If you’re in high school and thinking about studying biology or a related field in college, online biology courses for high school students can help you explore the subject beyond the classroom in a flexible and accessible way. A deeper understanding of biology can help you determine whether you’re interested in medicine, research, healthcare, biotechnology, environmental science, or another area within the life sciences.

Imagine spending a few weeks learning about genetics, neuroscience, immunology, biotechnology, or other areas that may receive only limited attention in a typical high school curriculum. You might explore how diseases develop, how new medical treatments are created, or how biological research contributes to discoveries in healthcare and environmental science. These experiences can help you connect classroom concepts to the kinds of questions researchers, physicians, and scientists investigate every day.

Why choose an online biology course in high school?

One of the biggest advantages of online biology courses is flexibility. Unlike many summer programs, internships, or residential academic experiences, online courses can fit around your existing schedule. You can continue participating in school activities, sports, clubs, or part-time commitments while exploring a subject that interests you. You don’t need to travel, relocate, or set aside weeks for a dedicated program.

Many online courses are also self-paced or offer flexible schedules, allowing you to learn when it works best for you. Some students prefer to complete lessons after school, while others dedicate time on weekends or during school breaks. The format gives you the freedom to move through material at a pace that matches your interests and availability.

Online biology courses can also strengthen your college applications by demonstrating initiative and academic curiosity. Colleges value students who pursue learning opportunities beyond their required coursework, especially when those opportunities align with their intended areas of study. Completing a biology course shows that your interest extends beyond the classroom and that you’re willing to invest time in exploring the subject independently.

To help you find the right fit, we’ve curated a list of 15 online biology courses for high school students worth exploring!

For related opportunities, consider the online medicine program.

15 Online Biology Courses for High School Students

1. Columbia University – Cell and Molecular Biology of Medicine

Location: Online
Cost: Approximately $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Cohort size is typically capped at around 22 students per section; acceptance rate is not publicly available
Program Dates: Various sessions across July and August
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in January, with final deadlines extending into late spring or until sections reach capacity
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 9-12 and international students; students are generally expected to have completed at least one year of high school biology and one year of chemistry before enrolling

Columbia University’s Cell and Molecular Biology of Medicine course looks at what happens inside cells when medicines enter the body. You’ll spend two weeks studying topics such as genetic disorders, cell signaling, pharmacology, and drug development through case studies and discussions. One day, you might examine how insulin helps regulate blood sugar, while another day focuses on how cancer therapies target specific cells.

Classes are small enough for discussion, and much of the coursework revolves around solving biological problems instead of memorizing facts. You’ll also work with a team to investigate a medical condition and explore how scientists approach treatment. By the end of the course, you’ll have a much clearer picture of how biology, medicine, and biotechnology connect.

Why it stands out: The course constantly ties biology concepts to actual diseases, treatments, and medicines that doctors use today.

2. Immerse Education’s Online Biology Summer School

Location: Fully remote
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; multiple dates throughout the year
Program Dates: Flexible; multiple cohorts in a year
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18; accredited options require age 14+; open to international students

Among the more research-focused online biology courses for high school students, Immerse Education’s Biology Online Research Programme offers the opportunity to explore advanced biological sciences with tutors from Oxford, Cambridge, and Ivy League universities. You will work with your tutor to investigate a biology topic in depth and develop an academic research project. The programme is available in 1:1 and small group formats, with flexible year-round access from anywhere in the world.

You may explore areas such as evolution, superbugs, biological systems, scientific research methods, and real-world applications of biology. At the end of the programme, you’ll receive written feedback, a certificate of achievement, and the opportunity to publish your work or present it through the Immerse Online Research Project Symposium. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: You experience authentic Oxford-style tutorials online, work closely with leading academics, and produce an assessed research paper — with the option to earn UCAS points or US college credit if you are aged 14 or above.

3. Dartmouth College – Biology: Transforming the Future of Science

Location: Online
Cost: $1,895 tuition; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Program Dates: Multi-length sessions offered flexibly throughout the year
Application Deadline: Applications open in October and are reviewed on a rolling basis; final enrolment deadline is while space remains available
Eligibility: Open to students aged 13 and older, including international students; the course is taught in English, and application materials must be submitted in English; no prior biology coursework, transcripts, or letters of recommendation are required

Dartmouth’s Biology: Transforming the Future course explores how biology is increasingly driven by data, technology, and large-scale research. You’ll study subjects such as genomics, immune system networks, drug discovery, aging, and biotechnology through online lessons and activities. Along the way, you’ll see how researchers use biological data to investigate medical questions and design new treatments.

