15 English Literature Programs for High School Students in the UK
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 12 min read
Programs are a solid way for high school students to experience college-level academics and campus life while learning practical skills and building valuable connections. If you’re interested in English literature, consider a structured program to explore texts through seminars and discussions.
Why should I do an English literature program in high school?
English literature programs for high school students typically feature more advanced and interdisciplinary study, allowing you to prepare for the rigor of college-level humanities coursework. A program also demonstrates your readiness for rigorous coursework on college applications. With many of these programs focusing on UK authors, you’ll get to read texts in the cities where they were written, adding historical and cultural context to your study. In these programs, your experience might include spending a week studying literature with Oxford professors, writing an advanced academic research paper, studying interdisciplinary approaches to literary analysis, and receiving guidance on applying to top UK universities from professors and admissions teams.
In this blog, we’ve reviewed 15 English literature programs for high school students in the UK, with options for both UK residents and international students. We’ve focused on prestigious programs, emphasizing options with fully-funded attendance, networking opportunities, college admissions support, and rigorous academics.
Location: University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Cost / Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Very selective
Program dates: July 6 - 10 or July 20 - 24
Application deadline: January 13
Eligibility: UK state school students with high academic potential in Year 12 (England & Wales), Year 13 (Northern Ireland), or S5 (Scotland)
Oxford’s UNIQ Program in English is a fully-funded program for upper-level high school students from underrepresented or underserved communities in the UK. You’ll spend five days living on Oxford’s campus, where you’ll take on university-level study of English Literature, focused on a close reading and analysis of Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw. Through a combination of lectures and discussion sessions, you’ll examine the text from historical and theoretical perspectives in conversation with film adaptations of the work. You’ll write a final essay on the text, receiving one-on-one feedback from an Oxford professor on your work. You’ll learn about Oxford’s English literature program, meeting with Oxford professors and student ambassadors for Q&As and discussions. Approximately 35-40% of UNIQ participants who apply are ultimately accepted at Oxford.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
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, including English Literature. You’ll be paired with a Ph.D. mentor, working 1-on-1 to undertake an independent research project on a topic of your choice in English Literature. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can find more details about the application here.
Location: University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
Cost / Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Very selective
Program dates: July 5 - 10
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in S5 (Scotland), Year 12 (England and Wales), or Year 13 (Northern Ireland) who attend and have always attended a state-funded school or college in the UK | Must not have yet applied to a university | Must have achieved at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 6, including English and Maths | Additional academic requirements on the program website
The Sutton Trust Summer School at the University of St Andrews is an intensive, fully-funded program for high school students across the UK. Over the course of the week, you’ll take on two college-level courses of your choice taught by St Andrews professors. If you’re looking for an English literature program, the English course is a strong choice; for your second course, you can pursue another humanities field like Art History or Modern Languages, or explore topics in STEM and social sciences such as Biology or Economics. Outside of academic study, you’ll attend seminars on preparing for the university admissions process, learn skills in personal development and studying, and manage financial aid and educational funding. You’ll meet with current students to learn more about college life at St Andrews, attend social events and activities, and participate in a Scottish music and dance ceilidh.
Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Pathway — English Literature Track
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions.
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. Students can choose from over 20 subjects, including architecture, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, they complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: University of Oxford St Peter’s College, Oxford, UK
Cost / Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective; ~30 students
Program dates: 3-day residentials are offered during Easter and Summer holidays
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Year 12 students attending state schools in the Isle of Man, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, or Wirral, UK
Oxford for North West is a university outreach and access program for state school students in the UK, offering fully-funded educational opportunities. The program’s Residential Courses provide three days of on-campus academic coursework and an introduction to university life at Oxford. The English Residential at Oxford's St Peter’s College features tutorials on specialized topics in English literature, workshops with Oxford professors, networking and mentorship opportunities with current students, and guidance on university applications. Through this program, you’ll learn about Oxford’s campus life and literature coursework, build connections with students and staff, and receive insider information on preparing for the admissions process.
Location: Multiple campus locations
Cost / Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Very selective
Program dates: Varies
Application deadline: Contact your school counselor
Eligibility: Welsh students in years 8-13 from state schools and further education colleges. Must be identified by their institution as meeting eligibility criteria.
