10 Harvard Medical Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
If you're a high school student interested in medicine, Harvard’s medical summer programs offer a chance to explore the field before you apply to college! These medical summer programs provide access to Harvard-level academics, exposure to clinical and research practices, and the chance to connect with mentors from Harvard Medical School and related institutions.
Whether it's practicing sutures in a simulated ER, exploring genetics and immunology in a lab, or analyzing ethical issues in modern medicine, you’ll gain both practical skills and a theoretical foundation. Many programs are short-term, offer financial aid, and focus on collaborative learning, making them an accessible opportunity for you.
Each program listed here is officially hosted by Harvard University through Harvard Medical School, or the Harvard Summer School, and is directly tied to healthcare, medicine, or biomedical science.
Here are 10 Harvard medical summer programs for high school students!
Cost: $2,800 for the 5-day program; $2,250 for the 4-day holiday week. Limited scholarships available for Boston-area students. To apply, students must complete the Scholarship Application Form in the application.
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Dates: Multiple sessions from June 9 to August 22
Application Deadline: Applications for 2025 are closed. Opens each year in winter-spring.
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9–12. Alumni may only apply to programs they have not previously attended.
The MEDscienceClinical program is a one-week summer experience for high school students held at Harvard Medical School. You will work in HMS’s simulation labs to evaluate, diagnose, and treat lifelike patients experiencing medical emergencies. Through hands-on practice, you’ll learn core clinical skills such as suturing, intubation, and IV insertion. The program includes mentorship and instruction from physicians, nurses, and medical students, offering insight into healthcare careers. Participants build teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills while exploring what it’s like to work in emergency medicine. This is a non-residential program and does not include housing or travel.
Cost: $2,800; limited scholarships available for Boston-area students. To apply, students must complete the Scholarship Application Form in the application.
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Dates: June 23–27, July 7–11, August 4–8, or August 11–15
Application Deadline: Opens each year in winter–spring.
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9–12. Must be at least 16 years old by the program start date. Alumni may only apply to programs they haven't completed.
MEDscienceLAB is a one-week, full-day summer program at Harvard Medical School that connects clinical practice to lab-based biomedical research. You’ll begin by working with simulated patients in HMS’s medical simulation lab and then move into research labs to analyze patient samples and run experiments. The program emphasizes real-world lab techniques and introduces you to how diagnostics and research solve medical cases. You will also engage in career exploration with biotech and healthcare professionals, gaining exposure to fields like public health, clinical research, and biomedical science. The curriculum is hands-on, collaborative, and designed to help you build both lab and practical skills.
Cost: $2,800; limited scholarships available for Boston-area students. To apply, students must complete the Scholarship Application Form in the application.
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Dates: June 9–13, July 14–18, or July 21–25
Application Deadline: Opens each year in winter–spring.
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9–12. Must be at least 16 years old by the program start date. Alumni may only apply to programs they haven't completed.
MEDscienceLAB Forensics is a one-week, full-day summer program at Harvard Medical School that introduces high school students to the science behind crime scene investigation. Students take on the role of forensic scientists, collecting evidence, analyzing lab samples, interviewing witnesses, and solving simulated criminal cases. The program blends hands-on lab work with realistic case scenarios in HMS’s simulation labs, giving insight into the forensic science process. Participants build teamwork and presentation skills while learning to think like investigators and scientists. The curriculum also includes exposure to research professionals and lab-based techniques. This is a non-residential program and does not include housing or travel.
Cost: $2,800; limited scholarships available for Boston-area students. To apply, students must complete the Scholarship Application Form in the application.
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Dates: June 9–13, June 23–27, July 7–11, July 28–August 1, or August 4–8
Application Deadline: Opens each year in winter–spring.
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9–12. No prior tech experience required. Alumni may only apply to programs they haven't completed.
MEDscienceTECH Moonshot Foundations is a one-week, full-day summer program at Harvard Medical School for high school students interested in the intersection of medicine, biomedical engineering, and computer science. You’ll learn the design thinking process and work in teams to build AI-enabled surgical robots that solve real-world medical problems for simulated patients. No prior experience in coding or robotics is required, making this a suitable entry point for students exploring future careers in medtech or health innovation. Participants pitch their prototypes to industry professionals and gain hands-on experience in technical design, communication, and team-based problem solving. The curriculum includes exposure to healthcare settings, surgical robotics, and interdisciplinary medical applications.
Cost: $5,800; limited scholarships available for Boston-area students. To apply, students must complete the Scholarship Application Form in the application.
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (plus one day at Johnson & Johnson, Raynham, MA).
Dates: July 14–25 (2-week session)
Application Deadline: Applications for 2025 are closed. Opens each year in winter–spring.
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9–12 with prior experience in robotics or coding. Alumni may only apply to programs they haven't completed.
