15 Computer Science Programs for International High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Jul 7
- 12 min read
If you are a high school student living outside the U.S. interested in exploring the field of tech and boosting your programming, coding, and overall computer skills, then computer science programs are worth considering!
Computer science programs designed for high schoolers can help you learn about careers in the field as well as boost your creativity, time management, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. These programs typically combine instruction/lectures with hands-on activities to help you explore core computer science concepts. Additionally, as a computer science program participant, you will get access to tools, learning resources, and platforms to apply your skills.
To help you get started, here we have listed 15 computer science programs for international high school students based on factors like networking opportunities and academic rigor they offer.
Location: Virtual
Cohort size: 1,000 in each of the two initial cohorts and 500 in the combined cohorts
Dates: First cohort: June 19 – October 18; Second cohort: October 16 – February 14; Combined cohort: May 5 – October 6
Application deadline: September 30
Eligibility: High school and college students over the age of 16 who self-identify as underserved or underrepresented in technology
Cost: Free
In collaboration with Udacity, an online ed-tech platform, Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers the Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Scholarship program—an online opportunity to learn foundational machine learning concepts. Here, 2,000 students across the globe are awarded a scholarship of 4,000 USD to acquire skills-based training through the self-paced two- to four-month Udacity Nanodegree: AI Programming with Python course. Then, the top 500 students earn a scholarship for the three- to six-month advanced AWS ML Fundamentals Nanodegree, which covers deep learning and ML engineering concepts and offers mentorship from industry experts. To pre-qualify for the main scholarship opportunity, you will get to access another learning experience, working with the student-only version of the AWS DeepRacer League and building and racing an autonomous vehicle in a 3D simulated environment. Additionally, when you apply, you get the option to take the four-week "Introducing Generative AI with AWS" course worth 250 USD.
Designed by AWS professionals, the scholarship program helps you develop software engineering skills and get early exposure to hands-on, real-world projects. The AI Programming with Python Nanodegree (second phase) offers a solid foundation in Python programming, covering basics like linear algebra and calculus. When you qualify for the final, advanced phase, you will explore neural networks and learn how to use Amazon SageMaker for machine learning.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: ~12% (500 out of 4,000 applicants selected in the past); each student gets a 1-on-1 research experience
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year—Summer: June – August; Fall: September – December; Winter: December – February; Spring: March – June
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring applications close in January, Summer in May, Fall in September, and Winter in November
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement; accepted students tend to have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities to high school students in various fields, including computer science. You get to choose your research area and topic, based on which you will conduct an independent research project. You can pick areas like computer science, robotics, and/or data science on the application form here. The rigorous program will then pair you with a Ph.D. mentor to help you complete your research work. You will also get to attend sessions with a writing coach. At the end of the program, you will have developed a college-level research paper!
Location: Virtual or in-person at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cohort size: Unspecified
Dates: June 23 – August 9
Application deadline: April 9
Eligibility: High school students who are between 16 and 19 years old and scheduled to enter college in the current year or the next two years | TOEFL iBT, Duolingo, and IELTS academic test scores are required for non-native English speakers. You should check the course prerequisites, as some courses require applicants to have math or programming skills.
Cost: $4,050 (for four credits) or $7,900 (for eight credits) + a non-refundable $75 application fee
Harvard University’s Division of Continuing Education (DCE)’s seven-week Secondary School Program (SSP) is an opportunity to take college-level courses across subject areas, including computer science. The program offers various online asynchronous courses, including CSCI S-50: Intensive Introduction to Computer Science and CSCI S-3: Introduction to Web Programming Using JavaScript. You can find courses and check their details here before applying. During the program, you will explore core computer science concepts through a combination of theoretical lectures, reading, and hands-on work on problem sets and/or projects. You also get access to Harvard’s online resources, such as the libraries, and virtual SSP activities such as an open Mic night, a discussion series, language meet-ups, listening to classical music, and more.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Online
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple 12 – 15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter cohorts
Application deadline: Varies according to the cohort | Spring applications are due in January, Summer in May, Fall in September, and Winter in November.
