Engineering Programs for High School Students in the UK
Updated: 6 days ago
Updated October 2026
TL;DR
This guide covers 13 UK engineering programs for high school students, and who can apply depends on the program. Imperial’s free outreach schools, like the Year 10 Insights Summer School, are mostly for students who live and go to school in the UK. The NPL Academy is also free and takes students in Years 9 to 13. International students can look at Imperial’s Engineering Summer School (£7,695 in 2026) and Warwick’s Pre-University Summer School (£5,500 in 2027), both built for 16 and 17 year olds. If you’d like to write your own engineering research paper with a PhD mentor, you can apply to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.
If you’re thinking about studying engineering at a UK university, high school is a good time to see what the subject involves. This guide rounds up 13 engineering programs for high schoolers, from university summer schools at Imperial, King’s, and Warwick to project-based placements. Some are free, while others charge a fee. Each entry lists the cost, dates, deadline, and who can apply, so you can narrow the list to the programs you’re eligible for. If you’re watching your budget, see our list of free summer engineering programs for high school students.
What kinds of engineering programs can you do in the UK?
UK engineering programs for high school students fall into four main types: free outreach programs, work experience and research placements, paid residential summer schools, and online research.
Free outreach programs come mostly from Imperial College London, which runs the Year 9 Girls Engineering Summer School, the Year 10 Insights Summer School, the Year 11 Online STEM Challenge, and the Year 12 Sutton Trust Summer School. They cover course fees and materials, and the residential ones cover accommodation and meals too.
Work experience and research placements put you in a lab or workplace for one to two weeks. The NPL Academy, Imperial's Year 12 Work Experience Programme, and STEM Learning's Research Placements all work this way.
Paid residential summer schools charge fees, and several accept students from outside the UK. You'll find Imperial's Engineering Summer School, King's College London's Pre-University Summer School, Warwick's Pre-University Summer School, Immerse Education's Engineering Summer School, and the London International Youth Science Forum in this group. If you want to stay in the capital, our guide to London summer programs for high school students covers more options.
Online research is the fourth type. The Lumiere Research Scholar Program lets you work with a PhD mentor from home, and our list of online engineering programs for high school students has more ideas.
Which program should you look at first?
This table matches what you want out of a program with the options that fit best.
If you want | Look at |
A free taster at a top university | |
A free week in a real lab or workplace | |
A hands-on placement on a live research question | |
A team challenge to solve | |
A residential summer school with lectures and labs | |
A big science forum with students from around the world | |
Your own engineering research paper, online |
13 Engineering Programs for High School Students in the UK
Location: Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London (residential)
Cost: £7,695
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: June 29 to July 10 or August 3 to 14)
Application Deadline: TBA (applications open in January)
Eligibility: Ages 16 and 17 (you must be 16 before the start and not turn 18 before or during the program)
This is a two-week residential program in Imperial's Faculty of Engineering. In week one, you explore a range of engineering disciplines, run practical experiments, collect and analyse data, and build and test models and prototypes with a team. In week two, you join students from other subjects for the Innovation Challenge, led by the Imperial Enterprise Lab, where you pitch a solution to a real-world problem to a panel of judges.
Who is it right for? 16 and 17 year olds with strong maths and science grades who want a residential taste of engineering, including students from outside the UK.
Location: Online (fully remote, so you can join from anywhere)
Cost: Varies by track; need-based financial aid is available, and the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation offers the program at no cost to talented low-income students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: Varies by cohort; the Individual Research Program runs 12 weeks, and the longer tracks run up to 12 months
Application Deadline: Winter Cohort: November 15, 2026 (other cohorts have their own deadlines)
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school with a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs you one-on-one with a PhD fellow or postdoc to build an independent research project from scratch. In the 12-week Individual Research Program, you meet your mentor for nine sessions and a writing coach for two, then finish with a college-level academic paper. Engineering is one of the research areas you can pick, next to topics like physics, computer science, and data science. Completing a program can also earn 3 post-baccalaureate credits through UC San Diego Extended Studies. You can find the application here and read what past scholars say.
Who is it right for? High schoolers anywhere who want to go deeper on one engineering question than a short summer school allows.
Location: Imperial College London, South Kensington campus, London (residential, three nights)
Cost: Free for successful applicants; it covers course fees, materials, accommodation, three meals a day, and trips, but not travel
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: July 29 to August 1)
Application Deadline: TBA (previous cohort: March 11, with references due March 18)
Eligibility: Year 10 when you apply, living and going to school in the UK, and able to stay on campus for the whole program; studying at least eight GCSEs and on track for five at grades 7 to 9 including maths and sciences, plus a 5 in English Language
This is a four-day, three-night program where you apply to either the science stream or the engineering stream. On the engineering side, you try several fields of engineering, join hands-on activities, pick up core concepts, and see technology that Imperial researchers are developing in their labs. Undergraduate mentors work with you all week, and you finish by presenting a poster at an academic-style conference.
