Our Review of the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re in high school right now, you’re probably juggling questions about extracurriculars, college admissions, and majors. One opportunity that can support all of these goals is conducting independent research. Research programs help you move beyond textbooks by letting you explore a topic in depth, work under deadlines, and produce an independent research paper. Because research is rarely part of the typical high school curriculum, working 1-on-1 with a PhD scholar or professor can help you learn the process.
If you’re interested in entrepreneurship or startups, research in business or economics can give you the foundation to explore those fields further. Doing research in high school signals initiative, curiosity, and the ability to push oneself academically to college admissions officers. It can give you something to highlight in your essays and applications.
In this review, we’ll focus on the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, one of the better-known virtual research programs for high school students. We’ll cover Lumiere’s programs, subjects, eligibility criteria, the application process, and its alumni’s college admissions results. We’ll end with a comprehensive list of the pros and cons of participating in the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.
What Is Lumiere Education?
Lumiere Education was founded by Harvard and Oxford graduates to make research accessible to high school students worldwide. In the program, each student is paired with a PhD mentor from a top university who guides them through the process of designing, researching, and writing a scholarly paper. Depending on the program track, students can also receive additional support to publish their papers in academic journals.
According to their website, more than 7,200 students have participated, producing research across various fields, including astrophysics, computer science, economics, psychology, and philosophy. Lumiere also operates the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, which provides up to 100% financial aid to students from families with annual incomes of less than $80,000. This initiative makes the program more accessible to students from low-income backgrounds.
What Programs Does Lumiere Offer?
Lumiere offers several research programs, each tailored to different goals:
1. Individual Research Program
This is the standard 12-week option, where you meet one-on-one with a PhD mentor for nine sessions and work with a writing coach. By the end, you’ll have a full-length academic paper.
Best for: Students who want personalized guidance and an introduction to scholarly research.
2. Premium Research and Publication Program
A more intensive version, including 15 mentor sessions, 4 writing sessions, and 4 publication support sessions. The program supports up to 3 rounds of submissions to academic journals. It's important to note that publication is not guaranteed and depends on the quality of your research and the journals’ requirements.
Best for: Students aiming to get their work published. Past students have published in outlets such as Stanford Intersect and the Yale Review of International Studies.
3. Lumiere Research Fellowship
A more rigorous track, involving 30 sessions with a PhD mentor, plus 6–8 with a writing coach and 4 with a publication specialist. This program can run up to 12 months and is tailored for students aiming for selective research competitions or prestigious journal publications.
Best for: High schoolers deeply committed to research as part of their long-term academic goals.
4. Professor Premium Publication Program
A publication-focused program with 10 mentor sessions, 4 writing sessions, and 4 publication support sessions. Students work with professors from Top 20 universities such as Stanford, MIT, and Harvard. The program supports up to 3 rounds of submissions to high school or college-level journals, though publication is not guaranteed.
Best for: Students seeking mentorship from professors while aiming for publication.
This chart compares Lumiere’s different programs:
What Subjects Does Lumiere Offer?
Lumiere spans a wide range of disciplines, allowing students to specialize or pursue interdisciplinary topics:
STEM: Computer science, data science, medicine, engineering, astrophysics, mathematics.
Social Sciences: Economics, psychology, business, sociology, law, international relations.
Humanities: History, philosophy, gender studies, classics.
The ability to customize your research question allows even niche or cross-disciplinary interests to be explored in depth.
What is the Cost of the Program?
Lumiere’s four programs are offered at different price points:
Individual Research Program (12 weeks): $3,190
Premium Research & Publication Program (16-20 weeks): $6,450
Research Fellowship (6-12 months): $9,900
Professor Premium Publication Program (16-20 weeks): $9,900
Lumiere also operates the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, an independent non-profit that offers the Individual Research Program at no cost to qualifying students. The Foundation typically serves students from households earning less than $80,000 annually, though this is not a strict cutoff.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is open to high school (grades 9-12) and university students worldwide. Lumiere says they seek students who demonstrate strong academic ability, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to commit to a structured research process. While the program typically looks for applicants with a GPA of 3.3 or higher, prior research experience is not required.
How Do I Apply?
The application process begins with an online form where you outline your academic background and research interests. If your application is shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview to discuss your goals in more detail. Applicants who advance past this stage are paired with a mentor whose expertise aligns closely with their chosen topic. Once a match is confirmed, you’ll receive a final decision on your application.
What are the Program Dates and Deadlines?
