When you’re in high school, travelling to other countries can feel like a mammoth endeavour. You might have read about different cultures in textbooks or videos, but it’s hard to know what life is truly like beyond your own borders. International programs for high school students give you the chance to step outside your familiar surroundings and experience the world firsthand.

Imagine spending a few weeks studying language in Spain, conducting marine research in Australia, learning history where it actually happened in Greece, or collaborating on global issues with peers from different countries. International programs for high school students are opportunities to learn, grow, and understand the world through actual experiences rather than distant lessons.

Even if you’ve already travelled before, international programs can change your perspective. You will learn to adapt, communicate across cultures, step outside your comfort zone, and build confidence in unfamiliar settings.

What kinds of international programs for high school students exist?

We get it; some programs can feel superficial. They might not offer a meaningful experience, be too expensive, or not focus on what you’re interested in. That’s why the right information is important, to help you identify the programs that are best for you.

Around the globe, various institutions offer programs in global leadership, language immersion, environmental research, international relations, cultural studies, community service, and more. No matter what subject you study, you will develop a deeper sense of global citizenship and a clearer idea of how you fit into the world.

You’ll learn from experts, participate in hands-on projects, develop cross-cultural communication skills, and return home with a broader worldview. 

To help you get started, we’ve created a list of 15 International Programs for High School Students. They’ve been selected for their academic structure, cultural immersion, and the meaningful global experiences they offer.

15 International Programs for High School Students 

1. Young Leaders and Changemakers Summer Camp

Location: Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS, Singapore
Cost/Stipend: SGD 3,625 (regular); SGD 2,900 (early-bird discount)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – July 3
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Aged 16+, particularly post-secondary, high-school or tertiary-level students

If you join this camp, you’ll dive into a five-day, action-packed journey exploring how public policy, leadership and innovation can drive real change. You’ll participate in interactive workshops, group projects and live learning journeys ranging from policy-making to problem-solving, and work alongside peers from across the globe. By the end, you’ll pitch a capstone project offering creative solutions to social or policy challenges, giving you a taste of influence and impact.

You’ll also gain exposure to experts and practitioners, boosting your understanding of governance and social innovation. Spending time on the NUS campus means you get to experience life in one of Asia’s top universities, expand your global network, and test-drive what it feels like to be a changemaker in a diverse, international environment. Here is the application link.  

Why it stands out: You’ll be taught by experts who advise governments and international organizations, giving you rare access to insights about how policy-making operates at global levels.

2. Immerse Education’s Pre-University Summer School

Location: Oxford, Cambridge, London, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, Boston, and Tokyo
Cost/Stipend: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Average class size of 7
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions.
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school

Immerse Education’s Global Summer Schools offer academically rigorous programmes across ten global locations, positioning them among the most academically structured international programs for high school students worldwide. Participants choose from over 30 subjects and study in small, discussion-led classes using a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach, strengthening both subject knowledge and academic English. 

Each programme brings together a highly international cohort, with participants representing 125+ nationalities, creating a genuinely global learning environment. Strong pastoral care underpins the experience, with trained mentors, dedicated College Managers, safeguarding processes, and round-the-clock on-site support. Every participant joins a Mentor Family, ensuring independence is balanced with well-being.

Why it stands out: It uniquely combines university-style academics with exceptional pastoral care, a diverse international cohort, and CLIL-based teaching, helping participants grow academically, culturally, and personally in a safe, supportive environment.

3. Bocconi University — Summer School for High School Students

Location:  Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
Cost/Stipend: ~ € 2,600 fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: July 6 – July 17
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: High school students aged 15+

By joining Bocconi’s Summer School for High School Students, you’ll spend two weeks in Milan, diving into a university-style learning experience. You can pick from subjects such as economics, finance, game theory, luxury and fashion, machine learning, advertising, and more. You’ll collaborate in small groups on practical projects or case studies and present your solutions, often to industry professionals or guest speakers.

Beyond the classroom, you’ll meet students from around the world, experiencing a vibrant multicultural environment. The program is designed to strengthen your critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities while giving you insight into various academic fields. Plus, living in Milan for the summer gives you the chance to explore the city, its culture, and its international ecosystem.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain exposure to globally recognized business education and quantitative thinking.

