University summer programs in Australia for high school students offer the opportunity to explore an academic subject in greater depth while experiencing life at a world-class university. Through interactive lectures, hands-on workshops, collaborative projects, and guided research activities, students develop advanced subject knowledge alongside transferable skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and independent learning.

Depending on the field of study, you may engage with industry-standard tools, technologies, research methods, and real-world case studies, gaining practical experience that extends beyond the high school classroom. Alongside academic enrichment, students also experience university facilities, connect with like-minded peers, and gain a clearer understanding of future study pathways.

Why Australia?

Australia is an especially compelling destination for a university summer experience. Home to globally recognized universities, leading research centers, and thriving industry sectors, the country offers students exposure to cutting-edge innovation and academic excellence across a wide range of disciplines. Australia’s multicultural and welcoming environment creates a diverse learning community, while its strong connections between universities and industry provide valuable insight into future careers. 

You also benefit from studying in a country known for its high quality of life, modern campuses, and unique natural landscapes, making the experience both academically enriching and culturally rewarding. Studying in Australia also offers exposure to one of the world’s most internationally connected education systems, where diverse perspectives, cutting-edge research, and industry engagement come together to create a truly global learning experience.

To make your search easier, below are 15 university summer programs in Australia for high school students.

For related options, consider the online research program.

Key takeaways

• Edith Cowan University’s IGNIS Mission Student Interns Program is free and gives Western Australian students six days of hands-on aerospace research tied to satellite development and bushfire ignition studies.
• Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Programme in Sydney runs two weeks with classes of seven to 10 students and is open to students aged 13 to 18 from around the world.
• The University of Queensland offers multiple short, low-cost programs, including a two day Biology Winter School for AU$165 and a four day Junior Physics Odyssey for $250.
• Curtin University’s STEM program focused on mining is fully funded and takes Western Australian students on-site to operational mine sites in Perth and Kalgoorlie, though it is not open to international students.
• Queensland University of Technology’s Future You Summit costs a $50 registration fee and culminates in a shark-tank style Entrepreneurship Challenge for Queensland and Northern NSW students.
• Several University of Queensland outreach programs, including Experience Genetics and Experience Geographical Science, are free but require registration through a nominated school teacher rather than individual student applications.
• The University of Western Australia’s Indigenous Outreach Programs offer free WACE revision seminars specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Year 12 students, with both in-person and streamed online attendance options.
• Most university summer programs in Australia restrict eligibility to domestic students, though FEAST, DiscoverFAD, and Queensland’s Biology and Chemistry Winter Schools are among the options that welcome international applicants.

15 University Summer Programs in Australia for High School Students

1. Edith Cowan University (ECU) IGNIS Mission Student Interns Program

Location: Edith Cowan University campuses across Western Australia
Cost: None
Dates: 6 days; exact dates are determined in consultation between schools, students, and ECU
Application Deadline: April 7th
Eligibility: High schoolers from Western Australia in Years 7-11 with an interest in space and engineering; must be nominated in groups of 4 to 5 by their selected school; not open to international students

Through ECU’s IGNIS Mission Student Interns Program, you’ll contribute to an ongoing aerospace research project focused on satellite development and Earth observation. Working alongside university researchers and industry professionals, you’ll explore topics such as aerospace engineering, sensor technology, data analysis, and satellite operations.

Over six days of research activities, you’ll gain practical experience by helping assemble and test satellite components, working with monitoring systems, and interpreting data collected from satellites and ground-based equipment. The program is connected to the IGNIS Mission, a research collaboration investigating lightning activity and bushfire ignition processes through space-based observations.

Why it stands out: You gain direct exposure to the processes behind satellite research and Earth observation through a project linked to real scientific investigations.

2. Immerse Education’s Sydney Summer School

Location: Sydney, Australia
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school; open to international students

As one of the most immersive university summer programs in Australia for high school students, the Sydney Summer School lets students aged 15 to 18 experience university-level learning in one of Australia’s most exciting cities. You will study with expert tutors who challenge your thinking and help you build practical skills for future academic and career pathways. Participants can explore subjects such as Psychology, International Relations, Software Development and AI, Law, Business Management, Creative Writing, Engineering, Medicine, and Veterinary Studies.

