15 Competitive History Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Mar 24
- 11 min read
If you are thinking about pursuing history or social sciences in college, exploring the subject through a program during high school is a good idea. History programs allow you to study topics in greater depth and interact with peers who share similar interests. These programs often include lectures, seminars, and research activities that help you examine historical questions from different perspectives. You may analyze documents, study historical debates, and learn how historians interpret evidence.
Why should I participate in a competitive history program in high school?
Participating in a competitive history program allows you to experience how historical research and discussion take place in academic settings. You may attend lectures, participate in seminars, and work on research assignments that explore historical questions in depth. These programs can also give you a strong advantage in college applications because they show that you explored your interest in history outside your regular classes. They also help you develop research and writing skills that are important if you plan to study history, political science, or international relations in college.
With that in mind, here are 15 competitive history programs for high school students!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as history, psychology, physics, economics, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: The New York Historical, New York, NY
Stipend: Free to attend; $700 stipend upon successful completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 10% (25 interns selected)
Dates: July 7 - August 13
Application Deadline: March 29
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10, 11, or 12 who live in and attend school in the NYC metro area (NYC five boroughs + parts of NY, NJ, CT)
The Student Historian Internship places you directly in a research environment where you work with archival collections and historical documents. The program focuses on a yearly historical theme, such as Frederick Douglass’ idea of a “Composite Nation,” which explores citizenship and democracy in nineteenth-century America. During the internship, you examine manuscripts, letters, and other historical sources from the museum’s collections. With guidance from historians and museum educators, you use those sources to build a digital public history project. The work combines research, writing, and digital storytelling. By the end of the program, you will produce a project that presents historical research to a broader public audience.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; Small groups of 7 - 10 students per class
Dates: 2-week sessions during the summer (multiple cohorts; rolling admissions)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions for summer cohorts
Eligibility: Students aged 13 - 18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
Immerse Education’s History Track, part of the Academic Insights Program, offers you the opportunity to experience university-style learning in globally recognised academic cities. You’ll live on campus and engage in small-group seminars led by tutors from leading institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge. The curriculum emphasises experiential and discussion-based learning, encouraging you to analyse historical themes, debate interpretations, and explore primary sources. Beyond history, you may choose from over 20 academic subjects, allowing for interdisciplinary exploration. Each of you will do a personal project and receive individualised written feedback and a certificate of completion. The program is designed to simulate university life while developing critical thinking, research, and presentation skills. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Remote, In-Person (New York, NY), and Hybrid options (varies by role)
Stipend: Free to participate; $17 per hour (paid internship)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 - August 28 (flexible by department; some roles June 15 - August 21)
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and graduate students who are eligible to work in the U.S. and are located in the U.S. during the internship period
The Gilder Lehrman Institute’s internship program allows you to support projects related to history education and historical archives. You will work with departments that manage digital history courses, educational programming, archival collections, and public events. Depending on the department, your work may involve assisting with online history courses, organizing historical documents, or helping prepare materials for history teachers and students. Some roles also involve reviewing historical citations or supporting digital learning platforms. Through these tasks, you see how historical scholarship is translated into educational programs and public resources.
Location: University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Cost: Fully funded (free of charge; supported by the U.S. Department of Education)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: July 6 - 17 (two-week residential program)
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors in Montana
The Mansfield Civics Institute at the University of Montana explores the historical foundations of American democracy through an intensive residential program. During the two-week session, you will study key documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution while discussing how these texts shaped the political development of the United States. Seminars focus on ideas like federalism, the rule of law, and the evolution of civil liberties across American history. Much of the learning happens through discussion, where you examine historical debates and interpret primary documents. The program also includes visits to historic locations and service activities that connect historical ideas to present-day civic life.
Location: University of Montana Campus, Missoula, MT
Cost: Free (fully funded; meals and materials provided)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Space‑limited and competitive
Dates: July 21 - 25 (tentative, based on previous year dates)
Application Deadline: June 6 (tentative, based on previous year deadline)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Summer History Institute introduces you to the practice of historical analysis through seminars taught by university faculty. Over the course of the program, you will examine political debates, constitutional developments, and changes in civil rights across American history. Lectures are paired with discussions that focus on interpreting historical documents and understanding the context behind major events. You also work on a short research presentation where you investigate a specific historical topic and explain your findings.
Location: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Cost: Tuition, housing, and meals fully covered; $75 application fee + $150 enrollment fee (if admitted); travel costs not covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 150 students annually
Dates: July 18 - 29
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Current high school juniors; typically top 10% of class; at least 16 years old by August 1; demonstrated leadership
Notre Dame’s Leadership Seminars include several academic tracks that explore historical and civic themes within a broader leadership program. In seminars connected to American democracy or social inequality, you will examine historical case studies that explain how political systems developed over time. Discussions often revolve around historical conflicts, institutional change, and the role of leadership during major moments in history. The seminar format encourages you to read closely, question interpretations, and support your ideas with historical evidence. Conversations with faculty and peers often move between historical analysis and modern policy questions.
Location: Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) & University of Maryland (College Park, MD) hosted by Telluride Association
Cost: Free (tuition, books, room & board, field trips covered; travel aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 3% - 5%
Dates: June 21 - July 25
Application Deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors, ages 15 - 17; U.S. and international students
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar is an intensive academic program built around long discussion-based seminars. Each day you take part in extended conversations about historical texts, political theory, and social movements. The curriculum explores themes related to race, inequality, and power through historical analysis and close reading. The program focuses on collaborative discussion where you examine historical ideas and challenge each other’s interpretations. Writing assignments ask you to build analytical arguments grounded in historical evidence.
