15 STEM Internships for High School Students in Toronto
TL;DR
This blog covers 15 STEM internships for high school students in Toronto, mostly run through hospitals, universities, and a few tech companies, giving you hands-on exposure to fields like medicine, chemistry, psychology, engineering, and environmental science. Most are free to apply to, and several pay a stipend, though a couple charge a small application fee. Program lengths vary from short, 10-day experiences to multi-month commitments. While most are in-person around the GTA, a few are fully remote or offer a virtual option. Many programs also prioritize students from specific equity-deserving groups, so eligibility is worth checking closely before you apply.
If you are a high schooler curious about STEM, internships can let you try out what you've been learning in class on real problems and find answers that aren't in the back of the textbook. These internships let you analyze data, test a prototype, or contribute to a research question, and that kind of hands-on work can help you figure out which parts of STEM you enjoy most. This is also a low-risk way to explore your interests before college. You may work with researchers, engineers, professors, or experts in STEM on community-focused challenges, projects, or activities. The experience can help you explore what a career in STEM looks like.
Why should you do a STEM internship in Toronto?
Toronto is home to major universities, research hospitals, tech startups, and innovation hubs, and many of them run STEM programs for students your age. A STEM internship here can give you a look at how various science and tech fields work in real life, whether that's in a lab, a coding team, or a business workplace. Many programs in the city are near public transit, and you will be surrounded by universities, hospitals, and companies where you might meet mentors and professionals. If you are trying to challenge yourself and gain meaningful work experience, here’s how to get into a competitive internship!
How do you apply for a STEM internship?
Start by checking the basics for each program: minimum age or grade, deadlines, location, time commitment, and whether it's paid. Many ask you to submit a résumé, a short statement of interest, and sometimes a teacher or counsellor reference, so give those people at least a couple of weeks’ notice. If you do not have formal work experience, that's fine. List school projects, clubs, competitions, coding you've taught yourself, or volunteer work, and explain what you did in each. This guide to applying for internships without any experience can be your next read. Apply early when you can, because some programs fill spots as applications come in, and have someone proofread your materials before you send them. If you don't get into your first choice, apply to a few others, since you will have a better shot with several applications out.
Below, we’ve rounded up 15 STEM internships for high school students in Toronto to help you find a good match. We have focused on options that offer hands-on STEM exposure and opportunities to build an early professional network.
If you are looking for opportunities beyond Toronto, check our selection of STEM internships in Canada and paid STEM internships.
Quick internship overview
|
Program type |
Top programs |
Cost/Stipend |
Best for |
|
Hospital and health research programs |
SickKids StAR, Sunnybrook Focused Ultrasound Research Program, U of T Temerty Medicine SMP, Emily Stowe Scholar Program, Secondary School Research Bursary Program |
Free; stipends or bursaries of up to CA$1,600 |
Students who want hands-on research experience in a hospital or clinical setting, with several programs prioritizing specific equity-deserving groups |
|
University-based research and mentorship programs |
U of T Blueprint, SPRINT, WICTO Program, STEM Fellowship REO, Youreka Canada |
Free – CA$80 fee; stipends not available |
Students who want mentored research or lab exposure on a university campus, often with the chance to submit a final presentation or research report |
|
Tech and industry Internships |
Nokia Future Tech Summer Internship, Ladder Internships, Indus Space Co-Operative Placements |
Free or fee-based participation; stipend or unpaid opportunities available depending on program |
Students who want workplace exposure at a company, whether in person at a tech firm or remotely in a startup or science-communication setting |
|
Government and specialized field programs |
Free; stipends available |
Students interested in a specific field like clean energy, mining, or fisheries biology who want full-time or mentorship-based placements outside a typical lab setting |
1. Nokia Future Tech Summer Internship (Canada)
Location: Nokia offices in Canada (including Toronto)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend of CA$18/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not officially specified
Dates: July 6 – August 21 (7 weeks)
Application deadline: TBA for next cycle
Eligibility: Students entering grade 12 in the fall, with an expected grade 11 average of 75%, who are legally able to work in Canada with a SIN; applicants must be proficient in English and registered in two of these grade 12 courses: Computer Science, Biology, Earth and Space Science, Computer Engineering Technology, Physics, Chemistry, Advanced Functions, Calculus and Vectors, or Manufacturing Engineering Technology.
