15 Linguistics Summer Programs for High School Students

If you are a high school student interested in language and how it works, a linguistics summer program can be a good way to explore that interest without overloading your academic year. Summer programs in linguistics usually focus on how people speak, write, and understand language in different settings. You might learn about sounds, grammar, and meaning, or explore topics like how children learn language, how language varies across cultures, or how it relates to identity. 

Some programs below are hosted by universities, while others are research programs, internships, and a part of summer schools that include linguistics as one of several subjects. Doing one of these programs can also strengthen your college application by showing focused academic interest and early exposure to a specialized subject.

To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 linguistics summer programs for high school students!

15 Linguistics Summer Programs for High School Students

1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Remote ,  you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!

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.

Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week research experience where you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor from a top university to complete an independent research project. You choose a subject area like linguistics, biology, or economics and narrow it down to a specific topic with your mentor’s help. You meet regularly to explore your topic, review research, and write a college-level paper. You also attend workshops and get writing support throughout the process.

2. Stony Brook University Summer Youth Camp for Computational Linguistics

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY

Cost: $3,950 (residential); $2,500 (commuter); $45 application fee; discounts available for eligible students

Dates: July 6–July 18

Application Deadline: Typically in May

Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (ages 15–17); U.S. residents only; good academic standing required

This two-week summer course introduces you to computational linguistics through a hands-on exploration of language and technology. With guidance from PhD instructors and faculty, you’ll investigate the structure of human languages and how they're processed by software systems like voice assistants and AI tools. The curriculum focuses on developing skills in syntax, morphology, semantics, and phonology. You'll work on team-based research projects that address topics such as speech recognition, parsing, and language generation.

3. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)

Location: Virtual 

Cost: Varies depending on program type

Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts. 

Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here. 

Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as psychology, politics, economics, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects. 

4. Ohio State University Summer Linguistic Institute for Youth Scholars

Location: Online (hosted by The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH)

Cost: $550 per session; $1,100 for both sessions; $25 non-refundable deposit; need-based financial aid available

Dates: SLIYS 1: June 9–13 & July 14–18; SLIYS 2: June 23–27 & July 21–25

Application Deadline: May 8 (rolling admissions begin February 1; early application encouraged)

Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 9–12; ages 13–18; minimum recommended GPA of 3.0

SLIYS is a one- or two-week online summer program from Ohio State’s Department of Linguistics. You’ll study how language works, how sounds, words, and sentence structures are built and understood. You’ll join live sessions with faculty and grad students, work with native speakers of underrepresented languages, and do real fieldwork and experiments. SLIYS 1 covers the basics like phonetics and syntax; SLIYS 2 goes deeper for returning students. You’ll get hands-on experience with how linguists actually study language.

5. National Security Language Initiative for Youth

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 600–700 students selected annually

Location: Various countries including Morocco, Jordan, China, Taiwan, India, South Korea, Tajikistan, Russia, and Turkey

Cost: Free

Dates: 6–8 weeks (summer); 8–10 months (academic year)

Application Deadline: Typically in early November

Eligibility: U.S. citizens in grades 9–12; ages 15–18 at program start; minimum 2.8 GPA

NSLI-Y is a full scholarship program from the U.S. Department of State that lets you study a critical language abroad, like Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, or Russian through summer or yearlong immersion. You’ll live with a host family, take daily language classes, and join cultural and community activities that help you use the language in real life. Whether you’re a beginner or already studying the language, you’ll get support to build fluency and explore global careers.

6. Montclair State University Summer Language Institute

Location: Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ

Cost: $1,200; optional residential add-on for $350

Dates: Session 1: July 22–25; Session 2: July 29–August 1

Application Deadline: June 10

Eligibility: Rising juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors; minimum 3.0 GPA recommended

The Summer Language Institute at Montclair State University offers high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates a chance to earn 3 college credits while studying French, German, or Korean in an immersive setting. You’ll take part in daily language classes, cultural workshops, and excursions, including a trip to New York City to explore sites related to your target language. Activities such as international food preparation, guest lectures, and themed events make the learning experience hands-on and collaborative. A residential option is available for those looking to extend their experience with evening events, films, and on-campus housing.

