As a high school student, summer doesn’t have to be just a break from homework and exams, but it can also be a chance to explore new interests, challenge yourself academically, and experience learning beyond the classroom. Summer programs for high school students in Toronto offer the perfect balance of academic enrichment, personal growth, and real-world exposure in one of the most vibrant cities in North America.

Imagine spending your summer on a university campus in downtown Toronto. Picture collaborating with students from across Canada and around the world, discovering new subjects, and getting a taste of what independent, university-style learning feels like. With its mix of world-class universities, cultural institutions, and innovation hubs, Toronto provides an inspiring backdrop for summer learning.

Even if you already live nearby, joining a structured summer program can completely shift your perspective. You’ll meet peers from different backgrounds, engage with new academic environments, and build confidence navigating spaces designed for higher-level study and collaboration.

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

With so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Some programs may prioritize sightseeing over substance, while others might lack strong academic structure or mentorship. That’s why careful selection matters, so you can pick the best programs.

Across Toronto, universities and educational organizations offer summer programs in fields such as STEM, business, arts, medicine, social sciences, and technology. You’ll learn from experienced instructors, take part in discussions, projects, and interactive workshops, and collaborate with motivated peers from around the world. Along the way, you’ll sharpen critical thinking skills, build independence, and gain a clearer sense of what studying at the university level is really like.

To make the process easier, we’ve curated a list of 15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Toronto. They’ve been selected for their academic quality, immersive learning experiences, and the opportunities they offer to make your summer both productive and memorable.

15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Toronto

1. University of Toronto – Medicine Youth Summer Program (Med YSP)

Location: Toronto, Canada
Cost: ~$1,688 CAD
Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: Rolling basis; registration opens in February
Eligibility: Canadian & international students in grades 10-12

The Med YSP offers you an opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a medical student at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine. In cutting-edge labs, you will conduct experiments while learning methods such as DNA extraction, suturing, and dissection.

Every week, graduate students and medical professionals teach a different specialty, such as pharmacology, physiology, or molecular biology. The program helps you determine whether this challenging field is the right fit for you.

Why it stands out: It offers hands-on exposure to medical student life, where you work in cutting-edge labs, learning skills like DNA extraction and suturing, while exploring different specialties through weekly lessons from medical professionals.

2. Immerse Education’s Toronto Summer School

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Location: University of Toronto, Toronto, ON (campus and city‑based academic sites)
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through their bursary programme
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school

The Toronto Summer School by Immerse Education places you in a university‑affiliated academic environment where you study a specialized subject in small classes, emphasizing discussion‑led seminars and weekly 1:1 sessions with expert tutors. Depending on the course you choose, such as Software Development & AI, you explore the fundamentals of programming, machine learning, and problem-solving through both theory and practical projects. Other course options may include subjects such as international relations or business management, in which you examine core academic concepts through case studies and group work.

Tutors with academic or professional backgrounds teach you, which helps you connect what you learn in school with what you can do in the real world and in future studies. In addition to academics, the program gives you chances to get involved in Toronto’s innovation ecosystem and urban setting. Engaging in the Toronto Summer School fosters the development of technical knowledge, university-style learning skills, and a clear understanding of how your interests could translate into college-level study. You can find more details about the application here.

3. SickKids Summer Research (SSuRe) Program

Location: SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario
Cost: Varies; some positions are paid or grant-funded, others are voluntary
Dates: May 4th – August 13th
Application Deadline: Rolling; job postings and researcher-led hiring vary
Eligibility: High school students from all nationalities who will be enrolled in a university/college undergraduate program in the fall following the summer program

The SSuRe Program offers high school and college students performing summer research at SickKids the opportunity to participate in a program that includes both professional development and scientific exploration. Over the course of 15 weeks, you will attend seminars taught by hospital and research staff, receive lab safety and clinical research training, and present your topic at a formal symposium.

The program will start with orientation meetings, which will include ethics briefings and occupational health training to prepare you for research. Weekly seminars will introduce you to various study areas, while targeted workshops will help you develop your communication and networking abilities. Toward the end of the program, you will present your findings via poster and, if accepted, compete for awards from several SickKids Research Institute departments.

Why it stands out: It allows you to gain hands-on research experience at a world-renowned hospital, with seminars and mentorship that guide you through professional development and scientific inquiry.

4. University of Toronto’s Blueprint

Location: University of Toronto’s St. George campus, Toronto, ON
Cost: Free
Dates: July 6th – July 31st
Application deadline: March 28th
Eligibility: Black Canadian students in grades 10-11 who are interested in STEM careers

Blueprint is a four-week summer program offered by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering to Black high school students interested in science and engineering. Here, you will take university-level courses in mechatronics and engineering in health care, and you will learn about the engineering design process through labs and team projects.

The curriculum, taught by graduate instructors and supported by undergraduate mentors, includes both technical and personal growth. Blueprint offers community-building events, trips, and leadership courses outside of school to help you get through high school and beyond. After the summer, you will be able to participate in year-long programs that focus on leadership and preparing for school.

Why it stands out: It offers a specialized STEM program for Black students, combining mechatronics, engineering in healthcare, and mentorship to provide a comprehensive introduction to engineering and personal growth.

