15 Research Opportunities for High School Students in Canada
If you are a high school student in Canada looking for a way to explore a new field or topic, participating in a research program can be a great option. Research programs can help you explore academic interests, build competitive university applications, and gain mentorship from professionals in academia or industry.
As a participant, you will learn how to develop a research question, analyze data, write and read scientific papers, and present your findings. The programs may even help you write a complete research paper that you can submit for publication!
To help you get started, here are 15 research opportunities for high school students in Canada. From STEM and business to social sciences and the arts, you can choose from local and international research opportunities on the list.
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starting at $2,990; full need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: Spring: March – June | Summer: June – August | Fall: September – December | Winter: December – February
Application deadline: January (Spring) | May (Summer) | September (Fall) | November (Winter)
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 GPA; no prior experience required
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week, one-on-one research experience where you choose from various fields, ranging from neuroscience to data science, under the guidance of a Ph.D. mentor. You will learn how to come up with a research question, analyze findings, and write a formal paper. The program is entirely remote and tailored to your interests, providing a flexible introduction to academic research. At the end of the session, you may submit your work to journals or competitions.
2. University of Alberta’s High School Youth Researcher Summer (HYRS) Program
Location: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
Stipend: $15/hour for working 30–35 hours per week
Program dates: July 3 – August 14
Application deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Students in grade 11, who have enrolled or completed Mathematics 20-1 or 20-2, Biology 20, and one other Grade 11 science course; applicants must reside in or north of Red Deer and be legally eligible to work in Canada
The HYRS Program is a competitive, health-focused summer research program that will place you in university labs for four to six weeks to explore fields like digital health, medical innovation, and data-enabled research. The program is fully funded and designed to give Alberta students early exposure to biomedical research. Here, under the guidance of professional researchers, you will engage in lab work, data analysis, and presentations while building key technical skills. The experience also includes seminars, career panels, and mentorship to help you explore future opportunities in health and medical science.
3. Indus Space STEM Co-Operative Placement Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid
Program dates: Semester-based (Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions)
Application deadline: Rolling (early applications encouraged)
Eligibility: Grade 11 and 12 students in Canada completing a school-supported co-op placement
This virtual co-op program offers a hands-on introduction to space science and science communication. You will work in a small team, typically made up of just 2–3 students, to develop educational tools related to chemistry, planetary science, and Canadian space research. You will also work on short research projects. Throughout the placement, you will get to refine skills in research, coding, and public communication while receiving individualized mentorship. The experience is ideal for students interested in interdisciplinary STEM projects with a real-world impact in education and outreach.
4. University of Alberta’s fem+ Mentorship Program
Location: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
Cost: Free
Program dates: October – May
Application deadline: Late September to early October; varies by year
Eligibility: High school students who identify as women, non-binary, and 2SLGBTQ+ in Canada
Designed to support underrepresented identities in engineering, the fem+ Mentorship Program will pair you with a university engineering student for one-on-one mentoring throughout the academic year. Here, you will gain insights into various engineering disciplines, explore post-secondary pathways, and get practical advice on preparing for university. The program offers exposure to engineering research, individualized mentorship, and collaborative workshops on design thinking and real-world engineering applications. The experience can provide you with information and support to evaluate whether engineering aligns with your future goals.
5. RBC Summer Tech Labs
Location: Ontario (virtual/in-person hybrid depending on year)
Stipend: Paid
Program dates: July 2 – August 20
Application deadline: Opens in spring (varies annually)
Eligibility: Grade 11 and 12 students enrolled in an Ontario high school
Royal Bank of Canada’s Summer Tech Labs is a competitive 8-week internship where you’ll serve as an Innovation Developer, tackling real-world challenges in the financial technology space. Working in small teams, you’ll build functional prototypes using tools like JavaScript, React.js, and GitHub, while learning agile development and design thinking. Professional mentors and RBC staff will support your progress as you research, ideate, code, and present your solutions. The program emphasizes hands-on learning and collaborative problem-solving, providing a glimpse into how innovation happens in the industry.
