12 Engineering Programs for High School Students in Australia
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 8 min read
If you’re interested in engineering, you might be looking for ways to explore the field beyond what your high school classes offer. Structured academic programs can introduce you to areas such as mechanical design, robotics, and computer systems while providing exposure to college-level coursework, mentorship, and collaborative learning environments. They also help you build skills in problem-solving, analytical thinking, and technical communication in a more focused setting.
In Australia, engineering programs are offered through universities, national organizations, outreach initiatives, and pre-college academic experiences. These programs vary in format, including short-term intensives, multi-week courses, competitions, and longer-term engagement programs, with some focused on advanced concepts and others introducing foundational skills.
Why should I do an engineering program in high school?
Participating in an engineering program can help you better understand how different engineering fields are studied and applied. Rigorous programs challenge you with advanced topics beyond the standard high school curriculum, sharpening analytical thinking and preparing you for competitive STEM majors. They also offer meaningful networking opportunities with professors, researchers, and peers who are equally motivated.
To help you get started, here are 12 engineering programs in Australia.
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Joondalup Campus, Perth, Western Australia
Cost / Stipend: Free (program delivery covered; students arrange transport)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not publicly specified (limited spots; first-come registration)
Program dates: 15–17 July (9:15 am–1:00 pm daily)
Application deadline: 7 July
Eligibility: High-achieving students in Years 9–12 with an interest in STEM
CREATE (Creating Real Engineering And Technology Experiences) is a hands-on STEM enrichment program run by ECU’s School of Engineering. Designed to challenge high-achieving secondary students, it introduces you to advanced engineering concepts beyond the standard curriculum. Activities span mechanical, electrical, civil, robotics, automation, data processing, and more, all grounded in strong mathematical foundations. Workshops are delivered by university staff with support from engineering students, offering both mentorship and exposure to university life. CREATE is ideal for students seeking applied engineering experiences in a university lab setting without financial barriers.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
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. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors 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 from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Australia-wide (schools, national events, online hub)
Cost / Stipend: Free resources and school programs
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Open access
Program dates: Year-round programs and events
Application deadline: Varies by event
Eligibility: Primary and high school students, teachers, and schools
Engineers Australia runs multiple outreach initiatives to inspire young people to pursue engineering. Through programs like Engineered for Impact (in partnership with Year13), students explore real-world engineering careers via videos, career tools, and interactive content. The organization also hosts large-scale events, such as leadership forums and hands-on activations, at national venues, including the Australian Grand Prix. Additional initiatives, such as Power of Engineering and Engineering is Elementary, introduce students to problem-solving through creative and practical activities. These programs highlight the diversity, creativity, and societal impact of engineering careers.
Location: Sydney
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions.
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program offers you the opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, building robotic arms in engineering, and moot courts in law, making it a valuable option to consider if you’re exploring engineering programs for high school students in Australia. Students can choose from over 20 subjects, including architecture, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, they complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Australia-wide (camp locations announced after selection; virtual + in-person components)
Cost / Stipend: Free (travel, camp, activities, and resources covered)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: 30 students selected annually (highly selective)
Program dates: Year-long engagement; STEM Camp (4–5 days) + 10–12 virtual hours across the year
Application deadline: 10 March (11:19 pm AWST)
Eligibility: Students in Years 5–10 (including homeschoolers) | Priority for underrepresented groups in STEM
Young Future Shapers is a national recognition and enrichment program supporting 30 students with personalized STEM development pathways. You can attend a multi-day STEM Camp, organise expert-led excursions, or design your own STEM resource pack. The program focuses on confidence-building, skill development, and career awareness while fostering peer networks. Delivered by STEM Together in partnership with BHP Foundation, it prioritises access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, girls, and those from regional or lower-opportunity areas. Surveys show measurable increases in STEM knowledge, confidence, and career awareness. The program combines mentorship, experiential learning, and long-term engagement.
Location: The University of Melbourne, Victoria
Cost / Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Competitive; top 5% of cohort expected
Program dates: Two-year engagement (Years 11–12); applications open 24 July – close 5 September
Application deadline: 5 September (student applications)
Eligibility: Victorian Year 10 students (including select interstate border schools) | Strong academics and leadership
The Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program provides high-achieving Year 10 students with a head start on university life during Years 11 and 12. Scholars attend exclusive university events, academic enrichment sessions, and networking opportunities. Eligible domestic students may receive guaranteed entry into selected undergraduate degrees (subject to prerequisites) with adjusted ATAR thresholds. Additional benefits include access to Melbourne’s extensive library system and potential relocation allowances for rural students. Selection is competitive and based on academic performance, leadership, and school endorsement.
