At first glance, STEM subjects can feel highly theoretical. You learn formulas, scientific concepts, or programming syntax, but it can still be difficult to understand how these ideas are applied beyond the classroom. That changes once you begin engaging with STEM through projects, research, and practical problem-solving. STEM summer internships in London for high school students help create that shift by introducing you to environments where science and technology are actively used.

Picture yourself contributing to a research task, working through a coding challenge, or observing how technical teams solve problems step by step. You might analyze data, test ideas, or collaborate with other students on projects that combine different STEM disciplines. Some internships are more research-focused, while others are centred on engineering, medicine, or technology.

What kinds of STEM summer internships in London for high school students are there?

Some internships focus on scientific research, introducing students to areas like biotechnology, neuroscience, environmental science, or healthcare. Others focus more on engineering and technology, with workshops and projects in coding, robotics, artificial intelligence, or software development. Depending on the program, students may work individually or collaboratively while learning from mentors and professionals.

Most STEM internships in London are hosted by universities or educational providers and combine lectures with hands-on work, mentorship, and project-based learning. The structure often reflects aspects of undergraduate study, giving students a clearer understanding of how STEM subjects are explored at a higher academic level.

Alongside the academic exposure, students also experience life in a city where STEM industries are closely connected to research and innovation. To help you make an informed choice, this article highlights 15 STEM summer internships in London for high school students!

For adjacent options, consider summer internships in London.

15 STEM Summer Internships in London for High School Students

1. Imperial College London – Year 12 Work Experience Programme

Location: London, UK (Imperial College London – South Kensington Campus)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 29th – July 3rd
Deadline: Applications open January 12 and close March 5th
Eligibility: Year 12 students attending UK state schools; must meet academic criteria; international students are not eligible

As one of the more research-focused STEM summer internships in London for high school students, this Imperial College London programme introduces you to how scientific research works inside a major university environment. Over the week, you spend time around labs and research spaces connected to biomedical engineering, chemistry, mathematics, and materials science, observing how researchers approach experiments, analyse data, and solve technical problems in real projects.

You also interact with faculty and researchers who explain how university-level STEM research is structured and what day-to-day work inside labs looks like. Since the placement is spread across different STEM departments, you get exposure to multiple fields rather than staying within one subject area.

Why it stands out: You spend time inside active research departments at Imperial rather than in a classroom-style STEM camp.

2. Immerse Education’s London Summer School

Location: University College London, London, UK
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: High school students from all nationalities aged 15-18

The Career Insights Program lets high school students explore careers in major global industry hubs. The Engineering Summer track is designed to give students direct exposure to real-world Engineering Summer workflows and professional environments. Participants engage in project-based learning with established companies, attend interactive workshops, and visit offices, factories, and headquarters.

The program also includes weekly 1:1 career coaching sessions and personalised feedback on your resume and overall profile. You’ll present your findings to industry experts at the end of the program. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain direct industry exposure, build a professional network, and receive a certificate you can include in your college applications and work profile.

3. British Airways – Work Experience & Student Programmes

Location: London, UK (Heathrow Airport and British Airways facilities)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Varies by programme; Insight Days and placements run throughout the year
Deadline: Applications open in September, January, and April cycles
Eligibility: Students from Year 9 and above; must hold a valid UK passport; international students are generally not eligible

This programme gives you a closer look at how a major airline operates through engineering, airport operations, and aviation-focused projects. Depending on the track, you might spend time at Heathrow observing operational workflows or complete digital modules through British Airways’ student platform. The structure combines short workshops, project tasks, and mentor-led sessions tied to real aviation scenarios rather than general business discussions.

Some placements focus more on technical systems and aircraft engineering, while others introduce logistics and airport management. You also interact with staff working across different departments, which helps you understand how many different STEM and technical roles exist inside aviation.

Why it stands out: You explore STEM careers through real aviation systems and operational environments connected to Heathrow Airport.

4. King’s College London – Pre-University Summer School

Location: London, UK (King’s College London – Strand Campus)
Cost: £3,195 (1 week), £6,180 (2 weeks), £9,375 (3 weeks); application fee £65
Program Dates: July 6th – July 31st (multiple 1-week sessions)
Deadline: April 27th
Eligibility: Students aged 16-17; international students are eligible

King’s College London offers short STEM-focused academic modules where you study subjects like medicine, engineering, computer science, or biomedical science in a university setting. Classes combine lectures with smaller seminar sessions and applied activities, so the structure feels closer to a condensed undergraduate course than a summer camp.

You also complete assignments and receive feedback from instructors across the program. Since you can combine courses across multiple weeks, the experience can move across different STEM areas rather than staying fixed on one topic. The sessions take place on King’s central London campus, giving you access to university labs, libraries, and academic spaces throughout the program.

Why it stands out: The modular format lets you combine multiple STEM subjects within one university-based summer program.

