History Summer School

History isn’t just about what happened – it’s about how we make sense of the past and its influence on the present and future. This course tackles the challenges of historical truth, the methods historians use, and their role in shaping our understanding of the past. Along the way, students will engage with fascinating – and sometimes unexpected – case studies that bring these debates to life.

A row of antique history books with worn covers, representing the depth of study in the Online History Summer School.This Summer School is ideal for students considering history or related subjects at university, providing a taste of undergraduate-level study in an engaging and supportive environment. This intensive course will be conducted through seminars, lectures and informal discussions, in order to create a sense of what studying history at undergraduate level is like. This course is designed to challenge and expand students’ historical perspectives. No specific prior knowledge is required — just curiosity and enthusiasm for history!

See a more detailed outline for the course here.

Through thought-provoking topics, students will question their own assumptions and refine their ability to analyse primary and secondary sources with a critical eye. By the end of the course, students will have explored key historiographical debates, analysed diverse historical perspectives, and honed their critical thinking skills – leaving them well-prepared for university study and beyond.

This is an immersive and varied learning experience, combining interactive discussions, lively debates, engaging lectures, group presentations, and close analysis of historical sources. Special emphasis is given to developing students’ skills as critical readers at an undergraduate level, as well as examining images, material sources and oral accounts. Participants will be supported in formulating and presenting their own viewpoints clearly and logically, and will be encouraged to challenge one another’s positions in a constructive and friendly atmosphere.

Ready to take the next step? Scroll down for full details on how to apply.

