15 Free English Literature Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 38 minutes ago
- 12 min read
Exploring English literature in high school can help you move beyond standard classroom reading and develop a deeper understanding of texts, themes, and critical perspectives. Structured programs provide an environment where you can engage with complex works, refine your interpretations, and participate in thoughtful discussions with peers who share similar interests. They also give you the opportunity to build strong reading and writing habits while gaining exposure to different literary styles, time periods, and analytical approaches.
Why should I participate in a free English literature program in high school?
Participating in a structured literature program allows you to practice close reading, analytical writing, and discussion-based learning at an advanced level. You may engage directly with faculty, graduate students, or published writers who can provide feedback on your work. These experiences can strengthen your college applications by demonstrating intellectual curiosity and commitment to the humanities.
In this blog, we’ve narrowed down a list of 15 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/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 5–7% acceptance rate; around 70 students total across sites
Dates: June 21 – July 25
Application Deadline: Applications open October 15 and close 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 join a six-week humanities seminar that mirrors the intensity of a college course, exploring how power and privilege shape society through literature, history, politics, and the arts. Each weekday, you spend three hours in class engaging in discussion-based learning that includes close readings, film analysis, collaborative projects, and analytical writing. Beyond the seminar room, you live in a self-governing residential community where you share responsibility for planning events, organizing service initiatives, and managing daily life together. You also build confidence in public speaking, attend guest lectures, and take part in writing workshops facilitated by faculty and factotums.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; Need-based financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 12-week program; Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3+
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research-focused opportunity for high school students seeking to explore academic topics in depth. You work 1-on-1 with a Ph.D. 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.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Up to 40 students admitted annually
Dates: Late June – early August (multi-week summer intensive, including 10-day residential component)
Application Deadline: Applications open by Thanksgiving; typically due in February
Eligibility: Current high school juniors living in the U.S. or Puerto Rico from limited-income backgrounds
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program is a free, yearlong college-preparation and journalism initiative for high school juniors from low-income backgrounds. You begin with a multi-week hybrid summer intensive that includes virtual workshops and reporting assignments, followed by a 10-day residential experience on campus where you publish the Princeton Summer Journal. Throughout the program, you attend lectures and skill-based workshops led by Princeton professors and professional journalists, covering topics such as reporting, feature writing, and media ethics. You complete reporting assignments on issues like politics, race, economics, and culture, and receive detailed feedback from alumni counselors and working journalists. During your senior year, you are matched with a personal college adviser who supports you with building a college list, revising essays, and navigating applications through final decisions.
4. Immerse Education’s English Literature Track
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; 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 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.
Location: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 26 students selected annually
Dates: 3-week program during the summer
Application Deadline: Applications typically available in late March (see program site for exact deadline)
Eligibility: High school students who reside and attend school in Los Angeles County
The Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement is a three-week summer intensive designed for high school students from communities surrounding USC’s campuses. You engage with coursework equivalent to first-year college classes while examining how media and journalism influence civic life. Throughout the academy, you build skills in analytical writing, public speaking, debate, multimedia production, interviewing, and ethnographic research. You also learn about undergraduate programs and careers in communication, journalism, and public relations through interactions with faculty and industry practitioners.
Location: The Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 39 students selected annually
Dates: Five-week hybrid format; residential component June 21–July 3, followed by online programming through July and early August
Application Deadline: Mid-January (school nomination required; see program site for exact deadline)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who reside in and attend high school in New Jersey; nomination required from a school counselor or designated official
The New Jersey Scholars Program is a tuition-free, five-week interdisciplinary summer program for rising seniors who live in and attend high school in New Jersey. You explore a central theme through daily lectures and small-group seminars that draw on disciplines such as literature, history, art, music, and science. Throughout the program, you complete substantial reading assignments and write extensively, culminating in a 10–15 page interdisciplinary research paper developed with close faculty mentorship. Midway through the session, you participate in a field trip connected to the year’s topic, and you also contribute to an Arts Festival featuring drama, music, visual art, and creative writing. The program is ungraded, emphasizing intellectual growth, discussion, and collaborative learning within a residential community at The Lawrenceville School.
