If you’re a high school student who enjoys reading and writing, a literature summer program might be just what you need to take your skills to the next level. You’ll engage in hands-on activities like writing workshops, group discussions, and seminars, all designed to help you develop your critical thinking, storytelling, and writing abilities.
By the end of the program, you’ll have a deeper understanding of literature and the tools to write more effectively. Whether you’re interested in pursuing a career in writing, journalism, or literary analysis, these programs will help you build the skills you need to succeed.
Here is a list of 15 literature summer programs for high school students in 2024-2025.
15 Literature Summer Programs for High School Students
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as literature, history, and writing. It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here.
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Spring 2025: February 16, 2025; Summer 2025: February 16 (early), March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II)!
Program Dates: Spring 2025: March 3, 2025; Summer 2025: June 16, 2025! Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program provides high school students with a focused opportunity to engage deeply with literature as an academic subject. Guided by Ph.D. mentors, students work 1-on-1 to develop independent research projects that explore literary theory, textual analysis, or connections between literature and other subjects. The program helps students build critical thinking and writing skills, allowing them to write a detailed research paper by the end of the 12-week term. This is a great option for students who love literature and want to explore it through research.
For more information and application details, visit the program’s official site.
Location: Remote.
Application Deadlines: Deadlines vary by cohort. The Winter Cohort II application deadline is December 29, 2024!
Duration: Flexible options, from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: Open to current high school students with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4; no prior experience in literature or research required.
Program Dates: Summer: June - August, Fall: September - December, Winter: December - February, Spring: March - June.
The Yale Young Global Scholars program is a two-week course where you explore literature, philosophy, and the arts. You will study works in fiction, poetry, theatre, film, and visual arts while adding philosophical perspectives. The program helps you build critical thinking and interpretation skills through lectures, seminars, group projects, and a final symposium where you present your insights. It deepens your understanding of creative expression and philosophical inquiry.
Location: Yale University (on-campus, with residential and commuter options).
Fee: $6,500; need-based aid available.
Deadline: Early action: October 20, 2024; Regular decision: January 10, 2025
Eligibility: Students should be on track to graduate in May or June 2026 or 2027 if they are in the Northern Hemisphere, or in November or December 2025 or 2026 if they are in the Southern Hemisphere.
Program dates: Session I: June 22-July 4; Session II: July 6-July 18; Session III: July 20-August
This leadership-focused program at Barnard College provides young women with opportunities for personal and professional growth. In the Writing and Literature track, you will analyze different literary forms and themes, participate in creative writing workshops, and explore filmmaking as a storytelling tool.
Morning classes, taught by Barnard faculty, include topics like Screenwriting, Dystopia in the Margins, and Poetry. These courses will help you strengthen your creative and analytical writing abilities. You will also learn about Barnard's literary history, associated with writers like Greta Gerwig, Zora Neale Hurston, and Jhumpa Lahiri.
Location: On-campus with options for residential or commuter participation
Fee: $10,171 (residential), $8,161 (commuter)
Financial Assistance: Limited need-based aid is available; early application is recommended.
Application Deadline: April 15, 2025
Program Dates: June 29th – July 18th, 2025
Eligibility: Open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS) helps you develop critical thinking by studying power structures, oppression, and social justice. Literature is central, along with history, politics, and the art of people of African descent. You’ll participate in lectures, group projects, and public speaking to deepen your understanding of these themes. The program encourages applications from students of color and those facing financial challenges.
Location: Cornell University, University of Maryland, University of Michigan
Fee: Free
Application Deadline: December 3, 2024. Applications are currently closed for the 2025 batch. Applications usually open around October.
Program Dates: June 22, 2025 –June 26, 2025
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders
The NYU Pre-College program gives you a chance to experience college life, with access to campus resources, events, and NYC excursions. If you're interested in literature, you can take courses like Storytelling: From Aristotle to Beyoncé, which explores narrative structures and their impact on society. Another course, Readings in Contemporary Literary Theory, focuses on feminist theory and literature by women of color, helping you understand important literary ideas.
Location: On-campus with residential and commuter options available
Fee: $700 to $14,000 depending on credits
Financial Assistance: Need-based scholarships covering 50% of tuition available
Application Deadline: January 1, 2025
Program Dates: January 21 - May 6, 2025
Eligibility: 11th and 12th-grade students with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Harvard’s Secondary School Program allows you to take college-level courses for seven weeks. You can choose from classes like Beginning Fiction, Popular Culture and Social Theory, and Introduction to Film, all focused on literary and cultural studies. Other options include poetry writing, screenwriting, and creative non-fiction. At the end of the program, you will receive a letter grade, a Harvard University transcript, and experience in a rigorous academic environment.
Location: On-campus
Fee: $4,050–$14,950 + $75 application fee
Application Deadline: Three windows, January 8, 2025; February 12, 2025; April 9, 2025
Program Dates: June 21, 2025 - August 9, 2025
Eligibility: Open to students aged 16-18 who will graduate from high school and enter college in 2025, 2026, or 2027
Stanford's Summer Sessions provide you with an opportunity to take full college-level courses while experiencing campus life. Literature courses include Creative Non-Fiction, Creative Expression in Writing, Fiction Writing, and more. Over 8 weeks, you’ll work with challenging material and collaborate with professors and peers in a dynamic setting.
In Creative Nonfiction, you’ll focus on narrative techniques like character development, setting, and themes. The Creative Expression in Writing course encourages experimentation with different writing styles. In Fiction Writing, you’ll study plot structure, dialogue, and point of view to craft compelling stories. You’ll use writing tools, such as word processors and possibly formatting software, to improve your work. You’ll also develop critical reading and analysis skills to evaluate and interpret literary texts.
