Physics programs for high schoolers.
77 programs indexed in physics. 64 are free or pay a stipend. 20 prioritize under-resourced or underrepresented students. This page updates whenever we add a new physics program.
All physics programs
- Highly SelectiveAgency for Science, Technology and ResearchA*STAR Scientific Research Programme
Government research placements for pre-university students in Singapore.
📍 Singapore⏱ 8 weeks📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveArmy Educational Outreach Program (AEOP)AEOP High School Apprenticeship Program
Students work alongside Army scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research projects in world-class laboratories.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 8 weeks📅 Early March🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAmgen FoundationAmgen Scholars — Europe & Asia
Fully funded summer research at host institutions across Europe and Asia for undergraduates in the sciences.
📍 Various📅 January🎓 Grade 12 - Highly SelectiveAustralian National UniversityANU Extension
University-level courses for high-achieving high school students in Canberra.
📍 Canberra, Australia⏱ 1 year📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveArgonne National LaboratoryArgonne Exemplary Student Research Program
Chicago-area students conduct year-long research mentored by Argonne scientists.
📍 IL⏱ School year📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveArkansas State University / Arkansas Department of EducationArkansas Governor's School
A five-week residential program for high-achieving high school students in Arkansas focused on math, science, and the arts.
📍 Russellville, AR⏱ 5 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveAspiring Scholars Directed Research ProgramASDRP (RISE)
Free year-round Bay Area lab research. Open application.
📍 CA⏱ Year-round📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAPhOAsian Physics Olympiad
Asia-Pacific regional physics olympiad; selection through each country's national physics olympiad.
📍 Asia-Pacific (rotating)📅 Varies by country🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveCERNBeamline for Schools
CERN physics competition where student teams worldwide propose and run an experiment at a real particle accelerator.
📍 Geneva, Switzerland + Remote proposals📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveBreakthrough Prize FoundationBreakthrough Junior Challenge
Create a short video explaining a big idea in science or math. Global competition for ages 13–18 with a $250K college scholarship.
📍 Global📅 June🎓 Grades 7–12 - SelectiveBrilliant.orgBrilliant.org High School Problem Solving Track
While the physical show has locations, the virtual 'Think Tank' and 'Daily Challenge' offer online logic and math problems for students nationwide.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling (Weekly)🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity of OxfordBritish Physics Olympiad
A tiered set of national physics competitions (Junior, Senior, Round 1/2) open to UK secondary students, with international variants schools worldwide can register for.
📍 United Kingdom⏱ Exam📅 Nov (senior) · Mar (junior)🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveEuropean Space AgencyCanSat Competition (ESA)
Build a satellite the size of a soda can. National rounds in ESA member states; European final each spring.
📍 Various📅 National rounds fall🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveCERNCERN Summer Student Programme
Paid 8–13 week summer programme at CERN for undergrads worldwide in physics, engineering, or computing.
📍 Various📅 January🎓 Grade 12 - Highly SelectiveTexas Tech UniversityClark Scholars Program
Intensive research with TTU faculty across STEM and humanities. $750 stipend, room and board covered.
📍 TX (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12 - Highly SelectiveCarnegie Mellon UniversityCMU SAMS
Fully-funded STEM immersion for rising seniors from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 PA⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 Mid-February🎓 Grade 11 - Highly SelectiveColorado School of MinesColorado School of Mines REACH
Engineering immersion at Mines. Scholarships for Colorado students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 CO⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveColumbia UniversityColumbia Junior Science Journal
Peer-reviewed high-school-authored science journal at Columbia.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveUniversity of CaliforniaCOSMOS
UC residential STEM program. Need-based fee waivers cover full cost for qualifying families.
📍 CA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveDAADDAAD RISE Germany
Summer research internships in Germany for undergraduates from North America, UK, and Ireland; monthly stipend + travel.
📍 Various📅 December🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveDavidson InstituteDavidson Fellows
Scholarships of USD 10K, 25K, and 50K for students under 18 with significant work in STEM, literature, music, or philosophy.
📍 Online application⏱ Project-based📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveU.S. Department of EnergyDOE STEM Rising / SCEP
Paid internships across the 17 DOE national laboratories.
📍 Multiple national labs (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 8-10 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveETH ZurichETH Zurich Studienwoche
One-week research study weeks at ETH Zurich in math, physics, and CS.
📍 Zurich, Switzerland📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12 - ModerateF1 in SchoolsF1 in Schools World Finals
International STEM competition where student teams design, build, and race miniature CO2-powered cars.
📍 International (rotating)📅 National rounds vary🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveNational Research Foundation SingaporeGlobal Young Scientists Summit
Multidisciplinary summit where young scientists — including a small cohort of high-school participants — engage with Nobel laureates and Turing / Fields medalists.