Eligibility: High school students anywhere in the world | AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed AI Scholars or have some experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, U.K.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Unspecified
Dates: June 30 – July 11; August 4 – 15
Application deadline: No deadline; Applications accepted on a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Students who are 16 or 17 years old
Cost: £7,260 (9626.47 USD)
Imperial College’s Global Summer School is a two-week program open to high schoolers around the world. Here, you will spend the first part of the program attending academic sessions on one out of four available courses. Here, you can choose the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence course to explore the basics of data science and AI. During your academic sessions, you will learn about how to gather, store, visualize, and protect data and how it is crucial for empowering AI. You will also learn about topics like computer vision and natural language processing. You will also get to work in a group and present your ideas on specific research papers that you will have access to during the program. The second part of the program is dedicated to the Innovation Challenge, where you and your team will work on solving a real-world challenge. The experience can help you hone your communication, problem-solving, presentation, and group work skills.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Unspecified
Dates: June 23 – July 18
Application deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Students who are 14 – 18 years old and have a basic foundation in computer programming
Cost: $5,314
Summer @ Brown is part of Brown University’s pre-college opportunities, offering high schoolers a chance to enroll in college-level courses. Its AI, Data Science, and Machine Learning course is a four-week online exposure to methodical data exploration and visualization using machine-learning techniques. Here, you will mainly learn about the machine learning process while also exploring topics like diagnostic analytics, predictive modeling, text analytics, deep learning, recommender systems, and computer vision. Homework and prep work are also part of the experience. You will also formulate and present your own data architecture during the program. This experience can help you build foundational knowledge to pursue careers in data science and/or machine learning.
Location: Plaksha University, Punjab, India
Cohort size: Typically 100 – 200
Dates: May 25 – June 7
Application deadline: April 27
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12
Cost: INR 97,500 ($1,140) + GST with need-based scholarships available
Plaksha University’s Young Technology Scholars (YTS) program is a hands-on, interdisciplinary residential summer program. Here, you will attend lectures delivered by faculty from national and international institutes such as IIT Delhi, Harvard Medical School, and Northeastern University. You will also get to develop coding skills from scratch, learn the basics of electronics and programming, work on creativity and innovation, and enhance critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. During the experiential program, you will get to learn about advanced topics like robotics, 3D printing, AI, and game design. You will also learn how technology can be used to deal with complex societal challenges in diverse fields such as education, healthcare, or engineering. Outside the classroom, you will participate in immersive activities with your peers from global schools, such as cultural experiences and sports. You will work with a team on a selected real-world problem and build a model to address it.
Location: Virtual
Cohort size: Typically 30
Dates: June 18 – July 2
Application deadline: January 24
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 and 10 who are older than 14 | Applicants with math and/or computer skills are preferred
Cost: $4,000 | Financial aid is available.
Stanford AI4ALL is a two-week online program hosted by Stanford University Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI). Here, you will gain insights into AI and its diverse applications in the medical field, economics, natural language processing, and robotics through lectures delivered by Stanford faculty and industry experts. You will also engage in hands-on learning experiences and team research projects with the Stanford AI Lab under the mentorship of professionals and AI researchers. By participating in interactive projects that use AI tools to solve meaningful problems, you will develop technical skills and a critical thinking approach. You will also attend career development workshops and lectures.
Location: Ashoka University, Sonepat, Haryana, India
Cohort size: Information not available
Dates: Edition 1: May 19 – 30 | Edition 2: June 2 – 13
Application deadline: April 20
Eligibility: High school students who are proficient in written and spoken English
Cost: INR 85,000 ($994) + INR 1,000 ($11.6) application fee | Need-based financial aid is available.
Young Scholars Program: Tech, Data & Computer Science is a research-based, interdisciplinary residential program covering key principles of biology, chemistry, physics, and computational sciences. During the program, you will explore the fields of AI & ML, natural language processing, cybersecurity, blockchain, robotics, and data science. You will learn coding, algorithm design, data analysis techniques, and programming through hands-on experience in AI-driven technologies. Live experiential projects in MakerSpace Labs are also part of the experience. Through projects and instruction, you will understand the algorithms that your streaming apps use, develop functional tech tools, and design virtual reality experiences. This experience can help you build problem-solving and analytical thinking skills.
Location: Virtual
Cohort size: Typically 16
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – 27; Session 2: July 7 – 18
Application deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 – 11
Cost: $3,080 + an amount not more than $100 for additional course materials | Financial aid is available
The Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer I is an opportunity for high school students to explore courses in various disciplines, including computer science. Here, you will get an immersive Stanford classroom experience to explore advanced computer science concepts not typically found in the high school curriculum. You can choose from courses like Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Introduction to Java Programming, and Introduction to Machine Learning. In these computer science courses, you will explore academic material in-depth, work on problem sets, and have interactive, real-time discussions with instructors and peers. Presentations may also be part of the experience. You will also participate in virtual social activities, work on asynchronous assignments, and receive a certificate on program completion.