Assignments encourage you to think about how different biological systems interact rather than studying each topic separately. The course also introduces tools and ideas that appear frequently in modern biomedical research. Towards the end, you’ll develop a research proposal focused on a scientific problem that interests you.

Why it stands out: Few biology courses for high school students spend much time on systems biology and computational approaches to research.

4. Harvard Medical School – Pre-College Online Courses

Location: Online
Cost: $1,895-$2,195 per course; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective admission; cohort size not publicly specified
Program Dates: Multiple course sessions available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions throughout the year; students are encouraged to apply before their preferred cohort start date
Eligibility: Open to high school students and equivalent international students aged 13 and older who have not yet enrolled in college; gap-year students within one year of high school graduation may also apply

Harvard Medical School’s Pre-College Online Courses let you choose from subjects such as genetics, physiology, immunology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and medical research. Depending on the course, you’ll work through lectures, case studies, quizzes, and applied projects that explore how the human body functions and how diseases are studied. The material often mirrors concepts introduced in university pre-med and life science courses.

Because the courses are asynchronous, you can move through the content on your own schedule while still receiving support from programme mentors. Some tracks end with an exam, while others require a capstone project connected to a medical or biological topic. Throughout the programme, you’ll spend a lot of time connecting biological theory to real healthcare questions.

Why it stands out: You can choose a specialised biology field instead of taking a broad survey course.

5. Brown University – Cancer Biology Pre-College Track

Location: Online
Cost: Approximately $4,656 for a three-week online course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Program Dates: July 6th – July 24th
Application Deadline: Applications open in January; final deadline in May
Eligibility: Open to students aged 16 and older, including rising juniors, seniors, or recent graduates; international students are eligible to apply; prior coursework in biology and chemistry is required

Brown University’s Cancer Biology course stands out among the many online biology courses for high school students because it focuses on one of the most heavily researched areas of modern biology. You’ll explore how normal cells become cancerous, how tumors grow, why cancer spreads, and how scientists design treatments to stop it. Scientific papers, biological data, and case studies are used regularly throughout the programme, so you’ll spend time thinking like a researcher rather than simply reading textbook explanations.

Discussions often revolve around current therapies, genetic mutations, and emerging approaches in cancer treatment. Coursework asks you to interpret evidence and examine how scientists investigate difficult biological questions. If you’re interested in medicine, genetics, or biomedical research, the material feels surprisingly close to what you might encounter later in college.

Why it stands out: Most high school biology courses mention cancer briefly. This course spends three weeks focused entirely on understanding it.

6. Georgetown University – College Prep Biology

Location: Online
Cost: $1,895 for the enrichment course; $3,995 for the college credit option
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective admission; cohort size not publicly specified
Program Duration: Multiple course lengths available throughout the year, including 1-, 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, and 12-week sessions
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year until cohorts fill
Eligibility: Open to students aged 13 and older, including international students; no formal prerequisites are required for the enrichment course, though completion of high school biology is recommended for the college credit option

Georgetown University’s College Prep Biology course starts at the cellular level and builds outward from there. You’ll study how cells function, how scientists observe them using microscopes and imaging technologies, and how cellular processes connect to disease. Coursework includes recorded lessons, assignments, case studies, and a final project that asks you to apply what you’ve learned. .

Along the way, you’ll explore how researchers investigate biological questions and interpret evidence from experiments. The course also introduces tools and technologies commonly used in modern biological research. If you’re considering medicine or life sciences, it offers a useful look at how those subjects are taught at the university level.

Why it stands out: The course spends considerable time examining cells as working systems instead of treating them as diagrams to memorize.

7. Rice University via Coursera – Introduction to Biology

Location: Online
Cost: Free to audit; certificate available through paid Coursera subscription or course purchase
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Program Duration: Self-paced; approximately 13-16 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling enrolment; learners can register year-round
Eligibility: Open to high school students and adult learners worldwide; no prior biology coursework or prerequisites are required; recommended for beginners interested in ecology, evolution, biodiversity, and environmental science

Rice University’s Introduction to Biology specialization focuses on the living world beyond the human body. You’ll explore ecosystems, biodiversity, evolution, conservation, and the relationships between species through a series of self-paced online courses. Lessons are supported by examples drawn from nature reserves, museums, zoos, and environmental research. Assignments often ask you to observe the world around you and think about biological questions practically.

You’ll also complete projects that involve analysing organisms, ecosystems, and environmental challenges. Because the course is self-paced, it’s easy to fit around school or other commitments. The emphasis stays on understanding how life interacts across entire ecosystems.

