If you are interested in literature and want to explore the field beyond your usual classroom assignments, consider a research program in literature! An online research program, specifically, can help you study texts, writing methods, and literary theory in depth, without committing to an in-person program. These opportunities allow you to practice writing, learn how to analyze literature, and explore topics that connect with history, society, or current events.
Many of the online literature research opportunities below are structured like college seminars and offer support from instructors. Some include writing a research paper or a creative portfolio. Others help you improve your academic writing through feedback and peer review. While some of the online literature programs may not be traditional research programs, they do involve a very strong research component, and require a research-focused deliverable from your end.
To help you get started, we have compiled a list of top 12 online literature research opportunities for high school students!
12 Online Literature Research Opportunities for High School Students
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Literature Track
Cost: $5,900 (full financial aid available)
Program Dates: Summer: June – August, fall: September – December, winter: December – February, spring: March – June.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The regular admissions deadline for the Summer Cohort I is May 11.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: Open to current high school students with a 3.3 GPA or higher; no prior experience needed.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program allows you to pursue a personalized, one-on-one research experience with a PhD mentor over the course of 12 weeks. You can study topics like literary theory, close reading, or how literature connects with history, politics, or other subjects.
You’ll build skills in reading, analysis, and academic writing. By the end, you’ll write a detailed research paper based on your work. This program is a good fit if you enjoy literature and want to study it in a structured research format. You can find more details about the application here.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) – Literature Track
Cost: You can find the exact cost by submitting an interest form. Full financial aid is available.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
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.
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.
You’ll choose your own topic, which might focus on literary analysis, theory, or how literature connects with other fields. Over the course of the program, you’ll write a 20-page research paper.
You’ll get feedback throughout and have the option to revise your paper for submission to journals. You’ll also receive a letter of recommendation from your mentor.
3. Columbia Pre-College Summer Sessions – Writing The Future
Cost: $3,965 + $80 application fee
Program Dates: July 7–18
Application Deadline: April 20
Eligibility: Domestic and international students who will be in grades 9-12 in the fall and students currently enrolled in grade 12 are eligible to apply.
You can join this online summer course to study how dystopian fiction and science fiction reflect issues in today’s world. You’ll read books like 1984, explore short stories, watch films, and listen to podcasts that focus on themes like AI ethics, surveillance, and the risks of technology.
You’ll write analytical essays, respond to prompts, and take part in group discussions. This course helps you build writing and critical thinking skills while exploring how literature can comment on society.
4. Cornell University Summer Session Online
Cost: $1,840 per credit, $1,500 non-refundable deposit is applicable (will be applied toward the total program charge)
Program Dates: June 23-July 11
Application Deadline: May 19
Eligibility: Students who have their sophomore year of high school and are between 15 and 19 years of age by the program start date are eligible to apply.
In this online course, you’ll learn the techniques and theory behind writing fiction, poetry, and other literary forms. You’ll read both narrative and verse, complete writing exercises, and join peer workshops to improve your skills.
You’ll work closely with Cornell instructors and earn 3 to 12 college credits, with an official transcript. This program helps you strengthen your writing and analytical skills at a college level while studying with motivated students from around the world. You’ll also get access to admissions counseling.
5. Syracuse University – Summer College – Online
Cost: Noncredit (any length) – $1,995; 3-Credits (any length) – $3,165; 4-Credits (any length) – $3,905. Merit-based financial aid is available.
Program Dates: 3-Week Session I: July 7 – 25; 3-Week Session II: July 21 – August 8; 6-Week Session: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: December 15 – May 1
Eligibility: For noncredit courses, rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and same-year graduates are eligible. For credit courses, rising high school juniors, seniors, and same-year graduates are eligible.
In this 3-week online course, you’ll learn how to turn your personal experiences into engaging stories. You’ll study creative nonfiction and memoir writing, using fiction techniques like character development, dialogue, and structure.
The course includes live lessons, group discussions, and collaborative work. Outside of class, you’ll complete readings, reflections, and writing assignments to help you create short stories or personal essays based on your own life.
6. Harvard’s Secondary School Program
Cost: $4,050 (4-credits) to $7,900 (8-credits) + $75 application fee
Program Dates: June 21 – August 9
Application Deadline: Early: January 8; Regular: February 12; Late: April 9 (no financial aid available)
Eligibility: Students who will graduate from high school and enter college in the next three years, are at least 16 years old by June 21, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31 are eligible to apply.
In this online program, you’ll study literature and writing alongside college students and peers from around the world. In courses like Introduction to Fiction Writing, you’ll read texts, write your own work, and join discussions led by Harvard faculty.