If you’re a talented, high-achieving, and driven high school student, Seren Academy’s Summer Schools could be the right fit for you. You’ll spend a few weeks at a Seren Academy partner university, experiencing campus life and accessing high-quality academic enrichment. Seren Academy is a prestigious government-sponsored university access program for high-achieving students in Wales. You’ll attend fully-funded summer academic programs, where you can study topics in English literature and beyond at UK universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. You’ll receive long-term support through the Seren Network from academic programming, planning your university and career goals, connections with academic and super-curricular resources, and more. In your final year, you’ll be mentored on how to approach the university application process, including test prep, application procedures, personal statements, and interviews.
Location: University of Oxford, Wadham College, Oxford, UK
Cost / Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective
Program dates: August 17 - 21
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Year 12 students attending UK state schools or sixth-form colleges
The University of Oxford’s Wadham College Summer School is a fully-funded one-week academic program for high school students in the UK, offering courses in both humanities and science. The program’s current primary humanities option, Gender and Sexuality in the Ancient World, provides specialized study of literature, history, culture, and classics under the guidance of Oxford faculty members. You’ll read historic Greek literary and cultural texts in English translation, while developing beginner-level skills in Ancient Greek through language class sessions. To supplement your in-class learning, you’ll visit the Ashmolean Museum and complete a personalized project. The program also offers the Modern Languages Summer School with tracks in French, German, or Spanish and the STEM-focused Climate Change Summer School. You’ll receive tips on preparing strong college applications to Oxford and other top universities from Wadham admissions staff and current undergraduate student ambassadors. Just over one-third of attendees from previous cycles have been admitted to Oxford.
Location: Moniack Mhor, Kiltarlity, UK
Cost / Stipend: Typically free or school-sponsored; may vary by program
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: A maximum of 14 students can be accommodated
Program dates: Varies
Application deadline: N/A
Eligibility: High school students are eligible
Moniack Mhor is a creative writing nonprofit that offers Young Writers programming for high school students interested in literature through flexible residential courses, outreach workshops, and special events. In the Young Writers' Cafe, you’ll join peers aged 14-24 for a two-hour interactive writing workshop led by an acclaimed author, where you’ll work on creative pieces with opportunities to provide and receive feedback and guidance from others. Moniack Mhor’s Residential Programs are held by request from schools or student groups; the organization staff hosts workshops tailored to students’ needs and writing interests led by published authors. You’ll attend one-on-one tutorials and group lessons with experienced writers and instructors, with substantial time set aside for you to work on your own writing in Moniack Mhor’s natural surroundings and communal areas. The Centre hosts other special events, including a Young Writers’ Festival, readings, and masterclasses throughout the year.
Location: University of Edinburgh Holyrood Campus, Edinburgh, UK
Cost / Stipend: £5,250 (Approx. $7,075 USD)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not provided
Program dates: June 29 - July 10
Application deadline: May 19
Eligibility: Students in their final or penultimate year of high school, aged 16-18 | Must be considering applying or have already applied to a university
The University of Edinburgh’s Pre-University Summer School offers a Humanities program for high schoolers merging English literature, philosophy, history, and art history. You’ll learn skills in textual analysis, literary theory, and interdisciplinary approaches to the humanities. Your work will include examining texts and artwork within their historical contexts, analyzing literature through philosophical frameworks, and learning core humanities research skills through faculty lectures, readings, and class discussions. You’ll supplement your study of art and history through walking tours of the historic city of Edinburgh and guided visits to Scotland’s national galleries and museums, viewing places and artwork you’ve studied in real life.
Location: University of Warwick, Warwick, UK
Cost / Stipend: £5,250 (Approx. $7,075 USD)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not provided
Program dates: July 14 - 24
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-17 for the program duration | Who are considering applying to a university
University of Warwick’s A Taste of Arts and Humanities is a 10-day multidisciplinary program merging fields across literature, history, media, culture, and more. You’ll participate in 6 modules, each addressing disciplines in the humanities and arts through lectures, short assignments, and class discussions. In Enlightenment to Postmodernism, you'll examine literature, art, photography, and film through a historical lens focused on sociopolitical events, war, and industrialization. In Film and Television Studies, you’ll apply literary analysis skills to media, analyzing short films through the lens of film theory and criticism. In Theatre and Performance Studies, you’ll learn how literature and scripts are transformed into a compelling performance, studying concepts in interpretation and meaning-making. Other topics addressed include Liberal Arts, Cultural and Media Policy Studies, and Global Sustainable Development. You’ll study college-level concepts in critical textual analysis and theory, learning to apply them to English literature and diverse humanistic fields.
