15 Opportunities for High School Students in Toronto, Canada
- Stephen Turban
- 15 minutes ago
- 10 min read
If you’re a high school student living in Toronto or nearby, there are many ways to use your time outside of school to explore new fields and gain real experience. From internships and volunteer work to short courses and summer programs, these opportunities help you understand how classroom learning connects to the real world.
Toronto’s universities, research centers, and community organizations run several programs that welcome high school students. You might join a research project, volunteer at a nonprofit, take a university-led course, or get involved in an innovation challenge. These experiences are not only good for personal growth but also strengthen your college applications by showing initiative and early engagement in academic or professional areas.
To make your search easier, here’s a list of 15 opportunities for high school students in Toronto, Canada!
15 Opportunities for High School Students in Toronto, Canada
Location: Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON
Stipend: 17.2 CAD/ hour provided
Dates: Varies based on job posting
Application deadline: Varies based on job posting
Eligibility: Grade 11 and 12 students who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or racialized women, 2SLGBTQI+, trans, two-spirit, non-binary, or persons with a disability; applicants must be at least 16 years of age by the program start date
The Women's College Hospital High School Summer Student Research Program is a six-week, full-time research opportunity for high school students from underserved communities interested in engaging in research and healthcare. You’ll spend about 35 hours weekly working on a health research project alongside professionals. You’ll engage in panel discussions and seminars, and network with the hospital community. You will assist researchers with literature searches and data entry, and have weekly check-ins about your research progress. The program culminates in your presentation at the Research Symposium. Check past presentations here.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
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 provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. You will work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. You will attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with your tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. You 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, you will complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Ontario; virtual/in-person hybrid depending on the year
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship experience; hourly rate will be outlined in the offer letter
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 2 – August 20
Application deadline: Opens in spring; the date varies each year
Eligibility: Grade 11 and 12 students enrolled in an Ontario high school
The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Summer Tech Labs Program is an eight-week internship, run as part of RBC’s Future Launch to prepare high school students for careers ahead. As an intern, you will work in small teams of four to build prototypes for RBC’s business unit while using tools like JavaScript, GitHub, and React.js to design and test new features. You also meet with senior RBC leaders to gather feedback and learn how to effectively pitch ideas. The program can offer you insights into and experience in innovative problem-solving involved in the operation of a large financial company.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
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 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 that you can explore as a high schooler. 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: University of Toronto, St. George Campus
Cost: Free
Cohort size: 54 high school participants; the number can vary each year
Dates: July 15 – 26
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students in Ontario; special preference given to Indigenous, Black, and racialized (IBR) students entering grades 11 and 12
The Summer Psychology Research Initiative at the University of Toronto is a ten-day program for high school students interested in psychology. If selected, you will be placed into one of two streams: Lecture or Research, based on your interests and experience. In the Lecture Stream, you will learn about psychology as a scientific research discipline. In the Research Stream, you’ll work in a group to develop a research proposal under the guidance of undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. The program culminates with a Presentation Day where you share your research proposal. You can check past presentations here.
Location: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON
Stipend: Paid
Dates: July 6 – August (end date not specified)
Application deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12 who are at least 16 years old and legally authorized to work in Canada
The Focused Ultrasound High School Summer Research Program at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre offers high schoolers research experiences in its Focused Ultrasound Lab during the summer. You’ll choose from three main program types: Engineering and Technology Development, Experimental work, and Programming. During the program, you will contribute to the lab’s ongoing research efforts. You may investigate the impact of focused ultrasound on various mechanisms, design circuit boards, and contribute to experimental studies. As a participant, you will explore medical research and device development.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: Semester-based (fall, winter, and spring sessions)
Application deadline: Rolling basis]
Eligibility: Grade 11 and 12 students in Canada completing a school-supported co-op placement
The Indus Space STEM Co-Operative Placement Program offers virtual co-op placement opportunities for high school students interested in astronomy and STEM. As a participant, you will work on research projects in teams of two or three. Core research topics include space exploration and its direct connections to the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics sectors. Finally, you present your research findings to peers and build science communication skills. Throughout, you will receive guidance from mentors on interdisciplinary STEM problems.
Location: University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Cost: $1,550 CAD/course + HST
Dates: Session 1: June 30 – July 11 (Drawing Practices); July 14 – 25 (Model Making); Session 2: July 28 – August 8 (Drawing Practices); August 11 – 22 (Model Making)
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18
The Daniels Design Discovery Program is a two-week course for high school students interested in architecture. You can choose from two courses: Drawing Practices and Model Making. In the Drawing Practices track, you’ll analyze a site and communicate design ideas through sketching, photography, and digital representation. In the Model Making course, the focus is on translating concepts into physical form using materials and 3D modeling software. Both courses emphasize practical exploration and train you in presenting your work to peers and instructors.