6. SickKids Summer Research (SSuRe) Program
Location: SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario
Stipend: Minimum wage + vacation pay
Program dates: May 5 – August
Application deadline: Rolling, individual researchers manage hiring and timelines
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students accepted by a SickKids Research Institute (RI) scientist; no centralized application offered, so applicants must contact labs directly to secure a supervisor before participating in SSuRe programming.
The SSuRe Program offers summer research experiences to high school and college students at one of Canada’s top pediatric hospitals. If you are selected by a SickKids scientist to assist with a research project, you will be invited to join seminars, a research career panel, and the Summer Student Symposium, where you will present your work. Throughout the program, you will learn how to write research abstracts and create a poster. You will also get to interact with researchers. Projects span disciplines like molecular biology, genetics, and clinical research.
7. University of Toronto’s Youth Summer Program: Medicine Track
Location: University of Toronto’s St. George Campus, Toronto, Ontario
Cost: 1,668 CAD + 98 CAD registration fee
Program dates: Modules scheduled between June 30 and August 15; exact dates vary by module
Application deadline: No official deadline; applications open on February 12
Eligibility: Students in Grades 10 – 12; grade 9 students are eligible for the Microbiology module
The Medicine Track of U of T’s Youth Summer Program offers one-week modules where you will explore subjects like human physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, and molecular genetics. Through hands-on labs, research insights, and expert-led lectures, you’ll learn about topics such as cardiovascular function, drug interactions, gene editing, and microbial identification. The program combines in-depth science content with real laboratory experience, giving you a university-level introduction to the medical field. Each module is designed to simulate what studying medicine and biomedical sciences is really like. In the Microbiology module, you will also get to participate in talks offered by researchers/clinicians covering topics like vaccines, antibiotic resistance, and public health microbiology.
8. STEM Fellowship’s Research Exploration Opportunity (REO)
Location: Various universities across Canada
Cost: Free
Program dates: Typically runs in summer; exact dates vary
Application deadline: TBA; application window opens in November or early December each year
Eligibility: High school students in Canada
STEM Fellowship, a charitable organization, partners with universities in Canada to offer research experiences to students through the REO program. The six-week virtual program can introduce you to the fundamentals of research through mentor-led workshops and collaborative group work. You will learn how to read scientific literature, formulate research questions, analyze data, and summarize your experience through a written research report. With guidance from university students and STEM professionals, you will get to refine your skills in academic writing, critical thinking, and scientific communication.
9. Focused Ultrasound High School Summer Research Program
Location: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Cost/Stipend: Free; paid position
Program 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
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre offers summer research experiences in its Focused Ultrasound Lab to high school students. Here, you will contribute to the lab’s ongoing research efforts in the fields of medicine, physics, technology, engineering, and biology. You may get to engage in project work like designing circuit boards, investigating the impact of focused ultrasound on various mechanisms, and experimental work. You will get insights into medicine, research, and device development in the process.
10. Youreka Canada Program
Location: Partner university campuses
Cost: Free
Program dates: January – April (10-week program)
Application deadline: Varies by site; application window typically opens in fall and closes in December/January
Eligibility: Canadian high school students in grades 9–12
Youreka Canada offers a 10-week research and mentorship program where you will work on a citizen science project and seek support from an undergraduate mentor. Hosted across multiple Canadian universities, the program can help you learn how to analyze data, write a research paper, and present your findings. You will also develop your own project idea while gaining exposure to academic research methods. The program culminates in regional and national symposiums, giving you a chance to showcase your work and connect with the broader research community. A select few teams will get a chance to publish their work following a peer review process.
