out what you want to study in college. You may know what school subjects you enjoy, but the standard school curriculum doesn’t always show you what a field would look like at the undergraduate level. That’s where summer programs can help. They give you a chance to explore advanced academics and develop skills that will be useful in college, like literature review and argumentative writing.
Why should I participate in a summer program in the UK?
The strongest UK summer programs for high schoolers are hosted by leading universities and academic organizations. You will take demanding coursework in a new academic culture and learn alongside motivated peers from around the UK and potentially the world. Admission is often selective, and expectations are clear. That academic experience carries weight in college applications. It shows that you sought challenge, handled unfamiliar expectations, and chose academic depth.
With that in mind, here are 15 of the best UK summer programs for high school students!
15 Best UK Summer Programs for High School Students
Location: London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo
Cost: Varies according to program. Financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts throughout the summer months with rolling admissions
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 15-18 currently enrolled in high school
The Career Insights Program is an industry-focused experience for high school students in cities around the world. As a participant, you can expect to engage in practical projects with major businesses across industries. The program connects you with industry experts through interactive workshops, site visits, and hands-on projects. You'll also visit operational sites, including offices, factories, and headquarters. The program culminates in a final presentation to industry professionals. You can explore career paths in subjects such as medicine, engineering, law, business, journalism, fashion, and more. The program also includes weekly 1:1 career coaching sessions and sessions where you will receive personalized feedback. You can find more details about the application here!
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Location: Imperial College London, London, UK
Cost: £7,695
Application Deadline: Not available; spots reportedly fill up quickly, so it’s best to apply early
Program Dates: Two sessions from June 29 – July 10 or August 3 – 14
Eligibility: Open to students aged 16–17 with strong STEM academic performance (Majority of 9-7 grades (A*-A) at GCSE level or the international equivalent, with a minimum of grade 7 (A) in maths and relevant science subjects)
Imperial College London runs this Global Summer School for students who already perform strongly in maths and science. You will study STEM subjects through lectures, labs, and structured workshops on campus in South Kensington. A central part of the program is the Innovation Challenge, where you work in teams to solve a real problem using scientific and engineering thinking. Imperial is consistently ranked among the very top universities in the world, and studying STEM inside its labs gives you exposure that few high school programs can match. This is one of the strongest UK options if you want serious academic depth in science.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a competitive research program for high school students. The program provides in-depth 1-on-1 research experiences for high school students in a wide variety of subject fields that you can pursue as a high school student. The program matches high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. By the end, you will have created an independent research paper! You can pick topics for research in areas like psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, etc. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Location: King's College London, London, UK
Cost: Varies by program length; ranges from £3,095 - £9,375
Application Deadline: April 10
Program Dates: Session 1: July 6 - July 10; Session 2: July 13 - 17; Session 3: July 20 - 24; Session 4: July 27 - 31
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or 17 with a minimum of B2 English proficiency
King’s College London offers short one-week courses that let you explore university-level subjects before applying to college. You can choose from law, business, psychology, medicine, international relations, neuroscience, and more, and you can take multiple courses across July. Classes combine lectures with seminars, simulations, and discussions led by faculty and guest speakers. King’s is a globally respected university in central London, and this program stands out for the range of subjects you can study in a short time while staying academically focused.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 500 students accepted from thousands globally, representing 90 countries
Location: Imperial College London and The Royal Geographical Society, South Kensington, London, UK
Cost: £3,295 (includes tuition, accommodation in central London, all meals, lab visits, and all activities)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis; early application strongly recommended as spaces fill quickly
Program Dates: Typically Mid-July to Early 1 August
Eligibility: Students aged 16–21 with strong STEM interests and demonstrated English proficiency; international students from all countries welcome
The London International Youth Science Forum brings 500 students from around 90 countries to Imperial College London and the Royal Geographical Society for two full weeks of advanced STEM learning. You will attend lectures delivered by Nobel Prize winners and senior researchers across fields like AI, robotics, medicine, physics, chemistry, and engineering, followed by visits to major research labs and universities across the UK, including Oxford and Cambridge. You live in central London with students from across the world and take part in daily academic sessions, lab visits, and discussions that stay tightly focused on science. LIYSF has been running for decades and is known globally for its scale, selectivity, and access to top UK research institutions, which is why it is often considered one of the strongest STEM summer programs anywhere.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately to highly selective; limited places available; competitive application process
Location: University of Edinburgh, Holyrood Campus, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Cost: £5,250 (includes tuition, accommodation in university halls of residence, all meals, guest lectures, and excursions)
Application Deadline: May 19
Program Dates: June 29 – July 10
Eligibility: Students aged 16–18 in their penultimate or final year of high school; strong academic performance expected; international students welcome
The University of Edinburgh Pre-University Summer School places you inside a real residential academic setting at the University of Edinburgh, one of the UK’s highest-ranked universities. Over two weeks, you will study a single subject at university level, with options ranging from chemistry and physics to economics, law, international relations, and entrepreneurship. Teaching follows a lecture-and-seminar format, with reading, discussion, and small-group work that mirrors undergraduate study. You live in university halls with students from many countries, attend guest talks by faculty and current students, and take part in organised academic and cultural activities across Edinburgh.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; previous cohort accepted only 32 students
Location: Oxford Saïd Business School, Oxford, UK
Cost: £8,995
Application Deadline: Not available; spots are competitive, so it’s best to apply early
Program Dates: July 19 to August 1
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 16 and 18
Oxford Saïd Business School runs this two-week program focused on climate and sustainability challenges. You will study topics like air pollution, food systems, and extreme weather through discussion-based sessions and group work with other students. In the second half of the program, you turn that learning into a solution and develop a business-style proposal. Being hosted by Oxford and limited to a very small group of students, this is one of the most selective climate-focused summer programs in the UK.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Location: Oxford University, England, UK
Cost: Varies by format and length between $3,364 - $10,858; also offers scholarships for U.S. citizens!