7. Columbia Pre-College Programs – Exploring Topics in Linguistics

Location: Columbia University, New York, NY

Cost: $2,830 for 1-week commuter session; $80 application fee; financial aid available for eligible NYC-based commuter students only

Dates: August 11–August 15

Application Deadline: Applications accepted through July 15, if space remains

Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12; must be fluent in English

Exploring Topics in Linguistics is a one-week course that introduces you to the foundations of linguistics, the scientific study of language by exploring how communication shapes human behavior and culture. You’ll examine key concepts like phonology, syntax, semantics, and morphology, while also investigating how dialects, slang, and accents influence perception. The class uses a combination of lectures, hands-on analysis, fieldwork, and video materials to help you explore everything from taboo words and figurative language to brain research on language processing. You’ll also hear from guest speakers and work collaboratively with other students to think critically about how language evolves.

8. Johns Hopkins CTY – Linguistics: The Science of Language

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 16 students per class

Location: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY

Cost: $7,259 (residential); $6,459 (commuter); $55 application fee (waived for financial aid applicants)

Dates: Session 1: June 29–July 18; Session 2: July 20–August 8

Application Deadline: May 16; late applications accepted based on seat availability

Eligibility: Students in grades 7–11; CTY eligibility required (based on standardized test scores or prior CTY participation)

Johns Hopkins CTY, Linguistics: The Science of Language introduces you to the scientific study of language through four core areas: phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. You’ll explore how language works as both a biological instinct and a cultural tool, and how it influences and reflects society, history, and identity. Lessons incorporate insights from psychology, vocal anatomy, and media studies, helping you analyze how language operates in politics, advertising, and everyday communication. Throughout the course, you’ll gain practical skills like using the International Phonetic Alphabet and even design your own constructed language.

9. UIUC Summer Institute for the Languages of the Muslim World

Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL

Cost: $600 per credit hour; 2-credit track: $1,200; 5-credit track: $3,000; plus $50 program fee

Dates: June 16–August 8

Application Deadline: May 12

Eligibility: High school students entering grades 11–12 or recent graduates; minimum GPA of 3.5; written permission and transcript required for enrollment

SILMW is an eight-week intensive language program hosted at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, offering instruction in Arabic, Persian, Swahili, Turkish, and Wolof. As a high school student, you can enroll in Arabic through a two-week track designed specifically for earning 2–5 college credits. In addition to daily language classes, you’ll take part in co-curricular cultural activities such as cooking classes, conversation tables, film screenings, and field trips that connect language learning to real-world contexts. All students are required to take LING 110, which focuses on the cultural aspects of the Muslim world.

10. Boston University Summer Term's Linguistics Courses

Location: Boston University, Boston, MA

Cost: $3,260 per course; $50–100 estimated materials cost; $80 application fee

Dates: May 20–June 27

Application Deadline: May 16 for 6-week on-campus courses

Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders 

Boston University offers two introductory linguistics courses during its Summer 1 session, both open to high school students. If you're interested in understanding how language works, CAS LX 250: Introduction to Linguistics focuses on the structure of language, covering sound systems, word formation, syntax, and meaning while exploring how languages differ and what they share. Alternatively, WED LS 565: Applied Linguistics takes a broader approach, examining both language structure and real-world applications, making it especially useful if you’re considering future work in education, translation, or speech therapy.

