15 Research Opportunities for High School Students in Canada
High school is a good time to start exploring academic and career interests more deeply, and research programs can offer a structured way to do that. In Canada, a number of universities and organizations host research opportunities specifically for high school students. These programs often allow you to work alongside university researchers, use lab equipment or digital tools, and spend time learning how different fields operate—from biomedical science and environmental studies to AI and law.
To help you explore what’s available, we’ve put together a list of 15 research programs across Canada. These experiences are designed to help you build practical skills, develop your interests, and understand what academic work in different fields might actually involve.
15 Research Opportunities for High School Students in Canada
1. Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship (SYA) Program
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Location: Participating high schools across Saskatchewan
Cost/Stipend: Application fee (free if conditions are met); Select students are awarded scholarships
Program Dates: Varies by school
Application Deadline: Rolling; Dependent on school enrollment
Eligibility: High school students in Saskatchewan enrolled in participating schools
If you're considering a career in the skilled trades, the Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship (SYA) program can help you get a head start while still in high school. Open to students in grades 9 through 12, the program provides a deeper understanding of trade careers and the steps required to become a certified journeyperson. Through a mix of on-the-job experience and classroom-based technical training, you’ll complete 12 key challenges designed to introduce you to the apprenticeship process. Once you finish all three program levels, you’ll become eligible for several benefits, including a waiver of the apprenticeship registration fee, 300 hours of trade-time credit, and free tuition for Level 1 technical training.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 25%; Around 100 students per cohort
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; Financial aid available
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap-year students
The Ladder Internships program allows you to gain experience at fast-growing startups while still in high school. Over eight weeks, you’ll contribute to projects in areas like technology, AI, finance, healthcare, sustainability, journalism, business, and more. The program typically requires 5 to 10 hours of work each week and includes a series of structured sessions with your assigned startup. You’ll receive guidance from a startup mentor as well as a dedicated Ladder Coach. Mentors are usually professionals who’ve studied at top universities like Stanford, Harvard, and Wharton, and who’ve worked at leading firms such as Google and McKinsey. By the end of the internship, you’ll present your work directly to your host company.
3. STEM Co-Operative Placement Program
Cohort Size: 2-3 students per semester
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Program Dates: Semester-based; Fall, winter, and spring sessions available
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Canadian high school students in grade 11 or 12 completing a school-supported co-op placement
The STEM Co-Operative Placement Program offers high school students a chance to gain early research and work experience in STEM fields. Now conducted virtually, the program focuses on developing your communication skills while introducing you to foundational topics in space science, planetary exploration, and educational outreach. You’ll be part of a small, selective cohort of only 2 to 3 students accepted each semester. This means you’ll have close mentorship and interaction opportunities. Projects often involve subjects like chemistry, Canadian space research, and planetary science. You’ll contribute to real-world research and take part in planning and presenting it.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type; Financial aid available
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program connects you with PhD mentors from top institutions like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford, and lets you work on a fully original research project. You’ll start by selecting a broad field like machine learning, gender studies, behavioral economics, astrophysics, and more. Together with your mentor, you’ll narrow down a research question and develop your project over the weeks. The program concludes with the submission of a research paper and a formal presentation, during which you share your findings with colleagues and academic peers. There are multiple program tracks available, such as the Individual Research Program or the more advanced Premium Research & Publication Program, each with different levels of mentorship and duration.
5. High School Youth Researcher Summer (HYRS) Program
Cohort Size: 25-30 students each summer
Location: The University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge
Stipend: Around $15/hour
Program Dates: July 3 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: High school juniors who reside in or north of Red Deer; See academic requirements here
This is a six-week summer opportunity for grade 11 students interested in exploring the health and medical sciences fields. In addition to hands-on experience in health research, the program also explores areas such as digital and data-driven health, health system transformation, and commercialization. You’ll explore topics like computer modeling and simulation for drug discovery or technology development, using health data for machine learning, and strategies to address challenges in data access, infrastructure, and patient recruitment or engagement.
6. StAR (Students Advancing Research) Program
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Stipend: Paid (exact amount not disclosed)
Program Dates: 6 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: Starts in the spring
Eligibility: Grade 11 or 12 high school students who are at least 16 years old and identify as Indigenous, Black, or Filipino; must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents
This is a six-week paid research internship designed to introduce Indigenous, Black, and Filipino high school students to careers in health and science research. As a participant, you’ll be matched with a research lab at SickKids and work alongside professional scientists on a real research project. You’ll also attend interactive workshops to learn what a future in science or healthcare could look like. At the end of the program, you’ll showcase your findings at a symposium attended by mentors, peers, and experts in the field.
7. Quantum School for Young Students
Cohort Size: Up to 200 students selected worldwide
Location: University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, or Online
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: August 11 – 15; August 18 (optional in-person lab day)
Application Deadline: June 8
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in physics and mathematics
Quantum School for Young Students (QSYS) is designed to introduce high school students to quantum science and technology concepts. During QSYS, you'll take part in speed-mentoring roundtables, where small groups of students interact with researchers and graduate students from the Institute for Quantum Computing. You’ll also attend expert-led lectures, join group discussions, and work through problem-solving sessions. As you do, you'll dive into quantum concepts like superposition, entanglement, quantum algorithms, and cryptography, while strengthening your understanding of math and physics.
