# Free Robotics Programs for High School Students Free robotics is usually sponsored robotics — corporate-backed teams, university outreach programs, and competitions with fee waivers that keep hardware costs off your family's budget. If your school has no team, several programs here help you start one — founding a rookie team is a bigger admissions story than joining an established powerhouse. 38 verified programs match this page; 30 of the featured listings are free; 1 can be done online. ## Programs (38 total, first 30 shown — full list on the canonical page) | Program | Organization | Cost | Format | Grades | Deadline | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth (WAICY)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/waicy-ai-competition) | Ready AI | Free | virtual | Grades 6–12 | 2026-11-10 | | [BEST Robotics Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/best-robotics-competition) | BEST Robotics | Free | in_person | Grades 6–12 | 2026-08-22 | | [MIT Robocon Tech Team Robotics Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/mit-robocon-tech-team) | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Robocon Tech Team | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Zero Robotics Programming Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/zero-robotics-programming-competition) | MIT/NASA | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-11-28 | | [VEX Robotics World Championship Excellence Award](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/vex-robotics-world-championship-excellence-award) | REC Foundation | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-12-19 | | [Roborace Autonomous Racing Series](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/roborace) | Roborace Holdings Limited | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Robo-One Biped Robot Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/robo-one) | Robo-One Committee | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [VEX Robotics Competition (VRC)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/vex-robotics-competition-vrc) | Robotics Education & Competition Foundation | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-12-19 | | [NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nasa-human-exploration-rover-challenge) | NASA Marshall Space Flight Center | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-09-15 | | [FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Dean's List Finalist](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/first-robotics-competition-frc-deans-list-finalist) | FIRST | Free | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2027-02-04 | | [MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/mit-beaver-works-summer-institute-bwsi) | MIT Lincoln Laboratory & MIT School of Engineering | Free | hybrid | Grade 11 | 2027-03-31 | | [European Rover Challenge Robotics Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/european-rover-challenge) | European Space Foundation | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-15 | | [MATE ROV Competition (High School Division)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/mate-rov-competition-high-school-division) | MATE Inspiration for Innovation | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-12-31 | | [Nickelodeon Robot Wars Student Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nickelodeon-robot-wars) | Nickelodeon | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/seaperch) | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Foundation & RoboNation | Free | hybrid | Grades 6–12 | 2026-11-30 | | [DARPA Grand Challenge (Autonomous Vehicles)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/darpa-grand-challenge) | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [National Robotics League Combat Robots](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/robot-combat) | National Robotics League (NTMA) | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-05-08 | | [E-Yantra Robotics Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/e-yantra) | IIT Bombay (e-Yantra Project, CSE Dept.) | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-08-25 | | [FIRST Robotics Competition Chairman's Award](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/first-robotics-competition-chairmans-award) | FIRST | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-12 | | [Robofest Robotics Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/robofest) | Lawrence Technological University | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-08 | | [National Robotics Week Competitions](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-robotics-week) | Various Organizations | Free | in_person | Grades 6–12 | 2027-04-03 | | [NYU ARISE Summer Research Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nyu-arise) | NYU Tandon School of Engineering | Free | in_person | Grades 10–11 | 2027-02-27 | | [Multi Autonomous Ground-robotic Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/multi-autonomous-ground-robotic-international-challenge) | University of Oulu | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [NASA Lunabotics Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nasas-lunabotics-competition) | NASA | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-07 | | [FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/first-tech-challenge-ftc) | FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) | Free | hybrid | Grades 7–12 | 2026-10-15 | | [DEF CON Robot Contest (DC23/23B RC)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/defcon-robot-contest) | DEF CON Communications, Inc. | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Robotica Robotics Competition for Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/robotica) | FIRST Robotics Competition Team 203 (Camden County College) | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | | [Autonomous Racing at F1 in Schools](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/autonomous-racing) | F1 in Schools Ltd | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-11-06 | | [International Aerial Robotics Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/international-aerial-robotics-competition) | Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-08-12 | | [Micromouse Robotics Maze Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/micromouse) | IEEE Micromouse | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling | ## Frequently asked questions ### How many free robotics programs are listed for high school students? ExtracurricularHub currently lists 38 verified free robotics opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link. ### Are any of these free robotics programs free? Yes — 30 of the programs featured on this page charge no participation fee. Free programs are often funded and can be more selective, so apply early. ### Which deadlines are coming up soonest? The next deadlines: International Aerial Robotics Competition (August 12, 2026); BEST Robotics Competition (August 22, 2026); E-Yantra Robotics Competition (August 25, 2026). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site. ### How do I get into a free robotics program? Funded programs select on demonstrated interest, not credentials you don't have yet: a short portfolio, a class project, or a clear essay about why this subject beats a stronger application from a student who never says why. Apply to several — free seats fill fast. ## Related pages - [Free for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/free) - [Robotics Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/robotics) - [Free STEM Programs for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/free/stem) - [Browse all extracurriculars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars) - [Find My Fit — 3-minute matching quiz](https://extracurricularhub.com/find-my-fit) --- Canonical page: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/free/robotics Source: ExtracurricularHub (https://extracurricularhub.com) — a free directory of 1,826 verified extracurricular programs for high school students. Cite the canonical page above; always confirm binding details on each program's official site.