Location: Virtual and in-person at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: No cost to attend; however, you will have to pay an application fee of $25, which can be waived based on a needs-based system.
Eligibility: High school students from around the world who are at least 15 years old
Application deadline: February 2
Program dates: June 18 – August 8
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program is a summer internship in which high schoolers around the world work with faculty researchers and get some hands-on research experience. ASSIP offers remote research opportunities in various fields, including computer science as well as computational and data sciences. You can browse through the list of mentors and research areas to find the right option for you. As an intern, you will have access to ongoing research, university resources, and scientific writing and communication skill development opportunities. During the program, you may get to learn more about software analysis and testing, data mining, and machine learning, among other topics. At the end of the program, you will attend a poster session, where you present your project. You may also get a chance to publish your research work in a scientific journal and present it at scientific conferences.
Location: Virtual
Cohort size: Information not available
Dates: July 7 – 18 with two courses in week one (July 7 – 11) and two courses in week two (July 14 – 18)
Application deadline: June 13
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old
Cost: $2,695
UCLA Game Lab Institute is a two-week virtual program that focuses on independent game creation, offering four hands-on courses in game development. During the program, you will explore the art and technology of game design through instructor-led lectures and hands-on studio time. You will primarily explore game aesthetics, game context, and game genres through the four courses—Game Design, Character Animation, World Building, and Game Programming. You will also work on programming and coding games, and build your own gaming world with characters using the techniques and tools covered during the program. On completion of the program, your work will be shared online on a gallery-style website, and you can use it for your college application portfolio.
Location: Virtual
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies according to the session | Various two- and four-week sessions offered between May and August
Application deadline: Varies as per session. Check the session and dates here.
Eligibility: Students who are 13 or older and not in college yet, as well as recent high school graduates with no more than a single gap year | Check the requirements for international applicants here
Cost: $1,795 with need-based scholarships
Georgetown University’s “Cybersecurity: Protecting Our Digital Future” is an online, asynchronous program for high school students. You will learn about the diverse aspects of cybersecurity, including the evolution of cyberspace, attack vectors, human and technological vulnerability factors, protecting yourself online, AI hacks, and the skills required to get professional certifications in cybersecurity. With no live meetings or specific study times, this program offers you the flexibility to complete the course by spending just 30 hours between the start and end dates of your chosen session. During the program, you will have access to the University's faculty-delivered pre-recorded video lessons and support from mentors via email, discussion board, and assignment feedback. The program will end with a final capstone project, involving either creating a simulated text/email thread or presentation on common cybersecurity threats that teens face.
Location: Virtual
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple two- and four-week sessions offered from May to August | You can check details here.
Application Deadline: Varies as per session
Eligibility: Students who are 13 or older and are
not in college yet, along with recent high school graduates with no more than a single gap year
Cost: $1,495 with need-based scholarships available
The University of Rochester’s Intro to Video Game Design program covers game development and key skills to pursue game design as a career. During the program, you will learn about game development through pre-recorded videos and 20-25 hours of instructional material and coursework, including multimedia and simulations. You get to complete activities and assignments according to your own schedule under the guidance of a mentor. You will learn about the evolution of video games, game design theories, digital storytelling techniques in gaming genres such as adventure and Sci-Fi, and building different game elements. You will work on assignments at the end of each module to assess your understanding of the course content. You will design your own templated 2D video game as your final project, using text, photography, PPT, or video formats and GameMaker Studio 2.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – 18
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students
Cost: $3,965
Location: Virtual
Columbia University’s Summer programs designed for high schoolers around the world offer opportunities to take college-level courses across subject areas, including computer science. The Summer Online program’s Introduction to Programming with Java course is a two-week introductory session covering the fundamentals of the programming language Java. Here, you will get to work on your logical reasoning, problem-solving, systematic thinking, and computer programming skills through hands-on activities. You will engage in lab sessions and individual as well as group projects to explore object-oriented programming concepts, techniques, and algorithms. The lab sessions will be conducted in a cross-platform Java environment set up on your personal computer.
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.
Image Source - Harvard University logo