If you’re a high school student interested in engineering, you may already enjoy solving problems, building things, or understanding how systems work. But beyond classroom concepts, you might still wonder what studying engineering at a deeper, university level actually involves. Engineering summer programs in London for high school students offer a structured way to explore this in a global hub for education, research, and technology.

Imagine spending your summer in London, attending classes at top universities, working in labs, and taking part in hands-on engineering projects. Picture building prototypes, exploring robotics or sustainable design, and collaborating with students from around the world. These programmes combine academic rigour with practical experience, giving you insight into both university-level study and real-world applications.

How do you choose the right engineering summer programs in London for high school students?

With many options available, it’s important to distinguish between programs that offer surface-level introductions and those that provide meaningful, hands-on learning. Some focus on lectures, while others emphasise labs, projects, and real-world challenges. 

These programs often include workshops, collaborative projects, and mentorship from academics or industry professionals. You might design, build, test, and present your ideas, mirroring real engineering workflows and strengthening both technical and soft skills.

You’ll learn from experienced instructors, collaborate with like-minded peers, and develop essential skills such as analytical thinking, creativity, and teamwork. Along the way, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of what studying engineering at the university level might truly involve.

To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 15 Engineering Summer Programs in London for High School Students. They’ve been selected for their academic quality, hands-on learning opportunities, and strong connections to leading universities and industry.

To gain engineering work experience, you can check out engineering internships for high school students. For opportunities in London, you can look at internships in London.

15 Engineering Summer Programs in London for High School Students

1. Imperial College London – Global Summer School (Engineering Stream) 

Location: Imperial College London, South Kensington, London
Cost: £7,695
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited places per course
Dates: June 29th – July 10th and August 3rd – August 14th
Application Deadline: Applications open from January; rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students worldwide aged 16 or 17; strong academic record required

Imperial College London’s Global Summer School is one of the most academically rigorous engineering summer programs in London for high school students, offering a two-week residential experience where you live on campus and study a chosen STEM subject like engineering, physics, data science, or medicine. In the first week, you focus on your subject through lectures, tutorials, and practical sessions, building a deeper understanding while working through problems and activities.

The second week shifts into an Innovation Challenge, where you work in teams with students from other subject areas to solve a real-world problem and present your solution. You spend time in labs and teaching spaces used by Imperial students, which gives you a clear sense of how learning actually happens at the university. Alongside academics, you take part in social activities and live in student accommodation, so the experience feels close to real undergraduate life. 

Why it stands out: Imperial is one of the world’s top STEM universities, and you study directly with its academics while living on campus. 

2. Immerse Education’s London Engineering Summer School

Location: University College London, London, UK
Cost: Varies according to program; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective admissions; small cohort sizes of around 7 participants
Dates: Late June – Mid August; multiple two-week sessions available
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; early application advised as sessions fill quickly
Eligibility: High school students aged 13-18; open to international applicants

Immerse Education’s Engineering Summer School runs as a residential program where you attend daily sessions on topics like mechanical systems, robotics, and materials. You spend time working on a guided project, where you design or analyze a system with support from tutors.

Classes are discussion-based, so you’re constantly explaining your ideas and refining them with feedback. Living on campus means your learning continues outside class through group work and informal sessions. You also get structured time to prepare and present your project. By the end, you submit your work and walk away with a certificate.

Why it stands out: Immerse is structured to help students answer the questions that matter most before university. Which engineering discipline interests me, and what does university life actually feel like? The residential, campus-based format mirrors undergraduate life more closely than most pre-university programs, making it a genuine window into the college experience.

3. King’s College London’s Summer Programme

Location: King’s College London, Strand Campus, London
Cost: Varies according to the course period; application fee: £65
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited places per track
Dates: Session 1: July 6th – July 10th; Session 2: July 13-17; Session 3: July 20-24; Session 4: July 27-31
Application Deadline: April 27th
Eligibility: Students around the world aged 16-17; strong academic standing in STEM subjects

King’s College London Summer Programme introduces you to engineering through a mix of lectures, lab sessions, and guided discussions. You study areas like biomedical systems, electronics, and energy while working through examples and small exercises. Lab sessions give you a closer look at how these systems actually function.