Location: University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
Cost / Stipend: £6,850 (Approx. $9,230 USD)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not provided
Program dates: July 11 - August 1
Application deadline: Not provided
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18 | Must have strong GCSE grades, A grades, 3.2+ GPA, or equivalent
The Social Science and Humanities program at the University of St Andrews Summer Academic Experience offers coursework across literature, history, philosophy, and international relations. Led by St Andrews professors and advanced graduate students, your study of English literature may include topics such as Old English Heroic Literature or Author, Themes and Film Reflexivity; options vary yearly based on instructors’ areas of specialization, but each year includes multiple specialized literary topics. You’ll learn skills in academic writing, literary analysis, and developing strong interpretations and arguments through independent and group assignments. In other disciplinary focus areas, you’ll study topics such as human rights, critical security, and terrorism, where you’ll learn to adapt your writing skills to disciplines outside of literature and apply social science research methods.
Location: Warwick, Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Bath, Windsor, Canterbury, and London, UK
Cost: $4,995, scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30-50 students
Dates: July 2-16
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions ending February 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors aged 15 or older
The In Love and War: The Language and Literature of England program at Hillsdale College offers immersive, specialized study of English literature through on-site learning across the country. You’ll study texts by authors including Chaucer, Shakespeare, Austin, and Eliot, engaging with works from various genres and eras focused on love and war. You’ll explore these themes in conversation with tragedy, comedy, desires, and threats, and how literature can provide insight into the human experience. You’ll travel to the hometowns of the authors you study to add context to your study, such as visiting the Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare’s works were originally performed, or the Canterbury Cathedral while studying the Canterbury Tales. Based on your performance in the course, you’ll be eligible to earn three transferable college credits.
Location: Notre Dame London, London, UK
Cost: $8,750, limited financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 18 students
Dates: July 5-19
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors aged 16 or older | Valid passport required
Notre Dame’s Pre-College program London: Knowledge and Power, brings high schoolers to the university’s UK campus for an immersive study of the city of London. You’ll study the literature, history, and culture of London, exploring its development over time through both classroom study and field trips, with each day covering a new historical period and region of the city. You’ll merge your study of Shakespeare by seeing a stage performance at the Globe theatre, where his works were first performed. You’ll learn about topics across economics, history, and art while visiting the financial district, historical buildings and neighborhoods, and museums. Your tours will be led by guest lecturers with specialized expertise on the day’s topic. You’ll be eligible to earn transferable college credits through your participation in the program.
Location: University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Cost / Stipend: $8,890 (£6,775)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not selective; 10-12 students per seminar
Program dates: July 3–16, July 17 - 30, or July 31 - August 13
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Current 9th-12th-grade students | Motivated 8th-grade students are considered
Oxford Academia’s English Literature Seminar allows you to study English literature while exploring the authors’ home country. You’ll read texts from Shakespeare, Shelley, Wordsworth, Wilde, Woolf, and more, learning about how the authors were inspired by Oxford and other regions of England while strengthening your skills in literary analysis. You’ll take on college seminar-style discussions, analyzing literature through the lens of historicism, English politics, and the broader English Literature canon. You’ll discuss the relationship between historic authors and more modern genres and English authors from post-colonial fiction to Harry Potter. You’ll supplement your primary work in English Literature with a “minor” seminar in another subject; related fields include Creative Writing, History of Art and Architecture, and Philosophy, though STEM and social science options are also offered.
Location: London, UK | Field trips are held in other cities throughout England
Cost / Stipend: $7,550
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not selective
Program dates: June 16 - July 6
Application deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+
CIEE London’s program in Creative Writing and Culture teaches students about English literature while guiding participants to write literature of their own. You’ll learn about Shakespeare and see a play at his Globe Theatre, visit Westminster Abbey — an inspiration for numerous literary works — and write poems at the Westminster Bridge, and study Dickens while taking a walking tour of the areas he frequented. Your other field trips will include visiting the Blackwell bookshop, touring Shakespeare’s schoolroom and childhood home, and more. You’ll attend courses and lectures on British authors, culture, and society, and develop a literary portfolio of your own connected to the themes covered throughout the program. You’ll get a chance to share your work with your peers and instructors through a spoken word workshop and open mic.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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