15 Tech Internships for High School Students in Canada
If you're a high school student in Canada looking to explore potential careers in tech and strengthen your academic and professional profile, internships can be a strong stepping stone. Tech internships for high school students in Canada not only help you build confidence and transferable skills but also enhance your resumes and college applications.
Canada is home to top universities and tech institutions, including the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto, which help reduce travel and housing costs. Whether you wish to work on a research project, collaborate with a tech startup, or assist in a university lab, tech internships for high school students in Canada offer early exposure to problem-solving, teamwork, and technical tools that aren't typically taught in school.
For students passionate about coding, engineering, data science, or digital innovation, tech internships for high school students in Canada provide a direct path to explore these interests in depth. We've curated a list of the most accessible and impactful opportunities across the country, both virtual and in-person, that can help you dive into areas like software development, robotics, AI, and more.
15 Tech Internships for High School Students in Canada
1. ELITE Program for Black Youth – Experiential Learning in Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship
Location: University of Alberta (North Campus), Edmonton, Alberta; some program components are also held at InnoTech Alberta and with various industry partners; some virtual components may be possible
Cost/Stipend: None / Prescribed minimum wage in Alberta
Dates: 8–16 weeks (typically July–August for high school students)
Application Deadline: The portal 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; More details here
If you’re a Black high school student in Canada looking to explore STEM fields through real-world experience, the ELITE Program might align with your interests. This paid internship connects you with labs, companies, and government teams, where you'll spend 8 to 16 weeks gaining practical skills in areas like robotics, manufacturing, or biomedical engineering. Alongside your placement, you’ll take part in structured weekly workshops focused on leadership and entrepreneurship. You'll also develop and present a final project at a showcase event. This inclusive tech internship also includes mentorship from professionals and training to help you navigate the workplace. A safety training course is required before starting.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial assistance available / None
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; upcoming one is Fall cohort on September 14
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort; Fall cohort deadline is August 24
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12) who can commit to 10–20 hours per week
Through Ladder Internships, you can work remotely with high-growth start-ups in fields like technology, AI, and digital health. This virtual eight-week program connects selected high school students to real projects within companies that have raised significant funding, often over $1 million. You’ll be paired with both a start-up mentor and a Ladder Coach who will support your project work and help guide your development. Assignments vary depending on the company you work with and can include market research, technical tasks, or digital product development. This internship is designed to simulate real-world expectations, with regular check-ins and deadlines. At the end, you present your outcomes to your company’s team.
3. RBC Summer Tech Labs
Location: Virtual | in-person at downtown Toronto
Cost/Stipend: None / Paid, exact hourly rate will be outlined in your offer letter
Dates: July 2 – August 20
Application Deadline: July 25; opens in spring (varies annually)
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 11–12 currently enrolled in an Ontario high school with an interest in computer science, engineering, or entrepreneurship | Working knowledge of one or more programming languages | Applied experience with technology concepts or coding (attended hackathons, clubs, tech focused programs, etc.)
At RBC Summer Tech Labs, you can join a small team to tackle real business challenges using your coding and design thinking skills. This paid summer internship is open to students across Canada and focuses on developing working prototypes that address real RBC business problems. You’ll use tools like JavaScript, GitHub, and React.js to build and test solutions, while receiving mentorship from tech professionals. The eight-week program begins with onboarding and skill refreshers before transitioning into weekly coding sprints where teams present updates and gather feedback. Over the summer, you’ll gain exposure to agile methodology, team-based development, and user-focused design.
4. Technovation Girls
Location: Virtual (Canada-wide and global); local chapters and mentors available
Cost/Stipend: None / Finalists: $500 CAD; Winners: $750 CAD
Dates: January – April (12-week challenge period); World Summit in summer for finalists
Application deadline: March 18
Eligibility: Girls, nonbinary youth aged 8–18; teams of up to 5 | High school students eligible for Senior Division (ages 14–18)
Technovation Girls is a tech entrepreneurship challenge designed specifically for young women around the world, including across Canada. Over 12 weeks, you and a small team will identify a problem in your local community and create a mobile app or AI solution to address it. With support from a mentor, you’ll learn how to code, use design thinking, and prepare a business pitch for your project. This tech internship is free, self-paced, and fully online, allowing you to work from anywhere. Finalists are invited to the Technovation World Summit, where they present their solutions on a global stage. You can participate individually or through a local Technovation Club or Chapter.
