If you're looking to engage with history outside of the school curriculum, you could consider summer history programs. Held during the summer break, these programs often involve examining historical documents, engaging in discussions, and completing research projects. Students can develop critical thinking, research, and writing skills by participating while gaining a deeper appreciation for historical inquiry.
Here are 12 history summer programs for high school students in 2025:
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program provides a paid summer research experience, allowing you to work closely with a mentor in a rigorous academic setting. With only 12 students selected each year, this program is highly competitive and emphasizes intellectual development through intensive research and collaboration.
If you’re passionate about history, the program offers opportunities to investigate topics like Modern American Politics, Conservatism, and the political dynamics of the Texas Sunbelt after 1945. Through this research, you’ll explore how the South and West shaped political movements in the postwar era. Beyond your project, you’ll engage in seminars, discussions, and field experiences that can broaden your perspective and deepen your knowledge.
Subject areas: History, nutritional sciences, biology/cellular & microbiology, computer science, neurobiology, mechanical engineering, chemistry, electrical and computer engineering
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost: No cost. A $750 stipend will be paid upon submission of a successful research project report.
Application deadline: TBA for 2025
Program dates: TBA for 2025
Eligibility: 17-year-old students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and graduate in 2024 or 2025 can apply.
The Stanford Summer Humanities Institute offers high school students an opportunity to immerse themselves in history and related disciplines through a three-week program. Past courses have covered Ancient Rome and its Influence, Revolutionary Movements, The American Enlightenment, Race and Identity in American Culture, and Debates Over Museum Collections in the Bay Area. You’ll have the chance to choose courses that align with your interests.
In the final week, you’ll collaborate with Stanford faculty and graduate students to create an independent research project. Although the program doesn’t grant grades or academic credit, it emphasizes critical engagement with texts, effective academic writing, and thoughtful discussion contributions. This program allows you to explore complex ideas while connecting with a community passionate about the humanities.
Subject areas: History, political science, sociology, philosophy, and more.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $8,250. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application deadline: TBA for 2025. Typically in Feb as per previous years.
Program dates: TBA for 2025. Multiple sessions from June to July.
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 at the time of application submission.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students, spanning history, data science, political theory, neuroscience, and more disciplines. For students passionate about history, two distinct tracks are available:
- Critical History: This track focuses on the fundamental ideas that shape historical analysis, such as objectivity, causation, and identity. You’ll explore how historians interpret events and construct narratives.
- Ancient Greco-Roman History: This track delves into themes like labor, autonomy, and social structures within Greek and Roman civilizations, examining the lives of artisans, slaves, and other marginalized groups alongside those of the elite.
In both tracks, you’ll collaborate with a professor or Ph.D. scholar who will guide you in developing a 20-page research paper, sharpening your analytical and writing skills.
Subject areas: Multidisciplinary | Choose from subjects like history, sociology, physics, neuroscience, theoretical mathematics, and behavioral economics, among others.
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Typically in May for the summer cohort, and September for the fall cohort. Apply here!
Program dates:
- Summer seminar — Typically June-September
- Fall seminar — Typically October-February
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers high school students an opportunity to engage in advanced research in fields — including history — ranging from the humanities and social sciences to STEM. Created by Harvard and Oxford researchers, this program focuses on developing your research methodology skills while allowing you to explore complex topics in depth.
As a participant in this online program, you’ll work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to create a university-level research paper in history or another area of interest. The program provides financial aid through the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation to support students from low-income backgrounds as well. Applications are open to motivated students looking to gain research experience at an advanced level.
Subject areas: Arts, economics, sociology, STEM fields, including computer science, aerospace engineering, environmental science, and many more
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starts at $2,990
Application deadline: 4 cohorts in a year — Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall. For the summer cohort, applications open in January and typically close in May.
Program dates: Individual Research Program: 12 weeks | Premium Research & Publication Program: 16–20 weeks | Research Fellowship: 6–12 months.
Eligibility: High school students can apply.
Harvard’s Pre-College Program offers high school students the chance to experience college life for two weeks on Harvard’s campus. During this time, you’ll join a small group of peers in a college-level course led by Ivy League instructors. With class sizes averaging around 15 students, you’ll experience a personalized and interactive learning environment.
For those interested in history, the 2024 program provides courses such as “Immigrants and the American State since 1882,” “American Histories of Witchcraft and the Supernatural,” “American Foreign Relations since 1898,” and “Slave Rebellions and Resistance.” These courses explore diverse historical topics, allowing you to sharpen your analytical skills and understand the complexities of the past.
Subject areas: History, speech, writing, literature, psychology, medicine, public health, law, politics, philosophy, business, leadership, race, gender, ethics, science, technology, engineering, arts, math.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $5,800 + $75 application fee. Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Mar 25, 2025. Applications open on Dec 2, 2024
Program Dates:
- Session I: Jun 22–Jul 3, 2025
- Session II: Jul 6–18, 2025
- Session III: Jul 20–Aug 1, 2025
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors. Applicants must graduate from high school and enter college in 2026 or 2027, be at least 16 years old by June 21, 2025, and not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2025.
TASS’s Critical Black Studies program offers an interdisciplinary approach to studying the lives and cultures of people of African descent. The program goes beyond history and incorporates historical analysis alongside literature, politics, and art to explore the interconnected experiences of African diasporic communities.
