Best Economics Research Programs for High School Students Worldwide: Top 5 for 2027

Are you one of the thousands of students who want to pursue a career in economics? Do you think that having top grades at your school, and writing a personal statement on your fascination with global markets is definitely going to get you an admission? Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case.

Admission officers at LSE, Cambridge, MIT, Wharton, NYU Stern etc would have read the same things a hundred times in all the applications. But, what will make you stand out from the crowd is your curiosity which made you test an economic research question with real data. Basically, someone who is curious enough to ask whether a minimum wage rise in their city could bring down child employment, works with real data, and writes their findings as a research paper.

This is exactly the gap that an economics research programme fills. Below are the 5 we think are genuinely worth your time for 2027, chosen based on research depth, mentor quality and an actual outcome that you can walk away with.

What Makes a Good Economics Research Programme?

Economics research does not require a lab. Your tools are basically the datasets, numbers, and arguments. So before you apply, always check for:

• Real data work: Does the programme work with econometrics, statistics, R or Python and not just theoretical lectures on demand and supply?
• Mentors: Is the programme taught by PhD economists or faculty who have actually published research papers in the past?
• Output: At the end of the programme, do you see yourself producing a concrete output, such as a research paper, a policy brief, or a presentation that you can use in your university applications?
• Selectivity & Cost: Does the programme you choose have an honest mention about the fee structure, deadlines and acceptance criteria?

The 5 Best Economics Research Programmes for High School Students

1. University of Pennsylvania Economics Academy

Penn’s Economics Academy is a three-week, on-campus programme run by the University of Pennsylvania, the Ivy League home of the Wharton School. It is built entirely around economics. Students explore markets, trade, development, inequality and policy through lectures, debates, guest speakers and field trips. In the final week, small teams research a real economic challenge facing a country and present their solution at a poster session. That capstone is a good first taste of how economists frame a problem and argue from evidence.

Best Suited For: Students who want an intensive, Ivy League economics experience and a research-based group project in one summer.

Cost: Tuition-based, scholarships are available for students at Philadelphia public and charter schools.

Deadline: Applications usually open in winter and close in spring. The 2026 programme ran from 11 July to 1 August.

Eligibility: Students currently in grades 9 to 11. International students are welcome.

2. Anson L. Clark Scholars Programme, Texas Tech University

The Clark Scholars Programme takes just 12 students each summer and pairs them with a Texas Tech faculty member for 7 weeks of full-time research. Research areas change yearly, so check that an economics or business project is on the list. It is also one of the few programs that pays you.

Best Suited For: High-achieving US students who can commit to an entire summer on campus.

Cost: Free, with housing and meals covered and a $750 stipend on completion ($25 application fee).

Deadline: Typically mid-February.

Eligibility: Must be aged 17 by the start date, in the summer before or after senior year; US citizens or permanent residents only.

3. Sapiente Education’s Economics Research Programme

Sapiente’s Economics programme is built for students who want one-to-one sessions with a mentor from prestigious institutions like LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, etc. Through our one-to-one Research & Publication programmes, students choose a question in microeconomics, macroeconomics, behavioural economics, econometrics, public policy, global trade or the economics of AI. They then develop it into an academic paper ready for worldwide journal submission. Students finish the programme with a publishable research paper, essay or presentation, plus an official certificate of completion and a recommendation letter from their mentor (discretionary).

Best Suited For: Students worldwide who want a publishable economics paper and flexible pacing around school exams.

Cost: Programme-based, a free consultation is available before applying.

Deadline: Rolling throughout the year.

Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13 and above with a genuine interest in economics.

4. University of Chicago Pathways in Economics

Few universities have shaped modern economics like Chicago, and Pathways in Economics gives high schoolers a 3-week residential look at how research is actually done. Lecturers from the Department of Economics teach microeconomics, macroeconomics, game theory, and field experiments. Current UChicago undergraduates lead smaller discussion sections, labs and group projects. You won’t write an independent paper, but you will learn the methods real research is built on.

Best Suited For: Students who are comfortable with maths and want a taste of university-level economics.

Cost: $9,300 for the 2026 session, need-based financial aid is available.

Deadline: Priority deadline in February, regular deadline in March.

Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 11, with pre-calculus completed. Alumni can also use UChicago’s Summer Session Early Notification (SSEN) admissions route.

5. Foundation for Teaching Economics: Economics for Leaders

Economics for Leaders (EFL) is a one-week residential programme hosted at campuses such as Yale, Duke, Cornell, Rice and UC Berkeley. Students apply economic reasoning to real public policy problems alongside leadership training. Strictly speaking it is a stepping stone, not a research program, but it is the most beginner-friendly option here. Students who have already taken economics can choose Advanced EFL.

Best Suited For: Rising juniors and seniors who are new to economics or interested in policy.

Cost: Around $2,800 per session, with scholarships available.

Deadline: Early deadline in February, final deadline in mid-April.

Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (first-time participants).

Common Mistakes Students Make When Applying

• Choosing a research question that’s far too big: Students who choose questions like “Why are some countries richer than the others?” will take years to answer. Our guide on top 10 research topic ideas for various subject disciplines walks you through how to choose a research question like a scholar.
• Ignoring the math: Most economics research papers need statistics, so make sure to brush up on your math skills early.
• Missing the February rush: Most selective programmes usually close their applications between February and April. So start your essays and recommendations as soon as possible.
• Ignoring free resources: Always make it a habit to explore free sources like World Bank Open Data, FRED and OECD data before you apply. Having knowledge of recent data sources can make your application stand out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can high school students really do economics research?

Yes. With public datasets and a good mentor, students produce original work on inflation, inequality, housing, and more.

Do I need to know coding for an economics research programme?

Not always, but basic Excel knowledge, R, or Python helps a lot. Many programmes, including Sapiente, teach these skills you need along the way.

When should I apply for summer 2027 economics programmes?

Start now. Most selective deadlines fall between February and April 2027.

Conclusion

Wanting to study economics is common. Having already done economics is what sets you apart. Whichever program you choose, the goal is the same: ask a real question, test it with evidence and finish the work.