5. University of Alberta Faculty of Engineering - fem+ Mentorship Program
Location: Hybrid (virtual and optional in-person events at the University of Alberta, Edmonton)
Cost/Stipend: None / None
Dates: 7 months (October – April)
Application Deadline: September 28
Eligibility: High school students in Canada who identify as women, non-binary, or 2SLGBTQ+ and are interested in exploring engineering
Through the fem+ program at the University of Alberta, you can explore engineering as a potential path with the help of personalized mentorship. This 7-month opportunity is open to high school students who identify as women, non-binary, or 2SLGBTQ+, regardless of whether you're already set on studying engineering or still exploring your options. You will be matched one-on-one with a current engineering student mentor who shares insights about academic life and career paths in engineering. You’ll attend virtual or in-person events, join group discussions on Discord, and take part in Q&As about the university experience. The program creates a space where you can ask questions and learn without judgment.
6. University of Alberta - High School Youth Researcher Summer (HYRS) Program
Location: University of Alberta in Edmonton
Cost/Stipend: None / Approximately $15 CAD/hour
Dates: July 3 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Must have completed specific Grade 11 courses | Reside in or north of Red Deer | Be legally eligible to work in Canada
Through the HYRS program, you can spend six weeks working on health and medical research projects at universities in Alberta. It covers fields where healthcare and technology intersect–such as digital health, commercialization, and health system transformation. You'll be placed in a lab setting and participate in both hands-on research and skill-building workshops that introduce you to real-world innovation in health sciences. This research-based internship also includes activities to help you explore research careers and meet professionals across Alberta’s health R&I (Research and Innovation) ecosystem. Roughly half of all placements are tied to priority areas like machine learning in health research or digital diagnostics.
7. Google Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI)
Location: Various Google offices across the U.S. and Canada | Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None / None
Dates: Typically between June - August
Application Deadline: Typically March
Eligibility: High school seniors intending to enroll in a four-year undergraduate program in the US or Canada in computer science or a related field
At Google’s CSSI, you’ll spend three intensive weeks learning the core principles of programming and software development in a team-based environment. This program is geared toward students about to start a university computer science program and encourages those with minimal formal coding experience to apply. You’ll get hands-on practice with languages like Python or JavaScript and develop a capstone project with peers, guided by Google engineers. Beyond technical instruction, the experience includes professional development, guest lectures, and exposure to what it’s like to work in a tech company. CSSI also offers insight into the culture of Google and the broader tech industry as you prepare for future academic paths.
8. Nokia Future Tech Summer Internship
Location: Students can participate remotely or onsite at Nokia’s Ottawa office in Canada
Stipend: $17 CAD/hour
Dates: July 7 – August 22
Application Deadline: February 18
Eligibility: High school students entering grade 12 | Expected average of 75% in Grade 11 | Registered in at least two Grade 12 courses from this list: Physics, Chemistry, Advanced Functions, Calculus and Vectors, Computer Science, Biology, Earth and Space Science, Computer Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Engineering Technology | Legal eligibility to work in Canada
The Nokia Future Tech Summer Internship for high school students is a hands-on, paid program designed to immerse Grade 11 students in the world of technology and engineering. Over seven weeks, you will dive into topics like software development, cybersecurity, electronics, and artificial intelligence, learning directly from leading Nokia engineers and tech mentors. You will actively engage in coding workshops, build and test real prototypes, take part in team-based hackathons, and present your projects to Nokia professionals for feedback. You will have access to Nokia’s cutting-edge R&D labs, mentorship from industry experts, and opportunities to collaborate virtually or on-site in Ottawa.
9. SHAD Canada
Location: Multiple universities across Canada
Cost/Stipend: Live-in: $8,900 CAD | Virtual: $6,335 CAD; scholarships of $1,640 CAD and $2,505 CAD are available for both options respectively /
Dates: Live-in: June 29 – July 25 | Virtual: June 30 – July 25
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Students in Grades 10 – 11
SHAD is a month-long summer program where you’ll live on a university campus and collaborate with other high school students on real-world design challenges related to science, technology, and innovation. During the program, you’ll attend lectures, work in teams, and create a prototype to address a social or global issue–often tied to themes like sustainability or artificial intelligence. While the in-person version is full-time and immersive, there is also a virtual track that allows you to join from home while still participating in design sprints and speaker events. SHAD includes a national network of peers and mentors, giving you a broader perspective on how STEM connects to the real world.