You’ll engage in in-depth discussions and research to better understand historical narratives within art and society. With a competitive acceptance rate of 3–5%, this program can be explored by students interested in examining history through a broader social and cultural lens.
Subject areas: History, political science, sociology, cultural studies.
Location: Cornell University, and University of Maryland
Cost: Fully funded
Application deadline: Currently open for 2025! No deadline has been specified. You can apply here
Program dates: Jun 22, 2025 — Jul 26, 2025
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders, usually for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
The Student Historian Internship at the New-York Historical Society allows high school students to conduct in-depth research and create digital projects that serve as public educational resources. Through this program, you’ll explore the intersection of history and digital humanities while engaging with museum and library professionals.
Focusing on the theme Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass’ America, the internship emphasizes substantial research and writing, helping you build skills in historical analysis, communication, and digital media. For students interested in American history and public scholarship, you will also experience collaborative work with peers and hands-on experience.
Subject areas: History
Location: New York Historical Society, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost. A $700 stipend is provided upon successful completion of the internship.
Application deadline: TBA for 2025.
Program dates: TBA for 2025.
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10, 11, or 12 who live in and attend school in the New York City metro area can apply. This includes the five boroughs of New York City, as well as areas of New York State, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
The National History Academy is a four-week summer residential program held in Middleburg, Virginia, for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. You’ll visit significant historical sites, engage in discussions that connect the past to today’s challenges, and explore how history shapes the future.
The program combines classroom activities with immersive field experiences, allowing you to experience a deep understanding of history and how it influences the present.
Subject areas: History, government, law
Location: National History Academy, Middleburg, Virginia
Cost: $9,995. Full and partial need-based scholarships are available.
Application deadline: TBA for 2025. Applications open in December for the 2025 program.
Program dates: TBA for 2025. Typically for 3–4 weeks in July.
Eligibility: Rising 10 to 12 grade students are eligible to apply.
The UCSB summer program allows high school students to engage in advanced research under the guidance of mentors. If you’re interested in history, you’ll have the chance to explore relevant subjects — such as a past project on “Food in Fascist Italy: How Mussolini’s Policies Redefined Women’s Roles in Society and Culture.”
This six-week program includes working on an in-depth research project tailored to your interests while taking two structured courses. The Exploratory Course focuses on presenting research effectively through various formats, while the Lecture Course walks you through developing a well-crafted research paper.
Subject areas: History, anthropology, geography, mathematics, music, ecology, STEM, psychology, sociology, computer science, environmental policy, media, arts and tech, and statistics.
Location: On campus with commuter and residential options
Cost: $4,975 for commuters, and $11,874 for the residential program. Limited scholarships are available based on need, and qualifications.
Application deadline: Mar 17, 2025
Program dates: Jun 16 — Aug 1, 2025
Eligibility: Open to 10th and 11th-grade students who have a minimum GPA of 3.8 and have attended a minimum of 12 academic semester courses. (outstanding 9th graders accepted on a case-by-case basis).
The Met High School Internship Program is a paid opportunity for high school sophomores, juniors, or students pursuing a High School Equivalency degree who reside or attend school in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. Through this program, you’ll gain hands-on experience in museum work while exploring art, history, and various professional fields.
For those passionate about history, the internship offers a chance to explore how historical narratives intersect with museum operations. You’ll work alongside professionals in education, conservation, and editorial work, learning how history plays a role in curating exhibitions, preserving artifacts, and interpreting cultural stories. This program provides insight into museum careers while allowing you to connect with experts and collaborate with like-minded peers.
Subject Areas: Art history, cultural studies, curation, editorial, conservation, and more.
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students receive a stipend commensurate with New York State minimum wage law
Application deadline: Typically March end. TBA for 2025
Program dates: June end to mid-August. TBA for 2025.
Eligibility: High school students of grades 10 and 11, who live or attend school in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.
Sotheby’s Summer Institute’s Art History course offers a focused exploration of the key artists, movements, and cultures that have shaped art across the globe. Based in New York City, the program combines classroom lectures with site visits to institutions like The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, and the Whitney Museum, allowing you to engage directly with masterpieces and artifacts.
The curriculum spans ancient to contemporary art, examining traditions such as Egyptian artefacts, Islamic manuscripts, Renaissance works, Japanese woodblock prints, and modern movements. Alongside expert-led discussions, you’ll learn how art reflects cultural, social, and political contexts throughout history. Guest scholars provide additional perspectives, enhancing your understanding of global art history. This program can be useful for students interested in deepening their knowledge through hands-on learning and international insights.
Subject Areas: Art history, cultural studies
Location: Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York, NY
Cost: $6,990 (residential program), $5660 (day program). Need-based scholarships are available. More information here.
Application deadline: No specific timeline but students are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible to improve their odds of being selected.
Program dates: Term 1: Jul 6 — Jul 18 | Term 2: Jul 20 — Aug 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12 & graduating seniors can apply.
The Gilder Lehrman History School offers a lineup of online interactive history courses by experienced educators from the Gilder Lehrman Institute. This initiative began in 2020 as the Pop-Up History School and has evolved to provide over fifteen courses, designed to deepen your understanding of historical topics and events. The program encourages curiosity through dynamic lessons and incorporates new insights into pivotal moments or key themes in history in each session.
Subject areas: History
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application deadline: Rolling admissions, open courses.
Program dates: They vary by course but usually fall in July and August. The dates are TBA for 2025. Lectures from previous courses are available.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.s.