Classes meet for 2.5 to 3 hours on scheduled days. You’ll complete assignments like analytical essays, creative writing pieces, and peer critiques. After finishing the program, you’ll receive an official Harvard transcript with the credits and grades earned.
7. Summer@Brown Online
Cost: 2 weeks: $3,218; 3 weeks: $4,454; 4 weeks: $5,314; 6 weeks: $6,238
Program Dates: Multiple sessions offered in June – July
Application Deadline: May 9 (rolling)
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9-12 between ages 14-18 by June 15 are eligible to apply.
This program offers high school students the chance to take college-level courses in literature and research. You can choose from asynchronous, mostly asynchronous, or blended learning formats, giving you the flexibility to learn on your own schedule. You’ll receive guidance from experienced instructors and personalized feedback.
This online literature research opportunity is perfect for students who want to explore literature deeply and conduct research without the pressure of traditional grading. At the end, you’ll get a digital certificate and, if you complete a 3-week or longer course, a detailed performance report.
8. Rice University Summer Scholars
Cost: $1,200 per credit hour + $75 application fee
Program Dates: Program runs May 12 to August 15 across multiple blocks
Application Deadline: Rolling, from May 5 to June 30.
Eligibility: Open to rising 11th and 12th graders
The Rice University Summer Scholars Program gives you the chance to earn college credit while exploring literature through courses that connect storytelling with broader social and ethical themes. You can choose courses like Literature and Medicine, where you’ll read novels, plays, and essays about the human side of healthcare, or Asian American Literature, where you’ll study themes like immigration, identity, and activism. You’ll work with Rice faculty, complete college-level readings and writing assignments, and collaborate with peers on projects.
9. Iowa Young Writers’ Studio
Cost: Not Specified
Program Dates: June 15 – July 22
Application Deadlines: April 18
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9 through 12. The residential program is for grades 10 through 12. No experience required. Strong interest in writing expected.
The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio Online lets you study creative writing through a flexible, asynchronous format. You can choose from five course options, including nonfiction, poetry, fiction, speculative fiction, and mixed-genre writing.
Each course includes weekly writing assignments, readings, peer feedback, and online discussions that you complete on your own schedule, as long as you meet the weekly deadlines. All courses are taught by instructors from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and focus on helping you improve through regular practice and detailed feedback.
10. Davidson Institute Fellows Scholarship
Location: NA, Online application
Cost: None. Awards range from $50,000 to $10,000
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: NA, but an initial portion of the application must be submitted first. On approval of that, you may complete the rest of the application (including two nominators)
Eligibility: Applicants must be younger than 18 years of age and a permanent resident or citizen of the US
This scholarship is for students under 18 who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. You can win between $10,000 and $50,000 by submitting a significant original project with real-world impact.
If you apply under the literature category, you’ll need to submit a 60 to 75-page portfolio of creative writing along with a literacy narrative that explains how you developed as a writer. You can apply on your own or with a partner. Industry experts review all submissions.
11. Saint John’s College Summer Academy
Cost: Not specified
Program Dates: June
Application Deadlines: Not specified (apply at Summer Academy Application)
Eligibility: Open to students aged 15-18 (approximately grades 9-12). No prior experience required. Strong interest in literature and discussion-based learning expected.
If you want to study literature through close reading and discussion, this one-week summer program gives you a chance to explore classic texts with other high school students. Online sessions will include readings from The Odyssey by Homer, Julius Caesar and Antony & Cleopatra by Shakespeare, selections by James Baldwin, and Charles Darwin’s The Voyage of the Beagle. You’ll join daily seminars led by faculty from Saint John’s College, where you’ll talk about the texts and examine ideas from philosophy, literature, and history.
12. John Locke Institute Essay Competition
Cost: Free to enter; late entry fees £25 (July 7) or £75 (July 21)
Program Dates: Registration opens April 1; submissions open June 1; submission deadline June 30; shortlist notification July 31; academic conference and awards dinner October 3-5
Application Deadlines: Registration by May 31; submission by June 30
Eligibility: Open to students 18 and younger for the main competition; 14 and younger for the Junior Prize.
The John Locke Institute Essay Competition invites high school students worldwide to submit essays of up to 2,000 words in seven categories: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, and Law. There’s also a Junior Prize for younger students. Your essay will be judged by academics from universities like Oxford and Princeton.
You’ll need to analyze texts closely, especially in Philosophy, History, and Theology, where you might engage with works like Plato’s Republic, Locke’s Second Treatise of Government, or biblical texts. If you’re shortlisted, you’ll attend a conference and awards dinner in London in October. For more details, visit the John Locke Institute Essay Competition.
Image source – John Locke Institute Essay Competition