15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Toronto, Canada
- Stephen Turban
- 3 hours ago
- 9 min read
If you’re a high school student in Toronto looking to spend your summer exploring your interests, a summer program can be a practical way to gain hands-on experience. These programs let you work on projects, learn from mentors, and meet other students who are also motivated to explore new fields.
Why should I do a summer program in Toronto?
Toronto offers a wealth of opportunities for high school students. From university-led programs to nonprofit initiatives and industry-backed workshops, you can explore areas like science, technology, business, or the arts. These programs give you early exposure to advanced concepts, practical skills, and real-world problem solving.
Participating in a summer program can also strengthen your college applications. It demonstrates initiative, shows that you’ve explored a field in depth, and provides experiences you can reference in essays or interviews. You’ll also develop skills that go beyond what you learn in the classroom, giving you a solid edge when applying to universities.
To make your search easier, we’ve compiled a list of 15 summer programs for high school students in Toronto!
15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Toronto, Canada
Location: University of Toronto, St. George Campus.
Cost:$1,668 CAD
Program Dates: Module 1: July 7 - July 11 | Module 2: July 14 - July 18 | Module 3: July 21 to July 25 | July 28 to August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 - 12. Students in grade 9 are only eligible for Module 4
The University of Toronto’s Med YSP is a one-week program where you explore medical science through hands-on labs and lectures at Toronto’s Medical Discovery District. You choose one track for the week. In Human Physiology, you test lung function and use lie detectors. In Pharmacology & Toxicology, you study how drugs work in the body. In Molecular Biology & Genetics, you solve a mock crime using DNA fingerprinting. In Microbiology, you study bacteria and viruses and see how public health systems handle outbreaks. The program gives you a clear look at how medical science works in practice.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Program 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. 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, they complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: University of Toronto’s St George Campus
Cost: CAD $300
Dates: August 18-22
Application deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have completed Grade 10 or Grade 11 by the beginning of the camp
Science Unlimited Summer Camp at the University of Toronto is a one-week program that lets you explore different branches of science through experiments and practical sessions. You’ll study subjects like physics, astronomy, chemistry, earth sciences, mathematics, and computer science while working in university labs and classrooms. Faculty members and researchers guide the sessions, helping you understand how science is studied and applied at a research university. The camp focuses on hands-on learning, group work, and discovery-based projects to help you experience real university science in action.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is 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.
Location: Multiple locations
Cost: $325.99 (plus tax)
Program Dates: Week 1: July 7 - July 11 | Week 2: July 14 - July 18
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 - 12 residing in Ontario, Canada
The Discovery Healthcare Camp is a one-week summer program for high school students who want a hands-on introduction to medicine and healthcare. The camp lets you practice clinical skills like suturing, casting, and wound care, while also exploring real healthcare settings. You’ll work through diagnostic case studies, hear from professionals about different careers, and see how social factors affect health. Each camp is designed around the healthcare system of its region, giving you a clear picture of the unique needs and services in that community.
Location: University of Toronto
Stipend: $1600
Program Dates: 4 weeks in July
Application Deadline: Applications open in December
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-11
The Summer Mentorship Program (SMP) at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine is a four-week program for high school students in Grades 10 and 11 who identify as Indigenous or Black. You explore fields like medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and social work through labs, lectures, and hands-on activities. You are paired with a mentor, meet healthcare professionals, and gain real insight into these careers. The program also provides academic support, a high school credit, and a $1,600 honorarium.
Location: University of Toronto’s St George Campus
Cost: Not specified
Dates: July 6– 31
Application deadline: Details will be updated by late February. Check here
Eligibility: Open to high school students in Grades 9–12 who have completed at least one year of high school
University of Toronto – DEEP Summer Academy is a one-week program where you explore engineering, science, and technology through hands-on learning. You’ll study topics like robotics, AI, biomedical design, and nanotechnology in classes led by university researchers and graduate students. The program combines lectures with practical projects and group challenges to help you understand how university-level learning works. You’ll also build skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and analytical thinking while experiencing how engineering and innovation come together at the University of Toronto.
Location: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Cost: Free
Program dates: Typically runs in July
Application deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 – 12 who will be at least 16 years old when the program starts and legally authorized to work in Canada
The Focused Ultrasound High School Summer Research Program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre gives you hands-on experience in medical research. You’ll work in labs on ongoing projects in medicine, physics, engineering, and biology, taking part in tasks such as designing circuit boards, testing experiments, and studying how focused ultrasound affects different systems. You gain practical insight into medical research, device development, and the scientific process while working alongside professionals in a real lab setting.
