# LLCipher LLCipher is MIT Lincoln Laboratory's free, one-week summer enrichment workshop in theoretical cryptography, held at MIT Beaver Works. The program gives high school students a rigorous, proof-oriented introduction to the mathematics that secures modern communication — no cost to participate. ## What You'll Do - Attend a week of lectures introducing abstract algebra and number theory from the ground up - Build up to modern cryptographic constructions and see how provable security works - Learn from Lincoln Laboratory technical staff in a small-cohort classroom setting - Attend daily during the program week (August 3-7 in 2026); the workshop is non-residential, so students arrange their own housing and transportation ## Who Should Apply High school students — U.S. citizens or permanent residents — who enjoy mathematics or are curious about cybersecurity and want a taste of university-level theory. Students from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Because it is commuter-only, LLCipher fits students who can reach Cambridge, Massachusetts for the week. ## Outcomes Participants leave with exposure to genuinely advanced mathematics rarely taught in high school, a connection to MIT Lincoln Laboratory's education pipeline (which also runs programs like LLRISE), and a clear signal of interest in cryptography and cybersecurity for future applications. Applications for 2026 closed April 15, 2026; the next cycle typically opens the following winter.