4. King’s College Pre-University Summer School

Location: KCL campus, London, United Kingdom
Cost/Stipend: Tuition fee is £3,195 for one week; £6,180 for two weeks; £9,375 for three weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Four sessions in July
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: High-school students aged 16 or 17

If you join the King’s College Summer School, you’ll attend one-week (or more) modules in subjects ranging from Business and Law to Medical Science, Computer Science, International Relations, Psychology, and more. You’ll learn through a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, discussions, and even simulations or role-plays, depending on the subject, giving you a taste of university-style academics. The program also includes access to on-campus facilities (libraries, labs, classrooms).

You get an opportunity to mingle with students from around the world, helping you build friendships and networks beyond your home country. The program may help you gauge your academic interests and get a sense of university life. Here’s the link to apply.

Why it stands out: Given its location and prestige, you could be a part of guest lectures by people from the NHS, the Parliament, and the courts.

5. TUJ High School Summer Program

Location: Temple University, Tokyo, Japan
Cost/Stipend: Program fee is 340,000 JPY (additional registration fee applies)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 29 – August 6
Application Deadline: Not disclosed
Eligibility: High school students

If you attend this program, you’ll dive into a week-long summer dive in Tokyo, where you’ll study Japanese, along with picking an academic elective similar to those offered to undergraduates. On top of classroom lectures, the schedule includes cultural immersion where you’ll join excursions around Tokyo, take part in an overnight trip to a historic site in Nikko, and enjoy a fun day at DisneySea, giving you a vibrant mix of academics and Japanese culture.

You’ll share your experiences with peers from around the world, offering a unique chance to bond across cultures and build international friendships, a key benefit of international programs for high school students. This blend of language learning, elective coursework, and immersive cultural events makes the experience ideal if you’re curious about Japan’s language, culture and higher-education system. 

Why it stands out: It’s hosted at a U.S.-accredited university, so you can combine cultural immersion in Japan with the credibility of an American institution.

6. Imperial College Medicine and Life Sciences Summer School

Location: South Kensington campus of Imperial College London
Cost/Stipend: £7,695
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – July 10 or August 3 – August 14
Application Deadline: Applications open in January; early registrations encouraged
Eligibility: Students aged 16 and 17

If you join this two-week residential summer school, you’ll get a taste of studying medicine and life sciences at one of the UK’s top STEM universities. In the first week, you’ll attend lectures, lab sessions and practical workshops, where you might perform experiments (like DNA analysis or physiological tests), learn about body systems (e.g. endocrinology, genetics), and even gain hands-on clinical-skills experience under expert supervision.

You’ll stay in on-campus student accommodation, giving you a realistic glimpse of university life in London. In the second week, you’ll collaborate with peers from different subject streams in an Innovation Challenge, developing a project that tackles real-world problems using your newly gained scientific and teamwork skills. Alongside academics, social activities, and extracurricular events will help you build friendships with like-minded international students, and enjoy London’s vibrant student experience. 

Why it stands out: You’ll explore medical innovation, genetics, and lab techniques while building university-level research skills.

7. IGNITE Young Minds Summer Programme

Location: Cambridge Judge Business School, Cambridge, UK
Cost/Stipend: Fee is  £4,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 19 – July 25
Application Deadline: June 30
Eligibility: Students aged 15-18 years

At the IGNITE Summer Program, you step into the historic and intellectually stimulating environment of Cambridge. Over a week, you’ll engage with faculty and peers at Cambridge Judge Business School, attending workshops and interactive sessions focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and business-thinking.

You’ll work on creative challenges and business-plan projects, refining problem-solving, teamwork, leadership and pitching skills under guidance. Beyond academics, the program blends cultural and social experiences like Cambridge tours, traditional punting, and visits to iconic sites, enhancing your exposure to British collegiate life. At the end, you’ll receive a certificate. Here is the link to apply.

Why it stands out: Its affiliation with the Judge Business School will allow you to get early exposure to the teaching frameworks of Judge’s business programs and help you connect with industry professionals.