Location: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small cohort of rising seniors
Dates: July 19 – August 8 (three weeks)
Application Deadline: April 6
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from Springfield and Holyoke, MA; no prior philosophy experience required; priority given to students from low-income households and/or first-generation college-bound students
The “Question Everything” program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a three-week residential summer course that explores major philosophical questions through a focused annual theme. You attend interactive presentations by philosophy professors and participate in discussions, mock trials, role-play activities, and collaborative projects connected to topics such as freedom and liberty. Along the way, you strengthen college-level reading, analytical writing, and oral presentation skills with support from teaching assistants. You also conduct independent research on a question that interests you and present your findings to your peers. In addition to earning three college credits, you receive guidance on the college application and financial aid process during both the summer and a follow-up school-year component.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Up to 45 students admitted annually
Dates: Late June–late July (four-week residential summer seminar); academic-year programming September–May
Application Deadline: Applications open in early February; decisions are typically released by the end of May
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who live in New York City; priority given to first-generation, college-bound students from low-income families; must commit to the full summer and academic-year program
The Freedom and Citizenship is a free, eleven-month academic enrichment program for New York City high school juniors entering their senior year. You begin with a four-week residential summer seminar in political philosophy at Columbia University, where you live on campus and study texts in an intensive, discussion-based course taught by university faculty. After the summer, you return twice a month during the academic year to work in small groups on a civic leadership project, researching a contemporary issue and developing a “call to action” under the guidance of undergraduate teaching assistants. You are also paired with a near-peer mentor and receive structured college application support, including a letter of recommendation from your summer professor if you successfully complete the seminar. Throughout the program, you build skills in critical reading, analytical writing, public speaking, research, and civic engagement.
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; program costs covered, including transportation for students outside Southern California
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective national cohort; students from 44 states represented
Dates: Summer residential experience with ongoing advising during senior year
Application Deadline: Applications open during junior year (see program site for exact deadline)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors with demonstrated financial need; open to students nationwide
The USC Bovard Scholars is a free college access and preparation program for high-achieving high school juniors with financial need. You receive individualized guidance on college applications, financial aid forms, and scholarship strategies, along with structured support in shaping your academic and career goals. The program includes an immersive residential experience at the University of Southern California, where you become familiar with campus life and college-level expectations. You also participate in career exploration activities, including visits to research labs, hospitals, media companies, and government offices. In addition, you receive personalized standardized test preparation and one-on-one advising designed to help you navigate the transition from high school to college.
Location: Pomona College, Claremont, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; housing, meals, activities, and field trip transportation covered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 30 ninth graders admitted annually; approximately 90 students enrolled across grades
Dates: Four-week residential session June 21–July 17; year-round programming continues during the academic year
Application Deadline: Application deadline typically in late February; recommendations due in early March; decisions released in mid-April
Eligibility: Current 9th-grade students residing and attending high school in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, or Ventura Counties; priority for first-generation and/or low-income students
The Pomona College Academy for Youth Success is a free, three-year college access program for high-achieving students from communities surrounding Pomona College. If you are selected in 9th grade, you participate each summer in a four-week residential program featuring college-level courses in Math/Problem Solving and Critical Inquiry: Analysis and Writing, taught by Pomona faculty. You complete analytical essays, problem sets, and hands-on projects, and as a rising senior, you may conduct faculty-mentored research that culminates in a public presentation. During the academic year, you receive SAT preparation, college advising, and bilingual financial aid workshops for you and your family. Over three consecutive years, the program combines rigorous coursework, mentorship, field trips, and structured college guidance to prepare you for admission to selective four-year institutions.
11. JCamp
Location: Varies annually; hosted in a different U.S. city each year (students stay in university housing)
Cost/Stipend: Free; airfare, lodging, meals, and domestic transportation covered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 30 students selected annually from a national applicant pool
Dates: Six-day program, typically held in late July
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in early November and close in early to mid-January
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors in the United States; open to students of all backgrounds with a strong interest in journalism
JCamp is a six-day, all-expenses-paid summer journalism program run by the Asian American Journalists Association. You join a multicultural cohort of high school students from across the country for hands-on training in reporting, writing, broadcasting, and multimedia production. Throughout the week, you attend interactive workshops, hear from veteran journalists and media executives, and produce multiplatform news packages for the program’s news site, JCamp Live. The curriculum emphasizes cross-cultural communication, leadership, journalism ethics, and the importance of diversity in media coverage. You also build professional connections with peers and alumni who work at major news organizations, while living in university housing during the camp.