Flowing Discussion
For me, this course was originally planning to be a sort of wake up from the summer. However, the five non-stop history filled days that we were given meant...
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Megan
Notting Hill and Ealing High School
Flowing Discussion
For me, this course was originally planning to be a sort of wake up from the summer. However, the five non-stop history filled days that we were given meant I didn’t just turn on my brain, I excited it: critically looking at intriguing sources. Due to the huge scope of the course, no matter where your interest is you’re bound to come away with a new one. Then too, the lecturers/teachers provided entertaining and enlightening commentary on the sources and historical events that we covered. Discussion amongst the group was always flowing and I was always left with something bubbling in my mind at the end of the day.
Megan
Notting Hill and Ealing High School
Extremely Helpful
The History Summer School run by Debate Chamber was a pleasure to participate in, mainly due to the enthusiastic teachers, who being relatively young academics, were approachable and inspiring...
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Elsa
James Allen’s Girls School
Extremely Helpful
The History Summer School run by Debate Chamber was a pleasure to participate in, mainly due to the enthusiastic teachers, who being relatively young academics, were approachable and inspiring. The subjects covered were diverse and uncommon, in that they were not commonly found on the school syllabus and were all the more fascinating because of this. The teachers themselves, having fairly recently gone through the application process were extremely helpful in providing accurate information and advice about UCAS.  Therefore, if anyone was seeking an enjoyable and informative history experience I would recommend Debate Chamber’s History Summer School.
Elsa
James Allen’s Girls School
Wished it was Longer!
The course was fascinating as it delved into questions that are left unexplored in school History lessons. Each day ventures into a new area or approach to History, ...
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Jayna
North London Collegiate School
Wished it was Longer!
The course was fascinating as it delved into questions that are left unexplored in school History lessons. Each day ventures into a new area or approach to History, and the tutors are of an extremely high calibre! Of particular interest was Intellectual History and philosophical intepretations into the discipline. I left the course wishing it lasted longer!
Jayna
North London Collegiate School
Valuable Insights
The History Summer School was a perfect supplement to A Level history. It gave me the opportunity to explore alternative approaches to writing history and periods of history which aren’t in...
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Lucy
Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School
Valuable Insights
The History Summer School was a perfect supplement to A Level history. It gave me the opportunity to explore alternative approaches to writing history and periods of history which aren’t in the school curriculum, which made me question my own assumptions about how history should be studied. It was also incredibly constructive to discuss with other historians opposing theories of historical enquiry and analysis, which provided me with a valuable insight into how history is studied at university level.
Lucy
Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School
Brilliant Tutors
Before the History Summer School, I had no idea what studying history beyond the facts could be like. After the summer school, thanks to the brilliant tutors and the...
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Hugo
The Royal Grammar School
Brilliant Tutors
Before the History Summer School, I had no idea what studying history beyond the facts could be like. After the summer school, thanks to the brilliant tutors and the challenging curriculum, I have a much more in-depth knowledge of the various theories behind historical study and what it is like to further study history. I’d recommend this Summer School to anyone who has even the slightest interest in history, it was probably the most informative and interesting 5 days of my life!
Hugo
The Royal Grammar School
Fantastic Opportunity
I cannot encourage you enough to attend the Debate Chamber Summer School. It was a fantastic opportunity to explore History in more depth than at school and learn about approaches ...
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Olivia
Lady Eleanor Holles School
Fantastic Opportunity
I cannot encourage you enough to attend the Debate Chamber Summer School. It was a fantastic opportunity to explore History in more depth than at school and learn about approaches to studying history. It was also lovely to meet some very friendly and like-minded people and be able to have discussions and debates with them about history!
Olivia
Lady Eleanor Holles School
Friendly and Supportive
Attending the History Summer School was an amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone who has an interest in the subject! I left feeling like my mind had ...
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Alice
Royal Grammar School Newcastle
Friendly and Supportive
Attending the History Summer School was an amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone who has an interest in the subject! I left feeling like my mind had been broadened and my understanding of how history is studied increased considerably. Although each day has an intense schedule, the tutors are brilliant at keeping your attention presenting materials in an interesting way; sources, videos, presentations etc. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the course and found the course book we received at the start very useful and a good souvenir to take away. I also want to be emphasise how friendly and supportive the classroom atmosphere was- something I did not expect and felt very relieved by. No matter how much history you know or level of study I would definitely recommend attending as I made so many new friends and studied such a range of topics and ideas.
Alice
Royal Grammar School Newcastle
Renewed Enthusiam
The History Summer School at the Debate Chamber is a great way to get ahead in history; I feel like I’ve now got a one-up on the other history students at my...
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Ruby
Dauntseys School
Renewed Enthusiam
The History Summer School at the Debate Chamber is a great way to get ahead in history; I feel like I’ve now got a one-up on the other history students at my school, and something different to write on my personal statement for university. But most of all this course is just fascinating, stepping outside the well-trampled topics of the GCSE and A-level syllabuses and showing you a fresh side of history, like the interpretations of Witchcraft and the theories of Machiavelli and Hobbs. Having been on this course, I have a renewed enthusiasm and vigour for history; I can’t wait to get back to school and show off my new skills!
Ruby
Dauntseys School
A Wonderful Week
I thoroughly enjoyed the week with Debate Chamber; not only were the topics stimulating but each teacher helped galvanise the group and guide us through some of the tough new ideas...
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Harry
Haberdasher’s Aske’s Boys School
A Wonderful Week
I thoroughly enjoyed the week with Debate Chamber; not only were the topics stimulating but each teacher helped galvanise the group and guide us through some of the tough new ideas and principles that we encountered. It was genuinely a well spent week of the summer holiday and I’d recommend it to all who wish to pursue History at an academic level beyond the confines of an A-level course.
Harry
Haberdasher’s Aske’s Boys School
Made Friends
The History Summer School confirmed my passion for History and that it is definitely what I would like to pursue at university. Although I live almost 3 hours away, and took ...
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Laura
Tewkesbury School
Made Friends
The History Summer School confirmed my passion for History and that it is definitely what I would like to pursue at university. Although I live almost 3 hours away, and took a bit of arranging, it was worth every second and I am so glad that I took part in it. I would recommend any of the Summer Schools to anyone with a passion for their subject as it is a fun-filled, interesting week that I learned a lot from and made lots of new friends that I am still in contact with!
Laura
Tewkesbury School
A Taste of University
I find that at school, if you are slightly ahead for your class or on a completely different level to them, you are often held back as you ...
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Guinevere
Kent College
A Taste of University
