If you’re in high school, your summer often arrives as a welcome break from routines, deadlines, and exams. Yet this season can become far more meaningful when you step into a high school summer school in Toronto, using the time to explore interests beyond your regular classroom. You can discover new academic fields, strengthen practical skills, and gain clarity about the direction you may want to pursue after graduation.

Imagine spending part of your summer in Toronto, a city known for its diverse communities, leading universities, and strong culture of research and innovation. You could study topics such as artificial intelligence, health sciences, business, creative writing, or environmental sustainability while working alongside students from around the world. Learning here often combines classroom discussion with collaborative projects, city-based exploration, and exposure to real academic environments.

Even if you already live in Canada, joining a Toronto-based summer program can still expand your perspective. You encounter new ideas, meet peers with different ambitions, and experience a style of learning that encourages independence and curiosity. These moments can help you shape your plans for university study.

What kinds of Toronto summer schools for high school students are there?

Finding a summer school that truly matches your goals can feel challenging because programs differ widely in structure and focus. Some emphasise cultural exposure and campus life, while others concentrate on academic depth, research skills, or creative practice. Recognising these differences helps you choose an option that supports your interests.

Across Toronto, universities, colleges, and educational organisations offer summer schools in fields such as science, technology, medicine, business, social sciences, visual arts, and leadership. You might join a research-oriented course that introduces university-level inquiry, a skills-based workshop that builds technical or creative ability, or an interdisciplinary program that connects classroom learning with field experiences across the city. 

Whatever path you select, meaningful participation depends on your curiosity, commitment, and readiness to challenge yourself. To simplify your search, we’ve prepared this guide that brings together 15 Toronto Summer Schools for high school students.

For more options across the country, you can check out summer programs in Canada. If you’re looking for work experience opportunities, you can look at internships in Canada.

15 Toronto Summer Schools for High School Students 

1. Immerse Education’s Toronto Summer School

Location: University of Toronto, Toronto
Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through their bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Average of 7 participants per class
Dates: Multiple two-week sessions in summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: The age eligibility of students for programs available in Toronto is roughly 15 to 18 years; both Canadian and international students are eligible

Immerse Education’s Toronto Summer School offers you a chance to dive into university-style learning at the University of Toronto while living and studying in one of Canada’s most dynamic cities. Through a selection of subject tracks such as software development & AI, international relations, business management, psychology, economics, and more, you’ll experience interactive classroom sessions led by expert tutors. The program blends academic work with mentorship, personalised tutoring, and collaborative group activities so that you not only learn new concepts but also sharpen skills like critical thinking and communication. 

Living in campus residences lets you experience a taste of student life while building friendships with peers from around the world. Cultural outings and social events give balance to your academic schedule, helping you explore Toronto’s vibrant neighbourhoods and iconic landmarks throughout the two weeks. By the end of the program, you will have gained a certificate of completion and a broader sense of what university study might feel like. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: You learn in a truly global classroom environment with hands-on academic sessions designed to reflect undergraduate study while living in Toronto’s rich cultural and educational setting.

2. Blueprint Summer Program

Location: University of Toronto St. George Campus, Toronto
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6th to July 31st
Application Deadline: March 29th
Eligibility: This program is open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents who self-identify as Black and are in Grades 10 or 11 

Blueprint invites you to join an intensive summer experience focused on engineering and innovation at the University of Toronto’s downtown campus. You take part in hands-on activities, discussions, and engineering design projects that help you think like a problem solver and explore different pathways in science and technology. The curriculum blends lectures, labs, and collaborative challenges, guided by graduate and undergraduate mentors who are passionate about helping you grow your skills.

In addition to classroom time, you connect with peers through excursions and community-building events, making learning social and fun. After the summer sessions, you remain connected through year-long activities that continue to build your leadership and academic planning abilities. Here’s the application link.

Why it stands out: You get a blend of practical engineering design work and ongoing community engagement that stretches beyond just one summer.

3. Temerty Medicine Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)

Location: Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, St. George Campus, Toronto
Cost/Stipend: No program fee; participants receive a CAD 1,600 stipend upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 110 students
Dates: July 6th to July 31st
Application Deadline: March 29th
Eligibility: You must be a resident or student of a high school in Ontario and self-identify as Indigenous or Black African, Black Caribbean, Black North American, or multi-racial students who have and identify with their Black ancestry

The Summer Mentorship Program offers you a full month of guided exploration of the health sciences.In this program, you’ll learn about disciplines such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, public health, kinesiology, and social work. You attend workshops, lectures, research projects, and discussions that connect classroom knowledge to real professional settings.