11. University of Washington Linguistics Summer Courses

Location: University of Washington (Seattle, WA); some courses offered online

Cost: $4,324 (approximate tuition for a 5-credit course)

Application Deadline: Rolling, but early registration is encouraged

Program Dates: Varies by course; full-term (June 23–August 22) or B-term (July 24–September 11)

Eligibility: U.S. high school students who have completed 8th grade by June 30

At the University of Washington’s Summer Sessions, you can take college-level linguistics courses. One option is LING 200: Introduction to Linguistics. You’ll study how language works through sounds, words, meaning, and grammar. The course also covers language acquisition and signed languages. If you're interested in culture and identity, consider LING 234: Language and Diversity. This online asynchronous course looks at multilingualism, language politics, and how language shapes identity. You’ll earn UW credit whether you join online or on campus.

12. STARTALK at University at Buffalo

Location: University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY

Cost: Free (includes tuition, meals, and materials)

Application Deadline: November 1 – December 15

Program Dates: July 21–August 8

Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students residing in Western New York with no or minimal prior Chinese experience

If you're a high school student in Western New York with little or no experience in Chinese, the STARTALK Chinese Program at the University at Buffalo gives you a free, three-week chance to learn Mandarin and explore Chinese culture. You’ll join daily classes, hands-on workshops, and cultural activities like calligraphy and cooking, all led by experienced Chinese language teachers. You’ll also earn 3 undergraduate credits from UB and get lunch and snacks each day. The program is funded by the National Security Agency to support critical language learning.

13. Harvard University Secondary School Program – LING S-101

Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 

Cost: $4,050 (commuter/online); $14,950 (residential); $75 application fee

Application Deadline: June 17

Program Dates: June 23 to August 8

Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (must be 16 by June 21 and not turn 19 before July 31)

Through Harvard’s Secondary School Program, you can take LING S-101: The Science of Language, a 7-week college course that earns you 4 undergraduate credits. It introduces you to how language works covering sound, structure, meaning, and how language connects to the brain and AI. You’ll attend in-person classes twice a week, learn from a Harvard doctoral candidate, and complete assignments like analyzing movie dialogue and designing a new language. 

14. University of Maryland Arabic Language Summer Institute

Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Cost: $5,042.88

Application Deadline: May 15 (rolling review; earlier deadlines apply for discounts or scholarship eligibility)

Program Dates: June 16 – August 1 (core session for high school students); full program runs June 2 – August 1

Eligibility: Current high school seniors, with little to no prior Arabic experience

If you're a high school student interested in Arabic, the Arabic Summer Institute at the University of Maryland offers a nine-week beginner course where you’ll earn 12 college credits and complete a full year of Arabic study. You’ll join small, immersive classes each day to build reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, and take part in afternoon workshops on Arabic media, politics, and traditions. Activities include calligraphy, cooking, film screenings, and field trips. The program is intensive, with about seven hours of language learning daily, and is designed to give you real experience with both the language and culture.

15. University of Virginia Summer Language Institute

Location: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Cost: $5,640 (non-credit enrollment, includes all instruction but not housing or meals); $60 institute fee and $535 comprehensive fee also required for non-residents

Application Deadline: March 28

Program Dates: June 16 – August 8

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; must be at least 16 years old by program start

At the University of Virginia’s Summer Language Institute, you can join an eight-week Arabic immersion program designed for high school juniors and seniors. You’ll take daily beginner-level classes to build reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, and learn grammar and vocabulary in small, interactive groups. You’ll also join weekly cultural events and complete an oral proficiency test at the end.

16. UChicago Pre-College Summer Language Institute

Location: Virtual

Cost: $8,225; need-based aid available 

Application Deadline: April 15 (Priority: Jan 22; Regular: Mar 5)

Program Dates: Varies by course (6–8 weeks; check course listing)

Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors

At UChicago’s Pre-College Summer Language Institute, you’ll complete a full year of college-level language study online in just 6 to 8 weeks. You’ll choose from modern or ancient languages like Arabic, Chinese, Latin, or Korean and join classes with UChicago undergrads to build speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Each course includes over 90 hours of instruction and earns 300 units of credit, equal to three college quarters.

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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