The programmes combine rigorous subject exploration with career-focused learning, helping you connect academic ideas to real-world industries. You will stay in secure accommodation within walking distance of the University of Sydney campus, while academic sessions take place at St Andrew’s College. By the end of the programme, you’ll have strengthened your subject knowledge, developed confidence, and gained a clearer sense of your future study path.

Why it stands out: You’ll study under expert academics, be guided daily by a university student mentor, complete a project you can show in future applications, and experience genuine university college life — with other campuses worldwide as alternatives.

3. Future Experiences in Agriculture, Science and Technology (FEAST)

Location: University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
Cost: $550; fee waivers and travel bursaries are available
Dates: June 28th – July 1st
Application Deadline: April 27th
Eligibility: Domestic high school students in Years 10, 11, and 12; not open to international students

FEAST introduces you to the study of agriculture, environmental systems, and applied sciences through a four-day residential experience at UQ’s Gatton campus. During the program, you’ll stay on campus and take part in a range of practical learning activities designed to explore how science and technology are used to address challenges in food production, animal management, sustainability, and natural resource use. 

Through laboratory sessions, field-based activities, group projects, and discussions with academics and professionals, you’ll gain insight into the interdisciplinary nature of agricultural and environmental sciences. Outside of scheduled sessions, you’ll participate in organized social activities that encourage collaboration and allow you to connect with students who share similar interests. 

Why it stands out: You combine residential university life with hands-on exposure to agriculture, environmental science, and technology in a practical learning environment.

4. University of Canberra DiscoverFAD Short Courses

Location: University of Canberra, Bruce Campus, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Cost: AU$0 to AU$79, depending on course selection; a $20 discount applies when you spend $80 or more per transaction
Dates: Varies by course selection; during July
Application Deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: High school students in Years 10-12; open to international students

DiscoverFAD allows you to explore creative fields through a series of short courses at the University of Canberra. Depending on your area of interest, you may engage with disciplines such as visual communication, digital media, journalism, architecture, design, or creative branding, while learning how creative concepts are developed into finished projects.

The program centers on practical, studio-based learning, where you’ll work on individual and collaborative tasks that reflect the processes used in creative industries. Throughout the course, you’ll receive guidance from university academics and practitioners, gaining insight into design thinking, visual storytelling, communication strategies, and project development.

Why it stands out: You explore multiple creative disciplines through project-based learning that mirrors university studio environments.

5. University of Queensland – Queensland Biology Winter School, Year 12

Location: University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
Cost: AU$165 (non-residential)
Dates: June 29 -30
Application Deadline: May 24th
Eligibility: Students in Year 12; open to international students

The Queensland Biology School provides Year 12 students with an opportunity to examine biological concepts beyond the scope of a typical classroom setting. Over two days at the University of Queensland, you’ll participate in lectures, laboratory activities, and academic workshops that explore areas such as molecular biology, genetics, ecology, evolution, and biochemistry.

Throughout the program, you’ll engage with scientific methods used in biological research, interpret experimental data, and develop a stronger understanding of how biological principles are applied in contemporary science. By spending time on campus and learning from university academics, you’ll gain insight into both the academic content and learning environment associated with higher education in the life sciences.

Why it stands out: You deepen your understanding of senior biology through university-based laboratory and research-focused learning experiences.

6. The  University of Queensland – Year 11 Queensland Chemistry Winter School 

Location: UQ St Lucia campus, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Cost: $198 (including GST)
Dates: June 29-30, July 6-7
Application Deadline: May 1st
Eligibility: Students commencing Year 11 in the program year; enrolled in QCE Chemistry or IB Chemistry; open to international students

In this program, you’ll take a deep dive into the concept of equilibrium and work across contemporary chemistry topics, including atomic structure, redox, acids and bases, pH and buffers, electrophoresis, and amino acids. Through interactive workshops, hands-on practicals, and lectures, you’ll engage with analytical techniques such as chromatography, mass spectrometry, and infrared spectroscopy while building skills in scientific literacy, communication, and the analysis of chemical data.

These competencies map directly to the QCE Chemistry syllabus and support preparation for Internal Assessment 3: Research Investigation. You’ll learn alongside UQ researchers, teaching specialists, and early-career research students at the St Lucia campus.

Why it stands out: It immerses you in university-level analytical chemistry instrumentation and laboratory practicals, taught by active UQ researchers and aligned directly with the QCE Chemistry syllabus and its Research Investigation assessment.