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Cohort size varies
Dates: Weekly Saturdays, January 31 – May 9
Application Deadline: Application typically due in late fall or early winter; see Tisch Special Programs Admissions Calendar for exact deadline
Eligibility: High school students; must meet Tisch Spring Future Artists eligibility requirements
The Tisch Future Dramatic Writers Workshop at New York University Tisch School of the Arts is a free spring program designed for high school students interested in writing for theater, film, and television. From late January through early May, you attend weekly Saturday sessions that introduce you to playwriting, screenwriting, and television/episodic writing. Through lectures and discussions, you study the fundamentals of dramatic structure, character development, and storytelling across media. In writing workshops, you develop original scripts, receive critique, and revise your work in preparation for a live final showcase. The curriculum mirrors the foundational training offered to undergraduates in the Rita & Burton Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing, giving you a realistic preview of studying dramatic writing at the college level.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $8,850 tuition; need-based financial aid available, including partial and full awards
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; admission is competitive (cohort size varies by session)
Dates: Session One: June 21 – July 10 | Session Two: July 12 – 31
Application Deadline: Typically early February (e.g., February 2 for recent cycle)
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–11 at the time of application; must be at least 15 and under 18 during the program
The Stanford Summer Humanities Institute is a three-week residential program hosted by Stanford University for rising high school juniors and seniors with a strong interest in the humanities. You enroll in one intensive seminar led by Stanford faculty, exploring topics that range from literature and philosophy to history and political thought. Classes meet daily and include faculty lectures, small-group discussions, and guided research, with an emphasis on analytical writing and argumentation. During the third week, you develop an original research project with support from professors, graduate students, and writing mentors. Outside the classroom, you live on campus, participate in organized activities and field trips, and engage in sustained conversations with peers who share your academic interests.
Location: GrubStreet, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Tuition-based; full and partial scholarships available based on writing promise and financial need. Anthology Week (August 17–August 21) is tuition-free for enrolled participants.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment; small cohorts of approximately 7–14 students per genre group
Dates: Session One: June 22 – July 3 | Session Two: July 6 – 17 | Session Three: July 20 – 31 | Session Four: August 3 – 14 | Anthology Week: August 17 – 21
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment; scholarship applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and typically require early submission
Eligibility: Teens ages 13–18; open to writers of all experience levels
YAWP Teen Summer Writing Sessions are hosted by GrubStreet and designed for writers ages 13–18 who want to explore creative writing in a structured, community-focused environment. Across two-week sessions, you join a small, genre-based cohort (such as fiction, sci-fi/fantasy, or multi-genre) and participate in daily workshops, craft lessons, and peer feedback. Each day includes morning writing prompts, extended workshop time, communal lunch, free-writing blocks, and access to one-on-one mentorship during instructor office hours. You also hear from guest authors, participate in an Open Mic, and take part in a college and professional writing immersion day. All participants are invited to submit work to the YAWP Anthology, with an optional, tuition-free Anthology Week dedicated to editing and publishing the collection.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Fully tuition-free program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; small cohorts selected annually from partner schools
Dates: Multi-year commitment beginning spring of 9th grade; includes three six-and-a-half-week summer institutes and weekly school-year sessions
Application Deadline: Students are invited to apply during the spring of their freshman year; exact dates vary by partner school
Eligibility: Current 9th-grade students attending one of four partner schools in Mercer County, NJ (Ewing High School, Lawrence High School, Nottingham High School, or Trenton Central High School); priority given to students from lower-income families and prospective first-generation college students
The Princeton University Preparatory Program (PUPP) is a multi-year, tuition-free college access and success initiative hosted by Princeton University. If selected, you join during the spring of your freshman year of high school and remain in the program through graduation and into your college years. You participate in three intensive six-and-a-half-week Summer Institutes on Princeton’s campus, where coursework focuses on writing, literature, mathematics, critical thinking, and personal development. During the academic year, you attend weekly after-school enrichment sessions designed to strengthen collaboration, presentation, discussion, and analytical skills. As a senior, you and your family receive structured guidance through the college admissions and financial aid process. The program also offers mentoring, college tours, and continued support as you transition into and persist through college.
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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