16 Medical Internships for High School Students in Toronto
Participating in an internship during high school can be a significant step toward personal and academic growth. If you’re a high school student in Toronto and interested in medicine, internships can provide practical, real-world experience that helps you explore your interest in medicine and develop skills beyond the classroom. These experiences can help determine whether a healthcare career aligns with your goals and may also influence your future academic decisions. They also allow you to fine-tune other skills like communication, critical thinking, and teamwork, apart from enhancing your profile by demonstrating initiative and commitment, helping you stand out in college applications.
Since Toronto is home to some of Canada’s leading hospitals, research centers, and universities, it’s an ideal place to find high-quality medical internships for high school students.
In this blog, we've reviewed the options and narrowed them down to some of the best medical internships for high school students in Toronto.
1. S.T.A.R. (Students Advancing Research) Program
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Starts in the spring
Eligibility: Grade 11-12 students (16+) who identify as Indigenous, Black, or Filipino; Canadian citizens or permanent residents
If you’re a high school student curious about research, the S.T.A.R. Program at SickKids offers a paid, six-week summer opportunity to work in a professional lab. Hosted through Kids Science and the SickKids Research Institute, you’ll be paired with a lab team and guided through your own hands-on research project, culminating in a presentation at a research symposium. Throughout the program, you’ll get access to seminars, mentorship, and insight into STEMM fields, including medicine. You’ll work on-site in a real lab, exploring new scientific techniques and interacting with researchers and clinicians. This program blends skill-building with mentorship and introduces you to the daily rhythm of a world-class research hospital.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
The Medicine Track of the Ladder Internship program allows you to work remotely with startups focused on biotech, health tech, biomedical research, or similar fields. It’s an eight-week virtual experience where you’ll contribute to real company projects while receiving guidance from a Ladder Coach and an assigned mentor. Projects vary but often involve research, content creation, or strategy work for companies at the forefront of medical innovation. While not based in a hospital, this internship can give you a unique look at how technology intersects with healthcare and scientific discovery. The program is especially helpful if you’re considering medical entrepreneurship or want to understand healthcare from a broader industry lens. Interns are selected from around the world, and the startup teams you join are typically dynamic, fast-paced environments. Here is the application form.
3. Focused Ultrasound High School Summer Research Program
Location: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: July 2 – August
Application Deadline: February 14
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
At Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Focused Ultrasound Summer Research Program allows you to join a research team working on therapeutic ultrasound technology. You’ll spend your summer in the Focused Ultrasound Lab, engaging in activities that might include programming, building circuits, running lab experiments, and contributing to studies in biology, physics, or engineering. This program is immersive and hands-on; you’re not just observing, you’re helping conduct real work alongside experienced scientists and engineers. As a participant, you’ll attend orientation sessions, faculty-led seminars, and will even present your research at a poster competition by the end of the program. Acceptance is based on your academic background and interest in scientific research, so demonstrating motivation in your application is key.
4. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. While this isn’t a traditional internship, it follows the work/research + learn model very closely!
5. SickKids Summer Research (SSuRe) Program
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Stripend: Varies; Some positions paid or grant-funded, others voluntary
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: 15 weeks from May – mid-August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students who will be enrolled in a university/college undergraduate program in the fall following the summer program
The SickKids Summer Research Program is an enrichment experience designed for students already placed in a lab for the summer. By joining, you’ll gain access to a series of weekly seminars from leading researchers, workshops on presenting scientific work, and special events like Career Night and Symposium Day. You’ll attend sessions on how to communicate research effectively, learn lab safety, and build a poster to share your findings. Throughout the summer, you’ll deepen your understanding of both basic and clinical research in a hospital setting. The program includes training on writing abstracts, creating visual presentations, and networking in a scientific community. Although the research itself happens through a prior lab placement, the SSuRe Program enhances that experience by building skills you’ll use throughout your academic and professional life.
6. STEM Fellowship’s Research Exploration Opportunity (REO)
Location: Various universities across Canada
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Varies by location
Application Deadline: Opens in late November/early December
Eligibility: High school students in Canada
Through the Research Exploration Opportunity, you can get a rare look inside real university research labs across Canada. The program connects you with graduate student mentors, who guide you through experiments, lab techniques, and the inner workings of scientific research. You’ll tour advanced labs, attend faculty talks, and shadow researchers to better understand how discoveries happen. The program’s mission is to improve access to research experiences for students who may face systemic barriers in STEM. Priority is given to those from underrepresented backgrounds, but all students are welcome to apply. If selected, you’ll be involved in hands-on work that supports ongoing projects, often related to health sciences or biology. The mentorship element is especially valuable for exploring academic and professional next steps in STEM fields.
7. Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto: Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Location: University of Toronto's St. George campus
Stipend: CA$1,600
Cohort Size: 100 students
Dates: July 2 – 25
Application Deadline: December 1 – March (tentative)
Eligibility: Ontario high school students in grades 10-11 (16+)
The Summer Mentorship Program at the University of Toronto offers four weeks of immersive exposure to health science careers. Through a combination of lab-based learning, lectures, mentorship, and academic support, the program guides you through various fields, including medicine, public health, dentistry, and social work. Alongside daily programming, you’ll be assigned a mentor studying in a health-related field, and you’ll earn a high school credit upon completing the course requirements. The program also includes special projects and assignments that help you build critical thinking and presentation skills. You’ll be introduced to university-level expectations while also connecting with professionals and peers from diverse backgrounds.
8. Emily Stowe Scholar Program
Location: Women's College Hospital, Grenville St, Toronto
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Paid
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Students enrolled in grade 11 or 12 and are at least 16 years of age by the program start date
The Emily Stowe Scholar Program invites high school students who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or racialized women or gender-diverse individuals to participate in full-time summer research at Women’s College Hospital. You'll be matched with a research team and take part in the day-to-day work of ongoing health research projects. The program also supports transportation costs and encourages participation through weekly group sessions, seminars, and networking events that explore equity, health science careers, and current research topics. You’ll finish the experience by presenting your work at a research symposium, gaining both practical communication skills and deeper insights into healthcare issues. This program not only introduces you to scientific research but also promotes mentorship and visibility for groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM.
9. University Health Network (UHN) Volunteer Programs
Location: Toronto General, Toronto Western, Princess Margaret Hospitals
Cost: No cost
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Not mentioned
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to youth ages 16+
At UHN, one of Canada’s largest academic health science networks, you can take part in various volunteer roles that provide insight into patient care and hospital operations. Depending on your assignment, you may help escort patients, assist with administrative tasks, or engage in rehabilitation therapy support. Volunteers are also involved in patient-centered programs like Care & Connect at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, where you offer emotional support to cancer patients through video or phone check-ins. While not a formal internship, the experience gives you exposure to clinical environments and an understanding of the non-technical aspects of healthcare. Opportunities span inpatient units, outpatient clinics, administrative departments, and specialized rehabilitation services. You’ll work with both patients and healthcare teams, developing communication skills and an awareness of hospital workflows.
10. HEAL Virtual Medical Shadowing Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Memberships start at $20/month
Acceptance Rate: Not selective
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Canadian high school students
The HEAL Virtual Medical Shadowing Program is a self-paced, asynchronous course that simulates clinical experience through video case studies, interactive lectures, and structured lessons. You’ll watch real patients describe symptoms while a physician walks you through differential diagnoses, lab testing, and treatment plans. The content is led by doctors, medical students, and even admissions advisors, helping you understand what it takes to work in medicine while building a portfolio of clinical exposure hours. Seminars range from introductory case analysis to advanced peer-led discussions modeled after medical school teaching formats. You’ll earn a certificate upon completion of required modules and assessments, which you can document as clinical experience for future applications. As one of the few widely accessible programs simulating physician-patient interaction, it offers practical exposure and academic rigor in a remote format.
11. University of Toronto Youth Summer Program: Medicine Track
Location: University of Toronto, St. George Campus
Cost: CA$1,668 per module; Financial assistance available
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Varies by module
Application Deadline: Rolling; Opens February 12
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-12; Students in grade 9 are only eligible for Module 4
Based in the Medical Sciences Building at U of T, the Youth Summer Program in Medicine introduces high school students to diverse areas of medical science through intensive one-week modules. Each module covers a different theme, ranging from physiology and pharmacology to genetics and microbiology, and combines lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on labs. For example, you might conduct lung function tests, study the effects of antibiotics on bacterial cultures, or analyze DNA from a mock crime scene. The program is academically demanding but designed to be exploratory, with content that reflects current research and medical practices. You’ll work alongside university instructors and peers from across the globe while developing scientific reasoning and lab skills.