5. NHS Blood and Transplant – Science-Based Work Experience Programme

Location: London, UK (Tooting Centre)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Early June
Deadline: Applications reopen late in the year or early next year
Eligibility: Students aged 16-18 (Years 12-13); must be sponsored by school or college; international eligibility not mentioned

This NHS program introduces you to laboratory science and clinical support systems connected to blood transfusion and patient care. You spend time inside training labs observing how samples are processed, how blood services operate, and how laboratory workflows support hospitals across the UK.

The structure includes practical activities alongside sessions with biomedical scientists, nurses, and donor care staff. Instead of focusing broadly on medicine, the experience stays centred on how scientific systems function inside healthcare services. You also attend career sessions that explain pathways into biomedical science and clinical laboratory work.

Why it stands out: You work around real NHS laboratory systems connected directly to patient treatment and blood services.

6. In2scienceUK – In2STEM Programme

Location: London, UK (placement locations vary)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: July 20th – August 21st
Deadline: April 5th
Eligibility: Students aged 16+ in Year 12 or equivalent; must attend a non-fee-paying, state-maintained school; must study at least one STEM subject; primarily UK-based students; international students not eligible

In2STEM combines workshops, mentoring, and STEM placements across different organisations and research settings. You complete a short work placement where you observe and contribute to tasks inside a STEM workplace, which could range from healthcare and engineering to research and technology. The program also includes online sessions, competitions, and long-term mentoring support throughout the summer.

Since the initiative is designed for students from underrepresented backgrounds, there’s a strong focus on university access and STEM career pathways alongside the placement itself. Most of the experience revolves around understanding how STEM careers function day to day, rather than just learning theory.

Why it stands out: It combines a real STEM placement with mentorship and university-access support over several weeks.

7. Sutton Trust – UK Summer Schools

Location: London, UK and partner universities across the UK
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June – August, one-week programme
Deadline: Applications close March 5th
Eligibility: UK students meeting widening participation criteria; international students not eligible

The Sutton Trust summer schools place you at leading UK universities where you study one subject area through lectures, seminars, and small academic projects. If you choose a STEM track, you spend the week working through university-style classes while also experiencing residential campus life. The program is designed mainly for students from underrepresented backgrounds, so there’s also guidance around university applications and admissions.

Academic sessions are taught by university staff and follow undergraduate-style teaching formats rather than school lessons. Outside of classes, you stay on campus and interact with students exploring similar fields.

Why it stands out: Provides fully funded access to university teaching and campus life for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

8. Francis Crick Institute – Work Experience Programme

Location: London, UK (The Francis Crick Institute)
Cost: Free, with travel support up to £50/week and food allowance up to £5/day
Program Dates: Year-round; typically one week, with some placements up to four weeks or flexible summer scheduling
Application Deadline: Varies by placement
Eligibility: Students aged 14-19 from state schools; lab placements require age 16+; international students are not eligible

This placement introduces you to biomedical research inside one of the UK’s leading scientific institutes. Depending on your placement, you might spend time around labs working in areas like genetics, immunology, cell biology, or bioinformatics while observing how research projects are structured. You also see how data is handled, how scientific findings are communicated, and how different departments inside a research institute interact with one another.

Some placements focus on lab work, while others introduce roles in public engagement, IT, or administration connected to research operations. The environment feels much closer to a professional research institute than a school outreach program.

Why it stands out: You observe real biomedical research environments inside one of Europe’s major scientific institutes.

9. UCL – Pre-University Online Course for High School Students

Location: Online (University College London)
Cost: £990
Program Dates: July 17th – July 31st
Deadline: Typically mid-June
Eligibility: Students aged 16-18; must be non-native English speakers; international students are eligible

This online course at UCL focuses on academic research, critical thinking, and university-level study skills through an interdisciplinary structure. You work on writing, presentations, and research methods while also attending lectures across science, humanities, and social science topics. The sessions are designed especially for international students preparing for UK university environments, so there’s also support around academic English and communication.

You complete a short research project and present your findings at the end of the course. The structure is more academic than technical, but it gives you a realistic sense of how university coursework and discussion-based learning operate in the UK.

Why it stands out: It focuses heavily on academic research and university-study skills rather than only subject content.

10. JPMorganChase – Work Experience Programme

Location: London, UK (JPMorganChase Office)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: August 11th, with additional October sessions available
Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: Students aged 14-16, Year 10-11; must be based near programme locations; international students not eligible

This program introduces you to how technology and finance connect inside a global financial institution. You take part in workshops around fintech, banking operations, and client systems while also working on team-based activities tied to real business scenarios. The structure includes both online and in-person components, starting with virtual preparation before moving into office-based sessions in London.

You also attend networking activities and career workshops focused on applications, interviews, and workplace communication. A large part of the experience revolves around understanding how technical and financial systems work together inside modern banking.

Why it stands out: You explore both finance and technology through direct exposure to a global banking environment.

11. Royal Observatory Greenwich – Work Experience Programme

Location: London, UK (National Maritime Museum / Royal Observatory Greenwich)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: August, one-week placement with specific week allocated
Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in Years 10-13; international eligibility not mentioned

This one-week placement at the Royal Observatory Greenwich introduces you to astronomy through public engagement and science communication rather than research alone. You work with the Astronomy Team on activities connected to observational astronomy, museum outreach, and educational content creation.