A key component is mentorship from university students and professionals who help you consider long-term academic and career paths. You also complete a research report and presentation alongside peers, building both communication and analytical skills. By the end of the program, you earn a Grade 12 science credit that can count toward your diploma while receiving a stipend for your participation.

Why it stands out: You gain mentorship and real insights into health science careers while earning credit and receiving financial support for attending.

4. Youth Summer Program (Law YSP)

Location: University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Toronto
Cost/Stipend: Fee is CAD 1,175 for the summer module
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to about 60 students per week, depending on the module
Dates: Multiple weekly modules offered throughout July and August
Application Deadline: Registration opens in February
Eligibility: Open to students enrolled in Grades 10 through 12, including international students who can travel to Toronto for the in-person modules

The Youth Summer Program in Law gives you an engaging introduction to legal studies at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law. You take part in interactive modules focused on areas like corporate law, criminal law, international law, and the intersection of law with technology, each designed to immerse you in real legal thinking, debate, and simulations.

Throughout a typical week, you attend workshops, lectures, field trips, and legal activities that help you see how legal principles apply in professional contexts. You work with law students and faculty who guide your discussions and share insights about legal careers and post-secondary preparation. The program also brings guest speakers from courts and firms, giving you a glimpse of how legal professionals approach real cases and ethical questions.

Why it stands out: You learn directly from law students and professors about how legal reasoning works while exploring different fields of law in an active, real-world setting. 

5. SickKids Summer Research (SSuRe) Program

Location: Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto
Cost/Stipend: Paid (research students receive hourly pay plus vacation pay)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by lab and scientist (positions are competitive)
Dates: May to mid-August (15-week period)
Application Deadline: Varies by lab and posted positions
Eligibility: Students in their final year of high school and entering a college or university undergraduate program in the fall following the SSuRe program are eligible; international students are also eligible to apply to the program

The SickKids Summer Research (SSuRe) Program gives you a chance to work directly with world-class researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, one of Canada’s leading biomedical research centres. You become part of a real research team where your work contributes to ongoing projects in areas like genetics, neuroscience, immunology, and clinical sciences.

Alongside lab experience, the program offers weekly seminars by scientists and skills workshops on topics such as research communication and abstract writing. Throughout the summer, you build professional networks, strengthen your understanding of scientific inquiry, and get to present your findings at events such as a symposium. 

Why it stands out: You gain authentic research experience inside a leading health-science institution while earning pay and building skills that matter for future academic paths.

6. Science Unlimited Summer Camp

Location: University of Toronto, St. George Campus, Toronto
Cost/Stipend: $300
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50 spaces
Dates: August 18-22
Application Deadline: Usually around mid-April
Eligibility: Available to students who have completed grade 10 or grade 11 by the start of the camp; international students are eligible 

Science Unlimited Summer Camp offers you an immersive week filled with hands-on workshops that span multiple scientific disciplines, including astronomy, physics, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, mathematics, and environmental studies at the University of Toronto. You’ll rotate through sessions led by instructors and researchers from different departments, giving you exposure to both foundational concepts and advanced topics in a supportive environment.

The camp emphasises exploration, curiosity, and discovery, helping you understand how scientific knowledge is built and applied in real research contexts. If you’re interested in seeing how a research university approaches science while exploring a variety of fields in a short, engaging format, this camp provides a lively introduction.

Why it stands out: It brings together multiple scientific areas in one week of hands-on workshops that let you experience university-level science firsthand. 

7. Leadership Education & Academic Preparation (LEAP) Workshops

Location: Toronto
Cost/Stipend: Fee varies by workshop length and format
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple workshop durations available (1-day, 3-day, 5-day options) scheduled throughout the summer
Application Deadline: Varies depending on selected workshop dates
Eligibility:  Designed for high school students, including international students

The LEAP Workshops series invites you to build leadership qualities, sharpen your academic skills, and practice confident discussion in ways that prepare you for university-level learning. Through facilitated sessions, you learn how to communicate ideas, analyse assumptions, and debate complex topics with peers in structured discussions that mirror real academic dialogues.

