International Relations Summer School
The last few years have been extraordinary ones in terms of the global stage – from the proxy wars being waged in Syria, to Russia’s increasingly aggressive stance, to Britain’s shock exit from the European Union, we have rarely seen such a turbulent period of inter-state relations. The election of Donald Trump to the US Presidency ushers in even more uncertainty – over trade relationships, longstanding military alliances and even the maintenance of the ‘taboo’ over the use of nuclear weapons.
International Relations scholars strive to understand, and offer explanations for, the actions of states and international institutions, the relationships between them and the consequences when those relationships come under strain. Questions for IR scholars would include why North and South Korea are still divided, why an international agreement on climate change is so hard to reach, why we saw prompt military intervention aimed at regime change in Libya but co-ordinated intervention in Syria has so far proved so difficult and contentious, why America has been Israel’s closest ally for so long, and what the consequences of Britain’s exit from the EU will be.
This five-day course will include core theory, detailed case studies, and lots of exercises and debates to put your knowledge into practice. It is particularly recommended for anyone considering IR, War Studies, Politics, PPE or related disciplines at university, but is also suitable for anyone with an interest in discovering more about how world politics works.
A full schedule for this course can be seen here.
‘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 out 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.’
Practical Details
The International Relations Summer School is open to students aged 15 – 18, and will take place 9th – 13th July, 23rd -27th July, 30th July – 3rd August, 13th – 17th August and 28th August – 1st September 2018.
The venue for this course is the University of London, Bloomsbury Campus, Central London – you can see more venue and travel details here.
The cost of the five-day International Relations Summer School is £495 per student. Please note that accommodation is not included, and must be arranged independently if required.
Partial fees bursaries are available for students who would otherwise face financial barriers to attending the course – please see here for details.
To book a place or places at the International Relations Summer School, or if you have any further questions, simply call on 0845 519 4827, email info@debatechamber.com, or book online.
Booking Form
Debate Chamber offers a limited number of full and partial bursaries to students who could not otherwise afford to attend. If you are applying for a bursary please do not complete this form, but instead complete the ‘Bursary Application Form’ here.