MITES 2026: How to Apply, Costs, and Requirements

MITES (MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering & Science), run by MIT’s School of Engineering, gives high-achieving students from underrepresented backgrounds a transformative STEM experience. 

Through a six-week summer school, six-month online semester, or year-round Saturday sessions, participants explore subjects like maths, physics, machine learning, and genomics. 

Fully funded, MITES combines rigorous academics, hands-on projects, and expert mentoring to prepare future STEM leaders.

Here’s everything you need to know about MITES in 2026.

Course Breakdown

Note: Check their official website for their current pricing.

Why Choose MITES?

MITES combines the academic rigour of MIT with a mission to expand access to STEM. The six-week Summer programme immerses students in five intensive courses delivered through seminars, workshops, and labs, with midterms, finals, and final projects offering an authentic taste of university study. 

Meanwhile, participants live in MIT dormitories with full residential support, while the Semester programme runs from June to December with two online STEM courses, a team project, and college-prep support, including essay reviews and mock interviews.

Beyond the classroom, students benefit from mentorship by MIT undergraduates and faculty, laboratory tours, admissions counselling, and a supportive peer community. Alumni consistently describe MITES as transformative, both academically and personally.

Moreover, what makes MITES stand out is its accessibility. It is completely free, with tuition, room, and board covered. However, the programme is highly selective and limited to STEM.

For participants seeking a broader choice of creative and humanities subjects, smaller class sizes, and global opportunities, Immerse Education provides an excellent alternative. 

Our programmes span prestigious locations such as Oxford, Cambridge, London, Sydney, Boston, and Singapore, and cover subjects beyond STEM, including Law, Business, Medicine, and Creative Writing. 

With Oxbridge-style teaching, close mentorship, and pathways from Academic Insights to Career Insights and Online Research, Immerse equips ambitious learners to explore their passions, prepare for university, and build lasting international connections.

Key Features of MITES

MITES is a highly selective programme that prioritises talented students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds. Admission is highly competitive, with applications assessed holistically through academic records, essays, extracurricular involvement, and recommendations.

Furthermore, the curriculum is rigorous and structured, with Summer participants completing around 35 to 40 hours of weekly instruction across maths, science, and engineering. Courses combine seminars, labs, problem-solving sessions, and collaborative projects, with electives in fields such as Machine Learning, Genomics, and Engineering Design. 

Designed by MIT-affiliated instructors, the curriculum is supported by guest lectures from leading academics and industry professionals.

In addition, residential immersion is a core part of the Summer programme, with students living in MIT dormitories, dining on campus, and accessing laboratory tours and social activities.

Mentors and residential staff provide 24/7 support. The Semester programme offers a flexible format with evening online classes, weekly webinars, and a national student community.

MITES is fully funded, covering tuition, room, board, and materials, with travel scholarships available. Instead of grades, participants receive detailed instructor evaluations that reflect progress and growth, often used as valuable evidence in university applications.

Advantages

• Free to attend: Tuition, accommodation, meals, and learning materials are all covered, with travel scholarships available to reduce extra costs.
• World-class campus: Students live and study at MIT’s Cambridge campus, with access to lecture halls, laboratories, dormitories, and dining halls.
• Authentic university immersion: The residential setting provides a true preview of undergraduate STEM life, blending intensive academics with collaborative projects.
• Hands-on learning: The curriculum combines seminars, labs, engineering projects, and problem-solving activities, ensuring students apply their knowledge in practice.
• Great for STEM students: The programme is entirely focused on advanced STEM fields such as mathematics, physics, engineering, and emerging sciences.
• Inclusive community: MITES focuses on students from underrepresented backgrounds, creating a supportive and inspiring cohort.

