Laboratory Learning Program

Princeton University's Laboratory Learning Program (LLP) is a free, full-time summer research program for high school students who live near Princeton and attend local New Jersey high schools. It places students in ongoing natural science and engineering research, closely supervised by Princeton faculty and research staff. Projects change every year depending on which faculty sign up, and each project sets its own schedule. Most internships last five to six weeks during regular weekday business hours, and all projects are in person, with no remote options. LLP is not residential. Princeton does not provide housing or transportation, and there are no social activities. There is no fee to participate, and students do not earn academic credit. Princeton reports receiving more than 3,000 applications in each recent active year.

To apply for summer 2026, students had to be at least 16 by June 15, 2026, enrolled in a local New Jersey high school, and U.S. citizens; green card and permanent resident card holders are not eligible. Graduates of a New Jersey high school who were not yet 18 by June 15 could also apply. Families must show proof of local housing and daily transportation. Each student submits one online application naming up to two projects; transcripts and recommendations are only requested after acceptance. The 2026 application window ran February 15 to March 15, 2026, and accepted students had to confirm by May 4, 2026. Applications for summer 2027 are scheduled to open February 15, 2027.