7. University of Queensland (School of Maths & Physics) – Junior Physics Odyssey

Location: UQ St Lucia campus, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Cost: $250; financial assistance available for a limited number of students
Dates: July 6-9
Application Deadline: May 13th
Eligibility: Year 10 students; open to international students

In this program, you spend four days on UQ’s St Lucia campus exploring physics through both lectures and laboratory work. You learn foundational principles that prepare you for senior physics while hearing UQ researchers explain advanced topics such as quantum physics, relativity, and astrophysics. You gain hands-on experience with modern physics experiments and take guided tours of active research labs to see how scientific investigation happens.

You also meet current UQ students and ask them about study options and university life. Working through experiments and problem-solving tasks, you build practical scientific reasoning, measurement, and analytical skills. The program’s blend of cutting-edge physics topics and real research settings makes it distinctive.

Why it stands out: It pairs lectures from UQ physics researchers with hands-on experiments and tours of active research labs, giving Year 10 students a direct taste of university-level physics.

8. Curtin University STEM Programs for Students – Focus on Mining

Location: Perth and Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Cost: None
Dates: July 6-10
Application Deadline: April 12th
Eligibility: Year 11 and 12 students studying STEM subjects; based in Western Australia; not open to international students

In this program, you spend five days immersed in Western Australia’s mining and resources sector, travelling between Curtin’s Bentley campus in Perth and the WA School of Mines in Kalgoorlie. You tour active, operational mine sites, take part in hands-on STEM workshops spanning areas such as geoscience and mining, and see how mathematics and science underpin real industry work.

You connect with lecturers, current university students, and mining industry leaders through site visits and networking sessions, gaining first-hand insight into the resources sector before starting university. The fully funded, residential format lets you experience campus life while exploring whether a future in geosciences, mining engineering, or the broader resources industry suits you.

Why it stands out: It is a fully funded, five-day residential camp that takes Year 11 and 12 students directly onto operational Western Australian mine sites and into the globally ranked WA School of Mines, connecting them with industry leaders while they explore real geoscience and mining career pathways.

9. Queensland University of Technology – Future You Summit

Location: Brisbane, Australia (QUT Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses)
Cost: $50 registration fee; need-based fee waivers are available
Dates: June 30th – July 3rd
Application Deadline: March 31st
Eligibility: Year 11 or 12 studying an ATAR or IB program; at least 16 years old by the start date and of typical secondary school age (16-19); planning to attend university after Year 12; achieved at least one A grade or one IB 7 in a recent subject based on your latest school report; residing in Queensland or Northern NSW; not open to international students

Among the many university summer programs in Australia for high school students, QUT’s Future You Summit lets you step into university life across QUT’s Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses for four days, choosing a discipline stream while building entrepreneurial and career-readiness skills. You attend industry and academic speaker panels, join hands-on discipline workshops, and use an Inspired Success workbook to set goals and clarify your motivations.

The program culminates in a shark-tank-style Entrepreneurship Challenge, where your team pitches ideas to a panel allocating mock QUT funding. You also experience a transition-to-university session and leave with clearer pathways, sharper goals, and stronger confidence in your future direction.

Why it stands out: It pairs multi-discipline study streams with a signature shark-tank Entrepreneurship Challenge and structured goal-setting, giving high-achieving Queensland and Northern NSW students a selective, immersive taste of university life and future career direction.

10. Curtin University STEM Outreach – Girls+ in STEM: GET Network

Location: Curtin University, Bentley campus, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Cost: None
Dates: 10 Saturday sessions held across Terms 2 and 3 (typically May to September)
Application Deadline: Typically, mid-May
Eligibility: Year 11 and 12 girls and non-binary students; not open to international students

In this program, you attend 10 free Saturday workshops at Curtin University’s Bentley campus across Terms 2 and 3. You take part in hands-on, engineering-themed activities, connect with university student GET mentors, and network with industry role models working across diverse engineering fields.

You also receive study skills support to strengthen your academic foundation and finish with an end-of-program celebration event. Throughout the program, you uncover varied engineering study and career pathways while building confidence among like-minded peers interested in STEM. The experience helps you picture realistic next steps toward university engineering study.

Why it stands out: It is a free, application-based engineering program created specifically for Year 11 and 12 girls and non-binary students, pairing hands-on workshops with university student mentors and industry role models to widen access to engineering pathways.