Application Deadline: May 9
Program Dates: 12-day program that runs from July 6 to 17
Eligibility: Open to students completing grades 10–12 who are between the ages of 16 and 18 by June 14. International students will be asked to submit a Duolingo language assessment or TOEFL results.
Brown University hosts this short program in Oxford with a focus on biotechnology and innovation. The course follows how biology works, from genes to biotech products, combining classroom learning with visits to research centres and biotech spaces in Oxford and London. You spend time inside historic Oxford colleges while learning about modern scientific research. The combination of Brown’s academic approach and Oxford’s research environment makes this a strong option for students interested in biotech.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Location: Houghton Street, London, UK
Cost: Fees vary by course and sessions, and come with a non-refundable £60 application fee
Application Deadline: Accepts until course seats are filled
Program Dates: Three-week course with multiple sessions from June to August
Eligibility: Open to advanced high school students (16+) with strong academic performance; English language proficiency required
The London School of Economics runs a three-week summer school offering university-level courses in economics, finance, law, politics, data science, and related fields. You choose a course level based on your background, ranging from introductory to advanced undergraduate-style classes. Teaching follows LSE’s standard lecture and seminar format with real readings and assessments. Studying economics or finance at LSE, even for a short term, places this among the most academically serious summer options in the UK.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Location: University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
Cost: Comes with an all-inclusive course fee of £6,850. Offers scholarships in full, half, and partial.
Application Deadline: Not available, best to apply ahead of the summer
Program Dates: July 11 - August 1
Eligibility: Open to students aged 16-18 with a minimum 3.2 GPA or equivalent
The University of St Andrews offers this three-week residential summer program for students aged 16 to 18. You will take an academic course taught by St. Andrews faculty in subjects like economics, medicine, psychology, mathematics, or sustainable development. Classes follow a university structure with lectures, discussions, and written work. St Andrews is one of the UK’s highest-ranking universities, and this is the only official international summer school hosted there.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 30-50 students
Location: Warwick, Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Bath, Windsor, Canterbury, London
Cost: $4,995; scholarships are available
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: July 2 to 16
Eligibility: Open to rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Hillsdale College runs this two-week travelling study program across England, built around literature and history. You will read and discuss texts with Hillsdale faculty while visiting places like Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Bath, and London. Each site connects directly to the themes you study in class discussions. The program combines academic reading with constant movement through historically important locations, which makes it very different from standard campus-based programs.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly available
Location: Oxford University Saïd Business School, Oxford, UK
Cost: £8,995, which includes train or airport transfers, teaching, meals, accommodation, and excursions
Application Deadline: Not available
Program Dates: July 19 - August 1
Eligibility: Open to students aged 16 to 18
Oxford Saïd Business School hosts this two-week program focused on artificial intelligence, data, and business applications. You will study how AI systems are built and how they are used across industries, with sessions on coding, analytics, and economic applications. Teaching is paired with group challenges and formal events that bring students together. Being based at Oxford and tied to both technology and economics places this among the top AI-focused summer programs in the UK.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Varies per course
Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Cost: Varies per course, ranging from £335 to £370
Application Deadline: Varies per course
Program Dates: Courses run between 1 and 4 days from June to July
Eligibility: Open to students aged 5-18 years
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) offers a variety of both in-person and online summer programs exploring the performing arts. The summer schools you’ll get to choose from include theater, drama, acting, production, filmmaking, music, and dance. Courses also offer a variety of learning levels and ages. You will be taught and guided by the Conservatoire’s experienced instructors, and work closely with like-minded students from across the world. This program’s short courses are varied and brief, and serve as a decent choice for any student looking to get into the world of performing arts. The program also offers several scholarships that you can apply for, including the Agnes Allan Bursary, James McAvoy Drama Scholarship, and Short Courses Drama Scholarship.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited to only 18 students
Location: Fischer Hall (near Trafalgar Square) & Conway Hall, London, UK
Cost: $8,750
Application Deadline: January 21
Program Dates: July 5 – 19
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are at least 16 years of age by or on August 1
The University of Notre Dame runs this two-week summer program in central London for a very small group of students. The course studies how London’s history shaped power, culture, and institutions over time. Each day combines lectures with site visits, museums, and performances tied directly to the material. The limited cohort and academic structure make this one of the more focused humanities programs in London.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Location: Warwick, England, United Kingdom
Cost: £5,250
Application Deadline: May 31
Program Dates: July 14 – July 24
Eligibility: Students aged 16-17 years old
The University of Warwick hosts this ten-day residential program for students aged 16 and 17. You will choose a subject such as economics, business, science, engineering, or humanities, and follow a full academic schedule. Teaching includes lectures, seminars, and talks from faculty and guest speakers. Warwick is one of the UK’s strongest research universities, and this program offers a clear preview of how undergraduate study there works.
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 where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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