By the end, you’ll have a portfolio, experience in a rigorous academic setting, and a Stanford transcript, all of which can help with future academic and professional goals.
Location: On-campus with commuter and residential options
Fee: Minimum $8,091 for commuters; minimum $18,443 for residential
Financial Assistance: Not available for high school students
Application Deadline: Early decision deadline: December 13, 2024; Regular decision deadline: February 12, 2025
Program Dates: June 21, 2025 - August 17, 2025
Eligibility: You must be at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and no older than 19 on August 18, 2024. These age requirements are strictly enforced, with no exceptions.
Columbia University’s pre-college programs offer a range of literature courses designed to deepen your understanding of literary arts. In the Creative Writing course, you will develop your writing skills across various genres, focusing on narrative techniques and style. The Storytelling course emphasizes the art of crafting compelling narratives and exploring elements such as plot development, character creation, and thematic expression.
Additionally, the Introduction to Literature course provides a comprehensive overview of literary analysis, covering diverse genres and periods to enhance your critical reading abilities.
Location: Commuter and residential tracks available
Fee/Stipend: Program costs differ based on the course, duration, and whether or not the student is a commuter. Click here to find the detailed fee breakup. Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Between February 2, 2025 to March 2, 2025.
Program Dates: Varies based on the courses. Usually between July to August 2025
Eligibility: Open to students from 8th to 12th grade. Residential tracks are for students aged 16 and older.
UC Berkeley’s Pre-College Scholars program offers high school students the opportunity to enroll in college-level courses and experience university life. Literature-focused courses include "Literature in English: Milton," "Introduction to the Study of Poetry," and "Introduction to Modern Japanese Culture and Literature." These courses are designed to enhance your literary analysis, critical thinking, and writing skills within one of the country’s top English Literature departments.
In "Literature in English: Milton," you will study the works of John Milton, focusing on his contributions to English literature and its historical context. "Introduction to the Study of Poetry" will help you develop skills in analyzing poetic forms, techniques, and themes. "Introduction to Modern Japanese Culture and Literature" offers insights into Japanese literary traditions and cultural expressions.
Location: On campus at UC Berkeley
Fee: $15,800 for the 8-week course, $14,500 for the 6-week course
Application Deadline: April 10, 2025
Program Dates: Session C: June 22–August 9, 2025 (8 weeks)
Eligibility: Open to domestic and international students aged 16-17 at the start of the program. Must have a minimum overall B average.
The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio offers a summer program focused on writing, with benefits that go beyond just storytelling. You can take courses in fiction, poetry, TV writing, playwriting, and creative writing. The courses, taught by graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, combine creative expression with literary analysis, helping you explore how writing shapes the world.
They also offer six-week online creative writing courses twice a year—once in winter (mid-January to late February) and again in summer (late June to early August). These courses are open to high school students in the U.S. and abroad, specifically targeting 9th through 12th graders who love writing.
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost:$2,500
Application Deadline: Typically February
Program Dates:
- Session 1: June 15 - 28, 2025
- Session 2: July 13 - 26, 2025
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
12. Summer@Brown
Brown University offers a variety of summer programs, with Summer@Brown being one of the most accessible for high school students. As a participant, you'll have access to a catalog of over 300 non-credit courses across themes in literature, like Writing Fiction, Ekphrasis, Art Writing, What is Literature For?, etc. Brown also provides Summer@Brown Online, commuter options, and both one-week and seven-week courses. For those interested in earning college credit, check out Brown's competitive Pre-Baccalaureate program, designed for rising seniors or recent high school graduates who are ready for college-level coursework.
Cost: It varies based on the course and duration. Check the full list here.
Application Deadline: May 9, 2025
Program Dates: Between June-August. Check the full list of dates here.
Location: Virtual or Brown University, Providence, RI
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Georgetown University's week-long creative writing course is designed to help you improve your writing and appreciate literature more. Through lectures, workshops, and peer feedback, you’ll explore poetry, storytelling, and essays. The program helps you turn your ideas into polished works.
You’ll also learn about publishing, including literary markets, and how to get your work published. Additionally, the course includes trips around Washington, D.C., such as a writing exercise at the National Gallery of Art and a reading session at Busboys and Poets, a popular literary spot.
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: $3,525
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025 and April 15, 2025
Program Dates: July 20-26, 2025
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The NYU Tisch Future Dramatic Writers Workshop is great for you if you're passionate about literature and want to improve your storytelling skills. This workshop teaches you about narrative construction, character development, and dramatic structure—important parts of creative writing and literary studies.
You’ll work with professional instructors and fellow students to strengthen your writing and learn how literature becomes performance art. The hands-on approach helps you develop critical thinking and creativity, which will help you succeed in literature-focused academic programs.
Location: In-person, NYU campus in New York City
Fee: Free
Application Deadline: Closed for 2025
Program Dates: February 1 – May 10, 2025
Selectivity: Highly competitive
Eligibility: Open to current 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students
The Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop offers high school students the chance to enhance their creative writing skills. This program is led by published authors and experienced educators who will guide you through poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. You will participate in writing exercises, discussions, and readings that will help you improve your craft and develop your voice as a writer.
During the workshop, you will engage in hands-on writing activities that focus on different forms of creative writing. You will receive feedback on your work from both instructors and peers, giving you a deeper understanding of writing techniques and styles. The program also includes readings of your work, allowing you to practice presenting your ideas to an audience.
Location: Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio
Cost: Approximately $2,000 (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Early March 2025
Program Dates: June 22 - July 1, 2025
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 10-12
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.