Location: Middleburg, VA (with travel to historic sites in VA, DC, MD, WV, and PA)
Cost: $9,995 tuition; financial aid available on a need basis
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 90 students
Dates: June 28 - July 24
Application Deadline: Early Deadline: February 1; Final Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising 10th - 12th grade students
The National History Academy combines classroom learning with visits to historic locations across the mid-Atlantic region. During the program, you will travel to historically significant sites connected to major events in American history. The remaining days focus on seminar discussions and case studies that analyze those events in detail. The curriculum examines topics such as the founding era, slavery and civil rights, industrialization, and the development of American democracy. Harvard case-style discussions encourage you to examine historical dilemmas and debate the decisions made by historical figures.
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Stipend: Free to attend; $1,100 stipend upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 1 - August 7 (Bootcamp July 1; Departmental Placement July 7 - August 7; additional required events throughout the summer)
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Current 10th or 11th grade students (or students obtaining a High School Equivalency) who reside in and attend high school or homeschool in NY, NJ, or CT; must provide working papers and SSN or ITIN; must not have previously interned at The Met
The Met High School Internship Program introduces you to the role museums play in preserving and interpreting history through art and artifacts. During the program, you will work with museum departments such as curatorial teams, education programs, or digital media groups. Staff members guide you through projects that involve researching objects, organizing historical information, and developing educational materials for museum audiences. The internship begins with a training bootcamp that introduces you to the museum’s collections and the responsibilities of museum work.
Location: Online (virtual workshops); some in-person sessions offered in select locations
Cost: $3,650 for the online high school camp
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: Winter Online Weekend Session: January 18 - March 22; Summer Sessions (2-week options): June 8 - July 31; Summer Weekend Session: June 7 - August 9
Application Deadline: Winter Early Deadline: October 31; Winter Regular Deadline: November 30; (Summer deadlines vary by session)
Eligibility: Current high school students and rising 9th graders
TCR History Camp is designed for students interested in writing serious historical research papers. Before the program begins, you select a historical topic and begin gathering books and sources that relate to your research question. During the camp, instructors guide you through the process of forming a clear historical argument and organizing evidence from both primary and secondary sources. Small seminars explore historical methodology, source evaluation, and citation practices commonly used in academic history writing. You also meet individually with instructors who help refine your thesis and structure your paper. By the end of the program, you will have completed the first draft of a substantial research essay with proper Chicago-style citations.
Location: Online (Cornell University School of Continuing Education)
Cost: $1,940 per credit; Typical online course costs: 3 credits: $5,820; 4 credits: $7,760; 6 credits: $11,640 (and higher depending on credits); $75 nonrefundable application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer Online Sessions: June 1 - July 31 (3-week or 6-week sessions); Winter Online Session: January 2 - 17
Application Deadline: Summer Session 1: April 28; Summer Session 2 & 6-week session: May 5; Summer Session 3: June 2; (Winter session deadlines vary by year)
Eligibility: Must have completed sophomore year of high school; ages 15 - 19 when the course begins
Cornell’s Precollege Studies Online Program allows high school students to enroll in real undergraduate courses taught by Cornell faculty. You’ll choose from a range of subjects, including history, architecture, humanities, and international relations, and complete rigorous coursework. Courses are delivered through Cornell’s Canvas learning system, with instruction offered either synchronously (live) or asynchronously (self-paced). You’ll engage in discussions, assignments, and projects typical of a Cornell undergraduate class. Upon completion, you’ll receive an official Cornell transcript and can earn 3-12 transferable college credits.
Location: Online (University of California, Berkeley Summer Sessions)
Cost: $635 per unit (tuition); $585 registration fee; $73 document management fee; $25 application fee; International students pay an additional $500 service fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer Sessions typically run May 26 - August 14, with multiple session formats (6-10 weeks depending on the course)
Application Deadline: June 1 (applications open February 17)
Eligibility: Must have completed 10th or 11th grade; Must be 16 years old by June 21; Minimum 3.0 GPA (B average) in high school coursework; Must remain enrolled in high school the following fall; International students must meet English proficiency requirements
UC Berkeley’s Pre-College Scholars program allows high school students to enroll in Berkeley summer courses and complete university coursework online. History and humanities courses often explore topics such as political history, cultural movements, or global historical change. Classes include lectures, readings, written assignments, and discussions similar to those taken by Berkeley undergraduates. Through these courses, you practice analyzing historical sources and constructing arguments supported by evidence. The program also familiarizes you with the expectations of university coursework and independent study. Completing the course gives you an academic transcript that reflects the work completed during the session.
Location: Brown University (online via Canvas learning platform)
Cost: $3,364 for a 2-week online course (cost varies by course length)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 - July 2 (2-week online session)
Application Deadline: Not specified; applications open until courses fill
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9-12, ages 14-18 by June 14
Power and the Production of History examines how historical narratives are created and interpreted rather than simply recounting historical events. The course focuses on how institutions such as archives, museums, and public memorials shape the stories societies tell about the past. Through readings and discussions, you examine how race, class, gender, and colonial histories influence the way history is written and remembered. Case studies often explore monuments, historical archives, and museum collections as sources of historical interpretation. You will work on projects such as designing a historical exhibit or proposing a new monument.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer program (courses typically announced in April)
Application Deadline: Check in April for course registration details
Eligibility: High school students
The Gilder Lehrman History School offers virtual courses that focus heavily on primary documents and major themes in American history. Classes are led by experienced history teachers who guide you through key historical moments using speeches, letters, court decisions, and other original sources. The program asks you to analyze documents and discuss the motivations and consequences behind historical decisions. Topics often include constitutional debates, Supreme Court rulings, immigration history, and Cold War politics. Sessions are interactive, with discussion forming the center of the course rather than long lectures.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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