5. University of Toronto Youth Summer Program (Law)

Location: Toronto, Canada
Cost: $1175 CAD
Dates: July – August
Application deadline: Rolling admission (typically closes in late May or early June)
Eligibility: Students worldwide currently in grades 10-12

Hosted by the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto, the Youth Summer Program is a unique way for you to explore legal studies in a module-based format. You can select one of seven different modules: Criminal Law, Corporate Law, and International Law are just a few of many subjects that can be studied.

The program takes place at the Jackman Law Building and includes lectures on the law by professors and lawyers, as well as hands-on activities including mock trials and negotiation exercises. This hands-on approach helps you better understand the legal field and improves your public speaking skills, which are important for law school.

Why it stands out: It provides a unique opportunity to explore various areas of law through lectures, mock trials, and negotiation exercises, while also building important public speaking and legal research skills.

6. Focused Ultrasound High School Summer Research Program

Location: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON
Cost: Paid
Dates: July 6th – August (end date not specified)
Application deadline: February 13th
Eligibility: Students in grades 10-12 who are at least 16 years old and legally authorized to work in Canada

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre provides summer research opportunities in its Focused Ultrasound Lab for high school students. Here, you will contribute to the lab’s ongoing research in technology, medicine, physics, engineering, and biology.

You may be involved in project work, such as researching the effects of focused ultrasound on various systems, creating circuit boards, and conducting experiments. Throughout the event, you will gain knowledge about medical, research, and device development.

Why it stands out: It offers research opportunities in medical technology and physics, where you contribute to ongoing projects in focused ultrasound, learning both the technical and biological aspects of the field.

7. University of Toronto Pre‑University Courses

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Location: University of Toronto – St. George Campus, Toronto, ON, Canada
Cost: around $6,275 (CAD)
Dates: Three‑week sessions from June to August
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Domestic and international high school students aged 15-18 with advanced English proficiency and a willingness to engage in university‑style coursework

The University of Toronto Pre‑University Courses offer three‑week, subject‑intensive academic sessions that immerse high school students in seminars and discussions at Canada’s largest research university. Courses are taught in small groups where everyone is expected to read, do research, and think critically, just like you would in college. Residential students live on campus in New College Residence, which is in the heart of downtown Toronto.

This lets you interact with peers from all over the world every day. There are classes Monday through Friday that include lectures, group work, and final projects that help you learn more about the material outside of class. Through these structured academic experiences and campus immersion, you gain insight into university‑level study and the intellectual rigor required for post‑secondary success.

Why it stands out: Its combination of diverse academic subjects in a university seminar setting and residential campus life gives students a clear understanding of how undergraduate study is structured at a leading research institution, providing both academic depth and cultural immersion.

8. University of Toronto Math Academy

Location: University of Toronto’s St. George campus, Toronto, ON
Cost: 450 CAD + tax
Dates: August 11-15
Application deadline: February 26th
Eligibility: Students all over the world in grades 9-12

High school students who are passionate about mathematics and like solving abstract, theoretical problems can enroll in the University of Toronto Math Academy, a one-week summer program. A written problem set and personal statement are required for admission, which is competitive. If chosen, you will work with faculty, graduate students, and researchers from U of T’s Department of Mathematics in a small cohort to thoroughly study a single advanced subject, such as graph theory, prime numbers, or knot theory.

Instead of using standard methods, the emphasis is on investigating new mathematical concepts through group problem-solving, discussion, and creative reasoning. You will participate in what mathematicians refer to as “real math,” posing queries, developing hypotheses, and examining patterns in novel ways.

Why it stands out: It offers an intensive, problem-solving-focused program where you delve into advanced mathematical topics like graph theory and prime numbers, working alongside faculty and researchers to explore new mathematical concepts.

9. Science Unlimited Summer Camp

Location: University of Toronto’s St George Campus
Cost: CAD $300
Dates: August 18-22
Application deadline: April 15th
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who have completed Grade 10 or Grade 11 by the beginning of the camp

The University of Toronto’s Science Unlimited Summer Camp is a one-week program that offers hands-on learning in various scientific fields. Working in university labs and classrooms, you will study physics, astronomy, chemistry, earth sciences, mathematics, and computer science.

The sessions are led by researchers and faculty, who help you comprehend how science is studied and used at a research university. To give you a firsthand look at actual university science in action, the camp emphasizes experiential learning, teamwork, and discovery-based projects.

Why it stands out: It provides hands-on learning in various scientific fields, from physics to computer science, through university-led experiments and projects that give you a real feel for academic science in a research environment.

10. YMCA Youth Leadership Programs

Location: YMCA of Greater Toronto, Ontario (multiple locations across the GTA)
Cost: None
Dates: Available year-round and in the summer
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Canadian high school students, ages 11-18

The YMCA’s Youth Leadership Development (YLD) and Newcomer Youth Leadership Development (NYLD) programs are meant to help you improve your leadership and communication skills while also getting volunteer hours. The YLD program gives you opportunities to take part in group projects, workshops, and community service that will help you feel more confident and more aware of others.

