NIH Programs for High School Students
The National Institutes of Health places high school students inside working biomedical labs — paid summer internships on its campuses and structured research programs through its training office.
There is no stronger pre-med signal available to a high schooler than NIH bench time, and every position is funded; apply early and to multiple institutes.
4 verified NIH programs, 4 free — every listing includes cost, eligibility, deadline, and the official application link.
Featured programs
Browse 4+ curated programs for high school students:
- NIH Summer Internship Program — National Institutes of Health: Eight-week paid research internship at National Institutes of Health. Work alongside NIH scientists on biomedical research projects.
- NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research — National Institutes of Health: Paid 8-week research internship at NIH. Work with leading scientists.
- NIH High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP) — National Institutes of Health (OITE): Explore biomedical research through a paid summer internship at NIH labs. Gain hands-on STEM experience, boost college applications, and work with top
- High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program (HiSTEP) — National Institutes of Health: Five-week paid NIH summer program ($2,150 stipend) in Bethesda, MD for rising seniors from DC/MD/VA schools with 30%+ free-or-reduced-lunch enrollment
Frequently asked questions
Does NIH offer programs for high school students?
Yes — ExtracurricularHub lists 4 verified NIH programs open to high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link. The National Institutes of Health places high school students inside working biomedical labs — paid summer internships on its campuses and structured research programs through its training office.
Are any NIH high school programs free?
Yes — 4 of the NIH programs featured on this page charge no participation fee. Funded programs are often the most selective, so apply early and to more than one.
Which NIH deadlines are coming up soonest?
The next deadlines: NIH Summer Internship Program (February 15, 2027); NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (February 15, 2027); NIH High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP) (February 17, 2027). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the official NIH page.
How competitive are NIH programs?
It varies widely within one organization — flagship selective programs sit alongside broad-access options. Read each listing's eligibility, and treat the selective ones as reach applications: apply to several programs across organizations rather than betting a summer on one.