8. CERN-Solvay Student Camp

Location: CERN campus, Geneva, Switzerland
Cost/Stipend: Free participation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~30 students per camp, selected from all over the world
Dates: April 19–25
Application Deadline: Varies by year
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+

If you get selected to the CERN camp, you’ll spend a full week in Geneva at the world’s leading particle physics laboratory, an experience that sets it apart from most international programs for high school students. You’ll be working side-by-side with scientists, visiting real research facilities, and doing hands-on experiments that go beyond textbook physics. You’ll attend lectures and Q&A sessions with experts, giving you rare insight into how cutting-edge science and engineering really work.

In small teams, you’ll explore research projects, collaborate with peers from around the globe, and get a glimpse of what a future in STEM might look like. Besides labs, there’s a cultural and social dimension; you’ll meet like-minded students from different backgrounds, stimulating both scientific curiosity and global friendship. 

Why it stands out: You’ll have rare access to CERN scientists and real particle-physics learning environments.

9. University of Notre Dame London Pre-College Programme

Location: Fischer Hall and Conway Hall, London, UK
Cost/Stipend: $8,750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited to 18 students per session
Dates: July 5 – July 19
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+

The Notre Dame London Pre-College Programme two-week summer abroad program where you’ll explore London’s rich history, culture, literature, and imperial legacy. You’ll go on guided lectures, museum visits, historic-site tours, and even theatre performances. Each day focuses on a different era or neighbourhood, helping you understand how London evolved into a global cultural and political hub.

You’ll live in central London, attend classes at a globally recognised university building and meet peers from different backgrounds, giving you a taste of global citizenship and international life. The program also gives you the chance to earn transferable college credit, a useful addition if you plan to study abroad or apply to universities outside your home country. Here’s the application link.

Why it stands out: It offers international academic exposure and cultural immersion in London, helping you broaden your global perspective before college.

10. International Youth Discovery Programme (IYDP)

Location: NUS (University Town & Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Bukit Timah Campus), Singapore
Cost/Stipend: Varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates:  June 23 – June 27
Application Deadline: May 23
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-12

If you join IYDP, you’ll step into a discovery lab at one of Asia’s top universities, where you’ll participate in a dynamic and globally minded environment. You can choose between two learning tracks depending on your interests; one focuses on humanities, global affairs, and public policy, while the other examines business, global economics, and leadership in a changing world.

Through interactive lectures, case discussions, and panel sessions, you’ll gain exposure to real-world issues, from societal innovation and media policy to international trade and behavioural economics. Outside the classroom, you’ll enjoy organised tours and cultural experiences in Singapore, and meet peers from different backgrounds. The program can help you gain clarity on your academic and career interests while having experienced life at a prestigious international university.

Why it stands out: You’ll receive early exposure to policy thinking, systems thinking, social innovation, and behavioural economics, which are subjects students typically don’t encounter till college.

11. Young Leaders Summer Programme

Location: Singapore Management University, Singapore
Cost/Stipend: SGD 3,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 13 July – 18 July
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility:  High school students aged approximately 16-18

If you take part in the SMU Young Leaders Summer Programme, you’ll get to spend an intensive week on SMU’s city campus. The program mixes interactive, seminar‑style classes with workshops designed to sharpen skills such as analytical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creative problem‑solving.

You’ll engage in group projects and deliver a final presentation, giving you a taste of teamwork, leadership and real‑world challenge-solving. This program also offers organized social events and an opportunity to mingle with peers from across Asia and beyond. At the end, you’ll receive a certificate of participation, which can boost your university application profile. If interested, you may apply here.

Why it stands out: It attracts a diverse international cohort, so you’ll be able to build a global network that can help shape your academic career.

12. HEC Paris — Summer School Youth Programs

Location: HEC Paris campus
Cost/Stipend: €950 for 3-day program; €1950 for 5-day program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 3 – 5 days in July
Application Deadline: Exact deadline not fixed
Eligibility: High-school students aged 15–18 

If you join HEC Paris Youth Programs, you get a chance to step into a world-class business school environment while still in high school. You’ll engage in short, intensive courses such as Youth Leadership Initiative, Junior Entrepreneur Bootcamp, Financial Literacy, or even a program on the economics of football. Each course is designed to help you gain real-world skills such as leadership, communication, critical thinking, entrepreneurial mindset, or financial prudence.