Cost: No cost
Location: Women’s College Hospital, Grenville St, Toronto
Program Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: 11th-12th graders who are 16+ by program start; Must have taken grade 11 or 12 biology and chemistry; More details here
The Emily Stowe Scholar Program is a six-week research program at Women’s College Hospital that offers high school students, particularly those who identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized women, trans, two-spirit, non-binary, or living with a disability, the opportunity to work on health sciences research projects. You will collaborate with mentors on real-world health research, attend weekly seminars on equity and medical systems, and develop skills in data collection, literature review, and critical analysis. The program emphasizes inclusive mentorship and encourages interdisciplinary thinking in health contexts. It concludes with a student-led Research Symposium, where you will present your work and receive peer and professional feedback.
Location: Virtual (Online)
Cost: None
Program Dates: Varies as per sessions
Application Deadline: Not specific
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The Girls Who Code Summer Program is a two-week immersive experience designed for international high school students who want to explore computer science and technology. Throughout the program, you’ll learn the fundamentals of coding with a focus on game design using p5.js, a JavaScript library. You’ll delve into beginner to intermediate coding concepts, explore the design process, and get an introduction to user experience (UX) design. The program blends live lessons with independent and collaborative projects, giving you the chance to practice problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork. By the end, you’ll design and build your own interactive game, applying the coding and design skills you’ve developed during the course.
Location: University of Toronto’s St. George campus, Toronto, ON
Cost: Free
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application deadline: March 28; applications open on November 13
Eligibility: Black Canadian students in grades 10-11 who are interested in STEM careers
Blueprint is a four-week summer program at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering for Black high school students who are interested in science and engineering. During the program, you’ll take university-level courses like mechatronics and engineering in healthcare, and learn the engineering design process through hands-on labs and team projects. Graduate students lead the courses, while undergraduate students serve as mentors, guiding you in both technical skills and personal development.
Location: SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario
Cost: Varies; some positions are paid or grant-funded, others are voluntary
Dates: May-mid August
Application deadline: Rolling; job postings and researcher-led hiring vary
Eligibility: High school students who will be enrolled in a university/college undergraduate program in the fall following the summer program
The SSuRe Program offers high school and undergraduate students the chance to engage in meaningful summer research at SickKids while developing both scientific and professional skills. Over 15 weeks, you’ll take part in seminars led by hospital researchers, receive training in lab safety and clinical research practices, and present your findings at a formal research symposium. The program begins with orientation sessions covering research ethics and occupational health to prepare you for lab work. Throughout the summer, weekly seminars will expose you to diverse areas of research, while skill-building workshops will strengthen your communication and networking abilities.
Location: Virtual with an optional in-person lab day at the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON (about 1 hour away from Toronto, ON)
Cost: None
Dates: August 11-15 (Virtual) and August 18 (lab day)
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 11 and 12 in Canada (e.g., Secondary V and CÉGEP in Québec); enrolled in or have completed grade 11 mathematics
The Quantum School for Young Students (QSYS) at the University of Waterloo is a one-week program for high school students interested in quantum science. You’ll study the basics of quantum mechanics, cryptography, and computing through lectures and problem-solving sessions led by university researchers. Topics include superposition, entanglement, and linear algebra, explained in a way that connects theory with real applications. You’ll also see how quantum technology is changing communication and computing, interact with graduate students and faculty, and learn about future paths in physics and engineering while exploring the world of quantum research.
Location: CISS at Trinity, Toronto, ON
Cost: Check here
Dates: Session 1 (July 5-August 18) and Session 2 (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+
CISS Canada Future Entrepreneurs is a two-week program in Toronto where you learn how real entrepreneurs think and act. You’ll explore idea generation, teamwork, and problem-solving while building practical skills in business planning, marketing, and pitching. You’ll attend guest lectures, visit local businesses, and present your project in a “Shark Tank” style event. You live on campus in supervised rooms with access to classrooms, lounges, and meals. The program includes afternoon and evening activities and full-day excursions around Toronto.
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Stipend: $1,900 (credit course) and $575 (academic skills)
Dates: July 2-25 (credit course) and August 18-22 (academic skills)
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Students entering Grades 7–12 (boys and girls) from Ontario and beyond
The Bishop Strachan School Summer Academy is a four-week program for students in Grades 7–12 who want to expand their knowledge, earn credits, or explore new subjects. During the program, you’ll get to choose from a variety of courses in math, science, writing, leadership, and social sciences. You’ll learn in small classes with dedicated teachers who make lessons interactive and engaging through projects and discussions. The program helps you strengthen your academic skills, discover your interests, and gain confidence for future studies.
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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