Humanities for Young People
July 6–12, 2025
HYP registration is now closed.
To add your name to the waitlist, please email hyp@ukings.ca directly.
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.
For nine days in the summer, 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 working as peer mentors.
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.
“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 registration is now closed. To add your name to the waitlist, please email hyp@ukings.ca directly.
- Students are asked to fill out a basic application that includes writing a personal statement about why they want to participate in HYP. The statement can be pasted into the form or typed in directly (1000-word limit).
- Students also require one reference from a nonrelative (teacher, guidance counselor, coach, boss, etc.) who can recommend them for HYP. References 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!)
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all program seats are filled.
- We do our best to communicate with you as soon as possible after the submission of your application.
- Please note that spots in HYP are limited, so we strongly encourage you to apply early. Admission responses will direct you on how to submit your program deposit to formally accept your seat in the program.
Enrolment for HYP opens in early February. HYP usually occurs the second week of July. Specific program dates will be announced when applications open.
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.
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.
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.