You also interact with faculty and current students, which helps you understand how these subjects are studied at university. The structure is steady, with classes, tasks, and presentations. By the end, you complete your assigned work and receive a certificate.

Why it stands out: You learn engineering topics that connect directly to current research areas, not just textbook concepts.

4. The Smallpeice Trust – Engineering Residential Courses

Location: Various UK university campuses, including London-based institutions
Cost: Subsidized fees; bursaries available; some courses free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort sizes typically 20-40 students per course
Dates: Various dates between June and August
Application Deadline: Opens February-March; courses often oversubscribed, early application advised
Eligibility: UK students aged 8-18; courses vary by age group and subject area

The Smallpeice Trust runs short residential courses where you work on engineering projects like building structures, designing circuits, or testing mechanical systems. You spend most of your time actually making things, not just sitting in sessions. Engineers and instructors guide you through each step, from planning to testing.

You work in small groups, so you’re involved in every part of the process. Some courses are free or subsidized, which makes them easier to access. By the end, you will have completed a working project and presented what you built.

Why it stands out: You spend most of your time building and testing real systems with guidance from working engineers.

5. Queen Mary University of London – AI Taster

Location: G. O. Jones Building, Queen Mary University of London
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to eligible students; limited places per session
Dates: April 29th
Application Deadline: Applications open in spring; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Year 12 and 13 students around the world studying Computer Science, Mathematics, or Physics at A-level, or equivalent

Queen Mary University of London’s Exploring Artificial Intelligence is a short on-campus taster where you step into a real university session focused on how AI systems actually work. You attend a lecture that breaks down concepts like large language models and how they are inspired by the human brain, and you don’t just watch, you actively build a simple model yourself.

One part of the session involves training a basic language system by combining very different text sources, then testing how well it performs compared to human responses. You also get exposure to how AI is taught at the university level and how subjects like maths and computer science connect to it. The event includes interaction with staff and students, along with a look at campus spaces and academic pathways. 

Why it stands out: You actually build and test a basic AI model instead of just learning theory, which makes the session feel real. 

6. University of Westminster – London International Summer School

Location: University of Westminster, Central London
Cost: One session: £2,125; both sessions: £3,930
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited places per session
Dates: Session 1: June 13th – July 4th; Session 2: July 4th – July 25th
Application Deadline: Applications typically open April – June
Eligibility: Students around the world who have completed or are about to complete high school

University of Westminster’s London International Summer School is a three to six-week program where you take university-level classes while living and studying in central London. You choose a module from areas like business, humanities, social sciences, or creative industries, and follow a structured schedule with lectures, coursework, and assignments. Classes are taught by faculty and often include off-site visits around London, so you connect what you learn to real locations and industries.

You earn UK university academic credits, which can count toward future study, and you complete assessed work throughout the program. Alongside academics, there is a planned social program and campus life experience, so your time is split between classes, projects, and exploring the city. By the end, you complete your module and leave with credits, a certificate, and alumni status.

Why it stands out: You earn real university credits while studying in central London, which adds clear academic value.

7. Nuffield Research Placements – London (Engineering & Physical Sciences)

Location: Research institutions, universities, and industry partners across London
Cost: Fully funded; students receive a bursary of approximately £80-£100 per week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited placements available per region
Dates: Late June – Late August; typically 4-6 week placements
Application Deadline: Applications typically open January – March; early application strongly advised
Eligibility: UK students in Year 12; academic merit and STEM interest required; priority for underrepresented backgrounds

Nuffield Research Placements place you in a research lab for several weeks, where you work on an active project. You assist with experiments, data collection, or analysis, depending on the research area. You work alongside researchers and follow real lab processes, not simplified versions. At the end, you produce a research report and a poster explaining your work.

The program is fully funded and includes a bursary, so you are supported throughout. You also learn how research is structured and documented. By the end, you will have completed a full research output.

Why it stands out: You are working inside real research labs on live projects, which is rare at this level, and the program is fully funded.

8. Imperial College London – Year 9 Girls Engineering Summer School

Location: Imperial College London, South Kensington, London
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited places
Dates: Typically in August
Application Deadline: Applications open in spring; check the website directly for the latest cycle
Eligibility: UK girls currently in Year 9; no prior engineering experience required

Imperial College London’s Year 9 Girls Engineering Summer School is a hands-on taster where you explore different engineering fields through sessions held on its South Kensington campus. You rotate through areas like bioengineering, civil engineering, and design engineering, working in small groups on guided tasks led by academics and current students.