Location: Sydney, Australia (fully residential at the University of Sydney)
Cost / Stipend: Free (scholarships valued at ~AUD $4,000 covering travel, accommodation, meals, and activities)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: ~70 Australian students selected (plus ~40 international scholars; highly competitive)
Program dates: 6–19 July
Application deadline: Applications open early January
Eligibility: Students in Years 11–12 (Australian citizens/permanent residents studying in Australia; international scholars selected through partner countries)
The Professor Harry Messel International Science School (ISS) is a prestigious two-week residential science enrichment program for high-achieving senior secondary students. ISS brings together 110 scholars from Australia and partner countries for lectures by world-leading researchers, lab tours, ethics workshops, and hands-on experiments. Scholars live on campus and participate in a vibrant social and networking program, building lifelong global connections. Selection is merit-based and requires a strong academic record, commitment to STEM subjects, and a school recommendation.
Location: UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW (online + on-campus events)
Cost / Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Open membership
Program dates: Year-round engagement
Application deadline: Rolling sign-ups
Eligibility: High school students (inclusive of young women, non-binary, and gender diverse students)
The UNSW Young Women in Engineering Club is a free engagement community designed to inspire high school students to explore engineering careers. Members receive monthly newsletters, invitations to exclusive workshops and challenges, and access to a private online community. The program connects you with UNSW engineering undergraduates and professional women engineers for mentorship and inspiration. Senior students (Years 11–12) can apply for the Pathway Program and become eligible for an Early Conditional Offer through the Faculty of Engineering Admissions Scheme (FEAS). Through events, blogs, challenges, and school ambassador visits, the club builds confidence and career awareness in STEM.
Location: RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC
Cost / Stipend: Not publicly specified (interest registration required)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective (registration-based)
Program dates: Program runs annually; specific dates vary
Application deadline: Registration required
Eligibility: Female students in Years 9–12
The WOMENG Youth Program promotes infrastructure engineering as an exciting career pathway for high school girls. You get to attend three site excursions to construction sites, production plants, and advanced laboratories. The experience includes a full 9–5 workplace immersion day with industry professionals and a one-day workshop at RMIT featuring senior women leaders in engineering. You will gain real-world insight into infrastructure engineering roles and career mapping. The program combines exposure, mentorship, and industry networking to encourage future study in civil and infrastructure engineering.
Location: Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD
Cost / Stipend: No tuition fees (limited bursaries available)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Competitive; capped places
Program dates: 8–23 January (Orientation: 8 January)
Application deadline: 31 October
Eligibility: High-achieving Year 11 students
Start QUT (STEM Intensive) allows Year 11 students to complete a first-year university STEM unit over the summer holidays. Delivered in-person, the two-week program mirrors a real university experience, including lectures, labs, tutorials, and assessments. You can choose from units in chemistry, computer systems (female students only), or engineering design. Successful completion may result in an ATAR adjustment and advanced standing in QUT courses. The program offers early exposure to university academics while building technical and academic confidence.
Location: The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD
Cost / Stipend: Many events are free; varies by activity
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Event-based registration
Program dates: Year-round events (work experience, programming days, workshops)
Application deadline: Varies by event
Eligibility: High school students (Years 7–12, depending on event)
The Women in Engineering (WE) Program at UQ supports and inspires young women to pursue engineering careers. Events include Girls’ Programming Network workshops, multi-day Work Experience programs for Years 10–12, school holiday sessions, and school visits. Established in 2013, the program collaborates with industry partners to promote gender diversity in engineering. Over the course of the program, you gain hands-on exposure to engineering disciplines, mentorship from professionals, and networking opportunities with peers. The initiative also supports university students and alumni, creating a long-term pipeline of community and professional support.
Location: Monash University, Victoria
Cost / Stipend: Free membership
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Open membership
Program dates: Year 9–12 ongoing engagement
Application deadline: Rolling sign-up
Eligibility: High school students (inclusive of women, trans, and non-binary students)
Monash Engineering Girls (MEG) is a long-term engagement initiative and one of the notable engineering programs for high school students in Australia interested in maths, science, technology, and design. Members participate in VIP events, workshops, campus activities, and networking experiences from Year 9 through Year 12. The program connects you with engineering academics, current undergraduates, and alumni. Through hands-on activities and mentoring, participants gain exposure to different engineering disciplines and university life. MEG focuses on confidence-building, informed career exploration, and community connection.
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 research mentor to develop a research paper.
Image Source - Lumiere Education logo