Location: University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Cost: Starts at $1,850 CAD + additional costs; details here
Dates: July 6 – July 24 | July 27 – August 14
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 to 18 who have advanced levels of English
The University of Toronto’s International Summer Academy Pre-University Program is a three-week summer academic enrichment opportunity for high school students. You can choose from courses like Global Leadership, Game Studies, Applied Statistics, Film Studies, Law, etc. Each course combines lectures, readings, and structured activities that lead to a final project. You might analyze migration patterns in global leadership, study cultural theory in film and cinema, or explore statistical concepts through applied mathematics. Apart from academics, you’ll engage in team-building exercises, presentations, and research-based tasks.
Location: CISS at Trinity, Toronto, ON
Cost: 5500 CAD
Dates: July 5 – 18; July 19 – August 1
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18 with an advanced level of English, equivalent to IELTS 4.0+
The CISS Future Entrepreneurs program introduces high school students to the complete cycle of entrepreneurship, from brainstorming ideas to presenting a business plan. You’ll outline the qualities of successful entrepreneurs, such as adaptability, resilience, and risk-taking, before moving into skill-based learning on creativity, networking, and collaboration. You move towards designing a proposal and pitching it. There are multiple activities planned along the way, including guest lectures, visits to local businesses, and field-based activities. The final challenge is a “Shark Tank”–style presentation where you pitch your business plan to an audience and receive constructive feedback.
Location: U of T St. George Campus, Toronto, ON
Cost: Not specified
Dates: Multiple five-day sessions offered from July 6 – August 21
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
The CREATE: Engineering Design Challenges is a five-day summer program offered by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. Here, you’ll participate in engineering design challenges that are structured along U of T’s undergraduate program curriculum. Current undergraduate and graduate students will mentor you as you work on ongoing research projects. The program includes both laboratory experiments and site visits to supplement practical research skills in engineering coursework. Course options include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Neuroscience, Robotics, Virtual Reality, 3D Graphics, etc.
Location: University of Toronto’s St. George Campus, Toronto, ON
Cost: 1,668 CAD/module + one-time registration fee: CAD 98 (non-refundable)
Dates: Module 1: July 7 – 11; Module 2: July 14 – 18; Module 3: July 21 – 25; Module 4: July 28 – August 1
Application deadline: Rolling deadline
Eligibility: Canadian and international students in grades 10–12; grade 9 students are eligible for just Module 4 on Microbiology
The Medicine Youth Summer Program (MED YSP) at the University of Toronto is a week-long opportunity for high school students interested in the medical sciences. You can choose from four academic modules: Human Physiology – Discover How The Body Works; Pharmacology & Toxicology – Medications, Drugs & The Body; Molecular Biology and Genetics – Applications in Forensics & Medicine; and Microbiology – Learn To Appreciate The Little Things In Life. You get to experience university-level science and learn about medical science and research as you engage in lectures, coursework, and discussions with experts. You’ll conduct experiments in microbiology and human health during lab sessions and attend talks delivered by researchers.
Location: University of Toronto, St. George Campus, Toronto, ON
Cost: Free
Dates: July 7 – August 1 + biweekly engagement from October to February
Application deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Black students in grades 10 and 11
Blueprint is an outreach program offered by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering for high school students interested in the engineering-design process and its applications. You will take two courses: Engineering and Human Health, and Mechatronics and Automation, taught by U of T’s master's and doctoral students, with undergraduates as your mentors. You’ll engage in research discussions during the program. After the summer, as a grade 11 student, you continue with a year-long program called Prepare, which helps you learn soft skills and leadership abilities. If you are in grade 12, you join MAPS (My Academic Preparation Sessions), with a focus on preparing you for college applications and university life.
Location: University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Cost/Stipend: $1175 CAD + $98 CAD registration fee (scholarships available for Canadian students)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective; 60 students per module
Dates: Multiple offerings from July 6 – 14 based on the YSP Module, check here
Application Deadline: Rolling deadline
Eligibility: Students enrolled in grades 10–12
University of Toronto’s Law Youth Summer Program (YSP) is a law-school experience opportunity for high school students. You can choose from four different modules: Corporate Law: Negotiate Big Business Deals; Criminal Law: Prosecute and Defend Murder; International Law: Protect Human Rights and Examine International Norms; and Law, AI & Technology: Test the limits of law in the age of AI. You’ll actively participate in simulations such as mock trials, debates, and negotiation exercises. Field trips and guest speakers add context to the academic content, showing you how legal principles are applied in practice. The key focus of the summer program is the practical introduction to legal studies in a university environment.
Location: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Cost/Stipend: $6,500 CAD
Dates: July 13 – August 2
Application Deadline: July 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18, and also advanced (ages 19+)
The UC Performing Arts & AI International Summer Program is a three-week program at the University of Toronto for high school students interested in artistic training with a combined exposure to artificial intelligence research. You can choose a specialization in either Acting or Digital Media and Sound Design. Here, you’ll develop your craft through workshops, rehearsals, and performances. Faculty of Music instructors and guest artists offer feedback on both technical and expressive aspects of your work. Additionally, you’ll take part in sessions at the BMO Lab, a hub for AI and performance research, where you'll see how emerging technologies are shaping creative industries.
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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