Harvard Secondary School Program 2026: What to Know

The Harvard Secondary School Program (SSP) gives ambitious sixth-form students the chance to study for credit at Harvard University while experiencing life in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Harvard Summer School’s SSP offers credit-bearing university courses taught by Harvard faculty, with 200 courses across 50+ subjects for learners seeking rigorous study.

You can choose four or seven weeks, with residential housing, commuting, or online study, plus college readiness workshops, proctor-led activities, and advising.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to Harvard SSP.

Course Breakdown

Note: Check their official website for their current pricing.

Why Choose Harvard SSP?

Harvard SSP offers students an authentic university experience by placing them directly into credit-bearing courses alongside Harvard undergraduates and adult learners. 

Each session delivers rigorous, graded coursework taught by Harvard faculty and visiting scholars, with participants earning an official transcript that demonstrates their ability to succeed at an Ivy League level.

Beyond the classroom, residential participants live in Harvard housing, eat in dining halls, and access university facilities. They also benefit from proctor-led activities, admissions workshops, and excursions into Boston. 

The programme attracts a global community, with recent cohorts including students from across the United States and more than seventy countries worldwide.

What sets Harvard Secondary School Program apart is its intensity and college-credit model. Students are held to the same expectations as university peers, making the programme both academically demanding and highly rewarding. 

However, the experience comes with a significant cost of up to $15,735 for seven weeks, and financial aid is limited to US participants.

While Immerse Education also values high academic standards, our approach is designed specifically for secondary-school participants.  We welcome younger learners from age thirteen, provide smaller Oxbridge-style tutorials, and deliver shorter, more accessible two-week programmes. 

This creates a tailored pre-university experience that combines academic depth with mentorship, flexibility, and affordability, ensuring students are challenged and inspired.

Key Features of Harvard SSP

Harvard Secondary School Program places participants in real Harvard Summer School classes with the same curriculum and grading as undergraduates. 

Each course is credit-bearing and concludes with an official transcript, which may transfer to future universities. Faculty expect 8 to 12 hours of independent study each week for every four-credit course, making the workload rigorous.

The programme offers over 200 courses in the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and professional fields. Students choose subjects that match their interests and career goals, with many small classes enabling close engagement with faculty. Courses are also grouped into career pathways for easier selection.

SSP runs in four-week or seven-week formats. The seven-week option can be residential, online, or commuting, while the four-week is residential only. 

Residential participants live in Harvard housing, dine in halls, and use university facilities such as libraries, gyms, and student centres, supported by proctors and deans.

Beyond academics, students join admissions workshops, essay sessions, and social activities. The international cohort, with participants from over seventy countries and across the United States, creates a diverse and vibrant community.

Advantages

• Ivy League credentials: Participants earn college credit and an official Harvard transcript, demonstrating their ability to succeed at rigorous university-level study.
• Genuine college experience: Residential students live in Harvard housing, eat in dining halls, and access university facilities, including libraries, gyms, and student centres.
• Flexible formats: The programme runs as a seven-week residential, commuter, or online option, with an additional four-week intensive residential pathway.
• Extensive course choice: Students choose from more than 200 courses across 50+ subjects, ranging from humanities and sciences to emerging fields such as data science and artificial intelligence.
• Global community: Participants join peers from over seventy countries and nearly every US state, creating a vibrant, international learning network.

Disadvantages

• High cost: At $9,100 for four weeks or $15,735 for seven weeks, SSP is a major financial commitment. Additional costs such as travel, insurance, and personal expenses are not included.
• Limited scholarships: Financial aid is restricted to US citizens, permanent residents, or DACA students. International students are not eligible.
• Intensive workload: Courses are condensed and demanding, with 8 to 12 hours of homework per week for each four-credit class.
• Limited personalisation: Classes follow standard college curricula designed for university students and adults, rather than being tailored to secondary-school learners.
• Age restrictions: Eligibility is limited to students aged 16 to 18. Younger participants seeking enrichment cannot apply.

Harvard SSP vs Immerse Education

Immerse Education offers three core pathways: Academic Insights, Career Insights, and the Online Research Programme (ORP), combining university-style learning, real-world experience, and one-to-one research mentorship across global locations.

Is Harvard SSP Worth It?

The Harvard Secondary School Program is a strong choice for ambitious students aged 16 to 18 who want genuine university-level experience. 

Participants enrol in Harvard Summer School courses, complete graded work, and earn an official Harvard transcript that can demonstrate readiness for higher study. With over 200 courses across the humanities, sciences, and professional fields, SSP offers both academic breadth and flexibility. 

Residential participants live in Harvard housing, dine in halls, and access libraries, gyms, and student centres. The programme also draws students from over seventy countries and nearly every US state, creating a diverse and international community.

SSP is demanding. Faculty expect 8 to 12 hours of independent study per week for each four-credit course, and participants share classes with undergraduates and adult learners. This requires maturity and discipline. The programme is also costly, ranging from $9,100 to $15,735, and financial aid is restricted to US students. 

Immerse Education is a strong alternative to Harvard SSP for students seeking challenge with personalised support. 

Designed for learners aged 13 to 18, our programmes feature small Oxbridge-style tutorials led by expert university tutors, enabling deeper exploration, confidence building, and individual feedback not found in large classes. In addition to academic insights, participants access career-focused pathways with industry exposure, project-based learning, and online research guided by PhD mentors. 

Alternatives to Harvard SSP

• Immerse Education – Academic Summer School: Two-week residential programmes in Oxford, Cambridge, and Sydney with Oxbridge-style tutorials.
• Immerse Education – Career Insights: Industry-focused projects in London, Singapore, and Boston for career exploration.
• Immerse Online Research Programme: 1:1 research mentorship with PhD tutors, producing outputs that strengthen UCAS and university applications.
• Yale Young Global Scholars (ages 15–18): Two-week, interdisciplinary programmes at Yale University.
• Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes (ages 14–17): Three-week academic enrichment with selective admissions.

How to Apply

1. Check Eligibility & Choose Format – You must be 16 by 20 June 2026 and under 19 before 31 July 2026, entering university in 2026–28. Choose the 4-week residential or 7-week residential, commuter, or online format.
2. Complete the Application – Apply online with transcripts (grades 9–Fall 2025), a counsellor report, and parent/guardian forms if under 18. Pay the $75 non-refundable fee.
3. English Proficiency & Aid – Non-native speakers submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores. U.S. students may apply for need-based financial aid; international students are not eligible.
4. Deadlines & Decisions – Early: 7 Jan 2026 | Regular/International: 11 Feb 2026 | Late: 1 Apr 2026 (no aid). Admissions are rolling after February.
5. Register, Visa & Arrival – If accepted, register for courses, complete pre-arrival forms, and arrange travel. International students in residential formats must secure an I-20 and student visa.

Final Thoughts

The Harvard Secondary School Program is an academically rigorous, credit-bearing summer option that allows high school students to test themselves in a genuine university environment. 

For those seeking prestige and official credit, it’s one of the most challenging and rewarding choices available.

However, for those seeking intensive academic preparation tailored to secondary students, personalised mentorship, and deeper tutorial-style engagement, Immerse Education is the stronger alternative.

With smaller groups, expert Oxbridge tutors, and programmes designed specifically for university preparation, Immerse combines academic rigour with the inspiring environment of world-class institutions whilst maintaining the personalised guidance that makes a transformative difference.