This is a paid, seven-week summer internship at Nokia for high school students who want to see what a high-tech career looks like. You will work alongside Nokia engineering teams on real technical problems and contribute to meaningful work within real workplace settings. A Nokia Future Tech Mentor will support you throughout. You will also attend Lunch and Learn sessions about different parts of the working world and meet other high school students interested in technology. You will explore real workflows in computer science, computer engineering, or software and hardware development, engage in teamwork, and participate in extracurricular activities. The experience can help you make decisions about post-secondary education in tech and science.
Who it’s best for: Canadian students curious about engineering and computing who want a paid experience within a tech company.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote! You can participate from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts every year, including Fall, Summer, Spring, and Winter
Application deadline: Varies by cohort; Fall (September), Spring (January), Summer (May), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10 to 20 hours a week for 8 to 12 weeks; open to high school, undergraduate, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective startup internship program for ambitious high school students! Through the program, you will work with a high-growth startup on an internship. Startups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from AI/ML and tech/deep tech to journalism, health tech, marketing, consulting, and more. Ladder’s startups are high-growth companies that, on average, raise more than $1 million. You will work closely with a manager on real-world projects and present your work to the company. The virtual internship is usually eight weeks long. Apply now!
Who it’s best for: Students looking for hands-on exposure to tech startups within a fully virtual setup.
3. SickKids StAR (Students Advancing Research) Program
Location: SickKids labs, Toronto, ON
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not officially disclosed
Dates: July 6 – August 14
Application deadline: TBA; applications open in the spring
Eligibility: Grade 11 or 12 students, ages 16 and up, who identify as Indigenous, Black, or Filipino and have previously taken Grade 10 Science; applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
The StAR Program at SickKids is a six-week paid research internship for high school students. During the program, you will be matched with a lab and a mentor at SickKids to work on a research project. Under the guidance of scientists, you will learn how to conduct research, think through problems, and communicate your results. At the end, you will get to present your work at a closing symposium. You can also join the Kids Science program, where you will get to take part in workshops and explore careers in health and science.
Who it’s best for: Canadian students looking for a paid STEM research experience within a healthcare setting.
4. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Opportunities available throughout Canada; You will work with a mentor in your area.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $3,000 (USD) stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by year; typically selective
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer; dates are flexible
Application deadline: January 24
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent graduates who are at least 16 years old and live in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, or Puerto Rico
Sponsored by the American Fisheries Society, this STEM internship offers you exposure to real-world work in fisheries and aquatic science. As a participant, you will work with fisheries professionals who will serve as mentors and contribute to projects within aquatic habitat restoration, protection, and management. Tasks can vary by placement, with possible activities including tracking and tagging fish, examining aquatic specimens, electrofishing, conducting fish population surveys, and analyzing data. Over eight weeks, you will gain exposure to the life of a fisheries biologist as well as learn about other roles in the animal and aquatic sciences.
Who it’s best for: Students interested in fisheries and aquatic resource management who are looking for a paid summer mentorship.
5. Sunnybrook Focused Ultrasound High School Summer Research Program
Location: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: July 6 – August (tentative)
Application deadline: February 20
Eligibility: High school students who will be at least 16 years old by July 1; applicants must have the legal authorization to work in Canada/
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre offers high schoolers research experiences in its Focused Ultrasound Lab. As a participant, you will contribute to ongoing research in physics, tech, medicine, engineering, and biology while spending the summer in laboratory settings. You may engage in project work focused on examining the impact of focused ultrasound, developing tools and software for safe ultrasound exposures of tissues, and engaging in experimental work. Throughout the experience, you will gain insights into research, medicine, and device development.