The sessions focus on doing rather than listening, so you test ideas, solve problems, and see how different fields approach real challenges. A central part of the program is a group project where you create a poster based on your work. You then present it to staff and visitors, which introduces you to how engineers explain their ideas. 

Why it stands out: You get access to Imperial’s campus and teaching at no cost, which is rare at this level. It also happens at Year 9, when subject choices are still open, making it genuinely useful for deciding your direction.

9. Arkwright Engineering Scholarships

Location: Managed from London; scholars placed with sponsoring companies and schools across the UK
Cost: Financial award of £600 over two years, paired with an industrial sponsor
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 400–500 scholarships awarded nationally per year
Dates: Scholarship runs across Year 12 and Year 13; sessions across the summer
Application Deadline: Typically in October
Eligibility: UK students aged 16-18 entering Year 12; strong academic record in STEM; must demonstrate engineering potential

The Arkwright Engineering Scholarships is a two-year programme where you are selected based on your interest and ability in engineering and then supported through your final years of school. If selected, you receive financial support that you can use for projects or study materials, and your school also gets funding to support engineering work.

A key part of the experience is being matched with an industry sponsor, which means you get a mentor, possible work experience, and exposure to how engineering works in real companies. You also take part in enrichment activities like site visits, networking events, and technical workshops. 

Why it stands out: It is one of the most prestigious engineering scholarships in the UK and comes with long-term mentorship, funding, and industry exposure. 

10. Engineering UK – Engineering Experiences & Partnerships

Location: Various London-based partner institutions and venues
Cost: Many experiences are free or low-cost; varies by partner programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by specific experience; some open access, others selective
Dates: Summer and year-round programming
Application Deadline: Varies by individual programme
Eligibility: UK students aged 11-18; specific programmes target different age groups

EngineeringUK is not a single program but a national platform that connects you to multiple engineering experiences like workshops, competitions, school activities, and industry-led events. You explore engineering through hands-on sessions, career events, and challenges where you see how subjects like design, technology, and systems thinking are actually used.

The platform brings together opportunities from universities, companies, and STEM organisations, so you are not limited to one structured course. You also come across large-scale initiatives like national fairs and competitions, where you interact with engineers and see real projects.

Why it stands out: It works like a gateway rather than a single program, giving you access to multiple experiences across engineering.

11. Generating Genius – STEM Residential Programme (London)

Location: Various London university partner campuses, including UCL and King’s College London
Cost: Fully funded; travel, accommodation, and all program costs covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohort sizes of approximately 25-30 students
Dates: Summer residential sessions July – August
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in February – April
Eligibility: UK students from Black African and Caribbean backgrounds in Years 9-12; strong academic performance in STEM required

Generating Genius Uni Genius is a long-term STEM programme where you are supported through your final years of school with regular academic sessions, mentoring, and real industry exposure. You attend Saturday masterclasses, workshops, and STEM-focused sessions where you work on subjects like maths, science, and engineering while improving how you approach problem-solving and exams.

A major part of the programme is work experience, where you spend time with companies and see how STEM careers actually function day to day. You also get guidance on university applications, including how to build a strong UCAS profile and prepare for competitive courses. Events run across the year, including holidays, so the learning is continuous rather than limited to a short summer. 

Why it stands out: It is not a short course but a multi-year programme with mentoring, work experience, and direct university preparation.

12. InvestIN Education – The Young Engineer Summer Experience (London)

Location: UCL and University of London campus, central London
Cost: £2,225 for one week, non-residential; £3,275 for two weeks, non-residential; residential packages from £3,725-£7,550
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open admissions; first-come, first-served basis
Dates: Three intakes: 6th July, 27th July, or 17th August; one or two-week options
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; early registration advised as places are limited
Eligibility: Students aged 15-18; open to UK and international applicants; no prior engineering knowledge required

InvestIN’s Young Engineer Summer Experience brings an industry-facing angle to engineering summer programs in London for high school students, taking you across real engineering sites in London for guided simulations led by professionals. You take apart a petrol engine with a mechanical engineer, test an aerofoil in a wind tunnel, and design and then load test your own bridge using structural principles.