12. Hamilton Health Sciences: Secondary School Research Bursary
Location: Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University campus
Stipend: Not mentioned
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; 15 students
Dates: June 30 – August 15
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Students in grades 11-12
The Hamilton Health Sciences Secondary School Research Bursary offers a unique opportunity for students interested in health or life sciences to step directly into a working research environment. This competitive seven-week summer internship places students on research teams within top-tier institutions like Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University. You will engage in basic or clinical research in fields such as thrombosis, cancer, immunology, geriatrics, or child health, contributing meaningfully to real projects. The program runs full-time on weekdays and exposes students to a wide range of research disciplines. Whether you’re assisting in the Biobank or studying digestive health at McMaster, this experience allows you to build lab skills, form academic connections, and explore potential post-secondary paths.
13. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI) Program – Virtual Track
Location: Remote
Cost: $4,380 program fee + $95 application fee
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and undergraduate premedical students aged 16+; Applicants should complete a high school biology course before applying
Stanford’s Clinical Summer Internship – Virtual Track offers rising high school juniors and seniors a comprehensive introduction to clinical medicine without leaving home. Designed by Stanford School of Medicine, this virtual program includes interactive clinical skills labs, medical case challenges, and hands-on tasks like knot-tying and mock suturing (with materials mailed to you in advance). You will work in rotating small groups led by Stanford faculty, doctors, and medical students. You'll learn how to conduct physical exams, develop treatment plans, and navigate diagnostic reasoning, all while collaborating on a final group presentation around a real-world medical mystery. The program’s “Day in the Life” sessions also introduce you to a variety of specialties, offering authentic insight into what it's like to be a surgeon, pediatrician, psychiatrist, or emergency physician.
14. University of Toronto's Pharmacy Summer Camp
Location: University of Toronto
Cost: CA$799 (per week) for Weeks 1, 2, and 3 & CA$649 for Week 4; Scholarships available
Acceptance Rate: Not selective
Dates: Week 1: July 7 – July 11 | Week 2: July 14 – July 18 | Week 3: July 21 – July 25 | Week 4: July 28 – 31
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: High school students from grades 9-12
Hosted by the prestigious Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, this four-week summer camp introduces high school students to the world of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. Each week of the camp focuses on a new theme: physiology, pharmacology, pharmaceutical science, and communication in healthcare. Expect a blend of interactive labs, group case studies, lectures, and real-world roleplay exercises. You’ll explore everything from how drugs are developed to how pharmacists support patient care across different settings—hospitals, family health teams, community clinics, and biotech companies. Though not a traditional medical internship, it offers an in-depth academic experience that blends healthcare, chemistry, and communication.
15. Immerse Education: Medicine Summer Programme in Toronto
Location: University of Toronto
Cost: Starting from £3,695
Cohort Size: 7-10 students per class
Dates: July 6 – July 19
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18 years
This academically intensive program by Immerse Education brings motivated teens into the heart of Toronto for a two-week dive into medicine and the health sciences. You’ll study human anatomy, physiology, biomedical science, and clinical practice through lectures, labs, and collaborative projects, guided by tutors from top global universities. You will also complete a personal research project using university-style methods, receive personalized one-on-one mentoring, and explore advanced topics not typically covered in high school. The sessions are designed to help you build an intellectual portfolio you can use in future university applications. You'll also leave with a Certificate of Achievement that showcases your initiative and curiosity to admissions teams.
16. Discovery Days in Health Sciences
Location: Various sites across Canada
Cost: No cost
Acceptance Rate: Not selective
Dates: May (tentative)
Application Deadline: Schools must register; Student spots are limited and first‑come, first‑served
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-11 primarily (Grade 12 may be accepted at discretion)
Organised in collaboration with universities and research institutions across Canada, Discovery Days are one-day events designed to introduce high school students to the diverse world of health science careers. Each event includes a keynote from a leading medical researcher, interactive workshops, and a panel discussion with health professionals—from physicians and nurses to public health researchers. Unlike traditional internships, Discovery Days are meant to spark curiosity and expose you to many roles within medicine and healthcare through hands-on, short-format sessions. You’ll get to tour real labs, try out diagnostic tools, and ask questions about the education and daily realities of medical professionals. The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame encourages schools to bring students who are Black, Indigenous, or people of colour, or those from rural or underrepresented communities.
Image Source - University of Toronto