International Relations Summer School (In-Person)
Why do some international conflicts escalate into war? Why is a global agreement on climate change so elusive? What fuels the ongoing tensions between the US and China? The International Relations Summer School explores these pressing questions, equipping you with the tools to understand world affairs.
International politics often feels chaotic and unpredictable, but IR theories and models provide a framework to make sense of global events, helping us to cut through the noise and identify key patterns and motivations.
This course blends interactive seminars with hands-on simulations, allowing you to step into the role of global leaders. Will you negotiate a solution that benefits all, or fight for the best outcome for your own side? Step into high-pressure crisis scenarios – as the head of NATO forces, a UN diplomat, or a Chinese politburo member – and test your strategic decision-making. Your choices will shape the outcome, with expert feedback to unpack the results.
If you see yourself setting foreign policy one day, or making speeches to the UN Security Council, or maybe administering an NGO in a war-torn region, then this is a great chance to see how the strategic decision-making involved in those roles might feel.
Explore key IR theories – from realism and liberalism to feminism and constructivism – and learn how they shape global decision-making. Regional and topical sessions provide a deeper dive into real-world case studies, bringing theory to life.
See a more detailed outline for this course.
Small class sizes ensure lively discussions, in-depth debates, and personalised feedback. You’ll also have the chance to connect with like-minded peers who share your passion for international affairs.
The tutors for this course are selected for their exceptional communication skills, outstanding academic record, and creativity in shaping exciting classroom spaces. They’ll challenge you to think critically, debate ideas, and apply theory to real-world scenarios – see our tutors page for some example profiles.
This five-day course is ideal for students considering degrees in International Relations, War Studies, Politics, PPE, or related fields. It’s also perfect for anyone eager to deepen their understanding of global affairs and diplomacy.
Ready to take the next step? Scroll down for full details on how to apply.
Why do some international conflicts escalate into war? Why is a global agreement on climate change so elusive? What fuels the ongoing tensions between the US and China? The International Relations Summer School explores these pressing questions, equipping you with the tools to understand world affairs.
International politics often feels chaotic and unpredictable, but IR theories and models provide a framework to make sense of global events, helping us to cut through the noise and identify key patterns and motivations.
This course blends interactive seminars with hands-on simulations, allowing you to step into the role of global leaders. Will you negotiate a solution that benefits all, or fight for the best outcome for your own side? Step into high-pressure crisis scenarios – as the head of NATO forces, a UN diplomat, or a Chinese politburo member – and test your strategic decision-making. Your choices will shape the outcome, with expert feedback to unpack the results.
If you see yourself setting foreign policy one day, or making speeches to the UN Security Council, or maybe administering an NGO in a war-torn region, then this is a great chance to see how the strategic decision-making involved in those roles might feel.
Explore key IR theories – from realism and liberalism to feminism and constructivism – and learn how they shape global decision-making. Regional and topical sessions provide a deeper dive into real-world case studies, bringing theory to life.
See a more detailed outline for this course.
Small class sizes ensure lively discussions, in-depth debates, and personalised feedback. You’ll also have the chance to connect with like-minded peers who share your passion for international affairs.
The tutors for this course are selected for their exceptional communication skills, outstanding academic record, and creativity in shapingexciting classroom spaces. They’ll challenge you to think critically, debate ideas, and apply theory to real-world scenarios – see our tutors page for some example profiles.
This five-day course is ideal for students considering degrees in International Relations, War Studies, Politics, PPE, or related fields. It’s also perfect for anyone eager to deepen their understanding of global affairs and diplomacy.
Ready to take the next step? Scroll down for full details on how to apply.
Future Prime Ministers
I had the most incredible week at Debate Chamber and met some fascinating and intelligent people (with a few future prime ministers thrown in, no doubt!) The tutors were excellent...Great People!
This course was great, both in terms of what was taught by the teachers and the other people on the course. There were, of course, a number of...Inspiring Experience!
International Relations is so relevant to the world which we live in that going to the Debate Chamber Summer School has opened my eyes to international problems that are happening everyday! The...Exciting Activities
The International Relations Summer School gave me great insight into what the degree entails. With lots of exciting activities, I was able to develop a deep understanding of political theories, ...Eye-Opening & Engaging
Greatly stimulating, fun and incredibly useful, this course is ideal for people who want to supplement their knowledge on international affairs. It gave me the tools to analyse current ...Taught Me So Much!
The International Relations Summer School taught me a vast amount of knowledge in such a short space of time and teaches beyond any A level syllabus. The friendly atmosphere...Much More Confident
The course is really great to give you good knowledge of a wide scope of international relations. The lecturers are all really informed, friendly and helpful. I definitely came ...Felt Like Uni
In short it was amazing, truly great, I loved hearing different perspectives from other scholars within this field. It felt as if I was in university, the Tutors were ...Absolutely Captivating!
This is a really engaging and informative course, that made me realise how interested I am in international relations, and has made me realise how fascinating the world around me ...Real Life Examples
I’ve had an enjoyable week studying IR using a real life examples that have and are shaping our lives. It has not been purely theory based and the use of...An Amazing Course!
An amazing course for anyone who is interested in IR and current affairs, and is great for broadening your general knowledge. The tutors were all so enthusiastic and passionate ...Fantastic Experience!
The IR summer school was a fantastic experience for all of us. Don’t be put off if you don’t have a lot of prior experience in the subject, that isn’t...Friendly and Relaxed Environment
The IR summer school was really fun, interesting and incredibly useful. It gave me a clear insight into the study of IR. The tutors are all really friendly ...A Transformative Five Days
Overall, the international relations course provided me with some of the most fascinating and useful five days I have ever experienced. I have come away from ...Great for Future Studies
This course gave me a huge insight into this fascinating discipline with enthusiastic teachers who were happy to help and made the week so interesting. This course covers ...Fast-Paced and Challenging
I really enjoyed the IR Summer School, it was fast paced and challenging, helping me to think about things I had never properly considered before. Everyone made friends quickly ...Great Overview
Really enjoyed this course, it was very interesting and a great overview of International Relations. It’s helped me gauge a better understanding of what IR actually is...Engaging Simulations
I really enjoyed International Relations Debate Chamber. I was a bit concerned that everyone in the class would know so much more than me, but this really wasn’t the case...Loved the Group Activities
This was a great, informative Summer School by Debate Chamber! I learnt many new ideas about International Relations, including various theories as well as real-life...Strongly Recommended
Overall I would say that for any student who is interested in, or who wants to study International Relations/Politics at a university level, then I would...International Relations Summer School – Practical Details
Please note: This is the in-person version of the course. For the online event, click here.
The in-person International Relations Summer School is open to students aged 15–18. This course is now complete for Summer 2025, but you can express your interest for Summer 2026 using the form below.
📍 Location: Woburn House, Bloomsbury, Central London (nearest tube: Russell Square) [See more location details]. Please note: This is a non-residential course, so accommodation must be arranged independently if needed.
💰 Course Fee: £795
🔒 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.