Attend Humanities for Young People
July 6–12, 2025*
Click here for HYP Applications!
Do you love reading? Did you just put on a play?
Do you follow politics? Do you dream of being a writer?
Do you wonder what university might be like? If so, HYP is for you!
Humanities for Young People (HYP) is a residential summer program for bright and highly motivated students from ages 15 to 17. It takes place at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for one week each summer. Secondary school students from across the country have the unique opportunity to work closely with scholars from a variety of disciplines.
What is HYP?
The HYP program is an opportunity to experience a slice of life in King’s Foundation Year Program (FYP), Canada’s pre-eminent great books program.
FYP students spend their first year of university on a chronological odyssey through the ages, from ancient civilizations to the modern era, reading the works that have shaped our world. Students grapple directly with primary texts from ancient epics and religious texts to the most seminal works of philosophy, literature and politics, as well as tracing developments in art, music, architecture and science. Students build a comprehensive cultural map by becoming acquainted with the traditions of thought that have helped set our present horizons.
In July, high school students are invited to experience what it would be like to be part of such a program, immersed in a world of big ideas, with peers from across Canada who are passionate about the same things. Each year, the HYP program will pick up on a thread in the FYP curriculum such as love, truth, beauty, power or justice, and will include a workshop from King’s other undergraduate specialization, journalism.
Just like King’s students, HYP students either live in residence or participate as day students, eat together in Prince Hall, attend morning lectures by a cast of experts on the subject matter and participate in small group discussions to deepen understanding. In the afternoons and evenings students take part in co-curricular workshops and activities and visit local sites. For students coming from outside the region, it’s a chance to see what their life in Halifax could be like and build confidence about going away to university. The group is led by an academic and a team of upper year King’s students.
The theme for HYP 2025 is Thinking Through Fear
During our week together, we will think about the many forms fear can take in our lives on both a personal and a social level. Through a series of workshops, we’ll explore literature, philosophy, history, politics, art and social issues, connecting this knowledge to urgent themes in contemporary discourse and exploring how fear can be managed, challenged, and overcome. As the world grows increasingly partisan and rancorous, it is important to reflect upon the role fear plays in our lives, how it molds our thoughts, and how it can either inspire or inhibit us from fully participating in life.
In the early 1600’s, Lucio states to Isabella in Shakespeare’s Measure by Measure,
“Our doubts are traitors
And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt.”
We hope that by the end of HYP week, you will have tried some new things, tossed away some fears and gained much from the adventure!
Why do the humanities matter today?
The humanities ask—and answer—the big questions about our lives. Studying the humanities will help you develop the critical thinking and communication skills that are crucial to meaningful employment, active citizenship and healthy relationships.
Research backs us up on this: it shows that young people who pursue studies in the humanities have a broad and flexible skill set, allowing them to confront the unpredictable future with creativity, ingenuity and resilience.
The humanities encourage us to examine works of art, literature, philosophy and political science (among others!) to assist us as we try to understand and improve our world and ourselves.
“If you are thinking about this program, do it! It’s one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
“I can say with absolute confidence that this has been a life-changing experience.”
“You will meet so many people with different perspectives/lenses. You WILL cry at the end because of how wonderful the program is. If you love the humanities and are interested in a taste of university life, this program is for you.”
Application process
| HYP Student Application | Reference Form |
There are three steps to the application process:
- The HYP application—Students complete a HYP application that requests basic information and includes writing a personal statement about why they want to participate in HYP.
- The Reference form—Students are required to have one reference from a nonrelative (teacher, guidance counselor, coach, boss, etc.) who can recommend them for HYP. References will fill out a form for you. Be sure they know:
- your legal first and last names
- your birthday
- the high school you attend (we use this information to match reference letters with the right applicant!)
- Acceptance—You will be notified by email if you are offered a seat in the program.
- Applications received by March 31 will receive an admissions response in early April. Students offered a seat must formally confirm their acceptance by submitting a $300 program deposit. The deposit secures your seat, and seats are not guaranteed without the deposit. Those who do not pay the deposit may lose their spot in the program.
- Applications submitted after March 31 will receive an admissions response on a rolling basis as seats allow and may be waitlisted for the program.
Students who have paid their deposits and been accepted into the program will receive follow-up communications and forms for completion (e.g. residence, health, travel, insurance, code of conduct).
Program Fees
There are two options for program enrolment. Travel costs are the full responsibility of the student, including fees to and from the airport.
1. Residence Student Fee: $1,550
- This option is available for both local students and for those who join us from regions outside Halifax.
- This fee includes accommodation, all meals (including Formal Meal), academic activities and materials, field trips and extracurricular evening events.
2. Day Student Fee: $600
- This fee includes all academic activities and materials, field trips, extracurricular evening events, lunch each day and Formal Meal at the end of the program.
- It does not include costs for accommodation or additional meals like breakfast or dinner. Experience tells us many day students enjoy staying late to eat dinner, please be prepared to pay per meal at the dining hall (approx. $15).
- Day students must arrange their own transportation to and from campus daily.
Bursaries for financial need are available. Please contact us at hyp@ukings.ca for more information.
Want to know more? We’re happy to help! Email hyp@ukings.ca.