MEDscienceTECH Moonshot Visionaries is a two-week, advanced summer program designed for high school students with prior experience in robotics or computer science. Held at Harvard Medical School, this program challenges you to design and build a fully functional AI surgical robot as part of a collaborative team. Participants specialize in roles based on their interests, ranging from engineering and software development to business and product design, and present their work during a final demo day. The program includes site visits to Harvard’s School of Engineering and medical technology companies like Johnson & Johnson, offering high-level exposure to the medtech industry. This is a non-residential program and does not include housing or travel.
Cost: $2,800; limited scholarships available for Boston-area students. To apply, students must complete the Scholarship Application Form in the application.
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Dates: July 21–25
Application Deadline: Applications for 2025 are closed. Opens each year in winter–spring.
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9–12. Alumni of other MEDscience summer programs (Clinical, LAB, or Forensics) are not eligible.
MEDscienceDental is a one-week, full-day summer program at Harvard Medical School for high school students interested in exploring the intersection of dentistry and general medicine. You’ll engage in simulated clinical and dental cases using high-tech patient mannequins, learning how to evaluate, diagnose, and treat oral health conditions. The program includes hands-on training in dental procedures and provides exposure to the broader role of oral health in overall patient care. Participants also interact with dentists and dental students from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, gaining insight into dental career paths. Through clinical simulations and group-based learning, you’ll build skills in diagnosis, critical thinking, and healthcare communication.
Cost:
7-week residential: $14,950
7-week online or commuter: $4,050 (1 course) or $7,900 (2 courses)
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, or online
Dates: June 21–August 9
Application Deadline: Regular: February 12; late: April 9 (or earlier if full)
Eligibility: Students must be at least 16 by June 21 and not turn 19 before July 31.
The Harvard Secondary School Program is a summer experience for high school students in premedical sciences and medical ethics that allows them to earn Harvard college credit. Over seven weeks, you’ll choose two credit-bearing courses from a curated list that includes Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Organic Chemistry, Biomedical Ethics, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Stigma and Gender in Medicine. You can attend in person (residential or commuter) or participate online, depending on course availability. By the end of the program, you’ll earn a transcript from Harvard and gain substantial exposure to both foundational science and the ethical dimensions of modern healthcare.
Cost: $5,800 + $75 application fee. Limited financial aid is available. To learn more about financial aid and awards, visit here.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
Dates: June 22–July 3, July 6–18, or July 20–August 1
Application Deadline:
Early Deadline: January 8
Regular Deadline: February 12
Late Deadline: April 9 (or earlier if courses fill up)
Eligibility: Open to rising juniors and seniors. Applicants must be at least 16 years old by June 21 and not turn 19 before July 31.
The Harvard Pre-College Program is a two-week residential academic program where high school students take one college-level, non-credit course in a small seminar setting. Course options include psychology, medicine, and public health, offering direct exposure to subjects relevant to healthcare and life sciences. You will attend daily classes, complete assignments, and receive a written evaluation and transcript noting whether all course requirements were met. Outside of academics, you will participate in college readiness workshops, including admissions essay writing and financial aid sessions. You'll also receive a Harvard transcript and written faculty evaluation. Class sizes are small (around 15 students), allowing close interaction with Harvard faculty.
Cost: $1,795. Need-based scholarships are available. After submitting your application, click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” on the confirmation page to request a scholarship.
Location: Online
Dates: Flexible; courses available year-round with rolling enrollment.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; decisions made promptly.
Eligibility: Open to students aged 13+. No transcripts or recommendations required.
The Harvard Medical School Pre-College HMX Program is a self-paced, online offering designed specifically for high school students aged 13 and above who want early exposure to medical science. Developed and taught by Harvard Medical School faculty, these courses cover core pre-med subjects such as biochemistry, genetics, immunology, pharmacology, and physiology. Each course includes 30–40 hours of instruction through interactive videos, real-world case simulations, and mentor-supported learning. You’ll complete quizzes, engage with multimedia content, and gain insight into how foundational science connects to clinical medicine. Upon completion, you’ll earn a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Medical School.
Cost: Programs start from $4,050
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (also available online in the 7-week format)
Dates: Multiple sessions from July 13 to August 9
Application Deadline:
4-week: February 12
7-week: April 9 (or earlier if full)
Eligibility: Students must be at least 16 by June 21 and not turn 19 before July 31.
The Harvard Secondary School Program (SSP) allows high school students to enroll in real, credit-bearing Harvard courses for 4 or 7 weeks. You can choose from over 200 courses, including biology, neuroscience, global health, psychology, and related STEM or pre-med tracks. SSP students study alongside college and adult learners and receive letter grades and official Harvard transcripts. The 7-week session offers flexibility with residential, online, and commuting options, while the 4-week session is residential only. You’ll also have access to college readiness workshops, tutoring, writing support, and activities that build independence and college-level academic skills.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also, check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD 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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