The programs offer you a valuable taste of global academic life and a chance to challenge yourself intellectually in a new environment. The program can help you grow in confidence, build global awareness, and develop a sharper sense of what you want your future to look like. Here is the link to pre-register.

Why it stands out: You’ll study under HEC faculty and collaborate with global peers, so you’ll get an idea of what college-level academics involve. 

13. NUCB International College – Summer School at Nisshin Campus

Location: NUCB campus, Nisshin City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Cost/Stipend: 140,000 JPY
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Maximum of 25 participants per session
Dates: Typically around July
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students enrolled in Grades 10-13

At the NUCB’s Summer School, you’ll be engaging in a dynamic, boarding-school environment in Japan while honing skills that go beyond regular high-school classes. You’ll take part in Harvard-style Case Method classes that challenge you to think critically, solve real-world problems, and work in teams. Alongside, you’ll be attending Japanese-language classes, cross-cultural exchanges, sports, and field trips within Aichi Prefecture.

You’ll also get a taste of dormitory life on campus, living and learning alongside peers from around the world. Outside class, there are extracurriculars, social activities, and the chance to explore Japanese culture. For many participants, this program becomes an opportunity to grow leadership, cross-cultural understanding and global perspectives, while living in an international multi-cultural setting.

Why it stands out: It’s hosted at a global, reputable business university, so you’ll have access to experienced faculty and a university-style experience.

14. IE University Pre-University Summer Program

Location: Segovia & Madrid, Spain (Campuses of IE University)
Cost/Stipend: Fee is €5,900
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~140 students per edition; each class is capped at ~50 students
Dates: Multiple 2-week intakes available
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Students aged 15-17 years

If you enrol in IE University’s Pre-University Summer Program, you’ll spend two weeks exploring university-style learning within a dynamic, international environment across Segovia and Madrid. You’ll dive into interactive classes and skill-building workshops and engage in participative activities, teamwork, and projects that challenge your thinking.

Alongside academics, you’ll benefit from structured extracurriculars like cultural tours, outdoor adventures like kayaking or zip-lining, team-building, and social events, giving you a real taste of student life abroad. By the end, you’ll perhaps have a clearer idea of what you might want to study at university. Here’s the link to apply.

Why it stands out: You’ll build practical skills in entrepreneurship, design, and strategy, so you’ll be well-equipped for business majors and building your own startup.

15. University College Dublin (UCD) — Summer High School Program

Location: Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
Cost/Stipend: ~ € 3,450
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 8 – July 23
Application Deadline: Priority deadline is February 15
Eligibility: Students must be residents of North America and 16 or 17 years old

If you sign up for UCD’s High School Summer Program, you’ll spend about two weeks living in UCD’s campus residences and exploring Dublin’s rich history and vibrant culture. The program mixes academic lectures with field trips across Dublin and surrounding areas to give you a first-hand taste of Ireland’s heritage and contemporary life.

You’ll attend sessions in various academic colleges (Business, Science, Arts, etc.), meet representatives, and engage in participative activities. Evenings and weekends are filled with cultural outings, excursions, and social time, giving you a chance to bond with peers, enjoy Irish traditions, and reflect on what global studying feels like. By the end, you’ll get a certificate of participation, a richer understanding of Irish culture and student life, and perhaps clarity on your future academic path. 

Why it stands out: It lets you experience university-level courses abroad, giving you a preview of college life in a respected European institution while you’re still in high school.

From Local Classrooms to Global Campuses

International experiences can transform how you approach learning, independence, and the wider world. Stepping into unfamiliar academic and cultural settings encourages curiosity, adaptability, and confidence.

These 15 international programs for high school students move learning beyond textbooks and into real-world contexts. You engage directly with new ideas, places, and perspectives while developing cross-cultural understanding.

Whether you are exploring new interests or testing life beyond your home country, these experiences can shape future academic choices.

If you are considering studying abroad later on, our Study Abroad blogs offer thoughtful guidance on navigating global education pathways.