15 University English Literature Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Mar 24
- 10 min read
As a high school student interested in English literature, a university-hosted program allows you to explore literary theory, genre studies, and critical methodologies in a focused setting. You engage with advanced reading lists, seminar-style discussions, and analytical writing tasks that mirror undergraduate study while building practical skills in interpretation, argumentation, and academic communication.
Why should I participate in a university English literature program in high school?
Participating in English literature programs early helps you develop close-reading and analytical writing skills that directly support advanced coursework and standardized assessments. You also gain experience with seminar participation, research-based assignments, and feedback-driven revision, skills that strengthen college readiness and academic confidence. Demonstrated engagement in rigorous literature study can meaningfully support college applications by showing subject-specific commitment and preparedness for university-level work.
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, and University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – July 25
Application Deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors aged 15–17
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar is a fully funded summer program for high school sophomores and juniors centered on humanities and social science inquiry. The curriculum examines how power, privilege, and social structures shape societies through college-level seminars in literature, history, politics, and cultural studies, including a focused study of the experiences and contributions of people of African descent. Each weekday includes extended seminar discussions, analytical reading, and essay writing, with structured instructor feedback. Beyond academics, you participate in a democratically run residential community that plans activities, engages in public speaking training, and practices collaborative decision-making.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, or online
Cost/Stipend: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions across multiple summer cohorts
Eligibility: Students aged 16–18 years
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 Literature, 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: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: $2,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12 – 26 (based on previous year)
Application Deadline: February 24 (tentative, based on previous year)
Eligibility: Students aged 15–18
The University of Iowa Between the Lines (BTL) is a two-week residential program that brings together an international cohort of high school writers for intensive creative writing and literary study. Hosted on the University of Iowa campus, the program combines daily writing workshops with seminars on world literature, author talks, and guided discussions examining storytelling across cultures. You will develop original work while receiving structured feedback from experienced instructors and peers in a small-group setting. The residential environment supports sustained collaboration, cultural exchange, and community-building through shared academic and social experiences. The curriculum emphasizes craft development alongside global literary perspectives, encouraging reflection on voice, identity, and cross-cultural narratives.
Location: California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
Cost/Stipend: CA State Residents: $5,174 | Out-of-State and International Students: $10,475. Options fees and other costs, check here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited slots
Dates: July 6 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 next fall
The California State Summer School for the Arts Writing Program is a four-week intensive that brings together a small cohort of high school writers for focused study in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and dramatic writing. Through faculty-led workshops and structured writing exercises, you produce original work and receive detailed critique from professional writers and educators. The curriculum emphasizes craft development, voice, and revision through daily writing and peer discussion. Sessions are designed to deepen literary awareness by engaging with contemporary influences and personal storytelling approaches. The experience centers on sustained creative practice within a studio-style learning environment.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT (residential/commuter) or online
Cost: $1,380 – $3,085, based on program type
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – 26
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, ages 16–18 (on-campus programs limited to seniors)
The Yale Young Writers’ Workshop is an intensive creative writing program that focuses on fiction, nonfiction, and poetry through workshop-based learning and literary analysis. The curriculum centers on generating original work, participating in structured peer critique, and refining drafts through guided revision and faculty feedback from published authors. You engage with assigned readings, craft lectures, and discussion-based sessions that examine voice, character development, and narrative technique. The program also incorporates experiential learning, including art- and culture-inspired writing in New Haven. Across multiple workshop sessions, the experience emphasizes sustained practice, critical reading, and the development of an individual writing style.
Location: St. John's College campuses (Annapolis, MD; Santa Fe, NM) or Online
Cost: On-campus: $1,400 | Online: $240
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions; check exact dates here
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14 and 18 (15 and 18 for the on-campus program)
The Great Books Summer Program for High School Students at St. John’s College is a discussion-based academic experience centered on close reading of classic literature, philosophy, and drama. The program follows the college’s Socratic teaching method, where learning occurs through guided dialogue rather than lectures. You will examine foundational texts through faculty-led seminars that emphasize interpretation, reasoning, and structured argumentation. Sessions focus on analytical reading, evidence-based discussion, and the exploration of enduring ideas across disciplines. Offered on the Annapolis and Santa Fe campuses as well as online, the program provides a concise introduction to college-level humanities study.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY (residential/commuter) or online
Cost: Varies by program type; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by course
Dates: May 25 – June 26 | June 29 – July 31
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising grades 9–12 students
The Columbia University Pre-College Program offers high school students access to college-level courses in the Humanities, Literature, and Philosophy, including “Explorations in Modern Literature” and “What Is Great Literature?” The curriculum emphasizes close reading, analytical writing, and discussion-based learning grounded in primary texts. Through structured assignments and seminar-style sessions, you examine literary movements, narrative techniques, and major critical questions that shape literary study. Courses are taught by instructors affiliated with Columbia University, providing exposure to university expectations and academic rigor.