📍 Singapore⏱ 5 days (January)📅 September🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveUniversity of CambridgeHE+ Cambridge
Free supracurricular resources, subject taster videos, and reading lists from Cambridge academics — designed to stretch Year 12/13 students preparing for competitive applications.
📍 Remote (UK/Global)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling · anytime🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveBrookhaven National Laboratory (DOE)High School Research Program (HSRP) at Brookhaven
Paid summer research program for local students to gain hands-on experience in physics and engineering at a major particle physics lab.
📍 Upton, NY⏱ 8 weeks📅 January 15🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveIndian Institute of ScienceIISc Summer Fellowship
Research fellowship at India's premier science institute in Bengaluru.
📍 Bengaluru, India⏱ 8 weeks📅 February🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveIOAAInternational Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad
International olympiad in astronomy and astrophysics with national selection rounds.
📍 Varies (International)⏱ 1 week📅 Summer🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveIAOInternational Astronomy Olympiad
Team astronomy olympiad with theoretical, practical, and observational rounds.
📍 Rotates by host country📅 National selection Fall🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateTerra ScienceInternational Journal of High School Research
Open-access peer-reviewed journal for HS research across disciplines.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveIJSOInternational Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO)
International science competition for students aged 15 and under, combining biology, chemistry, and physics in theory and experimental rounds.
📍 Rotates by host country⏱ 1 week (December)📅 National selection: spring🎓 Grades 9–10 - SelectiveIPhOInternational Physics Olympiad (IPhO)
Annual international physics competition for secondary students; entry is through the national physics olympiad in your country.
📍 Rotates by host country⏱ 2-day exam + travel📅 National selection: fall🎓 Grades 10–12 - ModerateEdu MithraInternational Space Olympiad
International olympiad on space science, astronomy, and rocketry with online prelims.
📍 India + Global📅 Autumn🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectivePerimeter InstituteInternational Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP)
Free two-week program for students entering their final year of high school; lectures, mentor sessions, and problem sets from Perimeter researchers on modern theoretical physics.
📍 Waterloo, Canada + Online⏱ 2 weeks (July)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveIYPTInternational Young Physicists' Tournament
International team competition where students research and defend solutions to open-ended physics problems.
📍 Rotates by host country📅 January (national selection)🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveIYPT US / USAYPTInternational Young Physicists' Tournament (Online Regional)
Global physics competition for teams to solve 7 open-ended problems and present their results in online 'Physics Fights'.
📍 Online/Global⏱ Intermittent (matches)📅 February (Registration)🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateIYNCInternational Youth Nuclear Congress
Biennial international conference for young professionals and students in nuclear science.
📍 Rotates by host country📅 Biennial🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveIZhOInternational Zhautykov Olympiad
International math, physics, and CS olympiad hosted in Kazakhstan; individual events.
📍 Almaty, Kazakhstan📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveIowa Academy of ScienceIowa Junior Academy of Science Symposium
A statewide competition in Iowa where students present original STEM research to judges from industry and academia.
📍 Iowa City, IA⏱ 1 day📅 February 1🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity of CambridgeIsaac Physics
Free platform of physics and math problem sets with online mentoring, mastery levels, and printable revision sheets used by GCSE, A-level, and international students worldwide.
📍 Remote (UK/Global)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling · anytime🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveJEI (Harvard)Journal of Emerging Investigators
Free peer-reviewed publication venue for middle/high school STEM research. Real PhD reviewers.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveDoD / National Science Teaching AssocJSHS
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. Regional and national competitions in original STEM research, with cash awards and DoD lab tours.
📍 Regional sites nationwide⏱ 2 days📅 Regional Jan-Mar🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateKAISTKAIST International Summer Program
STEM summer program at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
📍 Daejeon, South Korea⏱ 4 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveLos Alamos National LaboratoryLANL UTS High School Pipeline
Paid internships at LANL for Northern New Mexico students.
📍 NM⏱ 8-10 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveCaltechLIGO SURF
Gravitational-wave research at Caltech. Need-based travel and housing aid.
📍 CA⏱ 10 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12 - ModerateUniversity of MichiganMichigan Math & Science Scholars
Hands-on math/science programs at U-M. Need-based aid available.
📍 MI⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12 - Highly SelectiveUniversity of MichiganMichigan MMSS / MMPS
University of Michigan math/physics summer programs for HS students.
📍 Ann Arbor, MI⏱ 2 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveMitacs (Canada)Mitacs Globalink Research Internship
Paid 12-week summer research internship in Canada for undergraduates from partner countries.
📍 Various📅 September🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveNASANASA Citizen Science
Dozens of free NASA citizen-science projects. Your contributions co-author published papers.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Anytime🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveNASA Goddard Space Flight CenterNASA Goddard High School Internship (OSTEM)
A paid summer internship for DC/Maryland area high school students focusing on physical sciences and earth observation.
