International Relations Summer School

Chinese and American FlagsIf you have ever wondered why some international conflicts break out into war, why a robust agreement on climate change is so hard to reach, or why US – China relations are always so tense, then this Summer School will help you to find some answers.

The world of international politics can seem frighteningly chaotic and unpredictable, especially in recent years, but IR scholarship offers us a way out of the overwhelm in the form of theories and models that can help us to cut through a lot of the noise. 

With an enjoyable mix of seminars and experiential learning, the course is fun and active, with opportunities to take on the role of global leaders and work together to find a solution which suits everyone, or maybe just to get the best outcome for your side. Address crisis situations from the perspective of the head of NATO forces, or from within the Chinese politburo, and see how your own application of IR theory plays out, with detailed feedback from expert tutors.

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 crucial decision-making involved in those roles might feel.

From realism and liberalism to feminism and constructivism, this course will give you a range of critical lenses to apply to future learning about world affairs, while dedicated regional or topical sessions allow a grounded and detailed look at case studies.

See a more detailed outline for this course.

Class sizes are kept small (maximum 12 students), to enable everyone to have their say and give plenty of opportunities to develop and express individual ideas and questions – as well as being a great chance to make some new friends who share your interest in the world around them.

Fighter jet against the sunrise

The tutors for this course are selected for their exceptional communication skills, outstanding academic record, and creativity in shaping exciting classroom spaces – see our tutors page for some example profiles.

This five-day course is particularly recommended for anyone considering IR, War Studies, Politics, PPE or related disciplines at university, but is also great for anyone with an interest in discovering more about world politics.

For full booking and practical details, please scroll down past the reviews.

If you have ever wondered why some international conflicts break out into war, why a robust agreement on climate change is so hard to reach, or why US – China relations are always so tense, then this Summer School will help you to find some answers.

The world of international politics can seem frighteningly chaotic and unpredictable, especially in recent years, but IR scholarship offers us a way out of the overwhelm in the form of theories and models that can help us to cut through a lot of the noise. 

With an enjoyable mix of seminars and experiential learning, the course is fun and active, with opportunities to take on the role of global leaders and work together, perhaps to find a solution which suits everyone or maybe just to get the best outcome for your own side. Address crisis situations from the perspective of the head of NATO forces, or from within the Chinese politburo, and see how your own application of IR theory plays out, with detailed feedback from our expert tutors.

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 crucial decision-making involved in those roles might feel.

From realism and liberalism to feminism and constructivism, this course will give you a range of critical lenses to apply to future learning about world affairs, while dedicated regional or topical sessions allow a grounded and detailed look at case studies.

See a more detailed outline for this course.

Class sizes are kept small (maximum 12 students), to enable everyone to have their say and give plenty of opportunities to develop and express individual ideas and questions – as well as being a great chance to make some new friends who share your interest in the world around them.

The tutors for this course are selected for their exceptional communication skills, outstanding academic record, and creativity in shaping exciting classroom spaces – see our tutors page for some example profiles.

This five-day course is particularly recommended for anyone considering IR, War Studies, Politics, PPE or related disciplines at university, but is also great for anyone with an interest in discovering more about world politics.

For full booking and practical details, please scroll down past the reviews.

‘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 – so enthusiastic about their subjects and I loved the structure of the day and the different styles of learning (a mixture of lectures, reading and lots of heated debate). There were many opportunities to voice our own opinions too. After the week I felt so much more confident with regards to International Relations, and as someone who has no idea about what to study in the future, I found the week really helpful in planting a potential future career seed! I really am thinking now about the possibility of studying IR at university! Thank you!’

‘For someone who is generally self conscious, I was really impressed with the way classes were conducted. You felt free to express your views and knowledge in an atmosphere that is non-judgemental. I also made some good friends and thought the course was a fascinating insight into global politics.’

‘In short, brilliant tutors, brilliant topics, brilliant people. I never thought it would be this fun, this interesting. Highlights were the UN Security Council, Military intervention and Syria. Highly recommended for everyone interested in this kind of thing, and even for those who aren’t – it completely changes your perceptions about important international issues. Really worth going to.’

Click here for more reviews of our IR courses, or on the trustpilot link below for general reviews.

Practical Details

Please note, this is the online version of the International Relations Summer School – see here for the in-person event.

The International Relations Summer School is open to students aged 15 – 18, and will take place on the 11th – 15th August 2025.

The online course is five days in length, and teaching hours on each day will run from 10.00am till 3.30pm, with a lunch break.

This is a live online event, with small seminar groups offering fully interactive classroom discussion and debate (much as you would normally expect from our in-person courses). The event will not be recorded, so it is essential that you are able to attend during the course hours, and that you have a reliable audio and video internet connection.

The cost for this course is £495, and you can reserve your place with a 25% non-refundable deposit (up to the end of the deposit period). The remainder of the payment is due eight weeks in advance of the course start date. Please see here for full booking terms and conditions.

If you have any questions, simply call us on 0800 810 1058 or email us at [email protected].

We offer a limited number of full and partial bursaries (of up to 80% of fees) 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.