8. Medical and Health Sciences Youth Summer Program (Med YSP)
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Location: University of Toronto, St. George Campus, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Cost: CA$1,668 per module
Dates: Differ with the module chosen; Runs from July to August
Application Deadline: Typically opens early in the year
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10-12 are eligible for all four modules, while 9th graders can apply only to Module 4
During the Medical and Health Sciences Youth Summer Program (Med YSP), you’ll spend your time in university labs using professional-grade equipment, attending lectures from expert faculty, and taking part in group discussions on topics like health, genetics, pharmacology, and microbiology. You can choose one or more themed modules based on your interests. Whether it’s human physiology, pharmacology and toxicology, molecular biology and genetics, or microbiology, each module runs for one week, with different start dates, so you can register for the topics that you’re most interested in. You can either attend just one week or sign up for multiple modules across the month. Each module includes hands-on experiments, lab activities, and interactive sessions.
9. Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation Program
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Location: Various universities in Canada
Cost: Free
Dates: 4 weeks
Application Deadline: December 20
Eligibility: First Nations, Métis, or Inuit students currently enrolled in grades 11 or 12
The Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation program is designed to support Indigenous high school students (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) who are interested in exploring careers in science, engineering, and math. If you're accepted, you’ll spend one week at a Canadian university learning different STEM fields. During your stay, you’ll work alongside professors and graduate students on active research projects, gaining hands-on experience with research methods, data collection, and analysis. All expenses for the program are fully covered.
10. (ELITE) Program for Black Youth
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Location: Various sites across Canada (including universities, industry, and government labs); Some virtual components possible
Stipend: Paid (full-time or part-time)
Dates: 8-16 weeks (typically July – August for high school students)
Application Deadline: Typically opens in November each year
Eligibility: Black youth ages 15-22 who are high school students, post-secondary students, or transitioning into post-secondary education
The Experiential Learning in Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (ELITE) Program for Black Youth focuses on STEM and entrepreneurship, introducing you to areas such as robotics, automation, advanced manufacturing, and tissue engineering. You’ll be trained by teachers, engineers, scientists, and technologists from the University of Alberta, InnoTech Alberta, and other organizations. Through hands-on, work-integrated projects, you'll use real equipment and gain practical skills. As part of the program, you’ll be matched with university labs, tech companies, or government teams for part-time or full-time internships. You’ll also take part in workshops on leadership, entrepreneurship, and career development. The program concludes with a final project, which you’ll present at a student showcase.
11. Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science, and Technology Summer Research Program (WISEST SRP)
Cohort Size: 40 students each summer
Location: University of Alberta
Stipend: Paid (exact amount varies based on eligibility)
Dates: July 3 – April 15
Application Deadline: March 3 – April 2
Eligibility: Young women and gender-diverse students entering grade 12
The WISEST Summer Research Program (SRP) is a six-week, paid research program that takes place at the University of Alberta. As a participant, you’ll contribute to real projects in lab, field, or computational settings, working alongside researchers in areas such as biomedical science, robotics, materials engineering, environmental studies, and computer science. Throughout the program, you’ll learn key research techniques, including data collection, lab procedures, and analysis methods, while gaining insight into the daily work of scientists and engineers. You'll also take part in professional development workshops, university lab tours, and career-focused sessions on topics like scientific communication, leadership, and transitioning to post-secondary studies.
12. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Cohort Size: 30-33 students selected each year
Location: Several locations in Canada, the U.S, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Pacific Islands
Stipend: $3,000
Dates: Mid-June to Late July and Early August; Flexible dates
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program offers a summer research experience centered on fisheries and aquatic science. You’ll work alongside a professional mentor on research activities that typically involve fish sampling, habitat assessments, data collection, or laboratory analysis. In addition to technical skills, you’ll gain insight into ecological research methods and conservation practices. This program is designed for students interested in biology, ecology, or environmental science and provides an introduction to working in scientific research settings. You’ll take part in weekly reflection prompts and submit a final summary of your experience.
13. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) – Virtual Experience
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: 5 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors in Canada or the U.S.
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences offers a five-week virtual research program focused on topics in neuroscience and brain health. During the program, you will undergo mentorship training and take part in activities that contribute to your professional development, such as reading academic papers, reviewing case studies, and working on structured assignments. The program includes educational presentations and allows you to learn basic laboratory techniques. Mentors and faculty provide regular feedback through scheduled meetings. This program is open to high school students across North America, including those in Canada.
14. Horizon Academic Research Program
Acceptance Rate: 26%
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type
Dates: Varies based on cohort
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: Current high school student (Grades 9-12) with a GPA of 3.67 or higher; the program is open to high school students worldwide
The Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) is a virtual research program where you work with a PhD-level mentor to complete a college-style research paper. The program connects you with faculty and scholars from top universities like Harvard, MIT, and Yale. Over 12-16 weeks, you’ll select a topic, review sources, and write a research paper with guidance and feedback throughout the process. Subjects offered range from political science and neuroscience to environmental studies and economics. You’ll meet regularly with your mentor and receive support from a writing coach to structure your work. The program is designed to help you understand the process of university-level research and writing. Your final paper may be submitted for publication in the Horizon Scholar Journal.
15. SickKids Summer Research (SSuRe) Program
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Location: Toronto, ON; Remote available
Stipend: Paid (minimum hourly wage + 6% vacation)
Dates: May – mid-August (15 weeks, flexible by project)
Application Deadline: Varies by scientist posting
Eligibility: Final-year high school students entering university/college in the fall
The SSuRe (Summer Research) Program at SickKids supports students who have already secured a spot in a university program. To participate, you must first be accepted by a scientist at the SickKids Research Institute. Once you’ve secured a supervisor, you’ll begin a 15-week, paid research placement. Throughout the summer, you’ll attend weekly seminars led by researchers and clinicians, participate in Career Night to engage with professionals, and end the program on Symposium Day by submitting an abstract, creating a research poster, and presenting your findings. Exceptional projects may also receive awards.