15 English Literature Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 3 hours ago
- 11 min read
Summer academic programs allow you to explore subjects in greater depth while experiencing elements of college life through seminars, workshops, and collaborative learning. These programs introduce you to advanced academic discussions, structured feedback, and opportunities to engage with motivated peers who share your interests. You also gain exposure to new ways of thinking and analyzing ideas, which can strengthen both your academic skills and overall confidence.
Why should I participate in an English literature program in high school?
For students interested in literature and writing, these programs often include close reading seminars, writing workshops, and independent projects guided by experienced instructors. You will practice interpreting complex texts, building evidence-based arguments, and refining your writing through detailed feedback and discussion. Many programs are affiliated with well-known institutions, giving you access to strong mentorship and a more rigorous academic environment.
To support your search, we’ve curated a list of 15 university English literature programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for literature summer programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY | University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: Free (tuition, books, room and board, field trips, and facilities fees fully covered; travel and additional financial aid available if needed)
Dates: June 21–July 25
Application Deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (rising juniors and seniors) | Must be at least 15 at the start of the program and no older than 17 by the end | Open to U.S. and international students (international applicants must be sophomores if studying outside the U.S. without a U.S. passport)
At TASS, you take part in a college-level humanities seminar that examines how power and privilege shape social structures through literature, history, politics, and art. You attend a three-hour class each weekday, where discussion, collaborative work, readings, films, and analytical essays form the core of your experience. Outside the classroom, you live in a self-governing residential community where you help make decisions about activities, service projects, and shared responsibilities. You also practice public speaking, attend guest lectures, and participate in writing workshops led by faculty and factotums. Throughout the program, you strengthen your critical reading, writing, and speaking skills while engaging in democratic community living without the pressure of grades.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies | Need-based financial aid offered
Dates: 12-week program | Multiple cohorts in a year: summer, fall, winter, or spring
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3+
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research-focused opportunity designed for high school students who want to explore academic topics in depth. You work 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor on an independent project in a subject area you choose. Over the course of twelve weeks, you learn how to form a research question, gather information, and develop your ideas into a full research paper. You can select from fields such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and several others. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ.
Cost: Free | All residential costs, including transportation, housing, and meals, are covered
Dates: Late June through early August (includes a 10-day residential experience in late July–early August)
Application Deadline: Multiple rounds: November–January (Round 1) | February–March (Round 2) | May (Round 3) | Limited to 40 students
Eligibility: Current high school juniors living in the United States and Puerto Rico with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA and a demonstrated interest in journalism | Applicants must also come from limited-income backgrounds | Check details here
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program is a year-long college access and journalism initiative hosted by Princeton University. You begin with online workshops in late June, attend lectures by professional journalists, and complete weekly reporting assignments. During the residential portion, you live in undergraduate dorms and take part in intensive workshops, newsroom simulations, and college admissions advising. You report on real events, tour major news outlets such as The New York Times and Bloomberg, and collaborate with peers to publish The Princeton Summer Journal. Throughout the year, you also receive one-on-one mentorship from a college adviser who supports your applications and financial aid process. If you are serious about journalism and want structured guidance through senior year, this fully funded program combines newsroom experience with sustained college counseling.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies | Financial aid available
Dates: Multiple summer cohorts | 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus, study in small groups of 7-10, and learn from tutors from top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. Participants can explore a wide range of subjects, spanning over 20 options, including Architecture, AI, Business Management, Computer Science, Economics, Medicine, Philosophy, and more. The courses are experiential and focus on hands-on learning. You may find yourself conducting dissections in medicine, designing a robotic arm in engineering, participating in a moot court for law, or building creative writing portfolios and business case studies. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and receive a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
5. JCamp
Location: Varies annually (host city changes each year; students stay in university housing)
Cost: Free (all domestic transportation, lodging, and meals covered; no application fee)
Dates: June 20-26
Application Deadline: January 11
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors | Open to students of all backgrounds (not limited to Asian American students) | International students can apply | Approximately 30 students are selected
JCamp is a six-day, all-expenses-paid journalism training program run by the Asian American Journalists Association. During the program, you participate in interactive workshops, field trips, and hands-on reporting assignments while learning from professional journalists and media executives. You produce multiplatform news packages for JCamp Live, gaining experience in reporting, interviewing, writing, and multimedia storytelling. The curriculum emphasizes cross-cultural communication, leadership development, journalistic ethics, and the importance of diversity in newsrooms. Throughout the week, you collaborate with peers from across the country, build professional connections, and receive direct feedback from mentors working in the industry.
