International Relations programs for high schoolers.
45 programs indexed in international relations. 24 are free or pay a stipend. 17 prioritize under-resourced or underrepresented students. This page updates whenever we add a new international relations program.
All international relations programs
- SelectiveAmerican Foreign Service Association (AFSA)AFSA National High School Essay Contest
An essay contest designed to engage students in thinking about peace and conflict resolution.
📍 Online📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12 - ModerateBrown UniversityBrown Leadership Institute
Pre-college leadership program at Brown. Need-based scholarships.
📍 RI⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveDavis United World College ScholarsDavis Projects for Peace
$10,000 grants for undergraduates worldwide to design and implement grassroots peace projects.
📍 Various📅 January🎓 Grade 12 - ModerateGeorgetown UniversityGeorgetown Summer College
Earn college credit in IR, politics, business, and more.
📍 Washington, DC⏱ 3-5 weeks📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12 - ModerateUN FoundationGirl Up Leadership Summit
Annual leadership summit in Washington, DC for girls, women, and non-binary students worldwide, with workshops on advocacy, policy, and organizing.
📍 Washington, DC + Global chapters⏱ 3 days (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveCarnegie Mellon UniversityGlobal Cultures and Emerging Technology
Pre-College Global Cultures and Emerging Technology program at Carnegie Mellon University.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateEnvisionGlobal Young Leaders Conference
International youth leadership and diplomacy simulation in Washington DC and New York.
📍 Washington DC / New York, USA📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateHarvard UniversityHarvard Model UN
High school Model UN conference with delegates from around the world.
📍 Boston, MA⏱ 4 days📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateHarvard International Relations CouncilHarvard Model United Nations International
Harvard's international MUN conferences (India, China, Latin America, Europe) for high schoolers.
📍 Rotating international sites📅 Varies by conference🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveKhanservatory / Khan Academy AffiliateKhan Academy Student Ambassador Program
High school students from the US can serve as 'International Ambassadors' to help with online math tutoring and outreach.
📍 Online⏱ Ongoing📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveKing's College LondonKing's College London Pre-University
Two-week academic summer school across law, medicine, and international relations.
📍 London, United Kingdom⏱ 2 weeks📅 June🎓 Grades 11–12 - Highly SelectiveLeiden UniversityLeiden University Summer Schools
Broad catalog of summer courses in the Netherlands, from law to astronomy.
📍 Leiden, Netherlands⏱ 1-3 weeks📅 July🎓 Grade 12 - Highly SelectiveLondon School of EconomicsLSE Pre-University Programme
Two-week academic summer programme at LSE for 15–18 year olds in economics, international relations, law, or business — bursaries available for financial need.
📍 London, UK⏱ 2 weeks (July/August)📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12 - Highly SelectiveLondon School of EconomicsLSE Summer School (Pre-Uni)
Pre-university summer courses at LSE in economics, law, business, and international relations.
📍 London, United Kingdom📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12 - Highly SelectiveVarious universitiesModel UN (BMUN / NHSMUN / MUNUC)
High school Model United Nations conferences held by universities. Registration fees; many offer financial aid.
📍 Berkeley / NYC / Chicago⏱ 3-4 days📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateTHIMUN FoundationModel United Nations International Conferences
The largest international high school MUN conference network; THIMUN Hague, Singapore, Qatar, and more.
📍 The Hague, Singapore, Doha, and more📅 Rolling (multiple conferences)🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateIMUNANational High School Model United Nations
World's largest model UN conference held at UN headquarters in New York.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 4 days📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveU.S. State DepartmentNSLI-Y (Critical Languages)
Fully-funded US government scholarship for high schoolers to study languages like Arabic, Mandarin, Korean abroad.
📍 Abroad (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 6 weeks or academic year📅 Early November🎓 Grades 10–12 - Highly SelectiveUS Dept. of StateNSLI-Y National Security Language Initiative
Fully-funded scholarships for HS students to study Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian, Turkish abroad.
📍 Global⏱ 6 weeks - 1 year📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveOxford RoyaleOxford Royale Academy
International summer academic programs held at Oxford and other UK/US universities.
📍 Oxford, United Kingdom📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveGoethe-InstitutPASCH-Initiative
German government initiative offering scholarships to attend summer language and STEM courses in Germany for students at partner schools worldwide.