Both programs give you chances to volunteer, meet other young people, and learn more about your interests through youth-led projects. You will work with facilitators and other students to plan and carry out projects that show how you have grown as a leader.

Why it stands out: It helps you develop leadership and communication skills through community projects, volunteering, and collaborative youth-led initiatives, all while building confidence and gaining real-world experience.

11. Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)

Location: University of Toronto
Stipend: $1600
Dates: July 6-31
Application deadline: March 29th
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-11. Must be a resident or student of a high school in Ontario

The Summer Mentorship Program (SMP) at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine is a four-week program for high school students in Grades 10 and 11 who identify as Indigenous or Black. Through labs, lectures, and practical exercises, you learn about professions like social work, public health, nursing, pharmacy, and medicine.

The program pairs you with a mentor, introduces you to healthcare professionals, and provides you with genuine insights into these professions. In addition, the program offers a $1,600 honorarium, a high school credit, and academic support.

Why it stands out: It pairs you with mentors in healthcare professions and offers hands-on learning in fields like medicine and nursing, giving you a comprehensive introduction to the healthcare industry.

12. University College Performing Arts & AI International Summer Program

Location: University of Toronto, St. George Campus – Toronto, ON, Canada
Cost: CAD varies by session; residential housing and meals are usually included in the total fee
Dates: July 13th  -  August  2nd (3 weeks)
Application deadline: Registration typically opens in early spring
Eligibility: High school students from all around the world aged 15-18

The University College Performing Arts & AI International Summer Program is a three-week academic program at the University of Toronto that combines training in the performing arts with workshops on technology and AI. Participants take intensive classes that cover basic acting and performance skills as well as digital media, sound design, and new AI applications that are useful for modern performance.

Daily sessions include hands-on studio work, seminars, and group projects, just like undergraduate creative practice courses. The teachers are experienced theater professionals and media technologists. By participating, you gain clearer insight into how creative disciplines intersect with technology and how university‑style arts instruction operates within a major research university

Why it stands out: It offers a paid internship where you work on innovative financial technology projects using cutting-edge tools like React.js and GitHub, gaining hands-on experience in a professional development setting.

13. University of Toronto – Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program (DEEP)

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Location: Toronto, Canada
Cost: ~$725 per week
Dates: July 6th – July 31st
Application Deadline: Registration opens in February; spots fill quickly
Eligibility: Students worldwide in grades 9-12 with high aptitude in math and science

In the Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program at the University of Toronto, you’ll study key topics in physics, engineering, and technology through lectures and laboratory work. You will collaborate with your peers on group projects that push you to apply engineering concepts to real-world situations.

The program offers one-on-one mentoring from university academics and graduate students to help build problem-solving and engineering knowledge. As a residential student, you will live in university dormitories and have access to university facilities, including labs and libraries.

Why it stands out: It provides in-depth engineering and technology education through lectures and lab work, where you collaborate on real-world projects with mentors from the University of Toronto.

14. RBC Summer Tech Labs Program

Location: Toronto, ON; exact location and format (remote/hybrid/in-person) vary
Cost: Paid
Dates: July 2nd – August 20th
Application Deadline: TBA, applications typically open in the spring
Eligibility: Students in grades 11 and 12 enrolled in Ontario high schools

The Royal Bank of Canada’s Summer Tech Labs is an eight-week internship in which you will work as an Innovation Developer to solve financial technology concerns. You will work in a small team of four to create functional prototypes utilizing tools and resources, including GitHub, JavaScript, and React.js, as well as agile development and design thinking techniques.

Mentors and RBC personnel will assist you in researching, coding, and presenting solutions to real-world business problems. You will also have access to professional development seminars during the program.

15. CISS Canada Future Entrepreneurs Programme

Location: CISS at Trinity, Toronto, ON
Cost: $5500 (2-week module)
Dates: Session 1 (July 5th – August 18th) and Session 2 (July 19th – August 1st)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students around the world aged 14–18 with an advanced level of English, equivalent to IELTS 4.0+

CISS Canada Future Entrepreneurs is a two-week program in Toronto that teaches you how real business owners think and act. You’ll learn how to come up with ideas, work with others, and solve problems while also getting hands-on experience with business planning, marketing, and pitching.

You will attend guest lectures, visit businesses in the area, and present your project at an event like “Shark Tank.” You live on campus in supervised rooms and can attend classes, hang out, and eat. The program includes activities in the afternoon and evening, as well as full-day trips around Toronto.

Why it stands out: It offers a practical introduction to entrepreneurship, where you create business plans, attend guest lectures, and pitch your project at a “Shark Tank”-style event, while gaining hands-on experience in marketing and business management.

Living and Learning in Toronto

Toronto shapes growth by placing you in environments that demand independence, adaptability, and curiosity beyond familiar routines and classroom structures.

Studying on university campuses while navigating a global city helps you manage time, communicate across cultures, and engage confidently with new academic expectations.

Through summer programs for high school students in Toronto, you explore interests, test disciplines, and build habits that reflect readiness for future university life.

To better understand housing, campus social life, budgeting, and how to make the most of a summer in Toronto, visit our Student Life and Cultural Immersion blogs for practical, city-specific guidance.