Why it stands out: Most biology courses focus heavily on cells and human biology. This one spends much more time exploring ecology and biodiversity.

8. UC Berkeley Pre-College Scholars (Virtual Track)

Location: Online
Cost: A 3-unit course costs $2,588 for domestic virtual students, including $1,905 tuition, $585 registration, $73 document fee, and $25 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Program Dates: June 22nd – August 14th
Application Deadline: Applications open February 17th; final deadline June 1st
Eligibility: Open to domestic and international high school students who have completed 10th or 11th grade and will continue high school in the fall; students must have at least a B average or 3.0 GPA and be 16 years old by the start of the programme

UC Berkeley’s Pre-College Scholars Virtual Track allows you to enroll in actual Berkeley summer courses while you’re still in high school. Depending on course availability, you could study molecular biology, neuroscience, environmental science, public health, or another biology-related subject alongside college and visiting students. You’ll be expected to keep up with readings, assignments, discussions, and exams just like everyone else in the class.

The accelerated summer schedule means the workload moves quickly, especially compared to a typical high school course. Virtual workshops and mentoring sessions help students adjust to university-level expectations. By the end of the programme, you’ll have completed a real Berkeley course and earned an official transcript.

Why it stands out: You’re not placed in a special high school classroom. You’re taking an actual UC Berkeley course.

9. Yale Summer Session (Online Pre-College Courses): Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Cell Biology

Location: Online
Cost: $5,480 tuition
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Program Duration: May 25th – June 26th
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in January, with the final deadline in early May
Eligibility: Open to qualified high school students entering their final year of secondary school, as well as college students; international students are eligible to apply; students should be prepared for college-level biology coursework, and prior biology coursework is recommended

Yale’s Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Cell Biology course focuses on what is happening inside cells at a molecular level. You’ll explore how proteins move through cells, how signals are transmitted between different cellular structures, and how biological molecules carry out specific tasks. Lectures and discussions regularly connect these concepts to genetics, disease, and biomedical research.

You’ll also examine laboratory techniques that scientists use to study cells, including microscopy and experimental data analysis. Rather than looking at biology from a broad perspective, the course zooms in on the mechanisms that keep living systems functioning. Expect plenty of scientific evidence, research examples, and biological reasoning throughout the programme.

Why it stands out: The course combines three subjects that are usually taught separately and shows how they fit together inside living cells.

10. Northwestern University Center for Talent Development (CTD) – Online Biology Honors

Location: Online
Cost: $1,425 tuition; an additional $25 lab fee is required; no stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Cohort size limited to 30 students; acceptance rate not publicly available
Program Duration: January 24th – August 15th
Application Deadline: Applications open October 4th; final deadline January 31st
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6-12, including international students; applicants must meet CTD eligibility requirements through qualifying test scores, prior CTD coursework, or a portfolio including transcripts or report cards and a teacher recommendation

Northwestern CTD’s Online Biology Honors course covers the foundations of biology, but does so in much greater depth than a typical high school class. You’ll study cells, heredity, ecology, evolution, energy transfer, and biological systems through readings, activities, and laboratory exercises. The course runs over several months, which gives you time to slow down and engage with the material instead of rushing through it.

Weekly assignments ask you to apply concepts, solve biological problems, and think critically about scientific questions. Instructors provide feedback throughout the course, helping you strengthen your understanding as you progress. If you enjoy biology and want more depth than your school curriculum offers, this course gives you room to explore.

Why it stands out: The longer schedule allows you to spend more time with each topic instead of compressing everything into a few weeks.

11. Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research – Intro to Cellular and Molecular Medicine

Location: Online
Cost: $560 tuition
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Capped at 25 students per section
Program Dates: June 8th – June 19th; multiple sessions and time slots available
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Mature middle and high school students worldwide aged 11-18; high school biology is recommended but not required

Rosetta Institute’s Intro to Cellular and Molecular Medicine is designed for students interested in biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. Over two weeks, you’ll explore the inner workings of cell biology, cell structure, genetic pathways, and how molecular machinery malfunctions in human disease.

The curriculum goes beyond basic biology challenges to build a strong scientific mindset. You will learn to navigate online molecular databases, analyze genetic sequences, and evaluate peer-reviewed research papers. The virtual format combines interactive lectures with collaborative exercises where you’ll work with peers to design basic research plans and formulate hypotheses. 

Why it stands out: It offers university-level cellular biology theory and introduces you to real bioinformatics databases, all under the guidance of PhD-level scientists.

