SSP International
Summer Science Program in Astrophysics
Five-week residential research program where current high-school juniors observe near-Earth asteroids and compute their orbits in teams of three.
- Application deadline
- Unconfirmed — check official site
- Cost
- Unconfirmed — check official site
- Session dates or duration
- Catalog terms: 5 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
- Format
- In person
- Location
- Albion, Milledgeville, McMinnville, River Falls, Waterville, Bethlehem, Galesburg, 2026 campus assigned after admission; campus list can change by cycle
- Stipend or pay
- Last year's cycle (2026): Lost-wages stipend: $3,000; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
Eligibility: Grade 11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher
Ages 15–18; If the school does not offer physics, complete calculus for credit and a grade by June instead; Commit exclusively to the entire assigned residential session
Housing: Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site
Selection: Admission is limited and holistic. SSP reported about 700 participants admitted across every 2026 track, but did not publish Astrophysics application totals or a track-specific acceptance rate.
Read aid terms and conditions
Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based fee and participant-travel assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. SSP committed to cover 100% of demonstrated need; exact award depends on family circumstances and may include participant airfare or other required travel.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
All requirements, expenses and sources
Expenses and aid conditions: Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 application fee: $0. Completely free to apply.; Need-based fee and participant-travel assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. SSP committed to cover 100% of demonstrated need; exact award depends on family circumstances and may include participant airfare or other required travel.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site
Full eligibility requirements: Ages 15–18; Requirement: Be a current high-school junior; Requirement: Be at least 15 and not yet 19 during all program dates; Requirement: Complete for credit and a grade by June any high-school physics plus precalculus; Requirement: If the school does not offer physics, complete calculus for credit and a grade by June instead; Requirement: Commit exclusively to the entire assigned residential session; Exclusion: Current freshmen, sophomores and seniors; Exclusion: Self-study used in place of the required graded coursework; Exclusion: Applicants unable to attend the complete assigned session; Exclusion: Applying to more than one SSP project in the same cycle
Selection and application: Selection: Admission is limited and holistic. SSP reported about 700 participants admitted across every 2026 track, but did not publish Astrophysics application totals or a track-specific acceptance rate. Application materials: One required recommendation from a current school math or science educator; Optional second recommendation, preferably from a math or science educator
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Last source check . Official source