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Navy Science and Engineering Apprenticeship ProgramSEAP

SEAP, run by the Office of Naval Research, places high school students in Navy laboratories for eight paid weeks of research. It offers about 300 placements across 38 labs nationwide with a $4,000 stipend for new participants, and applications for summer 2027 close November 30, 2026.

US citizens only
Stipend

Plan your summer program applications Official website ↗

Size and selectivityAbout 300 placements

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Eligibility: US citizens only
Cost: Stipend
Latest deadline: Nov 30, 2026

SEAP at a Glance

Host: Office of Naval Research (ONR), with the program run by HunaTek Research Associates
Field: Science and engineering research in Navy laboratories; areas vary by lab
Grades and age: Applicants must have completed at least 9th grade and be enrolled in high school (college-credit classes are fine); graduating seniors may apply. Interns must be 16 by the start of the internship. Some labs make exceptions on grade or age, and some require interns to be 18 to obtain a security clearance.
Citizenship and residency: US citizens, as a rule; most labs accept only sole US citizens, while select labs consider permanent residents or dual citizens, so check each lab page. In California: NSWC Corona and NIWC Pacific (San Diego) accept only sole US citizens who can obtain a security clearance, with permanent residents and dual citizens not eligible; NAVFAC EXWC (Port Hueneme) accepts only citizens who are 18; NRL (Monterey) does not accept permanent residents; NPS (Monterey) accepts citizens and allows dual citizenship; NHRC (San Diego) requires interns to be 18 and able to obtain a security clearance; NSWC Port Hueneme has not yet posted its requirements.
Cost: Free, with a stipend: $4,000 for new participants and $4,500 for returning participants, paid biweekly by direct deposit with no tax withheld. Housing, transportation and health insurance are not provided.
Dates and format: Eight weeks of commuting to the lab (with a possible extension of up to two weeks), five days and 40 hours a week, with no vacation time approved. Interns take part in Navy research under lab scientists and engineers and present their summer work at the lab's closing activities.
Application dates: Applications for summer 2027 opened September 15, 2026 and close at 11:59 pm Central on November 30, 2026; recommendations are due within 14 days after the close. Award and non-award letters go out January through March.
Application materials: Online application selecting up to three labs; a transcript (official or unofficial, required); a personal statement; and a reference, ideally a science teacher or someone who can speak to STEM skills. ONR says selection is based on grades, science and math courses taken, national standardized test scores, areas of interest, teacher recommendations and the personal statement.
Size and selectivity: The website calls SEAP a competitive program with about 300 placements across 38 laboratories nationwide. The number of applicants and the acceptance rate are not published.

Verified against official pages on 2026-10-06 · navalsteminterns.us/internships/seap

About SEAP

SEAP is run by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and places high school students in Navy laboratories across the country for eight weeks of full-time research. Interns work on real Navy research under lab scientists and engineers and present their work at the lab’s closing activities. The program is commuter-based at 40 hours a week, with a possible extension of up to two weeks. Current high school students who have finished 9th grade and will be 16 by the start date, as well as graduating seniors, can apply.

The website calls SEAP a competitive program with about 300 placements across 38 laboratories nationwide; applicant numbers and the acceptance rate are not published. New participants receive $4,000 and returning participants $4,500, and housing and transportation are not provided. The program generally requires US citizenship: most labs accept only sole US citizens, a few consider permanent residents, and some require interns to be 18 to obtain a security clearance.

California has seven participating sites in Corona, San Diego, Port Hueneme and Monterey, and the closest to Irvine is NSWC Corona. Applications for summer 2027 opened September 15, 2026 and close November 30. Because citizenship and age rules differ by lab, check the lab pages before deciding which labs to list.

How to Apply to SEAP

The deadline is November 30, two to three months earlier than most summer programs, and recommendations are due within 14 days after that. Line up a recommender by October and remind them to watch for the automated email.
You can select up to three labs and may attend only one that makes you an offer, with no reassignment afterward. California students should check each lab page for citizenship and age rules and choose only labs they can commute to daily.
Labs review grades, science and math courses, standardized test scores and the personal statement. State the research direction you want and connect it to the research areas of the labs you choose.

Application Support for SEAP

EDUBUS starts with an assessment of grades, competitions and research, then decides which programs to aim for and which to hold as back-ups. We then guide each application form, essay, qualifying problem set and interview, and help turn the summer into part of the college application.

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FeatureSummer Programs Recommended by MIT AdmissionsMIT Admissions lists 23 selective summer programs on its website. Each one is in this library, with eligibility, cost and selectivity.

SEAP: Frequently Asked Questions

Which SEAP lab is closest for an Irvine student?

The Naval Surface Warfare Center in Corona (NSWC Corona). Its lab page says it accepts only sole US citizens who can obtain a security clearance before the start date, and interns arrange their own housing and transportation. Other California sites are in San Diego, Port Hueneme and Monterey.

Can an Irvine student with a green card apply to SEAP?

Not at most labs. SEAP generally requires US citizenship, and only select labs consider permanent residents. In California, NSWC Corona, NIWC Pacific, NAVFAC EXWC and NRL Monterey all say permanent residents are not eligible, so check each lab page before applying.

How much is the SEAP stipend?

$4,000 for new participants and $4,500 for returning participants, paid biweekly by direct deposit. Taxes are not withheld, so interns handle their own filing, and housing and transportation are not provided.

When should an Irvine student start preparing for SEAP?

SEAP opens on September 15 and closes on November 30 each year, with results from January to March. Students can apply once they have finished 9th grade; EDUBUS recommends reviewing the lab pages and choosing three target labs before sophomore year starts, and lining up a recommender by October.

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Sources4 sources · checked 2026-10-06

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