📍 Greenbelt, MD⏱ 8 weeks📅 January 31🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveNASANASA High School Internship Program (OSTEM)
Students participate in NASA's mission-driven projects through unique internship experiences at NASA centers across the country.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 10 weeks📅 January 15🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveNASA / Future EngineersNASA TechRise Student Challenge
Teams design space-bound experiments. Winners receive USD 1500 and their payload flies on a high-altitude balloon.
📍 Online⏱ School year📅 November🎓 Grades 6–12 - SelectiveNational Center for Atmospheric ResearchNCAR Atmospheric Research Internship
Paid climate/atmospheric science research in Boulder.
📍 CO⏱ 10 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12 - Highly SelectiveNuffield FoundationNuffield Research Placements
Fully-funded UK STEM research placements for Year 12 students, prioritized for those from low-income backgrounds; hosted by universities, research institutes, and companies.
📍 United Kingdom⏱ 4–6 weeks (summer)📅 March (UK Year 12)🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveOak Ridge National LaboratoryORNL High School Summer Internship
Paid DOE national lab research at Oak Ridge.
📍 TN⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveAAPTPhysics Bowl
International multiple-choice physics competition for HS students.
📍 Global⏱ 45 min📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUBCPhysics Olympics
Annual lab and theory physics competition for high schools.
📍 Vancouver, BC⏱ 1 day📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectivePioneer AcademicsPioneer Academics (Aid)
Accredited college-level research with US professors. Need-based aid up to full tuition.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 15 weeks📅 Multiple cycles🎓 Grades 10–12 - Highly SelectivePurdue UniversityPurdue STAR (STEM Academic Research)
Free research immersion at Purdue for Indiana students underrepresented in STEM.
📍 IN⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveSociety for ScienceRegeneron ISEF
The largest international pre-college science fair. Qualify through an affiliated regional or state fair. Travel and lodging covered for finalists.
📍 Rotating US city⏱ 1 week📅 Regional Jan-Mar🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveCEE × MITResearch Science Institute (RSI)
The most selective free summer research program in the US. Six weeks of STEM research at MIT with PhD mentors.
📍 MA (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 Mid-January🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveDepartment of the Navy / ONRScience and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Interns work at a Naval laboratory on real-world research under the mentorship of professional scientists and engineers.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 8 weeks📅 January 12🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateScience OlympiadScience Olympiad
Team-based STEM competition with 23 events spanning earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Regional through national rounds.
📍 School team + regional⏱ School year📅 Aug-May season🎓 Grades 6–12 - ModerateSouth Dakota MinesSD Mines Summer Tech Academy
STEM camps at SD Mines. In-state aid.
📍 SD⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveSGACSpace Generation Advisory Council
Global network for 18–35 year-olds interested in space policy, engineering, and exploration. Local events and scholarships.
📍 Various📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveSPARK SMPSPARK Summer Mentorship Program
Free 1:1 mentorship with industry researchers. Started by WA students, now nationwide.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveSSP InternationalSummer Science Program (SSP)
Team-based real research in astrophysics, biochemistry, or genomics. Need-based aid covers full tuition.
📍 CA, NM, IN, CO (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 39 days (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveFermilab (Department of Energy)TARGET Program
Students engage in cutting-edge research in high-energy physics and accelerator science at a national laboratory.
📍 Batavia, IL⏱ 6 weeks📅 January 31🎓 Grades 11–12 - Highly SelectiveTechnionTechnion SciTech Summer Program
Pre-university STEM program at Israel's leading engineering institute.
📍 Haifa, Israel⏱ 3 weeks📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveToshiba / NSTAToshiba ExploraVision
K-12 team STEM competition forecasting future technologies.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 January🎓 Grades 1–12 - SelectiveUniversity of UtahU of U ACCESS Program
Year-long STEM research program for women entering the U of U from Utah high schools.
📍 UT⏱ Summer + school year📅 February🎓 Grade 12 - ModerateUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUIUC Worldwide Youth in Science & Engineering
STEM camps at UIUC. Need-based aid for Illinois students.
📍 IL⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity of OxfordUNIQ Summer School
Free residential summer school for UK state-school students in Year 12 — subject-specific academic sessions on the Oxford course you'd apply to.
📍 Oxford, UK⏱ 1 week (July)📅 January (Year 12)🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveAmerican Association of Physics TeachersUS Physics Olympiad
F=ma exam then USAPhO. Top 20 attend a training camp for the International Physics Olympiad team.
📍 School-administered⏱ Multi-round📅 Jan-Mar🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveSouthern Utah University / State of UtahUtah Governor's Honors Academy (GHA) - STEM Focus
A 4-week math/science/engineering program for high-achieving Utah high school students hosted at Southern Utah University.
📍 Cedar City, UT⏱ 4 weeks📅 February 15🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveYoung Scientists JournalYoung Scientists Journal
Peer-reviewed journal written, edited, and reviewed by 12–20 year-old scientists worldwide.
📍 Global📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12