12 Summer Programs for High School Students in India
If you are a high school student in India looking to boost your profile before applying to college, a summer program may be a good idea. Such programs, offered by universities and institutions, can help you build your knowledge and skills while exploring a subject of your choice! If you’re keen on academic research, take a look at this list of opportunities.
Here, we’ve curated a list of 12 summer programs for high school students in India.
While a few of these are highly competitive, offered by some of the most prestigious universities in the world, others have an open enrollment structure, giving you a relaxed yet thorough learning experience. These courses cover a range of subjects, so you can take your pick! Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
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.
Location: Plaksha University Campus (Mohali, Punjab)
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 12 can apply.
Application Deadline: April
Program Dates: 2 weeks in June
Fee: INR 90,000. Need-based scholarships are offered.
This 2-week STEM program exposes students to real-world engineering and problem-solving. Through interdisciplinary coursework, you will learn how to apply concepts in tech to solve complex problems. The program includes courses on basic programming and advanced algorithms. You will be encouraged to create viable business models.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: UWC Mahindra College (Nanegaon, Maharashtra, India)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-19 can apply. Certain courses may have different age criteria.
Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: June
Fees: INR 30,000 - 1,90,000. Scholarships are offered.
This summer program is focused on the issues of sustainability, social justice, and identity. In the past, it offered 4 courses: Youth for Social Change, Outdoor and Ecological Education, Youth, Environment, Sustainability and Slavery Studies. While the course list is yet to be announced, you can expect similar topics to be covered. These courses are usually 1-week long, introducing students to social and environmental issues. They aim to encourage students to become responsible global citizens. Sessions are delivered by faculty and experts from the field and include workshops, hands-on work, and field visits.
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Students who have completed grades 10 or 11, are between 16 and 18 years old, and have an overall B average (3.0, weighted or unweighted) in all of their high school coursework. International high school students must meet these English Language Requirements.
Application Deadline: June 3
Program dates: Tentatively June-August
Fee: INR 144,400 (approx) / $1,738 – $595 (per unit) + $550 (registration fee) + $68 (document management fee) + $25 (application fee) + $500 (international service fee). Some financial aid is available.
This pre-college program, spanning 3-10 weeks, offers international students an array of subjects. You can explore your academic interests while earning college credit. Students on the virtual track can choose from courses in mythology and social sciences to design, language, and literature. The program also offers courses in a range of STEM subjects. Each course will deepen your understanding of the field, aid you in your future academics, and help you plan your career in your chosen industry.
Location: Ashoka University, Haryana, India. This is a residential program!
Eligibility: Students who are in grades 9-12 in May of the intake year can apply.
Application Deadline: February 18
Program Dates: Session 1 – May 20 - 31 | Session 2 – June 3 - 14
Fees: INR 49,500 (YSP) | INR 85,000 (YSP Advanced). Some financial aid is available.
This program offers students a chance to live on campus while exploring a subject during the course of a week. YSP offers several tracks across a number of disciplines, including data science, liberal arts, computer science, economics, entrepreneurship, and more. YSP students explore these disciplines through hands-on learning. The program includes a range of activities, including lectures, workshops, discussion groups, project work, presentations, and performances. The program also offers a YSP Advanced course, which will include the YSP Foundation, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and an elective subject. This advanced course is 10 days long.
Location: While this program offers in-person courses as well, only the online ones are open to international students.
Eligibility: All high school students (students in grades 9-12) are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: June 2
Program Dates: July 1 - 26
Fees: $1,500 (online course tuition) | $1,700 (online course tuition + online SAT prep course). Some scholarships are available.
This online summer program is designed for students who want to explore subjects like sociology, Python programming, political science, and microbiology. Through coursework, discussions, and projects, you will learn the basics of your subject and produce a final project. You will have the opportunity to learn from UC San Diego faculty and engage in intellectual discussions with peers. You can earn pre-college credit units through this course, too!
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 or 11 are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: February 1
Program Dates: Online session 1: June 17 - July 5 | Online session 2: July 8 - 26
Fee: INR 2,95,150 (approx.) / $3,550. Financial aid is available. An additional cost of up to INR 8,000 (approx.) / $100 may be incurred for course material. Some financial aid is offered.
With an acceptance rate below 10%, SUMaC is a highly prestigious summer camp. This 3-week program is for students who have a record of excellence in mathematics and an aptitude for advanced mathematics. Every year, this camp hosts 64 mathematically gifted students. You will discuss and work on advanced mathematical concepts and engage in academically rigorous classes and sessions. You can expect to undertake coursework, attend online lectures, and work on projects. SUMaC students are selected based on their grades in math courses, recommendation letters, and performance in the admission exam.
Location: This program offers virtual and in-person (commuter and residential) options.
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-12 who are at least 16 years old or will be turning 16 by July.
Application Deadline: January 10 (early applications) | February 14 (regular applications) | April 10 (late applications)
Program Dates: June 24 - August 10
Fee: $3,700 for 4 credits and $7,400 for 8 credits, with a non-refundable $75 application fee.
Harvard’s 7-week Secondary School Program offers a minimum of 4-credit hours and a maximum of 8, which serve as graded college courses. According to their website, 89% of past SSP attendees said the program was integral to their decision-making process regarding what to study in college. SSP online organizes courses into Career Pathways, allowing you to drop a course along the way. As a part of the program, you get to access Harvard’s vast online library and interact with peers from all parts of the world. The program is structured to allow for social events and co-curricular activities.
Location: This program offers a virtual option.
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 12 are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: TBA. Applications open January 15.
Program Dates: Students can choose between two 3-week sessions:
Session I – July 8-25
Session II – July 28 - August 15
OR, they can choose the 6-week session – July 8 - August 15
Fee: Noncredit course – INR 1,65,800 (approx.) / $1,995 | 3-credit course – INR 2,55,600 (approx.) / $3,075. Other variations of courses have different charges, available here.
Scholarships and financial aid are available.
High school students can choose between the 3-week or 6-week pre-college courses and non-credit and for-credit courses, depending on their academic goals. Courses are offered across a range of subjects, ranging from forensic science to academic writing. You will attend classes and explore research on prominent topics in your chosen discipline. The courses are taught by SU faculty and instructors and are structured like real college classes.
Location: FLAME University Campus (Pune, Maharashtra)
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12 who are at least 14 years old as of March 15 of the intake year can apply.
Application deadline: May 13 (for Batch I) and June 10 (for Batch II)
Program dates: Batch I – May 20-29 | Batch II – June 17-26
Fee: INR 50,000 (inclusive of service tax).
This program allows high school students to understand liberal arts education through academic and non-academic courses. Courses offered include Media Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Data Visualization, Computer Science, Marketing, Literature & Culture, and more. This is an open-enrollment program, which means the academics might not be as rigorous as some of the others on this list. You will develop your critical thinking, research, and teamwork skills while engaging with diverse ideas and perspectives.
Location: The Symbiosis Centre of International Education (Pune, Maharashtra)
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 to 12 can apply.
Application Deadline: Students are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Program Dates: May 13-25
Fee: INR 45,000. Dependents of Symbiosis employees can avail a 50% discount.
This 2-week program allows you to explore a subject of interest, helping you identify what you'd like to pursue in college. The program offers courses in a wide range of disciplines, such as law, management, engineering, medicine, architecture, journalism, and computer science. With coursework and seminars, you will get a glimpse into the academics and potential career paths that come with your subject of choice. The program also includes workshops, individual sessions, and networking opportunities where you can interact with industry professionals from your field.
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.
Image Source: Ashoka University logo