Philosophy often involves exploring abstract concepts, logical frameworks, and the ethical dilemmas that shape human thought and society. For high school students eager to pursue philosophical research, philosophy research programs provide a platform to work on critical thinking, academic writing, and analytical reasoning, all before college.
From mentored research experiences to structured pre-college coursework based in research, these opportunities allow you to engage with complex philosophical questions while developing skills that could be useful for other academic disciplines and make for a great addition to your resume.
Below, you’ll find a list of 8 programs that could help you gain hands-on exposure to philosophy and related fields through rigorous research:
1. Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
Subject Areas: Humanities, Philosophy, History, Literature, Art, Political Theory
Location: Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (current 10th and 11th graders); participants must be under 18 during the program
Application Deadline: February 3
Program Dates:
- Session 1: June 22–July 11
- Session 2: July 13–August 1
Cost: $8,575 (financial aid available)
The Stanford Summer Humanities Institute is a three-week residential program for students interested in exploring the humanities at a collegiate level. You will select one course from an array of topics, such as ancient philosophy, revolutions, or the climate crisis, and engage in small seminars led by Stanford professors and Ph.D. candidates.
Mornings are spent in faculty-led discussions, while afternoons include smaller discussion groups, writing workshops, and collaborative projects. Throughout the program, you’ll work on an independent research project under faculty mentorship, gaining experience in scholarly writing and argumentation. Weekends will have field trips and social activities to balance academic rigor with opportunities to explore the Bay Area.
2. Question Everything: A Summer Philosophy Program
Subject Areas: Philosophy, Ethics, Law, Political Philosophy
Location: University of Massachusetts Amherst (Amherst, MA)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (Fall 2025) from Springfield and Holyoke, MA, especially those from low-income households or first-generation college students
Application Deadline: Spring (specific date TBD)
Program Dates: July 13–August 2
Cost: Free (full scholarship for all admitted participants)
Question Everything is a three-week residential program that immerses participants in philosophical inquiry and critical thinking through the 2025 theme, Freedom and Liberty. You’ll explore questions about rights, free will, incarceration, and the balance between liberty and government authority through interactive lectures, discussions, mock trials, and role-playing activities.
The program provides a full college experience, including dorm life, meals at dining halls, and access to campus resources like the library and gym. You’ll also conduct independent research on a topic of your choice and present your findings to peers, sharpening your writing, reading, and presentation skills. Beyond the summer, the program offers ongoing support with the college application process during the 2025–2026 school year. As a bonus, you earn 3 college credits upon completing the program.
3. Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Subject Areas: Humanities, Critical Black Studies (TASS-CBS), Anti-Oppressive Studies (TASS-AOS)
Locations: Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) and University of Maryland (College Park, MD)
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (rising juniors and seniors, ages 15–18) from all backgrounds; US and international students are eligible
Application Deadline: December 3
Program Dates: June 22–July 26
Cost: Free (all program expenses covered, including tuition, books, room and board, field trips, and travel assistance if needed)
At the Telluride Association Summer Seminar, students choose between two tracks: Critical Black Studies (TASS-CBS), which focuses on the intellectual and cultural contributions of people of African descent, and Anti-Oppressive Studies (TASS-AOS), which examines systems of power and oppression, such as white supremacy and patriarchy. Each program features college-level seminars led by faculty, focusing on critical reading, writing, and small-group discussion rather than grades.
Outside the classroom, you’ll participate in democratic decision-making, transformative justice practices, and public speaking workshops while living in a collaborative community of peers. Activities include group outings, community service projects, and guest lectures.
4. Young Scholars High School Program
Subject Areas: Anthropology, Economics, Philosophy, English, Math, Psychology, Sociology, and more
Location: University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
Eligibility:
- Fall 2025 and beyond: Open to rising high school juniors (11th graders) within commutable distance to Penn
- Spring 2025: Open to current juniors and seniors (11th and 12th graders) within commutable distance
- Minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA; 85th percentile or greater on standardized tests (or additional recommendation letter in lieu of test scores)
Application Deadlines:
- Fall 2025: August 1
- Spring 2026: December 1
Program Dates: Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters (varies by course schedule)
Cost:
- Tuition-free for students attending Philadelphia public or charter high schools (fall and spring semesters only)
- Students are responsible for additional fees such as textbooks and course materials
The Young Scholars High School Program at the University of Pennsylvania offers academically advanced high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses for undergraduate credit. Available during fall, spring, and summer semesters, courses cover disciplines, such as anthropology, economics, and psychology.