Who it’s best for: Students interested in medical research and device development who want a paid lab-based summer experience.
6. U of T’s Temerty Medicine Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Location: University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine (St. George campus), Toronto, ON
Cost/Stipend: No admission fee; CA$1,600 stipend + CA$100 Presto Pass available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~100 students/year
Dates: Four weeks in July (start and end dates change yearly)
Application deadline: TBA; applications open on December 1.
Eligibility: Students in grade 11, ages 16 and up, who live in or attend high schools in Ontario, and who self-identify as Indigenous or Black (African, Caribbean, or North American, including multiracial students who identify with their Black ancestry); applicants must have completed a Grade 10 Science (Academic) course or any Grade 11 university, university/college, or college preparation science course, or be completing one before July 1.
The SMP is a four-week, in-person program that introduces you to health science education and careers through hands-on activities, experiments, lectures, and special projects. You will complete assignments with your teacher and earn a Grade 12 Science credit (SNC4M) that you can use on university and college applications. You will explore fields such as medicine, dentistry, nursing, kinesiology, pharmacy, public health, and social work. You will spend half a day engaging in an observership, where you will shadow a health professional in a hospital or clinic. You will also be paired with a university student studying in your area of interest, who will offer you personal guidance.
Who it’s best for: Students interested in health careers who want a credit-earning, paid summer program with mentorship and time in a clinical setting.
7. Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP): Green Jobs
Location: Sites across Canada
Cost/Stipend: No cost; some roles come with stipends
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Vary by placement; some internships last up to 12 months, and start dates are set by the employer.
Application deadline: Rolling; intake typically opens April 1 each year
Eligibility: Students and adults, ages 15 to 30, who are eligible to work in Canada, are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons with refugee status
STIP Green Jobs is a Government of Canada program that pays employers to hire and train young people for jobs in the natural resources sector, including energy, forestry, mining and critical minerals, earth sciences, and clean technology. You will apply to one of 10 organizations that offer placements in areas such as electricity, mining, or clean energy to take on workplace tasks. The jobs can be hands-on, letting you work as a solar installer or environmental technician, or support roles such as communications, marketing, administration, and project management. Placements are full-time, at least 30 hours per week, and can last up to 12 months. The experience can introduce you to green tech and roles in energy and electricity.
Who it’s best for: Students looking for a full-time work experience in energy, forestry, mining, or clean technology.
8. Emily Stowe Scholar Program (ESSP)
Location: Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, ON
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Six weeks in the summer
Application deadline: TBA in December
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, medical, or graduate students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or racialized women, trans, two-spirit, 2SLGBTQI+, non-binary, and persons with a disability
The ESSP offers students fully funded summer research placements at the Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. You will work in research labs alongside faculty and mentors, gaining exposure to research in healthcare, health policy, and medicine. You will attend skills workshops, seminars, and group sessions focused on leadership, communication, and identity in health research. At the end of the program, you will present your project at a summer research symposium. Following the summer program, you will receive support from the program during the academic year through mentorship and learning sessions.
Who it’s best for: Students looking for research exposure within a healthcare environment.
9. University of Toronto’s Blueprint
Location: University of Toronto’s St. George Campus, Toronto, ON
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not officially specified
Dates: Summer program: July 5 – 30 + academic-year engagement: October – March
Application deadline: Typically spring; exact dates TBA
Eligibility: Canadian citizens or permanent residents who self-identify as Black and are currently in grade 10 or 11
Blueprint is a free year-long engineering program run by the University of Toronto. During the four-week summer experience, you will learn how to use engineering design processes and take courses such as Engineering and Human Health or Mechatronics and Automation. You will also work on real projects in labs, learning how to use tools and equipment. You will build skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and critical thinking. You will receive mentorship from university students and take part in community activities. During the school year, you will engage in Prepare sessions to build leadership, college readiness, and soft skills, and MAPS (My Academic Planning Sessions) to learn about college applications. While not a typical internship, the free program can prepare you for academic and career pathways in STEM.
