Bursaries

Debate Chamber courses are for students who want to push back the boundaries of their knowledge, or who are curious about the ways in which their knowledge can be applied to the real world to help shape the future. Our hope is that students will leave our Summer Schools feeling inspired to pursue their passions, empowered to make well-informed decisions, and optimistic about the meaningful contribution they can make to this world.

We are strongly committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent anyone from attending one of our events. We offer bursaries covering up to 90% of the course fees to students who would otherwise have difficulty in participating. If you are an inquisitive, hard-working and self-motivated student who wishes to attend one of our events, but you feel that financial circumstances may prevent you from taking part, then you may be want to consider applying for a fees bursary. Please read through the Bursary FAQ on this page for more information.

The bursary application form can be found here.

The bursary reference form can be found here.

Debate Chamber courses are for students who want to push back the boundaries of their knowledge, or who are curious about the ways in which their knowledge can be applied to the real world to help shape the future. Our hope is that students will leave our Summer Schools feeling inspired to pursue their passions, empowered to make well-informed decisions, and optimistic about the meaningful contribution they can make to this world.

We are strongly committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent anyone from attending one of our events. We offer bursaries covering up to 90% of the course fees to students who would otherwise have difficulty in participating. If you are an inquisitive, hard-working and self-motivated student who wishes to attend one of our events, but you feel that financial circumstances may prevent you from taking part, then you may be want to consider applying for a fees bursary. Please read through the Bursary FAQ on this page for more information.

The bursary application form can be found here.

The bursary reference form can be found here.

‘I attended the Law summer school on a partial bursary, which I had worried about applying for. I am so happy that I did as I learned so much and gained the opportunity to try new things such as a mock trial, with great tutors and people that I have kept in contact with and who all became very close in our time on the course. If you are deliberating about going, or applying for a bursary, please go for it!’

Heather, Cardinal Newman College

Student FAQ

What is a fees bursary?

A fees bursary is intended to help students who would otherwise be unable to attend one of our events. You can apply for a fees bursary covering anything from 10% to 90% of the course fees depending on your financial need and circumstances.

Should I apply?

If you would like to attend one of our events, but feel that financial circumstances may prevent you from doing so, then you may be want to consider applying for a fees bursary. Students applying for a bursary to cover more than 50% of the course fees should meet one of the following criteria, or be in an equivalent financial position:

  • students in receipt of free school meals
  • students whose parents are in receipt of Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit
  • post-16 students in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit in their own right

We also offer smaller partial bursaries which are open to anyone who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending an event. When completing the Bursary Application form, it is important that you provide specific information about your financial circumstances, as well as the reasons why you would like to attend the course.

How can I apply?

If you would like to apply for a fees bursary then there are two things that you will need to do:

  1. Complete the Bursary Application Form which can be found here.
  2. Ask a relevant member of staff at your school (or other suitable person) to complete the Bursary Reference form which can be found here.

We will not be able to process your application until we have received both of these forms. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that your teacher completes the Bursary Reference Form. If you are unsure about any stage of the bursary application process, please email us at [email protected] or call us on 0800 810 1058.

When is the next bursary review date?

For events in Summer 2025, review dates will be January 31st, March 24th, April 29th, June 4th and the final review date on June 29th 2025.

How will you decide who receives a fees bursary?

We allocate bursaries on a case by case basis looking at a combination of financial need and academic suitability for the particular course. We take into account both the student application and the teacher reference.

When will I know if my bursary application has been successful?

If the application form, and reference form have been completed by the review date then we will let you know the outcome a few days after the review date.

When will the remainder of the fees need to be paid?

In the event of a bursary being awarded, you will have ten days to pay the remaining balance. If you would prefer a different payment schedule then please let us know.

Can I apply for a bursary for more than one course?

You can only apply for one bursary, for one course, every term. Please note that our bursaries are intended for students who would not otherwise be able to attend. We therefore do not offer bursaries to attend multiple courses within the same term.

Can I apply for a bursary to cover travel and accommodation costs?

Debate Chamber only offers fees bursaries. It is important that you consider whether you will be able to cover any additional travel and accommodation costs before applying for a fees bursary.

You might be able to ask your school to support you with any additional costs.

Teacher FAQ

I would like to apply for a bursary for one of my students, what should I do?

If you would like to apply for a bursary on behalf of one of your students you will need to:

  1. Ask your student to choose a course and complete the Bursary Application Form which can be found here.
  2. Complete the Bursary Reference form which can be found here.

We will not be able to process any application until we have received both of these forms. If you are unsure about any stage of the bursary application process, or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone.

One of my students has asked me to complete a bursary reference, what should I do?

Please complete the Bursary Reference Form which can be found here.

If you have any questions then please do let us know on 0800 810 1058 or [email protected]

How are your bursaries funded?

Debate Chamber funds all fees bursaries directly.