11 English Literature Research Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 days ago
- 9 min read
If you are thinking about studying English literature later, it helps to see how the subject is approached outside regular classes. Research programs give you that space by focusing more on interpretation, writing, and sustained reading.
English literature research programs allow you to explore texts in detail, connect ideas across authors or time periods, and work on critical writing. You might study poetry, fiction, or essays while also learning how to frame and support your own arguments.
Why should I participate in an English literature research program in high school?
These programs help you develop a more structured way of thinking. You learn how to take an idea, test it against the text, and build it into a clear argument. That kind of writing does not come quickly, but it improves with practice and feedback.
They also make reading feel more active. Instead of just understanding the plot or theme, you begin to notice details, patterns, and choices that shape meaning. Over time, this shows up in your applications as you have stronger writing samples, clearer interests, and more specific experiences to talk about.
With that, here are 11 English literature research programs for high school students!
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
(Note: Not all of the programs below are formal research programs, but all are connected to research through literary analysis, academic writing, close reading, or mentorship-based inquiry.)
Key takeaways
These programs range from independent research with a PhD mentor (Lumiere) to university-level literature courses (Columbia, Brown, Barnard), intensive creative writing workshops (Iowa Young Writers' Studio, Kenyon Review, Reynolds), and one-on-one mentorship with published writers (Adroit Journal).
Several programs are highly selective, including Iowa Young Writers' Studio (10 to 15%), Reynolds Young Writers Workshop (10%), and Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship (8%), while others, such as Columbia Pre-College and Summer@Brown, have more open enrollment.
Most programs are residential and held on university campuses, though virtual options, such as Lumiere, Adroit Journal, and Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies, are available for students who cannot travel.
Application deadlines for the most competitive programs fall early, including Iowa Young Writers' Studio (February 1), Kenyon Review (March 1), and Adroit Journal (March 1), so students should prepare writing samples and materials well before the spring.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
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 that offers extensive research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs you with a Ph.D. mentor to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. You can choose research topics from subjects such as English literature, psychology, physics, economics, and data science. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
Cost: Varies based on session duration, check here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 1-, 2-, and 3-week sessions between June 15 and July 25
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12, ages 14 to 18 by June 14
Summer@Brown offers non-credit courses in Literature, Writing, and Communications on Brown’s campus. Course options included in the Literature, Writing, and Communications track include: From Ovid to Tolkien: Fantasy's Forebears, Beyond the Book: Text, Image, and Experiments in the In-Between, Creative Writing Workshop: Fiction. Classes typically meet three hours a day, five days a week, with additional independent work outside of class. Courses emphasize discussion, close reading, writing, and, in some cases, independent research. Students who complete their course receive a digital certificate, and those enrolled in two-week or longer courses receive a course performance report.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
Immerse Education’s English Literature Summer School offers you the opportunity to experience university life firsthand while studying literature in an academically rigorous setting. Guided by expert tutors, you’ll learn in small groups. The course focuses on interactive seminars, close reading, and writing workshops. You’ll explore classic and contemporary texts, experiment with literary analysis, and build a writing or research portfolio. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and earn a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Denison University, Granville, OH
Cost: $1,700 (on-campus workshop, including tuition, housing, and meals). Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10% Highly competitive, 12 students per group
Dates: June 19 - 28
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Reynolds Young Writers Workshop at Denison University is a residential program where you spend your time writing, revising, and discussing your work in small groups. Each day includes dedicated writing periods along with workshops where you share drafts and receive feedback from faculty and peers. The sessions often move beyond writing into discussions about how texts are built, how voice develops, and how ideas are shaped on the page. You also attend readings and conversations with visiting writers, which gives you insight into how literary work is created and refined. The program builds both creative practice and close engagement with written work.
Location: On-campus with options for residential or commuter participation
Cost: Residential: $10,771; Commuter: $8,160. Limited need-based aid is available; early application recommended
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 29 – July 17, July 20 – August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling admission basis, starting in January
Eligibility: All rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors (including Gap Year Students)
At Barnard’s Writing and Literature track, you stay with a single course and build your work over the duration of the program. You read texts closely, discuss them in small seminars, and write across different forms such as fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. A significant part of the program is revision, where you return to your drafts and develop them further with feedback. You also engage with New York’s literary environment through events and site visits, which adds context to what you are studying. By the end, you put together a portfolio that reflects both your writing and your analytical work.