Location: The Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, NJ.
Cost: Free (tuition, room, board, and academic expenses fully covered)
Dates: June 21–July 3 (Residential component) | Additional hybrid program throughout July and early August
Application Deadline: January 17
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who attend high school in New Jersey and claim New Jersey residency | Must be nominated by their school (maximum two nominees per school)
The New Jersey Scholars Program is a five-week interdisciplinary summer experience designed for academically advanced rising seniors in New Jersey. You begin with a residential session at The Lawrenceville School, followed by additional online programming and possible field experiences. Each day includes lectures and small-group seminars in which you explore a central theme across disciplines such as history, literature, art, science, and politics. You complete substantial readings and write extensively, culminating in a 10–15 page interdisciplinary research paper developed with faculty mentorship. The program is ungraded, encouraging you to focus on critical thinking, research, and collaborative intellectual engagement while living and learning alongside like-minded peers.
Location: GrubStreet Center for Creative Writing, Boston, MA.
Cost/Stipend: Free | A stipend of $800 is awarded upon successful completion
Dates: July 20–August 7 (optional Anthology Week August 17–21)
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12 in the fall | Must live and attend school in Suffolk, Norfolk, Middlesex, Essex, or Plymouth counties (Boston and Greater Boston residents prioritized) | Limited to 20 students only
The Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP) Fellowship is a three-week intensive creative writing program where you generate new work across genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting. You participate in daily workshops, morning writing sessions, office hours for one-on-one mentorship, and weekly open mics. Throughout the program, you experiment with different forms and receive structured feedback while also learning about publishing and sustaining a writing life. Guest authors visit, and you take part in a college and workplace readiness writing day. The experience culminates in a public Teen Writing Fellowship Showcase, and you may choose to stay for an additional week to help edit and produce the annual YAWP Anthology.
Location: Carleton College, Northfield, MN.
Cost/Stipend: Free; all housing, meals, and transportation costs covered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 40 students per cohort; selective admission
Dates: July 5–11
Application Deadline: Priority Deadline April 1; Final Deadline May 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or undocumented/DACA students living in the U.S.; strong academic record and interest in African American history and culture
The Carleton Liberal Arts Experience is a week-long residential program that explores liberal arts education through interdisciplinary coursework. You take part in a survey of four courses spanning the humanities, arts, and STEM, with past topics including pop culture analysis, the Black freedom struggle, forensic science, and examinations of the American Dream. In addition to academic classes, you attend structured college preparation workshops covering the application process, essay writing, and admissions case studies. You live in Carleton dorms, eat in the dining halls, and receive mentorship from current Carleton students throughout the week. If you are curious about how different disciplines connect and want exposure to a residential liberal arts environment, CLAE provides a fully funded introduction to that experience.
Location: Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
Cost: $2,575 tuition | Need-based financial aid available (can cover full cost)
Dates: June 21–July 4 | July 12–July 25
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–18 (most are rising juniors and seniors; international students eligible; rising sophomores not eligible)
In this two-week residential workshop, you spend five hours each weekday immersed in generative writing, craft discussions, and peer critique. You write across genres, including short stories, poems, and essays, and share your work daily in a collaborative, ungraded environment. Instructors, many of whom are published writers and experienced teachers, guide you through revision strategies and meet with you in individual conferences. You also have the option to join focused genre sessions that explore specific craft elements in smaller groups. Outside of workshop time, you live in dorms, eat in the campus dining hall, and experience daily life at a liberal arts college while engaging deeply with writing and critical thinking.
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: $2,500 tuition | Full and partial need-based financial aid available (several full tuition grants awarded each year)
Dates: Session 1: June 14-27 | Session 2: July 12-25
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors) | Core courses capped at 10 students or fewer
In this two-week residential program, you select one Core Course (Poetry, Fiction, Creative Writing, TV Writing (Writers’ Room), or Playwriting) and focus intensively on that genre. Each course combines a seminar component, in which you analyze published work to study craft, and a workshop component, in which you share drafts and receive detailed feedback from peers and your instructor. Classes are small, with 10 or fewer students, which allows for sustained discussion and individualized critique. Beyond the workshop, you participate in Morning Reports, generative writing exercises called “Stretch,” and outdoor “Observatories” that strengthen your descriptive skills through close observation. You live in Catlett Hall on campus, collaborate with fellow writers in structured and informal settings, and leave the program with revised work shaped by sustained, college-style critique.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $8,850 tuition | Need-based financial aid available (partial and full awards based on demonstrated need)
Dates: Session One: June 21–July 10 | Session Two: July 12–31
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–11 at the time of application | Must be at least 15 and under 18 during the program
In this three-week residential program, you enrol in a single humanities course taught by Stanford professors and supported by graduate student instructors. Courses explore topics in literature, philosophy, history, politics, and cultural studies, with examples ranging from Ancient Rome to magical realism. Each weekday includes faculty-led lectures and smaller discussion sections, along with a substantial reading and writing workload similar to a college humanities class. During the final week, you complete an original research project with guidance from instructors and writing mentors. Outside the classroom, you live in Stanford residence halls, participate in organized activities and field trips, and engage in extended discussions with peers who share your interest in the humanities.