Disadvantages

• Strict eligibility: Only open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, which excludes international participants who could benefit from the programme.
• Extremely selective: Admission is highly competitive, with acceptance rates reported as low as 1.5-4%, meaning many strong applicants are not admitted.
• Age and grade limits: The Summer and Semester programmes are only available to rising seniors (11th graders), leaving no flexibility for younger or older students.
• No formal credit: Participants receive qualitative evaluations rather than traditional grades or transferable academic credit, which may not meet some academic requirements.
• Primarily STEM-only focus: The curriculum is limited to maths, science, and engineering, with little choice for students interested in humanities, business, or interdisciplinary subjects.
• Single location: All programmes are tied to MIT’s Cambridge campus, with MITES Saturdays restricted to specific Massachusetts school districts.

MITES vs Immerse Education

Immerse Education offers three core pathways: Academic Insights, Career Insights, and the Online Research Programme (ORP), combining university-style learning, real-world experience, and one-to-one research mentorship across global locations.

Is MITES Worth It?

For eligible U.S. students who are rising seniors and passionate about STEM, MITES is one of the most valuable pre-university experiences available. 

The programme combines rigorous courses in mathematics and science with hands-on projects, mentorship, and college admissions support. Studying at MIT, living in campus dormitories, and learning from expert faculty at no cost makes it a transformative opportunity.

However, MITES is extremely selective, with acceptance rates often in the single digits. The strict eligibility criteria limit access to U.S. citizens and permanent residents in 11th grade, and the curriculum is focused solely on STEM. Students also receive qualitative evaluations rather than formal grades or transferable credit, which may not suit every academic pathway.

For those fortunate enough to gain admission, the academic preparation, personal growth, and supportive community of like-minded peers make MITES truly exceptional. 

For others seeking greater flexibility in subjects, age range, or international access, Immerse Education provides an excellent alternative. 

With small tutorial groups, close mentorship, and pathways that span STEM, humanities, business, and interdisciplinary research, Immerse offers a more flexible but equally rigorous pre-university experience in world-leading global locations.

Alternatives to MITES

• Immerse Education – Academic Summer School: Oxbridge-style, subject-focused programmes for ages 13–18, with small tutorial groups in Oxford, Cambridge, and Sydney.
• Immerse Education – Career Insights: Industry-focused, project-based learning in London, Singapore, and Boston, with applied briefs in Engineering, Business, and Architecture.
• Immerse Education – Online Research Programme: 1:1 or small-group mentorship with PhD tutors across subjects, producing original research outputs.
• Research Science Institute (RSI, ages 16-17): Free six-week residential STEM research programme at MIT for U.S. and international students; highly selective with original research projects and mentorship.
• Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes: Subject-specific intensive courses for global participants.

How to Apply

1. Check Eligibility – Ensure you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in 11th grade (rising senior). MITES Saturdays is limited to Boston, Cambridge, and Lawrence public school students in grades 7–12.
2. Prepare Your Materials – Gather academic transcripts, complete short-answer essays about your background and STEM interests, and secure three recommendations: one maths or science teacher, one humanities teacher, and one school counsellor or administrator.
3. Submit Your Application – Apply through the MITES online portal. Applications open in November and close 1 February at 11:59 pm PST. Recommender forms are due 15 February.
4. Await Decision – Admission decisions are released in mid-April through the portal. If accepted, you will receive details on the next steps.
5. Complete Pre-Arrival and Begin – Submit medical and travel forms, arrange transportation, and apply for travel support if needed. Check in for orientation and begin your MITES journey on campus or online.

Final Thoughts

MITES offers unparalleled academic rigour for high-achieving U.S. participants interested in STEM. 

The residential Summer and online Semester programmes provide both intellectual challenge and holistic preparation for university. For many, the free cost and access to MIT’s world-leading environment make MITES a life-changing opportunity.

However, for students who don’t meet the strict citizenship, grade, and primarily STEM-focused criteria, or for those seeking more flexible pathways, Immerse Education is the stronger alternative. 

With small tutorial groups, expert Oxbridge and Ivy League mentorship, and programmes designed for international participants aged 13-18, Immerse combines academic rigour with inspiring environments across multiple global locations.