Location: Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
Cost: $2,575. Need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, 12-14 students in one group
Dates: June 21 – July 4; July 12 – 25
Application Deadline: March 1; Portal often closes early due to volume; early decision is recommended
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18 at the time of the program
The Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop focuses on sustained writing and revision within a small group setting. You spend several hours each day in workshops where you share your work and receive detailed feedback. Alongside this, you meet individually with instructors to discuss your progress and direction. The program encourages you to revisit your drafts and refine them carefully, rather than moving quickly from one piece to another. You also choose a secondary focus area to explore a specific genre or technique in more depth.
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: $10 reading fee to apply(fee waiver possible). Course fee $2,500(Full and partial tuition grants available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive (10-15%); each course has about 10 students.
Dates: June 14 – 27; July 12 – 25
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 10, 11, or 12
The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio is a two-week residential program focused on intensive creative writing study. You will choose one core course, such as fiction, poetry, creative writing, TV writing, or playwriting, and remain in that track for the full session. Courses are taught by graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and related MFA programs. You share your work regularly, receive structured critique from instructors and peers, and complete targeted writing exercises.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $12,837 per session (includes housing and dining)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: June 29 – July 17
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Students who are 15 years of age or older
Columbia’s Explorations in Modern Literature course focuses on close reading of major literary works from different periods. You study authors such as Dostoevsky, Woolf, and writers from movements like the Harlem Renaissance. The course emphasizes how language, structure, and style shape meaning within a text. You take part in discussions, complete writing assignments, and present your ideas through an oral presentation. Visits to cultural spaces like museums are also included as part of the experience.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $575. Financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 8%
Dates: June 16 – July 28 (based on previous years)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 9-12 can apply to the program (including graduating seniors and gap year students)
The Adroit Journal’s Summer Mentorship Program matches you with an established writer for an intensive one-on-one mentorship conducted fully online. You exchange drafts virtually, receive in-depth feedback, and engage in sustained revision over several weeks. The format varies by genre. In poetry, you submit new work each week and connect with both your mentor and a small peer cohort. In fiction or creative nonfiction, you send pieces every two weeks and focus on revision between feedback cycles. Throughout the program, you gain insight into editorial decision-making and learn how to manage your writing process.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,200+$65 Application Fee. Financial aid is available. Deadline to apply for aid is March 20
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 - 26; July 6 - 17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: High school students in grades 8-11 at the time of application
The Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry course offered by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies is a virtual creative writing course for rising high school students interested in nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. You will study poems, essays, and short stories by established authors, and analyze how structure, voice, and form affect each piece. You’ll meet online for two hours each weekday, with additional office hours for individual guidance. You will complete targeted assignments and participate in discussions and workshops. Throughout the course, you will strengthen your ability to analyze, craft, and revise your work with clarity.
Location: New York City, NY
Cost: $2,250
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Students may apply to both the two-week workshop and the stand-alone one-week workshop. Two-Week Session: July 13-24; Stand-Alone Third Week: July 27–31
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18; students from the United States and international students worldwide are welcome
The Young Writers Workshop offers two options you can choose from: a two-week workshop and a standalone one-week workshop. You may apply to either option or both, and the two-week workshop requires full attendance for the entire session. The focus is on sustained, genre-specific writing in poetry, narrative nonfiction, personal essay, or journalism and cultural criticism. You will participate in daily workshops, peer critique sessions, and conclude with a public Open Mic after the two-week session. The standalone one-week option provides a shorter, intensive writing experience.
Frequently asked questions
What types of English literature programs are available for high school students?
Options include independent research programs, such as Lumiere, university literature courses, such as Columbia Pre-College and Summer@Brown, residential creative writing workshops, such as Iowa Young Writers' Studio, Kenyon Review, and Reynolds Young Writers Workshop, and mentorship programs, such as Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship.
Are there online or virtual English literature programs for high school students?
Yes, Lumiere Research Scholar Program, Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship, and Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies Creative Writing are all fully virtual. These programs offer mentored writing, literary analysis, and independent research without requiring travel.
Which programs are best for students interested in creative writing rather than literary analysis?
Students focused on creative writing might consider Iowa Young Writers' Studio for intensive genre-specific workshops, Kenyon Review Young Writers for sustained revision in a small group setting, Reynolds Young Writers Workshop for peer feedback and faculty mentorship, and Adroit Journal for one-on-one mentorship with a published writer.
When should I apply to English literature programs for high school students?
The earliest deadlines are Iowa Young Writers' Studio (February 1), Kenyon Review and Adroit Journal (March 1), and Reynolds Young Writers Workshop (March 3). Programs, such as Summer@Brown and Barnard NextGen, accept rolling applications but fill quickly, so students should apply early in the spring.
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.