15 STEM Programs for High School Students in Canada
- Stephen Turban
- 1 hour ago
- 9 min read
If you plan to study STEM, exploring it in high school can make later choices about your college major clearer. High school STEM programs offer structured time to learn, experiment, and problem solve. They help bridge the gap between school-level learning and college-level expectations.
Why should I participate in a STEM program in high school?
Depending on the program’s focus, you might take part in research projects, lab-based learning, programming tasks, and engineering activities. Many STEM programs are hosted by Canadian universities and institutions, which gives you insight into how STEM is approached in higher education. You will learn how questions are framed, experiments are designed, and results are evaluated. Beyond technical learning, these programs help you assess whether STEM aligns with your strengths. For college applications, they also show initiative and early engagement with demanding academics.
Here are 15 STEM programs for high school students in Canada!
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; need-based financial aid available
Dates: 12 weeks, multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort (Early February, Priority March, Regular April, May)
Eligibility: High school students demonstrating a high level of academic achievement
Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs you one-on-one with a PhD mentor to work on an original research project in a field you choose, such as science, engineering, computer science, economics, humanities, and more. Over roughly twelve weeks, you meet regularly with your mentor, learn how to read academic papers, refine a research question, design a methodology, and write in a formal research style. The work is independent but closely guided, so you are responsible for thinking through problems, revising drafts, and defending your ideas, much like an early-stage academic project. The program ends with a complete research paper, giving you a clear sense of what sustained research actually looks like, from the first question to a finished scholarly output. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Metro Vancouver and Kelowna, BC
Cost: Stipend $3,000; no application fee
Dates: July 6 to August 14
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Indigenous high school students in grades 9-12 in Metro Vancouver or Kelowna; eligible to work in Canada
The seed2STEM program is a six-week paid internship for Indigenous high school students in British Columbia. You will work alongside university researchers at UBC or partner labs on projects in fields like neuroscience, engineering, biology, chemistry, or physics. Your time is split between hands-on research and weekly workshops, guest talks, and field trips that help you understand how STEM work actually happens. The program also includes cultural activities that support learning beyond the lab. By the end, you present your research at a symposium.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
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. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. 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.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: BC Cancer Clinic, Victoria, BC
Stipend: $3,000 bursary stipend
Dates: July 2 - August 26
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Grade 11 students in Vancouver Island secondary schools; nominated by the Science Department Head with principal support
The High School Internship Program (HSIP) at BC Cancer is an eight-week summer research program for Grade 11 students. You work inside cancer research labs, taking on an independent project under the guidance of scientists. You will learn lab techniques, especially in cancer immunology, and get exposure to how research is designed, tested, and handled ethically. The program also shows you how lab findings connect to patient care, not just theory. Throughout the summer, you receive close mentorship and learn how scientists think through problems. It ends with an oral presentation where you share your work with family, teachers, and peers.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective (max 4 per supervisor, 2 per school; no fixed total)
Location: University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Cost: Stipend $15 per hour; no application fee
Dates: July 3 - August 14
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: High school students in grade 11 who have completed Mathematics 20-1 or 20-2, Biology 20, and one other Grade 11 science course; must reside in or north of Red Deer and be legally eligible to work in Canada
The Alberta Innovates High School Youth Researcher Summer Program (HYRS) is a paid, six-week research program for Grade 11 students interested in health and medical sciences. You will work on research projects linked to digital health, data-driven research, commercialization, and how health systems are changing. You gain hands-on experience with lab work, data collection, and analysis, guided by university researchers. Alongside the research, you attend workshops focused on skills, careers, and how health innovation actually works in the real world. You also get exposure to Alberta’s health research ecosystem and meet people working across health and technology.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Cost: Free (housing extra if needed); stipend $15 per hour
Dates: July 3 – August 14
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11-12
The WISEST Summer Research Program at the University of Alberta gives you the chance to work inside university labs while still in high school. You will support researchers and lab teams with ongoing STEM research by helping with experiments, data collection, and analysis. Alongside lab work, you build skills in research writing, presentations, and clear scientific communication through structured sessions. You also take part in lab tours, professional development activities, and networking with people working in STEM fields.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: SickKids Hospital, Toronto, ON
Cost: Varies; some positions are paid or grant-funded
Dates: 15 weeks from May to mid-August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Final year high school students
The SSuRe Program at SickKids is a summer research opportunity for high school students working at the hospital’s Research Institute. You are placed with a researcher and contribute to an active project, learning how research is done in a clinical setting. You will spend the summer building skills in lab work, data analysis, and scientific presentation. Each week includes seminars and career sessions that help you understand how research connects to patient care. The program ends with a Summer Student Symposium, where you present your work and explain what you learned.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Various locations across Canada