12. Oregon State University – Biochemistry Blast: Molecular Biology of Viral Disease

Location: Online
Cost: Approximately $199
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Program Dates: Self-paced; asynchronous enrolment
Application Deadline: Rolling enrolment
Eligibility: High school students worldwide interested in biochemistry and biomedical sciences

Oregon State University’s Biochemistry Blast course focuses on the fascinating science behind viral pathogens, immunology, and molecular genetics. In this asynchronous online program, you’ll study how viruses enter human cells, hijack cellular machinery, and mutate over time. You will also examine how the body’s immune system recognizes and responds to viral infections, and learn about the molecular biology techniques used to design modern vaccines.

Through engaging, self-paced lessons and independent projects, you will estimate viral mutation rates, build a solid vocabulary in biomedical science, and apply chemistry and genetics concepts to real-world medical crises. 

Why it stands out: It is a highly affordable, self-paced university course that directly connects fundamental biochemistry to the practical mechanics of viral disease and pandemic medicine.

13. Johns Hopkins University – Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) (Virtual Program)

Location: Online; virtual
Cost: Free; accepted virtual participants receive a $500 scholarship or honorarium upon successful completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Program Dates: Five weeks in the summer, typically July – August
Application Deadline: March 1st
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors residing in the United States

The Johns Hopkins Virtual Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) offers a rare, high-level introduction to the fields of neurology, neurosurgery, and brain research. Over five weeks, you’ll join a select group of students from across the country to explore brain development, neurodegenerative disorders, and mental health conditions. You will learn from interactive lectures led by Johns Hopkins School of Medicine faculty, analyze neuroscientific data, and work on research-focused projects.

The program emphasizes scientific communication and career guidance, exposing you to fundamental laboratory techniques and diverse pathways in medicine and neuroscience. By the end of the summer, you will have completed a mentored project and gained a clear understanding of the academic and professional journey required to study the human brain.

Why it stands out: Unlike typical pre-college courses, this is a fully funded research internship that provides a $500 stipend upon completion.

14. Stanford University – AIMI Summer Research Internship

Location: Online; virtual
Cost: $2,400 programme fee; a non-refundable $45 application fee is required; need-based financial aid and full fee waivers are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 100 students accepted per year; 50 students per session
Program Dates: Two-week summer sessions: Session A, June 15-26; Session B, July 6-17
Application Deadline: February 20th; financial aid deadline is February 13th
Eligibility: U.S. high school students entering grades 9-12 in the fall who are at least 14 years old

Stanford’s AIMI Summer Research Internship places you at the cutting edge of digital health and computer science. Over two weeks, you’ll learn the fundamentals of machine learning and artificial intelligence, focusing specifically on their medical applications—from diagnostic imaging to personalized treatment plans. You’ll attend technical lectures, complete hands-on coding exercises, and participate in “Meet-the-Expert” talks with healthcare and industry professionals.

You will be grouped into small teams of 2 to 5 peers and paired with Stanford Student Leads and research mentors to explore a real health AI project using actual clinical datasets. The internship culminates in a group presentation, and highly motivated students can apply for the extended academic year research track.

Why it stands out: It is an elite, collaborative research program that allows you to analyze real clinical imaging datasets under the mentorship of Stanford researchers.

15. Wake Forest University – Online Immersion Program: Medicine

Location: Online
Cost: $1,595 tuition; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, rolling admissions
Program Dates: Multiple one- or two-week sessions available year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students completing grades 9-12, aged 13 and older; international student eligibility not specified

Wake Forest’s online medicine course, titled “Making the Rounds: An Insider’s Guide to Becoming a Doctor,” gives you a deep, clinical look at what it actually takes to practice medicine. Taught by professors from the Wake Forest School of Medicine, the curriculum follows a heart attack patient’s journey in real-time—from the initial emergency call to hospital admittance, ER evaluation, cardiac surgery, and post-operative physical rehabilitation.

Through video lectures, medical simulations, and clinical case studies, you will study heart anatomy, the social and lifestyle factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease, and the medicines and technologies used in patient care. 

Why it stands out: You will follow a single patient’s clinical path step-by-step, experiencing the daily work of paramedics, ER doctors, anesthesiologists, and surgeons.

From Biology Curiosity to College Confidence

Online learning can help you test your interest in genetics, medicine, neuroscience, biotechnology, ecology, and research before choosing a university pathway.

The online biology courses for high school students above include flexible lessons, case studies, research projects, college-level content, and academic feedback.

Through independent study and guided projects, you can strengthen scientific thinking, build subject confidence, and prepare for future life sciences coursework.

Ready to feel more prepared for university biology? Visit our University Preparation blogs for guidance on study habits, subject choices, applications, and academic readiness.