Physics Research Programs for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 13 physics research programs for high school students. Of these, 11 are free to participate in and 8 offer virtual participation. Examples include APS (American Physical Society) High School Teacher-Student Workshops, Caltech IQIM K-12 Programs, and Chabot Space & Science Center – Galaxy Explorers.
- 13
- listed
- 11
- free
- 8
- virtual
- 13
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are physics research programs for high school students?
- Physics Research Programs for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in physics. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- Are any of these research programs free?
- Yes — 11 of the 13 research programs listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 8 of the 13 research programs listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are physics research programs good for a college application?
- Yes — physics research programs are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in physics on college applications.
Related Categories
13 activities found·Browse by category
APS (American Physical Society) High School Teacher-Student Workshops
Regional workshops where students work with physicists on current research topics and experiments.
Caltech IQIM K-12 Programs
Caltech's Institute for Quantum Information and Matter runs on-campus quantum science outreach for K-12 students, including hands-on demonstrations, quantum gaming, and classroom visits from physics researchers.
Chabot Space & Science Center – Galaxy Explorers
A Northern California teen volunteer program at Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland where high schoolers lead public astronomy and physics demonstrations, operate telescopes, and build job and public-speaking skills.
Columbia Science Honors Program
Saturday enrichment program at Columbia University for NYC-area students; includes advanced physics courses.
Coursera / edX Physics MOOCs (e.g., MIT 8.01x)
Online university-level physics courses from top institutions; free to audit, fee for certificate.
GoPhysics! Online Workshops
Free online physics workshops from Perimeter Institute where high schoolers dive into modern topics like gravity and black holes, or exoplanets and cosmology, guided by working physicists.
Inspiring Future Women in Science
An annual half-day conference at Perimeter Institute connecting high schoolers with women scientists to discuss careers, challenges, and opportunities in physics and science; recordings available online.
Johns Hopkins CTY Online Physics
Rigorous online physics courses (AP Physics, intro to quantum) for gifted students.
Khan Academy Physics
Free online physics courses (AP Physics 1, 2, C) with videos, practice, and mastery tracking.
NSBP/HGS Dream + Inspire Mentoring Program
A mentoring program pairing National Society of Black Physicists collegiate members with middle and high schoolers for weekly conversations, STEAM kit projects, and monthly seminars with professional physicists.
Physics by Inquiry - Coursera / University Partners
Inquiry-based physics learning programs; good for self-directed study and conceptual understanding.
Physics Unlimited - UC Berkeley Splash
Weekend program where HS students take short, fun physics classes taught by Berkeley undergrads and grad students.
QubitxQubit – Introduction to Quantum Computing
A free, two-semester quantum computing course from The Coding School, built with Google Quantum AI, teaching linear algebra, Python/Qiskit coding, and quantum physics fundamentals with access to real quantum hardware.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.