Lumiere runs four cohorts each year: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. You can see the latest cohort dates and deadlines on their website. Deadlines for the summer cohort typically fall on these dates:
Summer Cohort I:
Early Admission: February 9
Priority Admission: March 9
Regular Admission I: April 13
Regular Admission II: May 11
Summer Cohort II:
Regular Admission: June 23
Let's Take Stock of the Claims Up Until Now
✅ Founded by Harvard and Oxford graduates - the founders' credentials check out based on publicly available information.
✅ Mentors from top universities - the program lists mentors from Yale, Harvard, Stanford, and other leading research institutions on their website.
✅ Financial aid available - the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation is a registered non-profit offering full scholarships, though these are competitive and limited in number.
💲 Pricing is on the higher end - at $3,190–$9,900 depending on the track, Lumiere is comparable to other online research programs in terms of pricing, but it may be cost-prohibitive for some families without financial aid.
What Do Alumni Say About Lumiere?
Lumiere appears to have generally positive reviews online. On TrustPilot, it holds a 4.7/5 rating over nearly 200 reviews. Students consistently mention the value of one-on-one mentorship and the program’s structure, which helps them stay on track. Many also appreciated that mentors wrote recommendation letters or supported them with competition entries. On Google, Lumiere scores 4.9/5, with reviewers highlighting the extra support from writing and publication specialists.
We also checked what people were saying about Lumiere on Reddit and other forums to get a more unfiltered perspective. Although some Redditors had concerns about paying for a research program, comments from former Lumiere students suggest they found it useful for developing academic skills. Overall, alumni report that the experience was valuable but noted that outcomes varied significantly depending on mentor quality:
We even found comments from Lumiere mentors whose students had good experiences:
What Colleges do Lumiere Alumni go to?
According to Lumiere’s website, their alumni have been accepted to Ivy League schools, Oxford, Stanford, MIT, CalTech, and more top universities. You can see Lumiere Scholars’ acceptance rates for Top 20 schools below:
It's worth noting that these statistics may reflect correlation rather than causation—students who complete Lumiere may already be strong candidates for selective schools. While the program can strengthen your application, it doesn't guarantee admission to any particular institution.
What are the Pros and Cons of Lumiere?
Pros
Expert Mentorship: One-on-one guidance from PhD scholars and professors at top universities like Harvard, Oxford, and MIT provides access to academic support typically available only to undergraduates.
Flexibility: The online format allows participation from anywhere in the world and makes the program easier to balance with school commitments.
Tangible Output: By the end of the program, you’ll have a full-length research paper that can strengthen your college applications.
Publication Support: The Publication track offers structured assistance for journal submissions for students aiming to publish their work. However, it's important to have realistic expectations—publication is competitive and not guaranteed.
College Credit Option: Students can opt to earn college credit from UCSD’s Extended Studies.
Financial Aid Available: The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation offers up to 100% financial aid for students from families with incomes below $80,000, making the program accessible to more students. It’s important to note that these scholarships are competitive and limited in number, so not all applicants to Lumiere Foundation are accepted.
Cons
Competitive Admission: Since the program is academically selective, even high-achieving students may not secure a spot. The program does not publish its acceptance rate, making it difficult to estimate your chances.
Demanding Workload: Conducting independent research requires significant motivation, time management skills, and academic maturity. Students have to dedicate several hours per week over 12-20 weeks, which can be challenging alongside school responsibilities.
Cost: Lumiere programs cost between $3,190 and $9,900, making it an expensive investment. While the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation offers full scholarships, these are highly competitive and may not be available to all students who need financial support.
No Lab-Based Research: The virtual format means STEM students work with datasets rather than conducting physical laboratory experiments or working with samples. This may limit the depth of certain types of scientific research.
Our Review
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is one of several options for high school students interested in conducting structured research. With personalized mentorship, tangible outputs, and opportunities for publication or college credit, Lumiere is worth considering for students who want to strengthen their academic profile through research. No program can guarantee admission to selective colleges, but completing a mentored research project can give you material for your college essays and demonstrate intellectual curiosity.
The program has generally positive reviews, with students praising the one-on-one mentorship model and the structure that keeps them on track. However, as with any mentorship program, experiences vary depending on the mentor match. Some students on Reddit have reported needing to switch mentors to find the right fit.
Lumiere’s cost is also a significant consideration. At $3,190 for the entry-level program and up to $9,900 for premium tracks, Lumiere is expensive. If you're considering Lumiere primarily for college admissions purposes, weigh the cost against other ways you might demonstrate intellectual curiosity and initiative. Lumiere is best suited for students who want a guided introduction to research and to develop their academic skills.
If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you build a startup in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab!
The Young Founders Lab is a start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
You can access the application link here!
Image source - Lumiere logo