Cost: Free
Dates: 10 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: December 28 (Kingston) or January 6 (other locations)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
Youreka Canada pairs you with an undergraduate mentor and gives you the space to run your own citizen science research project. Over 10 weeks, you will design the study, collect data, analyze results, and learn how to write and present your work. You are matched with mentors from Canadian universities who guide you through each stage without taking over the project. The focus stays on independent thinking and real collaboration. At the end, you get opportunities to present your research at regional and national symposiums.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Cost: Free; no application fee
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Canadian citizens or permanent residents who self-identify as Black and are in grades 10 or 11
Blueprint is a four-week academic program for high school students who are interested in STEM. You will learn about the Engineering Design Process through projects, lab work, and coursework in areas like human health and mechatronics. You work alongside other students and collaborate with graduate and undergraduate mentors who guide you through the process. The program also includes educational trips, group activities, and time built in to form connections. You are exposed to different engineering fields while building practical problem-solving skills
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Various universities across Canada
Cost: Free
Dates: One week from May to August
Application Deadline: December 19
Eligibility: First Nations, Métis, or Inuit students in grades 11 or 12
The Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation Program is a one-week STEM immersion for Indigenous high school students at Canadian universities. You spend the week working with professors and graduate students on research projects, learning how data is collected, analyzed, and turned into insight. You can explore fields like science, technology, engineering, or math through practical work and close mentorship. Along the way, there are conversations about college life, available resources, and what different STEM careers actually look like.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; up to 200 students
Location: University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
Cost: Free
Dates: August 4 – 13 (optional lab August 17)
Application Deadline: June 8
Eligibility: High school students with a strong mathematical background
The Quantum School for Young Students (QSYS) at the University of Waterloo introduces you to the basics of quantum science while you are still in high school. You will learn core ideas in quantum physics through lectures, group work, and discussions that focus on understanding. You explore concepts like superposition and entanglement and see how they connect to applications such as quantum computing, communication, and imaging. The program also connects you with researchers who share what they are actually working on and how the field is evolving. If you choose the in-person option, you spend a day in a lab running simple experiments.
12. SHAD Canada
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 50% / around 1000 students
Location: Various universities across Canada
Cost: Domestic $7,495 for live-in (includes application fee equivalent in deposit); financial assistance available
Dates: July 5 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 5
Eligibility: Students completing Grade 10 or 11
SHAD Canada is a month-long residential program where you live on a university campus and spend your days working on problems that mix science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. You will work in small teams on challenges in areas like artificial intelligence, clean energy, food systems, and health. You start with rough ideas and slowly shape them into something that actually works. You design, test, argue, rethink, and present. Team discussions can get messy, and that is part of the point. You also meet researchers, founders, and professionals through workshops and site visits.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Cost: $725 per week domestic; no application fee mentioned
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions in July and August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least one year of high school
The Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program (DEEP) Summer Academy introduces you to advanced STEM topics through short, intensive courses. You will spend one week at a time exploring subjects usually taught at the upper undergraduate or even graduate level in science, engineering, and technology. You work with lab equipment and tools, guided by graduate students and researchers. The program pushes you to take intellectual risks, think creatively, and learn alongside other students who are equally curious. You explore areas like robotics, biotechnology, and materials science while getting hands-on access to university labs and facilities.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
Cost: $450 tuition; optional residence $1,050
Dates: July 7 - 11 or July 28 - August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10-12
The Engineering Future Frontiers program at Queen’s University introduces you to what engineering actually looks like at the university level. You learn through team-based design projects that push you to communicate clearly, work with others, and think through problems instead of rushing to answers. You will explore fields like mechanical, electrical, computer, and mechatronics engineering through practical work. That includes coding in block languages and C++, basic artificial intelligence, robotics, circuitry, prototyping, and 3D modelling. The program pulls directly from Queen’s first-year engineering curriculum, so the work feels real and demanding.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 4% / 40 students
Location: Virtual
Cost: CAD 250
Dates: Two weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies (typically March)
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in theoretical physics and a strong background in physics and math
The International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP) is a two-week program for high school students who are deeply interested in theoretical physics. You will explore ideas like relativity, quantum mechanics, and cosmology through lectures and discussions. You work on group projects and interact closely with researchers at the Perimeter Institute, not just listening but engaging with how they approach hard problems. Mentorship sessions help you sharpen problem-solving skills and scientific thinking.
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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