Who it’s best for: Students looking for free long-term support and guidance for pursuing an education in engineering.
10. Secondary School Research Bursary Program
Location: Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario (1 hour from Toronto)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; CA$1,500 bursary available
Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application deadline: March 22
Eligibility: Ontario students in grades 11 and 12; Grade 12 students must show proof of university acceptance
This seven-week summer internship gives senior secondary school students the opportunity to be a part of a research team at Hamilton Health Sciences or McMaster University. As a participant, you will contribute to basic or clinical research projects in the health and life sciences. You will find opportunities to build lab skills, explore career pathways, and build professional networks. The program will offer the chance to shadow scientists, participate in other research activities, and present your work at the end. This can be a chance to explore research environments and prepare for a career in STEM.
Who it’s best for: Students looking for hands-on research exposure within a healthcare or university environment.
11. STEM Fellowship’s Research Exploration Opportunity (REO)
Location: Universities across the country, including in Toronto, ON
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not officially disclosed
Dates: Vary by site; typically March
Application deadline: TBA for next cycle; applications open in November/early December
Eligibility: High school students in Canada
REO, run by the nonprofit STEM Fellowship, introduces high school students to research through guided mentorship and practical learning. Over a few weeks, you will explore scientific research processes on a university campus while building research, teamwork, and analytical skills. Through virtual workshops and group projects, you will learn how to read scientific papers, analyze data, and practice academic writing. You may receive mentorship from university graduate students and guidance from professionals. You will develop an independent research project and present your findings in a final report. The schedule may include tours of research labs, experiment observation, and lab meetings and faculty seminars.
Who it’s best for: Students looking for hands-on research exposure within a university setting.
12. Indus Space Co-Operative Placement Opportunities
Location: Virtual or in-person in Mississauga, ON (~40 minutes from Toronto)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 2 – 3 students/semester
Dates: Semester-based with fall, winter, and spring options
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in Ontario
This co-op placement program gives high school students the chance to work on science communication and space science projects. During the semester-long program, you might get to design space models, develop educational resources, or work on Canadian space research. Under the guidance of your mentor, you will build skills in coding, research, project planning, and science communication. The small cohort sizes will allow for personalized support. This can be an opportunity to gain real STEM experience and build workplace skills before college.
Who it’s best for: Students in Ontario interested in STEM and science education who are looking for school-year internships.
13. University of Toronto Summer Psychology Research Initiative (SPRINT)
Location: University of Toronto’s St. George campus and Scarborough campus, Toronto, ON
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by year; 57 students in the past cohort.
Dates: July 20 – 31 (tentative; dates TBA for the next cycle)
Application deadline: TBA; applications open in April
Eligibility: High school students in Ontario; upper-year high school students who identify as Indigenous, Black, or racialized are prioritized, as are applicants from other groups underrepresented in psychology and higher education, such as gender-minority and first-generation university students.
SPRINT is a free, 10-day summer program that introduces you to a broad range of psychology topics and gives you hands-on research experience. You will join one of two streams based on your interests, goals, and program capacity. In the Lecture Stream, you will learn about psychology as a scientific research discipline. In the Research Stream, you will build on that knowledge and develop a group research proposal with guidance from undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral mentors. The schedule may include lectures, presentations, tutorials, panels, and research project meetings, as well as events for delivering university-level research proposals and presentations. Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers will organize and lead the program, with support from volunteers, faculty, and staff. You will also meet peers and psychology researchers at the university.
Who it’s best for: Students in Ontario who want to explore psychology and engage in research with university mentors.