📍 Germany⏱ 3–4 weeks📅 January (school-nominated)🎓 Grades 10–11 - SelectiveAmerican Political Science AssociationRalph Bunche Summer Institute
Funded political science research for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 Multiple (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12 - Highly SelectiveSchwarzman ScholarsSchwarzman Scholars
Fully funded one-year master's at Tsinghua University focused on global leadership.
📍 Beijing, China⏱ 1 year📅 September🎓 Grade 12 - Highly SelectiveSciences PoSciences Po Summer University
International summer program in Paris on social sciences, humanities, and public affairs.
📍 Paris, France📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12 - ModerateStanford SIEPRStanford International Youth Forum
Policy and economics forum for international and US high school students.
📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 1 week📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateStanford UniversityStanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Residential courses in humanities, social sciences, and STEM.
📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 3 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 8–11 - Highly SelectiveSutton TrustSutton Trust US Programme
Fully-funded programme helping state-school students in the UK apply to US universities — includes a residential week in the US, SAT prep, and application support.
📍 UK + week in USA⏱ 1 year📅 January (Year 12)🎓 Grade 11 - Highly SelectiveTel Aviv UniversityTel Aviv University International School
Undergraduate summer courses in the Middle East, humanities, and STEM.
📍 Tel Aviv, Israel⏱ 4 weeks📅 May🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveAspen InstituteThe Stevens Initiative Virtual Exchange
A high school program focusing on international affairs and cultural exchange between US and Middle Eastern students. Online workshops.
📍 Online⏱ 6 months📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–11 - SelectiveUnited NationsUN Youth Opportunities Board
Curated board of fellowships, internships, and youth advisory roles across the UN system.
📍 Various📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveUNESCOUNESCO Youth Programmes
Rolling list of UNESCO calls: youth forums, writing prizes, sustainability grants. Open to youth worldwide.
📍 Various📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUNICEF USAUNICEF UNITED National Council
Student-led advocacy for global child welfare.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Academic year📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUWC InternationalUnited World Colleges Scholarships
Two-year, needs-blind scholarships to complete the IB Diploma at one of 18 UWC schools worldwide; students selected by their country's national committee.
📍 18 campuses worldwide⏱ 2 years📅 National deadlines: fall/winter🎓 Grades 10–11 - ModerateWorld Federation of United Nations AssociationsWFUNA International Model UN
Officially UN-endorsed Model UN conferences that use real UN Rules of Procedure, with editions in New York, Geneva, and rotating global cities.
📍 New York · Geneva · Rotating⏱ 3–5 days📅 Rolling · by conference🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveCenter for World Affairs / Bezos AcademyWorld Affairs Challenge
Project-based competition tackling UN Sustainable Development Goals.
📍 Denver, CO⏱ Academic year📅 May🎓 Grades 7–12 - ModerateWSDCWorld Schools Debating Championships
Premier international high school team debating championship.
📍 Global⏱ 2 weeks📅 Summer🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveYale YRISYale Review of International Studies
Undergraduate IR journal that publishes select high school work.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateYale UniversityYale Young Global Scholars
Two-week interdisciplinary academic enrichment program.
📍 New Haven, CT⏱ 2 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 10–11 - SelectiveYale UniversityYale Young Global Scholars (Need-Based Aid)
YYGS offers full need-based scholarships covering tuition, travel, and room.
📍 CT⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 10–11 - Highly SelectivePeking UniversityYenching Academy Scholars Program
Master's fellowship at Peking University in China Studies for outstanding international graduates.
📍 Beijing, China⏱ 1-2 years📅 December🎓 Grade 12 - SelectivePeking UniversityYenching Global Symposium
Annual student-organized symposium bringing global youth together on Asia-facing issues.
📍 Beijing, China⏱ 1 week📅 November🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveU.S. State DepartmentYES Abroad
Fully-funded year-long high school exchange to countries with significant Muslim populations.
📍 Abroad (nationwide eligibility)⏱ Academic year📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveYoung Diplomats SocietyYoung Diplomats Forum
Global essay and forum program engaging teens with foreign policy questions.
📍 Various⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveICCAYoung ICCA Skills Training
International commercial arbitration training and mentorship for students entering law.
📍 Various⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveU.S. Department of StateYSEALI Academic Fellows
Fully-funded five-week academic residency in the US for outstanding students from Southeast Asian countries; tracks in civic engagement, environment, and social entrepreneurship.
📍 United States (SE Asian applicants)⏱ 5 weeks📅 Country-specific (fall)🎓 Grades 11–12