You also visit places like airfields, where you step inside a commercial aircraft and understand how aerospace systems are handled in practice. Each activity is led by engineers from actual firms, so the explanations come from real work, not simplified teaching. Alongside the technical work, you develop and pitch a startup idea in a Dragons’ Den-style setting and attend networking sessions with industry professionals. 

Why it stands out: You work inside real industry environments across London, not just classrooms or labs, which is rare at this level. 

13. Study Mind – Engineering Summer School (London)

Location: Central London; residential students housed in UCL halls of residence
Cost: Varies by session
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open admissions; flexible entry across multiple start dates
Dates: Multiple weekly start dates from late June through August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; book directly through the website
Eligibility: Students aged 16-18; open to UK and international applicants; no prior engineering experience required; approved DofE Gold Residential provider

Study Mind’s Engineering Summer School runs as a flexible, modular programme where you choose how your week is structured instead of following a fixed timetable. You can build your schedule across one, three, or five days by selecting from four core modules: Engineering Careers, Personal Statement, Engineering Practical Day, and Engineering Placement.

The Practical Day focuses on hands-on challenges where you work through mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering problems, testing ideas, and understanding how systems behave. 

Why it stands out: The modular format means you are not locked into a single structure; you can choose exactly what fits your level and goals.

14. UCL Department of Chemical Engineering – APL Summer School: Electrochemical Engineering

Location: UCL East, Advanced Propulsion Laboratory, Marshgate, Stratford, London E20 2AE; Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited places; application required
Dates: July 23-24
Application Deadline: April 30th
Eligibility: UK students currently in Year 12; strong interest in chemistry, physics, or engineering required

UCL’s APL Summer School places you inside its Advanced Propulsion Laboratory at UCL East for a focused two-day experience built around electrochemical engineering. You start with a lecture that introduces core ideas like how energy is stored and converted in systems such as batteries and fuel cells.

After that, you tour the lab itself, where you see active research equipment and how experiments are set up and run. The main part of the programme is a design challenge, where you work with others to solve a real engineering problem using what you’ve just learned. The setting at UCL East, part of the Olympic Park development, gives you access to a modern research environment. 

Why it stands out: You work inside a real research lab, not a classroom, which is rare for a programme at this level. The focus on electrochemical engineering, linked to batteries and clean energy, also makes it more relevant to current engineering challenges than most taster courses.

15. Engineering Development Trust (EDT) – Insight into University: Chemical Engineering at UCL 

Location: UCL, London; with residential accommodation on campus
Cost: £475; bursaries are also available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited places per course
Dates: July 6th – July 9th
Application Deadline: Rolling; apply early as courses fill quickly
Eligibility: UK students currently in Year 12, or Scottish S5-S6; enthusiasm for STEM and strong predicted grades required; state school students and those from underrepresented backgrounds prioritised

Engineering Development Trust’s Insight into University is a 4–5 day residential where you live on campus and follow a schedule that mirrors undergraduate engineering study. On the UCL track, you focus on chemical engineering through lab sessions, practical workshops, and guided academic teaching. You work through experiments, observe processes, and understand how theory connects to real systems.

You also spend time with academics, researchers, and recent graduates who explain both the subject and what studying it actually feels like. Living in halls means you manage your time, move between sessions, and get used to campus life independently. The programme is structured to give you a clear sense of what an engineering degree demands before you apply through UCAS. 

Why it stands out: It is one of the longest-running engineering residential programmes in the UK and takes place at UCL, a leading engineering university.

Turn London Engineering Projects Into University Readiness

Engineering becomes clearer when you move from theory into prototypes, lab sessions, design challenges, and real technical problem-solving.

The 15 engineering summer programs in London for high school students in this article include robotics, AI, chemical engineering, innovation challenges, and research placements.

Through institutions like Imperial, UCL, King’s, Queen Mary, and London-based industry partners, you can test different engineering routes before applying.

Ready to turn your engineering experience into a stronger application? Explore our University Preparation blogs for personal statement tips, interview advice, academic writing support, and supercurricular ideas.