10. techNL High School Technology Internship Program
Location: Newfoundland and Labrador
Stipend: $15 CAD/hour at 35 hours/week for 9 weeks
Dates: Typically late June – late August
Application Deadline: Applications open in spring, deadline not specified
Eligibility: Grade 11 and 12 high school students from across Newfoundland and Labrador
Through this nine-week paid internship, you can work with a tech company in Newfoundland and Labrador while also completing a four-week coding bootcamp hosted virtually by Keyin College. The program is designed to give you experience in both technical and business roles, offering a chance to see what daily work in a tech company looks like. You’ll earn an hourly wage of at least $15 CAD for 35 hours a week, with most of your placement spent on practical tasks at your host company. Interns often support development, testing, or digital marketing efforts. A key feature of the program is its focus on mentoring, where employees are encouraged to guide and support student interns.
11. STEM Co-Operative Placement Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None / None
Dates: Semester-based; Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions available
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Canadian high school students in Grade 11 or 12 completing a school-supported co-op placement
This virtual placement allows you to join a small, focused team working on science education and communication projects. You might build models of scientific phenomena, design learning resources for classrooms, or create simulations tied to space science or chemistry. Most teams are kept small–often just two or three students, so you receive individual mentorship and regular feedback on your work. The projects prioritize clear science communication and creative approaches to explaining technical ideas, making this a good fit if you’re interested in both STEM and outreach. While not a traditional lab experience, the work you’ll do involves real-world tasks that support public engagement with science.
12. Queen’s University High School Internships in Computing
Location: Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario
Stipend: $1500 CAD
Dates: 2 months in the summer; typically June–August
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in March-April; deadline not specified but previous deadlines for similar Queen’s summer programs fall in January or February
Eligibility: High school students interested in computer science and app prototyping
At Queen’s University, the QHIC program lets you spend two months in a computing lab working directly with faculty and student researchers. You’ll be paired with a mentor and involved in a real computing research project–past students have worked on tasks like using machine learning to assess clinical skills through video analysis. The experience takes place on campus and includes one-on-one mentoring, which helps you understand both the technical and collaborative aspects of research. This program is designed to give you a close-up view of how computing problems are tackled in academic settings. The program emphasizes developing your skills and interest in computing research.
13. University of Toronto - Blueprint Program
Location: University of Toronto, St. George campus
Cost/Stipend: None / None
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Black Canadian students in grades 10-11
Blueprint is a four-week summer enrichment program for Black high school students who are considering careers in science or engineering. Held at the University of Toronto’s St. George campus, the program combines academic courses, lab work, and design challenges that give you exposure to different engineering disciplines. You’ll take two engineering-focused courses like Mechatronics or Engineering and Human Health, and apply your learning to real-world problems. Classes are led by graduate students, and undergraduate mentors are available to support you throughout the program. After the summer ends, you’ll stay connected through webinars, academic prep sessions, and leadership workshops that run throughout the year.
14. STEM Fellowship’s Research Exploration Opportunity (REO)
Location: Various universities across Canada
Cost/Stipend: None / None
Dates: Typically runs during the March Break of the province where the partner university is located
Application Deadline: Typically early February
Eligibility: All high school students in Canada
Through the STEM Fellowship’s Research Exploration Opportunity, you can spend time inside a university research lab learning directly from graduate student mentors. This hands-on experience lets you shadow lab members, participate in basic experiments, and attend faculty talks and seminars to understand how research unfolds in real time. You’ll be introduced to scientific tools and inquiry methods used in a range of STEM fields and be encouraged to ask questions about careers in research and higher education. While the program is open to all students, it prioritizes applicants from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM, including rural, first-generation, or economically disadvantaged students.
15. TELUS Digital High School Internship
Location: TELUS offices in major Canadian cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, depending on role availability and department
Stipend: Paid, amount unspecified
Dates: 12-16 weeks in the summer; mid-May to Mid-June
Application Deadline: Varies as per internship; typically between March and May
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in a high school | Canadian residency or valid work permit
In the TELUS Digital High School Internship, you will tackle topics like coding, mobile application development, data science, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. Throughout the program, you will actively contribute to collaborative team projects, attend mentorship and networking events, and take part in hands-on activities such as developing prototype apps, analyzing user data to improve digital services, and optimizing network performance. Unique features of the internship include access to state-of-the-art technology labs, personalized mentorship from experienced professionals, and opportunities to network with TELUS teams across Canada. You will gain valuable skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and cutting-edge technical tools, all while building a network of peers and mentors.
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