High school students: if you’re searching for an elite STEM summer program, check out MasterScholar! With an international student application deadline of May 3, there’s still plenty of time to apply.

MasterScholar's research-focused summer programs help students enhance their college applications, explore their academic passions, and build connections with global peers.

Among the five MasterScholar programs offered this summer, three are oriented towards STEM: the North Carolina Math Camp (Raleigh, North Carolina), the UCSB Summer Research Program (Santa Barbara, CA) — as well as the new Kensington Engineering Institute (London, UK), taught by Imperial College London faculty!

MasterScholar’s 2026 STEM programs allow students to work directly with faculty from Duke University, Imperial College London, the University of California, and more. Read on for more details about these three unique opportunities:

Kensington Engineering Institute (KEI)

• Location: Kensington Park School - London, UK
• Taught By: Imperial College London faculty
• Academic Focus: Engineering
• Website: Learn More About the Kensington Engineering Institute 

KEI is a two-week intensive summer research program hosted in London, UK, taught by Engineering faculty from Imperial College London — one of the elite “G5” UK universities. Designed for high school students who aspire to pursue careers in the field of engineering, KEI teaches students to learn, think, and operate like real engineers, developing their ability to innovate and solve complex problems. Upon completion, all participants will receive an individualized faculty evaluation letter; top-performing students may earn a recommendation letter from Imperial College faculty, which can be used for future university and related program applications.

UCSB Summer Research Program

• Location: University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)
• Taught By: UCSB faculty and researchers
• Academic Focus: Environmental Science/Sustainability & Engineering
• Website: Learn More About the UCSB Summer Research Program
• Program Videos: Watch Program Overview

The UCSB Summer Research Program offers an engaging and immersive pre-college experience for high school students interested in sustainability, engineering, and environmental science. Hosted on campus at UCSB, and taught by UCSB faculty, the program helps students explore sustainable technology solutions — benefiting from the university's status as an “R1” Research University, and its unique oceanfront location. Students are also offered on-campus outdoor activities and a day trip to nearby Los Angeles.

North Carolina Math Camp (NCMC)

• Location: Saint Mary's School - Raleigh, NC
• Taught By: Duke University faculty, led by Dr. Hubert Bray
• Academic Focus: Advanced Mathematics
• Website: Learn More About NCMC 
• Program Videos: Watch Program Overview 

The MasterScholar North Carolina Math Camp (NCMC), a two-week summer program taught by Duke University faculty, presents a valuable opportunity for high school students to delve deeper into the study of advanced mathematics. Recommended by MIT as an alternative to the renowned PRIMES program and endorsed by the American Mathematical Society, NCMC not only offers teaching resources from a top-tier university but also focuses on nurturing students' independent research and teamwork skills. Students who successfully complete the program receive an individualized faculty evaluation letter, and top students are awarded a university recommendation letter as well.

Learn more from this video by Dr. Hubert Bray, Program Director.

Apply Now

If you’re interested in these unique summer opportunities, the time to apply is now! Applications for 2026 MasterScholar Summer Programs are due May 3 for international students, and May 31 for U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents. Students are encouraged to apply early, as seats are "first come, first serve."

We hope to meet you in the USA — or perhaps, London — this summer! 

👉 Learn More and Apply Today!