7 Free Online Medical Internships for High School Students

If you're a high school student interested in medicine, online internships can be a flexible and cost-effective way to get early exposure to the field. These programs often include activities like shadowing doctors virtually, conducting guided research, or working on public health projects—all from home.

Many are offered by universities, hospitals, and nonprofits and are completely free to join. Some also include mentorship, project-based learning, and the chance to present or publish your work—experiences that can strengthen future college applications or job interviews.

To help you get started, here are 7 free and fully virtual medical internships open to high school students.

1. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS): Virtual Track

Location: Virtual (Hosted by Johns Hopkins University)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~20–25 students
Dates: July – August (5 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented backgrounds
Cost/Stipend: Free with $500 stipend

This five-week research experience introduces high school students to brain science through a structured remote program. Hosted by Johns Hopkins, the internship offers educational sessions on neuroscience, basic lab techniques, and career exploration. Students also participate in mentorship discussions, networking events, and final project presentations, all designed to support those from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM. The virtual format replicates the academic rigor of the in-person track, providing students with valuable access to research environments at the university level.

2. Ladder Internships – Healthcare and Medicine Track

Location: Virtual (Hosted by Ladder Internships)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~10–15 students per cohort
Dates: Multiple fall cohorts (8–12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions with seasonal deadlines
Eligibility: Open to high school students (globally), including undergraduates and gap year students

Ladder Internships connects high school students with mission-driven startups and nonprofits across various fields, including health tech, mental health, and biomedical research. The program is fully virtual and includes weekly one-on-one check-ins with a Ladder coach, group training sessions, and a final project presentation. Students in the healthcare and medicine track work on real-world problems in areas such as patient care solutions, neurotechnology, or diagnostic innovation. Financial aid is available to ensure broader access to this selective, high-impact experience.

3. Medicine Encompassed (ME) Student Internships

Location: Virtual (Hosted by Medicine Encompassed)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Year-round; flexible weekly schedule
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12) worldwide
Cost/Stipend: None

Medicine Encompassed is a student-led nonprofit offering flexible virtual internships focused on medical education and outreach. Interns collaborate across committees to create educational content, such as curriculum modules, study resources, and blog articles. Projects often support initiatives like Project Cultivation, which aims to improve access to medical knowledge for students worldwide. Interns choose roles such as writer, editor, or researcher, and work asynchronously alongside a global team of peers.

4. American Psychological Association (APA) Virtual Internships

Location: Virtual (Hosted by American Psychological Association)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by department
Dates: Year-round, including fall
Application Deadline: Varies by position
Eligibility: U.S.-based high school students enrolled part-time or more in school; under-18s need a D.C. Work Permit
Cost/Stipend: Paid and unpaid roles available

The APA offers remote internships in fields like research, communications, and mental health policy. Interns assist with writing projects, digital campaigns, and academic content development depending on their role. While not strictly clinical, these internships are ideal for students interested in mental health, behavioural sciences, and public health policy. Many positions are open year-round, and select roles are available to high school students under 18 (with a D.C. work permit, if required).

5. George Mason University – Aspiring Scientists Virtual Internship Program (ASSIP)

Location: Virtual (Hosted by George Mason University)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~200 students across formats
Dates: June 18 – August 8 (some projects may continue into fall)
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: High school students aged 15+ (16+ for wet labs)
Cost/Stipend: Free; $25 application fee can be waived

ASSIP offers select research opportunities in a virtual format, allowing high school students to collaborate with faculty on projects in biomedical sciences, neuroscience, and public health. Interns learn how to use scientific tools and software remotely, develop research reports, and participate in communication workshops. While the primary program runs over summer, some projects extend into fall or operate on a rolling basis depending on mentor availability, especially those focused on writing, data, or remote lab tools.

6. Los Angeles Pediatric Society – Eve and Gene Black Virtual Medical Career Program

Location: Virtual (Hosted by Los Angeles Pediatric Society)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 2 to 4-week sessions from June to August
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; specific requirements vary by faculty
Cost/Stipend: Free; $500 scholarship available

This program offers two remote sessions where students explore a wide range of careers in paediatrics and medicine. Over the course of two weeks, participants attend virtual talks led by professionals such as surgeons, radiologists, pharmacists, and therapists. Each student completes a final presentation and participates in group discussions. It’s a fairly selective program, accepting roughly 100-180 students from 300-450 applicants.

7. New York Academy of Sciences – Junior Academy Innovation Challenges

Location: Virtual (Hosted by the New York Academy of Sciences)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; international cohort
Dates: Challenges occur twice a year. Once in the fall (September to December) and once in the spring (January to May).
Application Deadline: Varies depending on cohort
Eligibility: Students aged 13–17 worldwide
Cost/Stipend: Free

The Junior Academy is a free, virtual program that enables high school students to collaborate with peers worldwide to solve real-world problems through STEM-based innovation. Hosted on the Launchpad platform, students work in international teams, guided by mentors from science and industry. While not a traditional internship, challenges often relate to healthcare, biotech, and global health systems, and students gain skills in research, data analysis, and solution design. The program includes training in design thinking and scientific methods, followed by a multi-week innovation challenge.