10 Free Architecture Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in exploring architecture as an academic or professional interest, consider free architecture programs for high school students!
Why should I apply to free architecture summer programs as a high school student?
Not only do these help you develop essential skills like creativity, critical thinking, and spatial awareness, but also provide insight into the profession and introduce tools and technologies you may have to engage with in college.
Free summer programs, particularly, are an accessible option for those looking for a financially affordable (and competitive) way to explore architecture.
These programs also allow you to work on a portfolio before the next school year starts, giving you a solid edge while applying to college!
Hands-on architecture programs offer practical experience through activities like drafting, model-making, and collaborative projects.
These programs mirror real-world architectural work, helping students develop teamwork and problem-solving skills.
With that, here are 10 great free architecture summer programs for high school students.
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Main summer deadlines are March 15, April 15, and May 15
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school
Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. (Note:. accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring from March to June
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students, across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as design, engineering, art, architecture, development, and urban planning! You can find more details about the application here.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Application Date: May 21, 2024, for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024, for the fall cohort
Program Dates:
Summer seminar - June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024
Fall seminar - October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track and the type of research you wish to carry out, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar from a reputed university who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. Apply here!
Cost: $2490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries from tech/deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
4. Boston Society for Architecture - Architecture/Design Thinking Weeks
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Program Dates: February 20-23
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 9-12
Architecture/Design Thinking Week offers high school students a chance to dive into architecture, guided by local professionals. This four-day workshop, held each February during school break at BSA Space, turns the gallery into a hands-on design studio where students engage in drawing and model-making activities.
Throughout the workshop, design staff from firms such as Finegold Alexander Architects, Goody Clancy, HMFH Architects, and Sasaki/Sasaki Foundation will lead you through the creative process, helping you develop design skills and learn how to communicate your design ideas. You will tackle a specific design challenge and showcase your work at the final Share Out event.
After the workshop, if you are interested in continuing research or project work in the field, you are eligible to receive stipends and additional support to pursue further opportunities. Many past attendees have gone on to take part in programs such as the BSA x PIC Architecture/Design High School Internship and Sasaki Foundation's SEED (Summer Exploratory Experience in Design), among other partner initiatives.
5. Boston Society for Architecture - Architecture/Design High School Internships
Location: Boston, MA, or local to Boston
Cost: Interns are paid for their work at the firms.
Application Deadline: The hiring process will be completed in May. Applications launch in February.
Program Dates: July 8 - August 16
Eligibility: Open to students who have recently finished grades 9-12 attending public Boston schools
The Architecture/Design High School Internship offers public high school students a six-week immersive experience at local architecture firms, allowing them to explore the field in a professional setting. As an intern, you can expect to gain experience with different firm sizes, approaches, and architectural styles each summer. The program is part of a partnership between the BSA and PIC (since 2017) and also aligns with the City of Boston's Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program, which provides paid opportunities for Boston youth.
In addition to the internships, you will benefit from a six-week Summer Fridays series (introduced in 2018) that includes neighborhood tours and a firm crawl!
Location: Can be in any city. Fill out this form to be notified when there is a camp closest to you.
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Dependent on camp
Program Dates: Dependent on camp
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6-12
This architecture camp introduces high school students to architecture and urban planning through an unconventional lens—hip-hop. Founded by architect and designer Michael Ford, who explores the connection between hip-hop culture and architecture, the program emphasizes creating inclusive urban spaces. It fosters empowerment and upliftment by encouraging design thinking focused on community needs and well-designed environments.
The program’s mission is framed by the "4C's"—Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking. While the hip-hop focus may seem niche, it provides a fresh approach to design education. You will explore materials, lighting, and textures while crafting your own music video set designs.
7. Young Women’s Design and Building Institute - Girls Garage
Location: Girls Garage, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates:
Cohort 1: June 17-21
Cohort 2: June 24-28
Eligibility: Open to girls and gender-expansive youth in rising grades 9-12
The Young Women’s Design and Building Institute offers a week-long, hands-on experience for girls and gender-expansive youth in grades 9-12. You will work together to design and construct a real-world project for a local nonprofit, with past projects ranging from parade floats to furniture and playground installations. You can expect to gain STEM skills, including carpentry, welding, applied math, and architectural drafting, while engaging in discussions about identity, making, and community. The program is led by experienced builders, educators, and architects, and no prior experience in the field of architecture or urban planning is required.
This program is free to accepted participants and limited to 16 students, with priority given to Bay Area residents, youth of color, and those with limited financial resources. The schedule runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, with materials, safety gear, and snacks provided.
8. Advanced Design/Build - Girls Garage
Location: Girls Garage, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: Mondays after-school through the school year, and one week in the summer
Eligibility: Open to female rising 9th - 12th graders who receive an invite. You must have 3+ years of Girls Garage experience. Priority is given to 11th and 12th-grade students.
The Advanced Design/Build program is a year-round initiative for dedicated high school girls and gender-expansive youth in grades 9-12. This cohort focuses on complex, community-based projects, taking students through every stage—from initial design and development to construction and implementation. Over three after-school seasons and a week of summer programming, you will apply skills like carpentry, drafting, math, science, and welding to create lasting architectural projects for local clients. Past projects have included a greenhouse, a parklet, and furniture for a women’s shelter.
The program not only helps you develop technical skills but also emphasizes leadership, activism, and real-world client engagement. In addition, you can expect to receive guidance on career pathways, college applications, and resources for professional development in the field of architecture. The program also provides a safe space for discussions about identity and confidence, connecting students with mentors from architecture and STEM fields.
9. 400 Forward
Location: Local options can be available
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Dependent on local community
Program Dates: Varies by location
Eligibility: Open to high school girls who identify as African-American
400 FORWARD, launched after the milestone of the 400th living African American woman becoming a licensed architect in 2017, aims to inspire and support the next 400 African American women in architecture. The initiative focuses on exposure, mentorship, and financial assistance for African American girls. It offers free art and architecture workshops and camps featuring city-builders, artists, and musicians, while also showcasing youth work at festivals and design summits. Mentorship opportunities are extended to girls across the U.S., connecting them with professionals in architecture and design.
The program also engages you in real-world architectural and urban design projects through partnerships with companies like Ford Motor Company and the Detroit Land Bank, ensuring communities are actively involved in local development. Additionally, 400 FORWARD provides financial support by offering scholarships, and study materials, and covering the cost of architectural licensing exams, which are considered major financial hurdles for aspiring architects.
10. Introduction to Architecture & Environmental Design - MIT OpenCourseWare
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: N/A
Program Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: Open to all regardless of experience
While not a traditional, in-person program, this course introduces you to the fundamentals of design across various scales, from individual objects to buildings and larger environments. It explores architecture, urbanism, and landscape within the broader framework of the arts and sciences. Through both design exercises and lectures, you will gain a foundational understanding of environmental design and architecture.
You are encouraged to develop skills in spatial representation, analysis, and design thinking, while also familiarizing yourself with key methodologies. The course offers a comprehensive introduction to the design process, helping students build a strong reference point for approaching architectural and environmental design concepts.
Tip: It might be useful for you to apply and learn from this course a few weeks before applications for the other programs on this list open! This course will give you a solid introduction to architecture and environmental design and can make for a solid addition to your application(s) to internships/programs that require foundational knowledge of the same.
Bonus program - Veritas AI
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of architecture, design, and AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI is founded by Harvard graduate students. Through the programs, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
Image Source - Boston Society for Architecture logo