11. WISEST Summer Research Program
Location: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
Cost/Stipend: Free (housing available for ~$1,507); paid $15/hour
Program dates: July 3 – August 14
Application deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 11 or 12
The WISEST Summer Research Program places you in a university lab for six weeks, where you will contribute to real research in science, engineering, or technology. You will act as a research assistant, collecting and analyzing data, conducting experiments, and developing scientific communication skills during the program. You will also get some experience in conducting literature reviews, working on individual as well as team-based research projects, and presenting your work to an audience. Additionally, you will have access to lab tours, workshops, and networking events with STEM professionals during the program. The selective program typically accepts 40 students each year.
12. BC Cancer Research Xavier Pelletier High School Internship Program
Location: Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer, Victoria, British Columbia
Cost/Stipend: Free + a 3,000 CAD bursary toward post-secondary education awarded on completing the program
Program dates: July – August (8 weeks)
Application deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Grade 11 students attending Vancouver Island secondary schools and nominated by their school’s science departments; the program accepts up to two nominees per school
The High School Internship Program is a competitive eight-week summer internship experience in cancer research conducted at BC Cancer’s Deeley Research Centre. Under the guidance of scientists, you will gain hands-on lab experience in cancer biology and immunotherapy while participating in seminars and collaborative research projects. You will also participate in a book club, reading material on topics in molecular and cell biology, immunology, and the basics of cancer. You will present both your research project and book club reading insights to researchers and get feedback. The program is designed to offer insights into the realities of biomedical research and opportunities to build foundational lab and critical thinking skills.
13. University of Toronto Blueprint
Location: University of Toronto, St. George Campus, Toronto, Ontario
Cost: Free
Program dates: July 7 – August 1
Application deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Black students in grades 10 and 11
Blueprint is a four-week, fully funded summer program that introduces Black high school students to the world of science and engineering through hands-on coursework, lab activities, and team projects. You will participate in courses in engineering and human health or mechatronics and automation, gaining exposure to the engineering design process. You will also have access to current research discussions and lectures to explore STEM fields. The program also emphasizes mentorship and leadership development, offering ongoing academic support and year-round workshops even after the summer.
14. U of T’s Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program (DEEP)
Location: University of Toronto, St. George Campus
Cost: $725/week (domestic) | $1,100/week (international)
Program dates: Session A: July 7 – 11 | Session B: July 14 – 18 | Session C: July 21 – 25 | Session D: July 28 – August 1 | Session E: August 11 – 15
Application deadline: Application round 1: February 25 – March 23 | Round 2: March 24 – April 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
DEEP is an academic summer program designed for high school students with a strong foundation in math and science. Here, you will explore research through enrollment in advanced courses in topics like artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering, and entrepreneurship—subjects often taught at the undergraduate level. Led by U of T alumni, graduate students, and researchers, each session consists of lectures, labs, and collaborative projects. Courses also involve design challenges, competitions, experimentation, and test-based activities to help you explore STEM applications. These sessions are designed to challenge you intellectually and give you a head start on university-level STEM.
15. Quantum School for Young Students (QSYS)
Location: Virtual, with optional in-person lab day in Waterloo, Ontario
Cost: Free
Program dates: August 11–15 (optional in-person day on August 18)
Application deadline: June 8
Eligibility: High school students with strong math skills and an interest in quantum science
QSYS is a one-week summer program hosted by the Institute for Quantum Computing, introducing high school students to the fundamentals of quantum mechanics. Each year, up to 200 students get to learn about the field through theoretical learning with real-world applications of quantum technology during the program. Through virtual lectures, collaborative problem-solving, and mentoring, you will explore topics like superposition, entanglement, and quantum cryptography. An optional lab day allows students in the Waterloo region to gain hands-on experience with experimental setups. While not a typical research opportunity, the program offers exposure to ongoing quantum research and a chance to interact with researchers to help you pursue your own research.
If you are looking to develop a project in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI, founded by Harvard graduate students, offers a chance to work 1-on-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and more, and create unique, personalized projects. In the past, we had over 1,000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
Im