Part of the experience involves helping evaluate public sessions, scripting short astronomy explainers, and understanding how scientific ideas are adapted for different audiences. You also spend time around the National Maritime Museum and Observatory spaces, observing how astronomers and educators interact with visitors throughout the day. The placement includes both on-site activities and a remote workday, so the structure changes across the week instead of following a fixed classroom routine.

Why it stands out: You explore astronomy through real science communication work inside one of London’s best-known public science institutions.

12. London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF)

Location: London, United Kingdom (Imperial College London)
Cost: £3,295, all-inclusive: accommodation, meals, and programme activities
Program Dates: July 19th – August 1, 2026
Deadline: Varies by country/selection process
Eligibility: Students aged 16-21; open to international students

LIYSF brings together hundreds of students from around the world for a two-week residential STEM program hosted at Imperial College London. The schedule includes lectures, workshops, and discussions across subjects like engineering, medicine, biotechnology, AI, and physics, with sessions led by researchers and scientists, including Nobel Prize winners.

You also visit research institutions and universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, which gives the program a strong academic and research-focused atmosphere throughout. One major part of the experience is the Science Bazaar, where students present their own projects and exchange ideas with peers from different countries. Outside academics, the program includes cultural activities and structured social events, so a lot of the experience comes from interacting with an international STEM-focused cohort.

Why it stands out: You study advanced STEM topics while living and collaborating with students from more than 80 countries in one residential program.

13. King’s College London – STEM Work Experience Week

Location: London, UK (King’s College London – Strand Campus)
Cost: Free, with lunch and refreshments provided daily; transport to and from campus not covered
Program Dates: July 6th – July 10th
Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Year 10 students attending a state-funded school; must live or study in an Inner London Borough; international students are not eligible

This one-week programme at King’s College London takes you through five of its core STEM departments, such as Chemistry, Engineering, Informatics, Mathematics, and Physics, over the first half of the week. You visit labs inside each department, talk directly to scientists and engineers, and work through hands-on workshops tied to real research activities happening at King’s.

The second half of the week shifts into a team project where you use ideas from across the departments to develop a solution to a real-world problem. The week closes with a poster session where you present your team’s findings to King’s staff, teachers, and parents in an academic-style setting. Since the programme explicitly does not cover biology or life sciences, it suits students drawn more toward physical sciences, engineering, and computing.

Why it stands out: You rotate through five separate STEM departments at one of London’s top universities and finish the week presenting original team research – all in five days.

14. UCL GOS Institute of Child Health – Work Experience Programme

Location: London, UK (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health)
Cost: Free, with lunch provided daily; travel costs not covered
Program Dates: June 29th – July 3rd
Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students aged 16+ who have completed GCSEs or are studying for A-Levels; preference given to students from disadvantaged backgrounds; international students not mentioned

This program places you inside UCL’s Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, where you spend a week exploring how biomedical research connects directly to pediatric healthcare and hospital science. The schedule moves across all five research and teaching departments, so you attend lab sessions, research talks, and small seminars in areas like genomics, bioinformatics, and developmental biology.

Some activities are practical, including microscope work and pipetting exercises, while others involve observing how clinical and research labs inside Great Ormond Street Hospital operate. You also attend a Journal Club session, which introduces how researchers discuss published studies and challenge scientific findings in real academic settings. 

Why it stands out: You work inside a leading child-health research institute with direct access to hospital-linked biomedical labs in an extremely small cohort.

15. Year 9 Girls Engineering Summer School

Location: London, England
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: 4-7 August
Application Deadline: 18th March
Eligibility: High school female students in Year 9; international students are not allowed to enrol

If you enjoy math and science and consider STEM to be your college major, Imperial College’s Girls Engineering Summer School is a great choice for you. This four-day-long program starts with orientation and getting to know other students with ice-breaking team activities. On the following days, students get to discover engineering through inspiring sessions (called “tasters”) that showcase various engineering disciplines.

On the final day, students get to work with other mates to create a poster based on an engineering concept they have learned, and they will showcase these posters in front of teachers, families, and other students. This summer school is fully funded (including course fees, materials, and lunch). It is not a residential program, so participants and parents need to organise their own accommodation and travel to and from campus each day.

Why it stands out: You’ll have access to engineering tools and prototypes from Imperial’s MakerSpace that are typically not available to pre-GCSE students, so you’ll be better prepared for future STEM education.

From London STEM Projects To Future Pathways

STEM becomes clearer when you test ideas through coding challenges, lab observations, engineering tasks, astronomy outreach, or research-style presentations in London.

These 15 STEM summer internships in London for high school students help you connect classroom theory with practical work across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Whether you explore biomedical labs, aviation systems, fintech, robotics, or university research spaces, each experience can reveal which pathways genuinely interest you.

Ready to compare where those interests could lead? Explore our Career Exploration blogs for industry insights, key skills, and study routes across future-focused careers.