Location: New York University, New York, NY.
Cost: Tuition of $12,012 (6 units) plus additional housing, meal plan, and program-specific fees | Limited need-based scholarships available
Dates: July 5–August 1
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores and juniors | Must be at least 15 to reside in campus housing | Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 unweighted scale | International students can apply; check here | Limited to approximately 24 students
In this four-week residential program, you study both screenwriting and playwriting through intensive workshops modeled on the Tisch undergraduate curriculum. You attend classes Monday through Friday, typically from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with additional rehearsals, theater nights, and writing assignments in the evenings and on weekends. In screenwriting, you develop an outline and partially script a full-length screenplay, while in playwriting, you complete a ten-minute play that is rehearsed and performed at the end of the program. Your monologues are directed and acted by professional actors affiliated with the department, and readings and film screenings complement your coursework. By the end of the session, you will have revised your original dramatic work and presented it publicly, gaining experience in critique, collaboration, and structured creative development.
Location: New York University (Online)
Cost: Tuition of $8,008 plus application fee of $75 | Scholarships available (must apply by priority deadline to be eligible)
Dates: July 6–31
Application Deadline: May 11 (Priority deadline) | May 18 (Scholarship deadline) | June 10 (Regular deadline)
Eligibility: Open to high school first-years, sophomores, juniors, and seniors | Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 unweighted scale | International students can apply; check here
In this four-week online workshop, you study the fundamentals of writing for film and television while earning four college credits. Through pre-recorded lectures and weekly assignments, you develop story ideas and characters, and gain an understanding of script structure and film language. You present your writing in workshop sessions on the Smashcut platform, where you receive feedback from your instructor and peers and revise your work accordingly. The course culminates in completed scenes, a short screenplay, and a synopsis for a feature film and television series. With 6–10 hours of weekly commitment, you collaborate with classmates across time zones while balancing the flexibility of asynchronous learning with graded deadlines and structured critique.
Location: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA.
Cost: $5,200 (residential tuition) | $2,330 (commuter tuition) | Full scholarships available
Dates: Session 1: July 12–25 | Session 2: July 26–August 8
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Rising sophomores through graduating seniors | Must submit a writing sample, a writer’s statement, and a recommendation letter
The Juniper Institute for Young Writers is a two-week residential creative writing program where you live and write on the UMass Amherst campus. You participate in daily Writing Labs focused on generating and workshopping poetry or prose, along with Craft Sessions that explore specific elements of writing technique. The schedule also includes Participant Readings, Writer’s Life Talks led by instructors, and mid-week field trips to literary and cultural sites in the Amherst area. You receive written feedback from your Creative Writing Instructor summarizing your progress and next steps. If you are seeking a pre-college experience that combines intensive writing practice with campus life, this program offers structured workshops, peer exchange, and exposure to a broader literary community.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Cost/Stipend: $7,000 tuition | Need-based financial aid available up to full tuition
Dates: Session I: June 21–July 3 | Session II: July 5–17 | Session III: July 19–31
Application Deadline: October 15 (early action) | January 7 (regular decision)
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors aged 16–18 by start date | Be first-time YYGS participants | Strong English proficiency required
Yale Young Global Scholars is a two-week residential academic enrichment program where you study one interdisciplinary track alongside students from around the world. You choose among Innovations in Science & Technology, Politics of Law & Economics, or Solving Global Challenges, and engage in lectures, small seminars, breakout discussions, and a collaborative capstone project. The program emphasises discussion-based learning rather than grades, and you receive a certificate of completion upon finishing the session. Outside the classroom, you participate in structured residential activities designed to build cross-cultural dialogue and community. If you are interested in exploring global issues in a university-style setting while living on campus, YYGS provides an intensive academic and residential experience.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. 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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