Who is it right for? Year 10 students in the UK who like maths and science and want to see what engineering looks like at university.
Location: Oxford or Cambridge, where you live in a university college (also offered in London)
Cost: Varies by location; bursaries are available through Immerse's bursary program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published (classes average 7 students)
Program Dates: Two weeks in July and August
Application Deadline: Not published
Eligibility: Ages 13 to 15 or 16 to 18, with a separate course for each age group
Immerse builds this two-week program around small, tutor-led classes. The 16 to 18 course covers robotics, fluid mechanics, control systems, and machine learning, and the course page talks about simulating a rocket's flight in MATLAB and designing a robot's path. You also get 1-on-1 tutoring, work on a personal research project, and finish with a certificate of achievement. If you're 14 or older, you can add 8 UCAS points as an optional extra.
Who is it right for? 13 to 18 year olds who want small classes and tutor-led engineering in a historic college setting.
Location: Imperial College London, South Kensington campus, London (residential, three nights)
Cost: Free for successful applicants; it covers course fees, materials, accommodation, three meals a day, and trips, and Imperial reimburses public transport travel
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: July 14 to 17 or July 21 to 24)
Application Deadline: TBA (previous cohort: March 5)
Eligibility: Year 12 in England or Wales, Year 13 in Northern Ireland, or S5 in Scotland, at a UK state-funded school or college you have always attended; under 18 during the program; at least eight GCSEs including five at grades 7 to 9 in maths and sciences, plus a 5 in English Language; three A-levels with the subjects each course asks for
This four-day program lets you spend your time inside the department you pick. The engineering options include biomedical engineering, design engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, aeronautics with mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, material science and engineering, and molecular bioengineering. You get lectures, workshops, and lab sessions that go a step past school, plus sessions on student finance and student life. After the week, you can get help with your personal statement and a mock interview if Imperial invites you to interview.
Who is it right for? UK state school students in Year 12 who are leaning toward an engineering degree.
Location: King's College London, London (in person, with an optional residential package at Stamford Street Apartments)
Cost: £3,295 for one week (£3,195 if you apply by January 29, 2027), £6,390 for two weeks, and £9,685 for three; the residential package starts at £4,095 for one week (£3,995 with the early rate); there is a £65 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: The Science, Technology & Engineering course runs July 5 to 9 (Session 1) and July 19 to 23 (Session 3)
Application Deadline: TBA (April 10)
Eligibility: Ages 16 or 17 when the course starts and in your final three years of high school; B2 English if English isn't your first language; you upload your grades and a personal statement
This one-week course is led by academics from King's School of Biomedical Engineering. Last year's topics included microprocessors and digital logic, robotics, the nervous system and artificial intelligence, medical imaging, and 3D printing and computer aided design. Classes mix lectures, seminars, discussion groups, and practical lab work, with team problem-solving along the way. You can earn a certificate of completion by finishing the assignments and attending every session.
Who is it right for? 16 and 17 year olds who want a one-week taste of biomedical-flavored engineering in central London.
Location: Imperial College London, South Kensington campus, London (non-residential, so you travel in each day)
Cost: Free for successful applicants; it covers course fees, materials, and lunch, but not travel
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: August 4 to 7)
Application Deadline: TBA (previous cohort: March 18, with references due March 25)
Eligibility: Girls in Year 9 when you apply who can travel to campus each day; studying at least eight GCSEs and on track for five at grades 7 to 9 including maths and sciences, plus a 5 in English Language; Imperial's eligibility criteria apply
Over four days, you meet your mentor and group, then try engineering taster sessions that show how maths and science solve real problems. Recent departments have included bioengineering, civil engineering, design engineering, earth science and engineering, material science and engineering, and mechanical engineering. At the end of each day, you write a short reflection, and on the last day your group presents a poster at an exhibition for staff, family, and guests.
Who is it right for? Year 9 girls who enjoy maths and science and can get to South Kensington every day.
Location: University of Warwick, Coventry (residential, ten nights on campus)
Cost: £5,500 (including a £1,000 deposit), plus a £50 non-refundable application fee; the fee covers accommodation, breakfasts, dinners, the social program, teaching, guest lectures, and trips
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: July 20 to 30
Application Deadline: May 31 if you need a visa, or June 4 if you don't (applications may close earlier if places fill)
Eligibility: Ages 16 and 17
Warwick's Taste of Science and Engineering course is the one to look at. In the most recent cohort, it sampled engineering, computer science, AI, maths, chemistry, and physics, and each course packs in 29 hours of lectures, seminars, and skills workshops. You live on Warwick's campus alongside current Warwick students who act as ambassadors, and the program includes a day in Oxford and a day at Warwick Castle.