Location: Barnard College, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Residential: $10,771 | Commuter: $8,160
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 29 – July 17 | Session 2: July 20 – August 7
Application Deadline: Not specified; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 14 or older
Barnard College’s Writing and Literature Program provides a focused pre-college experience centered on close reading and intensive writing practice. The program places you in a single faculty-led seminar, where you produce work across genres such as fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, journalism, or drama through structured workshops and guided revision. Instruction emphasizes analytical reading, craft development, and research-based writing techniques alongside regular feedback from faculty and peers. Academic work is supported by dedicated writing hours, conferences, and access to literary resources across New York City. The program concludes with a polished writing portfolio demonstrating technical growth and refined analytical skills.
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: $2,500 + $10 reading fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 14 – 27 | Session 2: July 12 – 25
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12
The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio Summer Residential Program is a two-week residential program focused on intensive creative writing study on the University of Iowa campus. The curriculum centers on one core course, fiction, poetry, or creative writing, taught by graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and related MFA programs. Through daily workshops, peer critique, and guided writing exercises, you develop original work while strengthening close reading and craft techniques. The program also includes author readings, craft seminars, collaborative projects, and community events that support sustained engagement with literary practice.
Location: Barnard College, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $10,771 (residential) | $8,160 (commuter)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates:
Session 1: June 29 – July 17
Session 2: July 20 – August 7
Application Deadline: Not specified; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 14 or older
The Summer Residential track at UC Berkeley Pre-College Scholars allows high school students to live on campus while completing two credit-bearing courses through Berkeley Summer Sessions. The program offers a wide selection of humanities- and literature-focused courses, including options that examine major literary works, critical theory, and writing across genres in a college classroom. You will engage in university-style instruction through lectures, readings, discussions, and graded assignments while experiencing Berkeley’s academic expectations firsthand. Beyond coursework, the residential format includes structured activities, excursions, and workshops on college admissions and academic planning. The experience combines college-level literary study with a realistic introduction to campus life and academic independence.
Location: Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
Cost: $2,575
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – July 4 | July 12 – 25
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–18
The Kenyon Review Young Writers Residential Workshops are a two-week intensive designed for high school students seeking focused development in creative and critical writing. The program centers on generative workshops where you produce original work across genres such as fiction, poetry, and personal essays while studying craft through guided discussion and revision. Faculty and peer feedback shape the writing process, helping refine voice, structure, and analytical thinking. The residential format places participants on Kenyon College’s campus, where daily writing sessions are balanced with structured community life and informal literary exchange.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: Residential: $9,636 | Commuter: $7,284 | Application Fee: $50
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 20 – July 18
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors, aged 16 or older
The Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Writing and Culture Program is a four-week interdisciplinary experience that explores storytelling across written and visual formats. You will work with digital poetics, short-form writing, and film development while examining how the medium shapes meaning. The curriculum guides you through transforming ideas across forms, such as from poem to prose to screenplay, to understand narrative structure and communication. Faculty mentorship and individualized feedback support your growth in critical interpretation, creative expression, and academic communication. By the end, you will produce original work across formats and build skills aligned with college-level humanities study
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Residential: $3,725 | Commuter: $3,095
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12 – 18
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students
The Georgetown University Creative Writing Academy is a week-long program focused on developing your poetry, fiction, and essay writing through lectures, workshops, and structured peer feedback. You will study craft elements such as literary form, voice, and revision while producing original written work across genres. The curriculum also introduces publishing pathways, literary markets, and academic routes in creative writing. Off-site writing exercises take place at the National Gallery of Art and include literary engagement at Busboys and Poets. The experience combines academic instruction with applied writing practice in a university setting.
Location: Fordham campuses (Rose Hill in the Bronx or Lincoln Center in Manhattan), NY
Cost: Tuition varies depending on credits
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple 5-week sessions during the summer
Application Deadline: Registration typically opens in January
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors
Fordham University Summer Session offers high school students the opportunity to enroll in intensive, college-level English courses alongside undergraduate and visiting students. Over a five-week format, you will engage with classic and contemporary texts while practicing analytical reading, academic writing, and structured argumentation. Coursework emphasizes close reading, evidence-based analysis, and revision through regular feedback from university faculty. The program places you in an authentic academic environment, helping you experience the pace, expectations, and discussion style of college humanities courses. By completing a course, you can earn transferable college credit while strengthening the writing and critical thinking skills central to advanced literature study.
Location: Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY, or online
Cost: Virtual Session: $1,195 | On Campus Session: $1,950
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Classes limited to 18 students
Dates: Virtual Session: July 6 – 10 | On Campus Session 1: July 20 – 24 | On Campus Session 2: August 3 – 7
Application Deadline: No fixed deadline
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12; age 14 or older
The Writers’ Week at Sarah Lawrence College is a week-long creative writing and performance program that combines daily writing workshops with theatre-based storytelling practice. The curriculum centers on generative writing exercises, small-group instruction, and collaborative critique led by faculty, graduate writers, and guest artists. You will explore multiple genres, such as fiction, poetry, memoir, and scriptwriting, while studying craft elements through contemporary and classic texts. Theatre workshops complement the writing track by developing narrative structure, character, and voice through improvisation and performance techniques. The program concludes with readings and a showcase of student work, reflecting a workshop model built on close mentorship and small class sizes.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
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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