Alpha Scholars is a selective online research mentorship program that pairs high school students with Harvard student mentors to conduct original social science research. Students explore topics aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, guided by their mentor over 9 or 15 weeks (80 hours total: 40 instructional and 40 independent).
The program is open to students in grades 9-12 and gap year students worldwide, with English proficiency required for non-native speakers (TOEFL 90+ or IELTS 6.5/7+). No prior research experience is necessary. Sessions run in two cycles each year: Fall/Winter (November through February) and Summer (June through August).
Students produce a 12-15 page research paper and deliver a 15-minute presentation as their final deliverables. Outstanding papers are featured in the Harvard International Review. Financial aid is available for students who demonstrate need.