11. University of Queensland (School of the Environment) – Experience Genetics

Location: UQ St Lucia campus, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Cost: $25 excluding GST ($27.50 including GST) per student
Dates: Late June – Late July
Application Deadline: Registration is arranged by a nominated school teacher via email rather than through a single fixed deadline
Eligibility: Year 12 biology students attending as part of a registered school group; registration completed by a nominated school teacher; assumed prior knowledge of basic DNA structure, gene versus genome, and transcription and translation; not open to international students

In this program, you join other Year 12 biology school groups for a full day in UQ’s teaching laboratories, working hands-on through the molecular genetics techniques behind Unit 4 of the senior biology syllabus. After a lab-safety briefing and a micropipette tutorial, you complete practicals in recombinant DNA via bacterial transformation, gene regulation, DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and gel electrophoresis.

Dr Gurion Ang and current undergraduate biology students guide each station, modelling authentic research workflows and proper laboratory technique. You consolidate the day with an end-of-session quiz that tests your understanding and earns a limited-edition sticker.

Why it stands out: It gives Year 12 students access to university-grade molecular biology equipment and undergraduate-led instruction to perform authentic genetics practicals, directly aligned to their senior biology syllabus.

12. University of Queensland (School of the Environment) – Experience Geographical Science

Location: UQ St Lucia campus, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Cost: None
Dates: July 17th
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served basis until full
Eligibility: School groups across Years 10 to 12 studying Geography; registered through a teacher or school rather than by individual students; not open to international students

In this program, you join a curriculum-aligned day with UQ’s School of the Environment that extends senior Geography learning through hands-on geographical science. After a keynote from UQ academics, you act as a coastal manager defending a community from cyclone-driven erosion and inundation, testing your plans in a laboratory wave flume.

You then examine sediment cores and search for microfossils under microscopes to reconstruct past environments and tsunami history, building physical-geography interpretation skills. You also work with live satellite data streams to predict, monitor, and manage a flood or fire event, applying remote-sensing and geospatial workflows. Throughout, you practise spatial analysis, environmental-hazard reasoning, and evidence-based decision-making used by professional geographers.

Why it stands out: It pairs senior Geography syllabus content with real UQ research labs—wave-flume coastal modelling, sediment-core microscopy, and live satellite monitoring—delivered free by practising geographical scientists.

13. The University of Queensland – InspireU Extend Program

Location: University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
Cost: None
Dates: June 29th – July 3rd
Application Deadline: May 17th
Eligibility: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students in Years 10-12; not open to international students

InspireU is a series of residential programs at the University of Queensland designed to introduce you to university study, career pathways, and academic options in a structured and supportive environment. As an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander high school student, you’ll take part in activities that reflect different areas of university learning and student life.

The program includes workshops, introductory academic sessions, and cultural activities that encourage you to explore potential study directions and understand what university learning involves. You’ll be guided by university staff and current students who share information about courses, entry pathways, and student experiences. Time on campus also allows you to connect with other students and build relationships with peers.

Why it stands out: You explore university study options through guided activities and mentoring in a residential campus environment.

14. The University of Western Australia Indigenous Outreach Programs – Year 12 WACE Revision Seminar

Location: UWA Crawley Campus, Perth, Western Australia, with a streamed online attendance option
Cost: None
Dates: One week during the July holidays
Application Deadline: Varies; information and applications are sent to schools in late April or early May
Eligibility: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Year 12 students; undertaking an ATAR pathway with 4 or more ATAR subjects; intending to pursue direct entry to UWA; Western Australian students; not open to international students

In this program, you spend one week at UWA’s Crawley Campus in a revision seminar delivered by the Academic Task Force and supported by the School of Indigenous Studies. You receive specialist subject tuition across your ATAR courses, revise core content, and practise exam-style questions to lift your grades.

You build exam preparation techniques, answer-structuring, and study skills, choosing between attending in person or joining the streamed online sessions. Alongside the academic work, you meet current Indigenous students and learn about UWA entry pathways, scholarships, and the support available to you. The seminar is geared toward stronger WACE results and direct university entry.

Why it stands out: It pairs free, fully-supported specialist ATAR exam tuition for Indigenous Year 12 students with covered travel and accommodation for regional participants and a choice of on-campus or streamed online attendance.