Who is it right for? 16 and 17 year olds, including international students, who want to sample several STEM subjects before they pick a degree.
9. NPL Academy
Location: National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; about 30 to 50 students join each year, with many more applicants than places
Program Dates: June 28 to July 2
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current students in Years 10 to 13
This week at the UK's national measurement lab puts you on a small team with a mentor who sets your task. Projects might include atomic clocks, computer programming, electronics, fibre optics, microscopy, prototyping, and quantum science, plus areas like finance, IT, and project management. Monday starts with an induction, team building, and demos, Wednesday afternoon brings a cohort challenge on site, and on Friday your team presents its work to the cohort and guests.
Who is it right for? Years 10 to 13 who like measurement, physics, and building things, and who can get to Teddington every day.
Location: Imperial College London campuses, London
Cost: Free for successful applicants; it covers course fees, materials, and lunch, and travel isn't included, though you can request travel help
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: End of June (exact dates TBA)
Application Deadline: Early March
Eligibility: Year 12 when you apply, living and going to school in the UK, and able to travel to campus each day; at least eight GCSEs with five at grades 7 to 9 including maths and sciences, a 5 in English Language, and the A-level subjects each stream asks for
For five days, you swap school for a typical working week in an Imperial department, from the commute to the deadlines. Last year, the streams included bioengineering, chemical engineering, and materials, next to mathematics, biomedical research, and climate research at the Grantham Institute. You use research and teaching labs, workshops, and technical suites, hear talks on personal statements and interview skills, and finish with a group oral presentation on the last day.
Who is it right for? Year 12 students in the UK who want to see what research looks like inside a university engineering department.
Location: Imperial College London and the Royal Geographical Society, South Kensington, London
Cost: £3,450 for 2027 (with a £950 deposit); it covers accommodation, all meals, lectures, and visits, while travel to London and insurance are extra
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; about 500 young scientists from more than 90 countries
Program Dates: July 18 to 31 (14 days)
Application Deadline: May 30 (applications are first come, first served)
Eligibility: Ages 16 to 21 while the forum runs; studying science or STEM with a school reference; good written and spoken English
LIYSF covers science broadly, with engineering, robotics, AI, nanotechnology, and medicine all in the mix. Your 14 days include eight main lecture demonstrations, four day visits to UK university departments, labs, and research centres (with travel included), and four specialist lecture sessions that you choose from 32 options. You also join networking sessions with PhD researchers and can present your own science project at the science bazaar. LIYSF says you'll meet Nobel laureates along the way.
Who is it right for? 16 to 21 year olds from anywhere in the world who love science and want a busy fortnight of lectures and lab visits in London.
Location: Host organizations across the UK, including universities, research institutions, and employers (lab, field, or office based)
Cost: Funded by STEM Learning's partners
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: Summer holidays; Research Placements last two weeks, and exact dates vary by host
Application Deadline: Not published (opening and closing dates vary by placement)
Eligibility: Year 12 (or equivalent) students studying STEM subjects at a state-maintained school or college in the UK
A Research Placement is a two-week collaboration with an expert on a live research question or area of development. You contribute to your host's current work, then produce a scientific or technical report and a poster. Every project has scientific or technical content, and STEM Learning also offers five-day Experience Placements if you'd like a shorter option.
Who is it right for? Year 12 students at UK state-funded schools who want hands-on research on a real question.
Location: Online for three days, then one day on campus at Imperial College London, South Kensington (hybrid)
Cost: Free for successful applicants; it covers course fees, materials, and lunch on the campus day, but not travel
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Program Dates: TBA (previous cohort: June 23 to 26)
Application Deadline: TBA (previous cohort: March 4, with references due March 11)
Eligibility: Year 11 when you apply, living and going to school in the UK, and able to travel to campus for the final day; studying at least eight GCSEs and on track for five at grades 7 to 9 including maths and sciences, plus a 5 in English Language
This four-day program gives you one small team and one real-world problem. For the first three days, you work online with your team and a mentor, meet researchers or people from industry, and ask student ambassadors about university. On day four, you travel to South Kensington to finish your presentation and pitch your solution to a panel of judges, and the winning team gets a prize. Some pre-reading may arrive two weeks beforehand.
Who is it right for? Year 11 students in the UK who enjoy teamwork and want to see how different STEM subjects fit together.