Depending on the workshop you choose, you may spend a full day or multiple days engaging in group work, presentations, and reflective exercises that expand your understanding of leadership and academic success. These workshops also emphasise global perspectives and self-awareness, helping you understand how diverse viewpoints enrich both classroom and real-world conversations. 

Why it stands out: It teaches you core leadership and communication skills that are directly transferable to academic success and future studies.

8. Focused Ultrasound High School Summer Research Program

Location: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto
Cost/Stipend: No program fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 25 students
Dates: Typically runs in July and August
Application Deadline: February 20th
Eligibility: Open to high school students who are at least 16 years old by July 1st and legally authorized to work in Canada

The Focused Ultrasound High School Summer Research Program places you inside a real biomedical research lab where focused ultrasound technologies are studied for medical applications. You’ll contribute to ongoing research while collaborating with scientists and engineers on projects that blend physics, biology, engineering, and medical technology.

You’ll participate in hands-on tasks such as experimental work, programming, and engineering development, and you’ll learn how research design, data analysis, and clinical thinking come together in real lab settings. You also gain valuable mentorship and professional skills that prepare you for future study or careers in STEM fields. By the end of the experience, many students have completed presentations or reports summarising their contributions and insights.

Why it stands out: You get a rare opportunity to work inside a hospital-based research lab on interdisciplinary projects that connect theoretical science with medical innovation.

9. UC Performing Arts & AI International Summer Program

Location: University College, University of Toronto
Cost/Stipend: ~ CAD 6,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13th – August 2nd
Application Deadline: July 1st
Eligibility: Designed for students ages 15 to 18; international students are also eligible

The UC Performing Arts & AI International Summer Program blends artistic craft with emerging technology for a rich creative learning experience at the University of Toronto’s historic campus. The curriculum also introduces you to artificial intelligence tools and their application in creative environments, opening up new dimensions of artistic expression.

Evenings and weekends include excursions and social activities that strengthen community and deepen your understanding of Toronto’s cultural landscape. By participating, you not only improve your craft but also gain confidence in presenting work and working alongside peers from diverse backgrounds.

Why it stands out: You experience performing arts education integrated with AI technology in a structured summer program.

10. Daniels Design Discovery Program

Location: University of Toronto
Cost/Stipend: TBA before registration opens
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Class sizes capped at 30 students per course, with roughly a 1:10 instructor-to-student ratio
Dates: Two-week sessions in July and August
Application Deadline: Registration opens February 11th
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 14 to 18, including international students

Daniels Design Discovery invites you to explore architecture and design through focused two-week intensives built around real creative thinking and problem-solving. Each module centres on a specific area such as drawing practices, model making, or portfolio building, helping you see how ideas take shape from concept to representation. Throughout the program, you use industry-standard tools, work with practising designers and instructors, and collaborate on projects that expand both your technical skills and your way of seeing the built world.

Daily sessions balance hands-on studio work with discussions and critiques, giving you a feel for how architecture connects creativity with social and spatial questions. You also have chances to visit design firms and hear from professionals about pathways in design and architecture, pushing you beyond routine classroom learning. 

Why it stands out: It connects you directly with design practices and facilities, blending conceptual work with practical make-and-present projects.

11. BSS Summer Academy

Location: BSS (Bayview Glen School) Campus, Toronto
Cost/Stipend: Tuition for credit courses is $2,000; early bird tuition is $1,900 (before May 1)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29th – July 25th
Application Deadline: June 15th
Eligibility: Open to high school students from middle and secondary schools, including international applicants interested in academic enrichment or credit attainment

BSS Summer Academy gives you a flexible way to strengthen your academic foundation or accelerate your progress toward a high school diploma. The program is split into short, skill-focused weeks, where you sharpen abilities like writing and math skills, plus a longer, intensive set of credit courses that let you earn high school credits over four weeks in July.

In these credit classes, you engage deeply with subject matter in a structured, fast-paced environment that positions you for success when school resumes. The Academic Skills sessions are designed to refine the tools you use every day in class through small group work, mentoring, and interactive tasks, making them great for building confidence before a new term.

Why it stands out: It offers dual pathways tailored to your needs, allowing you to earn official school credits or reinforce core academic skills in focused, high-impact sessions. 