15. The University of Western Australia’s UWA+ Starter Micro-credentials – From Doctor to Diagnosis PATHM101

Location: University of Western Australia, QEII campus, M Block (School of Biomedical Sciences), Perth, Western Australia
Cost: $165 (inc GST) per micro-credential for individual students from non-Broadway partner schools, or $82.50 (inc GST) for students from participating Broadway partner schools; $495 (inc GST) for individual students from non-partner schools (Non-Broadway), or $247.50 (inc GST) for students from participating Non-Broadway partner schools
Dates: July 6-17
Application Deadline: June 22nd
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in human health and disease; not open to international students

In this program, you’ll trace the journey from the first doctor’s appointment through sample collection and laboratory analysis, identifying human samples such as blood and tissue under the microscope and learning to interpret test results that guide treatment. Working through real-life case studies in online tutorials, you’ll complete online quizzes to test recall and prepare a diagnostic report applying the skills you’ve built.

The course combines 12 hours of on-campus workshops (including a laboratory session) with 5 hours of asynchronous online lectures, led by academic lead Dr Bree Foley. You’ll finish with two PD Points, a Certificate of Achievement, and a UWA Professional Development Transcript.

Why it stands out: It gives high school students hands-on laboratory exposure to real diagnostic pathology at a Group of Eight university, earning two stackable PD Points that can convert toward UWA bachelor-degree credit and experience-based university entry.

Frequently asked questions: University summer programs in Australia for high school students

Are university summer programs in Australia open to international students?

Eligibility is mixed, and many of Australia’s shorter, government-supported programs are restricted to domestic students. Programs like Curtin’s mining-focused STEM offering, Queensland University of Technology’s Future You Summit, and the University of Western Australia’s Indigenous Outreach Programs are not open to international students. However, options like the University of Queensland’s Biology and Chemistry Winter Schools, DiscoverFAD Short Courses, and Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Programme in Sydney do welcome international applicants.

How much do university summer programs in Australia cost?

Costs range from completely free to several hundred dollars, with very few reaching the higher price points seen in other regions. Programs like ECU’s IGNIS Mission and Curtin’s mining STEM program cost nothing, while short university-run courses like UQ’s Junior Physics Odyssey or Queensland Chemistry Winter School cost between $198 and $250. DiscoverFAD Short Courses range from AU$0 to AU$79 depending on the course selected. Fee waivers and travel bursaries are available for several programs, including FEAST.

Do university summer programs in Australia require a school application or individual registration?

It depends on the program. Some, like the University of Queensland’s Experience Genetics and Experience Geographical Science programs, require a nominated school teacher to register your group rather than accepting individual student applications. Others, like Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Programme or the University of Canberra’s DiscoverFAD courses, accept direct individual applications. Check each program’s application process carefully, since missing a teacher-led registration window could mean missing the opportunity entirely.

What subjects can you study in a university summer program in Australia?

Subject offerings span science, technology, creative fields, and policy. University of Queensland programs cover biology, chemistry, and physics in short, syllabus-aligned formats, while DiscoverFAD focuses on creative fields like visual communication and journalism. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Programme covers more than 20 subjects, including AI, business management, and medicine, useful if you want breadth rather than a single-discipline deep dive.

How long do university summer programs in Australia typically run?

Most Australian university summer programs run considerably shorter than programs in other regions, often lasting just a few days rather than several weeks. ECU’s IGNIS Mission runs six days, UQ’s Junior Physics Odyssey runs four days, and several UQ Winter Schools run just one or two days. Longer options do exist, like Curtin’s Girls+ in STEM GET Network, which spans 10 Saturday sessions across two school terms.

Is Immerse Education a good option for exploring university life in Australia?

Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Programme is a solid choice if you want a longer, more immersive university experience than Australia’s typical short-format programs offer. Held in Sydney over two weeks, the program places you in small groups of seven to 10 students working with tutors from universities like Oxford and Cambridge. You’ll choose from over 20 subjects, complete a personal project with written feedback, and receive a certificate of completion, giving you a more comprehensive experience than most of the single-day or multi-day Australian options.

Discover Australia, Prepare For The World

University summer study can help you test academic interests, experience campus life, and understand how different subjects connect to future pathways.

The 15 university summer programs in Australia for high school students listed here show routes through science, engineering, technology, agriculture, medicine, design, and research.

Some programmes offer residential learning and international access, while others focus on labs, fieldwork, industry exposure, school-led registration, or specialist support.

Ready to turn one summer into a bigger plan? Explore our Study Abroad blogs for destination guides, application advice, and next steps.