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HOW TO APPLY
AIRES is a 2-3 week residential summer program designed for high school students eager to explore artificial intelligence through research and innovation. The program is recommended for rising Grade 11 and Grade 12 students, though outstanding rising Grade 10 students may also be considered.
Students who have not yet entered Grade 9 are encouraged to visit the AIRES Junior page, which has a separate application and dedicated application portal.
Please note that age or grade requirements may vary by university, and details can be found on each individual campus application page.
Application Deadlines and Notifications
Admissions are rolling. Priority applications are due by March 15th. Initial decisions will be released in mid-late March. Applications submitted after the priority deadline will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached. We encourage you to apply early to maximize your chances of securing a spot at your first-choice campus.
Enrollment Confirmation: Students offered admission will be required to confirm their participation within 5 working days of receiving their acceptance email. A non-refundable $750 deposit is required to secure a place.
Waitlist Process: Students not initially admitted may be placed on an active waitlist. Admissions from the waitlist will continue until the program is filled.
Required Components
AIRES reviews applications holistically, valuing students’ diverse academic, cultural, and extracurricular backgrounds. We understand that opportunities vary across schools, so your activity list and short responses play a key role in helping us get to know you.
All applicants must submit the following materials through the online application portal:
- Academic record (highest levels of courses taken)
- Activities List (academic, extracurricular, or community involvement)
- Unofficial School Transcript (required only after acceptance)
- Contact Information for One Recommender (teacher, counselor, or mentor, used only if clarification is needed)
- Three short responses of 150-200 words
- OPTIONAL: English Proficiency Scores (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo), recommended for students whose primary language of instruction is not English
- OPTIONAL: Need-Based Financial Aid Application
Essay Prompts:
- Describe a moment when a new technology – AI or otherwise – forced you to revise an assumption you previously held. What evidence or experience changed your mind, and how did that shift influence your subsequent actions or thinking? (150 words)
- Describe a problem or project you pursued independently. What hypothesis or objective guided your work, how did your initial approach fall short, and how did you refine your strategy? Reflect on what you learned from the experience. (200 words)
- Identify an area where AI’s expansion creates both promise and risk in a field you care about – science, arts, business, or society. How would you approach solving a challenge in that space responsibly, and what perspectives outside your primary field would you draw on? (200 words)
Learn What Fits You Best.
Before applying, review the Academics Page to compare the three learning tracks: AI Engineering & Innovation (AEI), AI in Biomedicine & Health (ABH), and AI, Society, & Management (ASM); and to understand the differences between the 2-week and 3-week programs.
Webinars
AIRES is proud to host a series of free, live webinars for applicants, parents, counselors, and school partners, starting Jan 8th!
Live at 8 PM ET on Thursday every week.
Featuring both program information sessions and college/summer school application workshops. Learn to build a standout college portfolio with AIRES.
Q&A with mentors & alumni on Instagram Stories.
Stay tuned — join our mailing list for updates!
2-Week vs. 3-Week Program
Both the 2-week and 3-week AIRES programs share the same foundational curriculum in the first two weeks, covering core AI concepts, interdisciplinary collaboration, and hands-on research or innovation projects.
The 3-week program includes an additional week of in-depth exploration, allowing students to focus on the application of AI within a specific field, such as Energy and Sustainability in AI Engineering & Innovation (AEI), Neuroscience in AI in Biomedicine & Health (ABH), or Digital Cultural Heritage in AI, Society & Management (ASM).
Students who wish to pursue a more complete and rigorous final deliverable, such as a publishable or near-publishable research paper, or a prototype and business proposal to compete for the AIRES Venture Fund, are encouraged to enroll in the 3-week program.
Rising Grade 12 students are highly encouraged to choose the 3-week track, as it offers an invaluable opportunity to build a strong research or maker portfolio, showcase a distinctive academic persona with an additional extracurricular activity, and enhance competitiveness during their final summer before university applications.