Are you a high school student who is enthusiastic about studying physics outside of the classroom, get practical experience, improve your comprehension of scientific ideas, and meet like-minded individuals ?
Here is a list of nine physics camps and contests listed below.
1. The International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)
Location: Varies (each year, the host country changes)
Program Dates: July 17–25, 2025 (France)
Cost: Paid for by national teams
High school students chosen through national Olympiad procedures are eligible.
Deadline: varies by nation.
Students from more than 80 countries compete in the IPhO. In order to assess their advanced understanding of mechanics, thermodynamics, and quantum physics, participants are expected to solve theoretical and experimental problems.
2. USAPhO (United States Physics Olympiad)
Location: University of Maryland training camp for the U.S. Physics Team
Program Dates: training camp, May 27–June 7, 2025
Cost: $15 per student, $75 for school registration
US high school students are eligible.
Deadline: The deadline for F=ma registration is January 27, 2025.
The IPhO's national qualifying competition, USAPhO, finds physics students in the United States. Finalists are invited to a training camp after passing the USAPhO and F=ma exams. Students prepare for international competition by tackling complex theoretical and experimental problems. The USAPhO exam consists of two parts (each 90 minutes) and six problems in total.
After the USAPhO exam, the top 20 students nationwide are invited to training camp at the University of Maryland. There, they receive advanced theoretical and experimental instruction, and the top five are chosen to represent the U.S. at the International Physics Olympiad
3. PhysicsBowl
Location: At nearby educational institutions or testing facilities
Program Dates: March 22–April 14, 2025
Price range: $5–$10 per pupil
All high school students are eligible.
Deadline: February 27, 2025.
The American Association of Physics Teachers hosts the annual PhysicsBowl competition. In 45 minutes, students respond to 40 multiple-choice questions covering a variety of high school physics subjects. The competition, which is split into two divisions for first- and second-year physics students, is well-known for its difficult questions.
4. Physics Brawl
Location: Online
Program Dates: 23 November 2025
Cost: There is no fee to compete.
All high school students around the world are eligible.
Deadline: November 23, 2025, is the deadline.
In the fast-paced, team-based Physics Brawl competition, players must work quickly to solve a series of difficult problems. In a virtual competition, more than 900 teams from more than 55 nations tackle physics problems that are conceptual and application-based.
5. Advanced Physics Summer Program (University of Maryland)
Location: The University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland
Dates of the Program: July 28–August 8, 2025
Cost: For information on costs, visit the program's website.
Rising 9th–12th graders are eligible.
Deadline: Visit the program's website
Students participate in lab demonstrations, soldering, coding, robotics, and conversations with academics and business professionals during this two-week summer program. It includes visiting research labs, working on projects that develop skills, and learning about physics subjects that aren't usually taught in high school.
6. Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA)
Location: New Haven, Connecticut's Yale University
Dates of the Program: August 4–15, 2025, or June 30–July 11, 2025
Cost: Visit the program's website.
Rising seniors are eligible.
Deadline: Visit the program's website
For incoming high school seniors who are enthusiastic about physics and astronomy, YSPA is a selective research and enrichment program. After engaging in lectures, practical research, and data analysis projects, students present their findings in a group setting. Students gain new exposure through the program's simulation of college-level research and teamwork.
7. Imperial Global Summer School (Physical Sciences)
Location: London, UK's Imperial College
Program Dates: June 18–August 8, 2025 (multiple sessions)
Cost: Visit the program's website.
Students in high school are eligible.
Deadline: Visit the program's website
High school students can study advanced physics subjects like quantum mechanics and astrophysics at Imperial College London's Global Summer School. This program, like many others, offers a taste of university life and STEM careers through hands-on laboratory sessions, research activities, and workshops led by Imperial faculty.
8. UPenn Experimental Physics Research Academy
Location: The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Program Dates: July 6–27, 2025
Tuition costs: $9,700, plus an application fee of $75.
Current 9th–11th graders, including those from abroad, are eligible.
Deadline: February 15, 2025
The University of Pennsylvania immerses students in contemporary physics subjects such as quantum dynamics, electromagnetism, and mechanics. In order to develop their scientific research and communication skills, students must perform experiments, go to lectures, and experience campus life.
9. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Fairfax, Virginia's George Mason University (with remote options)
Dates of the Program: June 18–August 8, 2025
Cost: Visit the programme's website.
Students in high school and college are eligible.
Deadline: Visit the program's website
Through ASSIP, high school students can collaborate with faculty mentors on authentic research projects utilising state-of-the-art technology. While investigating STEM career options, interns hone their scientific writing, communication, and problem-solving abilities. Both in-person and remote attendance are options for the programme.
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Global Education offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Global’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!