12. Medicine Youth Summer Program (Med YSP)

Location: University of Toronto, St. George Campus, Toronto
Cost/Stipend: CAD 1,668 per one-week module
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to approximately 120 students per week
Dates: Weekly modules in July and early August
Application Deadline: Rolling registration
Eligibility: Open to high school students in Grades 10 through 12, with Grade 9 students eligible for only the Microbiology module; international students are welcome 

The Medicine Youth Summer Program gives you a focused, university-led introduction to life sciences and medical research, structured into four standalone one-week modules that each explore a different area of medicine. In modules like Human Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Microbiology, you attend lectures, lab sessions, and discussions that show how scientific research and clinical thinking shape health disciplines.

Much of your week involves hands-on laboratory work where you engage with real techniques and concepts used in modern biomedical sciences, guided by instructors from the Faculty of Medicine. Along with practical experimentation, you participate in interactive activities that highlight ethical questions, current scientific challenges, and possible career paths in health sciences. 

Why it stands out: Each module combines in-lab experience with expert instruction and scientific context so you can explore distinct areas of medical science up close.

13. DEEP Summer Academy

Location: University of Toronto St. George Campus, Toronto
Cost/Stipend: Fee varies; domestic students: $732/week; international students: $1111/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6th – July 31st
Application Deadline: Round 1 begins March 3rd; Round 2 ends April 1st
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 9 through 12; international applicants are eligible

The DEEP Summer Academy gives you a chance to dive into advanced topics in engineering, science, and technology on the University of Toronto’s main campus. The program offers a series of one-week courses designed by graduate and undergraduate instructors that push you beyond typical high school content into areas usually explored in university.

You pick from subjects ranging from robotics and nanotechnology to design innovation and biomedical engineering, allowing you to tailor your summer learning to your interests. Alongside structured academic sessions, you collaborate with motivated peers in problem-solving and project work that mirrors real research thinking. DEEP’s environment balances rigorous study with hands-on exploration, discussion, and creativity, making it easy for you to see what engineering and applied science look like up close. 

Why it stands out: You can choose multiple advanced courses that let you explore several areas of STEM while learning how university teachers approach cutting-edge topics.

14. YMCA Youth Leadership Development Program

Location: YMCA of Greater Toronto, multiple community locations in Toronto
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Sessions are offered regularly, including the summer; exact dates may vary
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Designed for youth ages 11 to 18 living in the Greater Toronto Area

The YMCA Youth Leadership Development Program helps you build confidence, teamwork, communication, and community engagement skills through regular group activities, leadership workshops, and volunteer opportunities in local settings. Sessions focus on practical experiences that let you practise decision-making, project planning, and problem-solving while working with other youth to make a positive impact in your community.

You also gain opportunities to earn volunteer hours, which can support school requirements or future applications. While the structure is flexible, most activities occur in person during the summer months and connect you with supportive mentors and peer groups. The environment encourages you to take on responsibilities that grow your leadership capacity in real situations rather than in classroom lecture formats. 

Why it stands out: It offers a community-based leadership experience that builds confidence and practical skills while helping you contribute meaningfully to local initiatives.

15. RBC Summer Tech Labs

Location: Hybrid (in-person in downtown Toronto and remote options)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 2nd to August 20th
Application Deadline: Applications open in the spring
Eligibility: Designed for students in Grades 11 and 12 enrolled in an Ontario high school

The RBC Summer Tech Labs program immerses you in a real technology internship where you work as an Innovation Developer on authentic industry challenges. You join a small team and use tools such as JavaScript, React, and GitHub to design, build, and present functional prototypes that address real business problems at RBC. Mentors from the RBC tech community guide your work through collaborative workshops, weekly deliverables, and professional feedback sessions that help you grow both your technical skills and your communication abilities.

You also participate in professional development opportunities designed to deepen your understanding of workplace expectations, problem-solving techniques, and teamwork. This experience reflects a workplace environment rather than a traditional classroom, exposing you to how real tech teams function and innovate. 

Why it stands out: You participate in a paid, real-world tech internship where you build meaningful prototypes using professional tools while developing technical and workplace skills.

Turning Toronto Experiences into Academic Advantage

Summer in Toronto can be more than a break; it can be a rehearsal for university life, where you test ideas, pace, and independence.

Through seminars, labs, studios, and mentorship, you build sharper study habits and a clearer sense of which subjects energise you most.

A high school summer school in Toronto also strengthens your profile, giving you projects to discuss, skills to prove, and stories that sound like you.

Ready to turn momentum into admissions-ready plans? Dive into our University Preparation blogs for timelines, application tactics, and course guidance you can use today and make your next step confident.