I find that at school, if you are slightly ahead for your class or on a completely different level to them, you are often held back as you must wait for everyone else to catch up. This is completely different on the Debate Chamber history course, I suddenly found myself with people of the same ability and passion as me for the subject, this made the course challenging but not too hard, and still extremely fun. It really gave me a taste of what learning history could be like in university.
Guinevere
Kent College
A Rare Opportunity
I absolutely loved the history summer school – we covered such a wide range of eras and topics that there really is something for everyone. My group was lovely,...
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Alice
Saffron Walden County High School
A Rare Opportunity
I absolutely loved the history summer school – we covered such a wide range of eras and topics that there really is something for everyone. My group was lovely, we all got on very well which made it even easier to work and discuss things together. And having different tutors each day was great, because they all had different areas of expertise and it added a lot of variety to the week. I also really like how things were structured i.e. doing a bit of reading each evening and discussing it the next day. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone with an interest in history – being immersed in the subject for five days with people equally as enthusiastic about it is such a rare opportunity, and I think it has made me love the study of history even more than I did before! Thank you very much to all involved.
Alice
Saffron Walden County High School
Loved the Debates
The History Summer School was absolutely fantastic! The wide range of historical topics were extremely enjoyable to learn about, and I found out so many intriguing things about the ...
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Rachel
Chigwell School
Loved the Debates
The History Summer School was absolutely fantastic! The wide range of historical topics were extremely enjoyable to learn about, and I found out so many intriguing things about the subject. I feel that the knowledge I have gained is key to understanding History as an academic subject, and thus ensures my enthusiasm for History will continue and advance. The tutors were brilliant at encouraging us all to think, and at introducing ideas and possibilities that I had not considered. I also loved the engaging debates I had with students who share my interest in History, and made some good friends in the process. I would strongly recommend attending the Summer School; for me it delivered so much more than I expected.
Rachel
Chigwell School
Seriously Recommended
It is an exhilarating and enjoyable experience. I knew no one else on the course, but with a shared passion for history I felt comfortable right away. Seriously recommend if ...
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Emma
St Edwards School
Seriously Recommended
It is an exhilarating and enjoyable experience. I knew no one else on the course, but with a shared passion for history I felt comfortable right away. Seriously recommend if wanting to study history, or just find history interesting and want to broaden your knowledge on the subject.
Emma
St Edwards School
Enhanced my Skills
It was a really rewarding experience, which managed to present previously inaccessible areas of history in a manageable format, enhancing the skills I’d learned at school whilst also presenting...
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Alex
Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls
Enhanced my Skills
It was a really rewarding experience, which managed to present previously inaccessible areas of history in a manageable format, enhancing the skills I’d learned at school whilst also presenting me with new ideas that the A-level syllabus doesn’t leave scope to include.
Alex
Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls
Unmissable!
The history summer course offers an invaluable opportunity to develop your historical skills and apply them to a range of histories. The fact that this is arranged in small classes creates ...
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Oliver
Bishop’s Stortford College
Unmissable!
The history summer course offers an invaluable opportunity to develop your historical skills and apply them to a range of histories. The fact that this is arranged in small classes creates a great opportunity to debate and formulate structured arguments. It always helps that the tutors are more than willing to answer questions about historical study at university! Overall, a highly useful and unmissable experience!
Oliver
Bishop’s Stortford College
Increased Confidence
A fascinating course, combining the learning of invaluable historical technique with some really interesting historical study. Has increased my confidence for university applications significantly!
Rhuairidh
The Perse School
Increased Confidence
A fascinating course, combining the learning of invaluable historical technique with some really interesting historical study. Has increased my confidence for university applications significantly!
Rhuairidh
The Perse School
Challenging and Thought-Provoking
I first arrived unsure what to expect as I have never previously been on a course like this before. However, I soon thrived on being in an environment where ...
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Aaron
Charters School
Challenging and Thought-Provoking
I first arrived unsure what to expect as I have never previously been on a course like this before. However, I soon thrived on being in an environment where other students share the same interest in history and the opportunity to learn from one another. Being tutored by people with such high academic achievements resulted in challenging and thought-provoking discussion and work. I found this course provided the opportunity to study history in a more general and challenging approach than at school which is a good experience for University. At school you are confined to one or two topics but this course helps to broaden your historical knowledge by investigating various different topic areas and gaining a better understanding of what history actually involves rather than just describing historical events.
Aaron
Charters School
Over Too Quickly!
The History Summer School was an extremely enjoyable and intellectually stimulating event. The week for which I attended the school seemed to pass far too quickly and by the ...
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Niku
Francis Holland School
Over Too Quickly!
The History Summer School was an extremely enjoyable and intellectually stimulating event. The week for which I attended the school seemed to pass far too quickly and by the end of it, I was definitely prepared to stay another week or two. The teaching was fantastic and the atmosphere in the groups was very enjoyable and friendly. I believe it has definitely helped me with my history and will continue prove useful in upcoming years. Definitely worth it!
Niku
Francis Holland School
Exceeded Expectations
I decided to go on this course because I wasn’t sure about whether studying History at University would be the right step for me, and if I am honest I wasn’t...
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Evie
Dr Challoner’s High School
Exceeded Expectations
I decided to go on this course because I wasn’t sure about whether studying History at University would be the right step for me, and if I am honest I wasn’t expecting that much, but I was blown away by the relevance of what the course was teaching, and actually how much I enjoyed it. I thoroughly recommend going, even if you are unsure, because I had a great deal of fun, and I learnt about things I had never even considered. You don’t need to know anything outside of what you are already studying, this course just embellishes the foundations for knowledge that you already have, so don’t feel intimidated, because the tutors are very nice – they don’t bite! And all the other people who attend are budding historians who share some of the same passions as you do, so there is nothing to worry about.
Evie
Dr Challoner’s High School

Online – History Summer School Practical Details

📌 Please note: This is the online version of the course. To view the in-person option, click here.

📅 Course Dates: This course is now complete for Summer 2025, but you can express your interest for next summer using the form below.

Teaching Hours: The course runs for five days, with live sessions from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm each day, including a lunch break.

💻 Course Format: This is a live online event, held in small seminar groups for fully interactive discussions and debate. Sessions will not be recorded, so students must be available during the scheduled hours and have a reliable audio and video internet connection.

💰 Course Fee: £495

🔒 Booking: Secure your place with a 25% non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is due eight weeks before the course starts. [See full booking terms and conditions here.]

📞 Questions? Call us on 0800 810 1058 or email [email protected].

Debate Chamber offers a limited number of full and partial bursaries to students who could not otherwise afford to attend. If you would like to apply for a bursary then please complete your bursary application here.