Philosophy programs for high schoolers.

All philosophy programs

1. Bard College at Simon's Rock

   Bard College at Simon's Rock Young Writers Workshop

   A 3-week residential program where students engage in creative and analytical thinking through literature and history.

   📍 Annandale-on-Hudson, NY⏱ 3 weeks📅 April 1🎓 Grades 10–12

   Moderate
2. Chapman University

   Chapman University Holocaust Art & Writing Contest

   A writing contest for high schoolers exploring the impact of the Holocaust through various creative prompts.

   📍 Online📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12

   Highly Selective
3. Davidson Institute

   Davidson Fellows

   Scholarships of USD 10K, 25K, and 50K for students under 18 with significant work in STEM, literature, music, or philosophy.

   📍 Online application⏱ Project-based📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12

   Selective
4. University of Cambridge

   HE+ Cambridge

   Free supracurricular resources, subject taster videos, and reading lists from Cambridge academics — designed to stretch Year 12/13 students preparing for competitive applications.

   📍 Remote (UK/Global)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling · anytime🎓 Grades 11–12

   Selective
5. IPO

   International Philosophy Olympiad

   International philosophical essay competition; students write in a language other than their native tongue.

   📍 Rotates by host country📅 National selection Spring🎓 Grades 11–12

   Selective
6. International Philosophy Olympiad

   International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO) - US Qualifiers

   An annual philosophy essay competition for pre-university students globally.

   📍 Online📅 January 31🎓 Grades 10–12

   Highly Selective
7. John Locke Institute

   John Locke Institute Essay

   Annual global essay competition in philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law. Free entry; cash and Oxford summer school prizes.

   📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 June 30🎓 Grades 9–12

   Selective
8. John Locke Institute

   John Locke Institute Essay Competition

   Free essay competition in philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law. Open worldwide, ages up to 18.

   📍 Global⏱ Annual📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12

   Selective
9. John Locke Institute

   John Locke Institute Global Essay Competition

   International essay competition across philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law.

   📍 Global📅 Late June🎓 Grades 11–12

   Selective
10. St. John's College

    St. John's College Summer Academy

    Rigid university-level philosophy and great books program for high school students.

    📍 Annapolis, MD / Santa Fe, NM⏱ 2 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12

    Highly Selective
11. Stanford University

    Stanford Summer Humanities Institute

    Three-week intensive humanities seminars for rising 11th/12th graders.

    📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 3 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12

    Moderate
12. University of Oxford

    UNIQ Summer School

    Free residential summer school for UK state-school students in Year 12 — subject-specific academic sessions on the Oxford course you'd apply to.

    📍 Oxford, UK⏱ 1 week (July)📅 January (Year 12)🎓 Grade 11

    Selective

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