14. WICTO High School Internship Program
Location: University of Toronto’s Department of Chemistry, Toronto, ON
Cost/Stipend: Not officially disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Seven weeks in the summer (dates vary by year)
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grade 11 or 12
This is a seven-week summer research program hosted by Working Towards Inclusivity in Chemistry Toronto (WICTO) in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto. You will join a research lab in the department and carry out a research project. Through the program, you will explore opportunities in STEM, see how STEM applies to your community, and explore the research carried out in the department. The program will also hold “lunch and learn” sessions to help you connect with invited professionals, graduate students, and WICTO members and explore topics such as equity, diversity, and inclusion and careers in STEM. At the end of the summer, you will present your research at a poster session, sharing your findings with the University of Toronto community.
Who it’s best for: Students in Toronto who want hands-on chemistry research experience in a university lab.
15. Youreka Canada
Location: Universities across Canada
Cost/Stipend: CA$80 fee; no stipend
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Late January – April (10-week program); Symposiums: April/May
Application deadline: Varies by role and year; applications open in the fall
Eligibility: Canadian students in grades 9 to 12, CEGEP, or first year at Queen’s University
Youreka Canada offers a 10-week research and mentorship program to high school students. Based on your interests, you will join a research group, work on a citizen science project, and receive guidance from an undergraduate mentor. During the program, you will build lab skills, explore data analysis, and learn to write a scientific manuscript. You will also get to present your findings to a panel of graduate students and professors. The experience can introduce you to real research workflows, scientific communication, and teamwork.
Who it’s best for: Students interested in conducting novel community-focused research on a university campus.
What skills can you pick up in STEM internships?
Depending on the program, you may build technical skills such as lab techniques, data analysis in Excel or Python, basic coding, CAD design, or using scientific equipment safely. You will also learn how to follow the scientific method, record your results carefully, and correct course when an experiment or program doesn’t work the first time. That kind of troubleshooting is a huge part of STEM. Beyond that, internships can help you with skills that carry over to almost anything: presenting your findings, asking good questions, writing clear summaries, and working with people who have different levels of experience. If your placement is in a research setting, you may also get comfortable reading scientific papers, which is a skill that will make first-year university courses a bit less intimidating.
Can a STEM internship help with your college applications?
It can, as long as you can speak to what you actually did and learned. Admissions teams generally care more about depth and genuine interest than big names, so a smaller program where you took on real responsibility can be more convincing than a popular one where you mostly observed STEM activities. If you're planning to apply to universities through the OUAC, keep in mind that some programs, especially in engineering and sciences, ask for supplementary information like activity lists or short written responses. An internship gives you strong material for those, and for scholarship applications too. If you're applying outside Canada, internships can also support essays and activity sections. A mentor who has seen your work up close may be willing to write you a reference or letter of recommendation as well.
Common questions about these STEM internships
1. Do these programs focus on one STEM subject, or will I get exposure to multiple fields?
It varies by program. Some are built around a single discipline, like chemistry or psychology, while others place you into whichever lab or team matches your interests, which could mean exposure to a mix of fields such as medicine, engineering, or environmental science within the same internship.
2. Will I be running experiments and collecting data, or mostly observing how a lab or workplace operates?
That varies by program. Most of these internships involve direct, hands-on work, such as running experiments, analyzing data, or contributing to an active research project, rather than just watching from the sidelines. That said, how much independence you get can depend on your specific placement, mentor, and the pace of the research team you join.
3. How competitive are these programs, and is there an age or grade requirement to apply?
Competitiveness varies quite a bit, with some programs accepting small, selective cohorts and others not publishing acceptance details at all. Most are aimed at students in grades 11 and 12, though a few accept students as young as grade 9 or set a minimum age around 15 to 16.
4. Will I work on an independent project, or support a project that's already underway?
Both setups exist across these programs. Some place you on an established research team where you contribute to an ongoing project under a mentor's direction, while others expect you to develop and present your own independent research project or proposal by the end of the program. If you want to work with a startup on a real STEM project, Ladder Internships can offer a fully remote experience.