Classes are taught by Penn faculty and provide an introduction to university-level coursework, complete with assignments, research papers, and exams. You will also gain access to Penn’s campus resources, including libraries and academic support centers, while earning one course unit (equivalent to four college credits) per course.
5. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Philosophy Track
Subject Areas: STEM, humanities, and social sciences
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
Application Deadline: The Spring Cohort application deadline is February 9. Summer deadlines are usually in March, April, and May.
Program Dates: June to August (summer). Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, offers high school students the opportunity to work one-on-one with PhD mentors to develop an independent research project in their subject area. If selected, you’ll work closely with mentors to create a college-level research paper based on your project, with additional support from writing coaches.
During this period, you’ll engage in thorough research, participate in workshops, and gradually refine your work. By the end of the program, you will have a completed research paper and gained experience in research methods, critical thinking, and academic writing. More details about the application are here. You can choose your subject track in the application form, such as business, and a specific area of focus, such as entrepreneurship, throughout your research experience.
6. Horizon Academic Research Program – Philosophy Track
Subject Areas: Data science, biology, chemistry, political theory, psychology, behavioral economics
Location: Virtual
Program Dates:
- Summer: June 16 – July 25, 2025
- Fall: March 3 – June 16, 2025
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort
Eligibility: High school students, typically in 10th or 11th grade, with a 3.67+ GPA. 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 philosophy, social psychology, and medicine. It also offers you a choice between quantitative and qualitative research. In the philosophy track, you can explore topics like behavioral economics and market trends.
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar 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 journals for publication as a high school student. The program also includes a letter of recommendation and comprehensive feedback on projects that can assist with future work and college applications. Apply here.
7. Philosophy and Critical Thinking (PACT) Summer Camp
Subject Areas: Philosophy, Critical Thinking, Ethics, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Science
Location: The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12) for the 2025–2026 school year, including recent graduates
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (acceptance begins February 1, until spots are filled)
Program Dates:
- Session 1: June 23–27
- Session 2: July 14–18
Cost: $500 per session (scholarships available)
While this isn’t a traditional research program, the PACT Summer Camp at Ohio State University is a week-long program designed to help you think more deeply about philosophical issues while building critical thinking and argumentation skills. Session 1 focuses on Democracy and Justice, exploring themes like fairness in decision-making, the nature of justice, and responses to past injustices. Session 2 examines Science, Faith, and Reality, tackling questions such as whether science can answer every question, whether faith can be rational, and the possibility of living in a simulation.
Each day includes faculty lectures, interactive discussions, debates, and creative projects designed to keep you engaged. By participating, you can work on strengthening your ability to evaluate complex ideas, articulate your views, and collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds.
8. Future Leaders Institute (FLI)
Subject Areas: Philosophy, Ethics, Political Philosophy, Social Justice, Law, and Technology
Location: University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until spaces are filled
Program Dates: July 27–August 3
Cost: Free (requires a $200 deposit, refunded upon camp completion)
The Future Leaders Institute (FLI) is a week-long residential program that combines social and political philosophy with interdisciplinary approaches to tackle pressing global and ethical issues. The 2025 theme, Law and Justice, invites you to explore the role of punishment, and justice in immigration policies, and how AI impacts surveillance and crime control. Days are structured with Ethics Bowl case studies, Socratic seminars, guest lectures, and interactive debates, while evenings include film screenings and philosophical games.
The program emphasizes critical thinking, public speaking, and collaborative discussion, with topics ranging from the philosophy of AI to debates about liberty and equality in legal systems. FLI fosters a pre-college environment to sharpen your reasoning skills while building connections with like-minded peers. This isn’t a traditional research program, but provides you with the theoretical foundations that you may need for a research career in philosophy!
Image source – UMass Amherst logo