Which programs fit your year group?
Find your school year or age below, then check that program's entry for exact dates.
Your year or age | Programs to look at |
Year 9 (girls) | |
Year 10 | |
Year 11 | |
Year 12 | |
Year 13 | |
Ages 16 and 17 | |
Ages 13 to 18 | |
Any high school year |
If you're in Year 12 now, you could apply to the NPL Academy between January 4 and 31, 2027, and to King's College London once its applications open in early November. Looking beyond the UK? Our list of engineering programs for high school students includes options in the US and online.
5 Tips to Stand Out in Your UK Engineering Program Applications
The strongest applications show real interest in engineering, sound like you, and arrive with references already lined up. These five habits help.
1. Show your interest outside the classroom
The NPL Academy gives priority to applicants with a genuine interest in science, engineering, and business beyond the classroom, and Imperial's Engineering Summer School looks for enthusiasm in your personal statement. So be specific. Maybe you rebuilt the gears on an old bike, coded a small robot, or spent a weekend wondering why a bridge near you has that odd curved shape. Small, specific stories stick with readers far longer than general lines about loving engineering.
2. Write your personal statement yourself
Imperial's outreach team says the application and personal statement should come from you, because hearing your own motivations helps them most. Tell them what pulled you toward engineering and what you hope to get out of the week. A teacher can check your spelling, but the voice should stay yours.
3. Line up your references early
Most of Imperial's outreach programs ask for one reference from a parent or guardian and one from a teacher. The Year 12 Work Experience Programme says your application may not be accepted without the teacher reference. Talk to both people before you apply so you have the right email addresses and they're happy to support you.
4. Check the grades and subjects before you start
Imperial's outreach programs look for five GCSEs at grades 7 to 9 including maths and sciences, plus a grade 5 in English Language, and the Year 12 streams ask for specific A-level subjects, like maths with physics or chemistry. The paid residential schools set their own bars too, so read the eligibility line in each entry first.
5. Put the dates in your calendar now
Most 2027 dates are still TBA, but you can plan around the last cycle. Imperial's 2026 outreach applications opened on January 12 and closed between March 4 and March 18, applications for King's College London open in early November, and the NPL Academy's run January 4 to 31, 2027. Set reminders now so you don't miss a window.
Want to research your own engineering question?
Most of the programs above give you a taster, a team project, or a week of lab time. If you'd like to go deeper on a question you choose, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs you one-on-one with a PhD fellow or postdoc. In the 12-week Individual Research Program, you build an independent project and finish with a college-level research paper. The program is fully online, need-based financial aid is available, and the Winter Cohort deadline is November 15, 2026. For more research-style options, see our list of summer engineering research programs for high school students.
What you might still be wondering about these UK engineering programs
Do I need specific school subjects to apply?
Often, yes. The free outreach programs look for strong GCSE results in maths and sciences, and the Year 12 options ask for particular A-level subjects, such as maths with physics or chemistry. A few of the fee-based residential programs list no subject requirements, so you still have options if your subjects don't match.
Will I build things, or is it mostly lectures?
It's a mix, and many programs lean hands-on. You can expect lab sessions, experiments, prototypes, or team projects in most of them, while a couple focus more on lectures and visits. The descriptions above show which side each one leans toward.
Do I need to know which type of engineering I want before applying?
No. Several programs sample a range of fields, such as bioengineering, civil, mechanical, and materials engineering, so you can try a few before you choose. A handful ask you to pick a stream or department when you apply, so a rough favorite helps.
Do any of these cost money or pay a stipend?
Several are free, and none of them list a stipend. The free outreach programs cover course costs, and some also cover accommodation and meals, though travel is usually yours to cover. The paid programs that publish a 2026 or 2027 fee run from £3,295 to £9,685, and a few offer bursaries.
How competitive are these programs?
Most of them don't publish acceptance rates. Several of the free programs say they get more applicants than places, and one national lab placement takes about 30 to 50 students a year, so a clear, specific application helps.
Will I leave with a certificate, a poster, or a paper?
It depends on the program. Many end with a team presentation, a poster, or a pitch to judges, several award a certificate, and the one-on-one research option ends with a full college-level paper.
Do I need to live in the UK to join?
Not for all of them. Most of the free programs are built for students at UK schools, while several paid residential programs accept students from other countries. If you'd like to stay home, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program is fully online, so you can work on an engineering research project from anywhere.
How long do these programs run?
It depends on the program. Outreach programs and work experience weeks run four or five days, residential summer schools run from one to three weeks, and online research runs for 12 weeks or longer. For more ideas on filling your summer, see our list of summer programs in the UK for high school students.