Philosophy Summer School

Our world is full of profound and enduring questions: What is knowledge? What defines consciousness? How do we understand morality, reality, and existence itself?

Across centuries and cultures, philosophy has been our greatest tool for exploring life’s deepest mysteries – guided by reason, logic, and intellectual discipline.

If you find yourself questioning the nature of reality, knowledge, or ethics – and want to refine your ability to explore and express complex ideas – this Summer School is for you.

​For 2025, the online Philosophy Summer School will include seminars on:

Personal Identity – Applied Ethics – Epistemology – Philosophy of Mind – Political Philosophy – Phenomenology – Cultural Theory

See a more detailed outline for this course.

The tutors for this course are selected for their exceptional communication skills, outstanding academic record, and passion for sharing what they love about philosophy. They’ll guide you through engaging discussions and challenge you to think critically – see our tutors page for some example profiles.

We will engage in lively seminar discussions, close textual analysis and exegesis (critical explanation and interpretation), use thought experiments to isolate philosophical intuitions and ideas, and explore our own and others’ attempted solutions to philosophical problems. The emphasis throughout will be on active participation and involvement.

Small class sizes foster lively debates and in-depth discussions, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to engage, question, and refine their ideas – while also connecting with like-minded peers.

This Summer School is ideal for students considering philosophy, politics, law, or other humanities subjects at university. The critical thinking, analytical, and debate skills developed here are invaluable for higher education and beyond.

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

Group of happy students outside (illustrating the online Philosophy Summer School)Our world is full of profound and enduring questions: What is knowledge? What defines consciousness? How do we understand morality, reality, and existence itself?

Across centuries and cultures, philosophy has been our greatest tool for exploring life’s deepest mysteries – guided by reason, logic, and intellectual discipline.

If you find yourself questioning the nature of reality, knowledge, or ethics – and want to refine your ability to explore and express complex ideas – this Summer School is for you.

​For 2025, the online Philosophy Summer School will include seminars on:

Personal Identity – Applied Ethics – Epistemology – Philosophy of Mind – Political Philosophy – Phenomenology – Cultural Theory

See a more detailed outline for this course.

The tutors for this course are selected for their exceptional communication skills, outstanding academic record, and passion for sharing what they love about philosophy. They’ll guide you through engaging discussions and challenge you to think critically – see our tutors page for some example profiles.

We will engage in lively seminar discussions, close textual analysis and exegesis (critical explanation and interpretation), use thought experiments to isolate philosophical intuitions and ideas, and explore our own and others’ attempted solutions to philosophical problems. The emphasis throughout will be on active participation and involvement.

Small class sizes foster lively debates and in-depth discussions, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to engage, question, and refine their ideas – while also connecting with like-minded peers.

This Summer School is ideal for students considering philosophy, politics, law, or other humanities subjects at university. The critical thinking, analytical, and debate skills developed here are invaluable for higher education and beyond.

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

Brilliant Teaching
The teaching of the course was brilliant, very engaging, thought-provoking and enjoyable. The course content was great as it introduced me to the areas we haven’t studied at a-level...
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Thomas
Tonbridge School
Brilliant Teaching
The teaching of the course was brilliant, very engaging, thought-provoking and enjoyable. The course content was great as it introduced me to the areas we haven’t studied at a-level that I have encountered whilst researching uni courses.
Thomas
Tonbridge School
Brilliant Fun!
Do come along to a Debate Chamber Summer School if you can; the experience is invaluable. I learnt a lot more than I thought possible in five days purely because ...
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Anna
Bristol Grammar School
Brilliant Fun!
Do come along to a Debate Chamber Summer School if you can; the experience is invaluable. I learnt a lot more than I thought possible in five days purely because I was surrounded by like-minded students that sparked animated discussion, led by the very enthusiastic graduate teachers. It was nothing like school; I feel I received a very good taste of what university will be like. And it was brilliant fun!
Anna
Bristol Grammar School
Lively and Exciting Discussions
I think the main purpose and goal of the Philosophy Debate Chamber course is to inspire interest in certain aspects of philosophy. Each session only gives you a ...
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James
Haberdasher’s Aske’s Boys School
Lively and Exciting Discussions
I think the main purpose and goal of the Philosophy Debate Chamber course is to inspire interest in certain aspects of philosophy. Each session only gives you a brief synopsis of a specific topic, but discussion is so lively and exciting that you will walk away with a deep desire to learn more and immerse yourself in the topics that you have covered. In fact, after every day of teaching I found myself on the top floor of the five storey Waterstones next to the teaching site, reading up on the philosophy that I had just encountered. Do not go on the Debate Chamber course expecting to learn a lot of Philosophy. Instead go if you want to ignite a deep interest in Philosophy and be inspired to learn more.
James
Haberdasher’s Aske’s Boys School
A Wonderful Week!
As someone who knew very little about philosophy, this course demonstrated how to approach and tackle philosophical issues and ideas. I found this teaching incredibly interactive and enjoyable. Without ...
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Alice
Benenden School
A Wonderful Week!
As someone who knew very little about philosophy, this course demonstrated how to approach and tackle philosophical issues and ideas. I found this teaching incredibly interactive and enjoyable. Without a doubt a wonderful week!
Alice
Benenden School
A Great Insight
The philosophy course gave me a great insight and introduction into the topic, giving me a taster as to whether I would consider such a subject at higher education. ...
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Fatima
Walthamstow School for Girls
A Great Insight
The philosophy course gave me a great insight and introduction into the topic, giving me a taster as to whether I would consider such a subject at higher education. The sessions are very informative and knowledge is easily gained as a result. The class gave other students and me the social platform to voice our philosophical opinions in a discursive environment and participating in the heated debates aided me in building my confidence. I would definitely recommend the course to anyone interested in philosophy or looking to pursue such.
Fatima
Walthamstow School for Girls
Enhanced Critical Thinking Skills
The Philosophy Summer School cemented my decision to study philosophy at university. The discursive nature made us develop our points to gain deeper understanding into our own position on...
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Moiz
Kings College School
Enhanced Critical Thinking Skills
The Philosophy Summer School cemented my decision to study philosophy at university. The discursive nature made us develop our points to gain deeper understanding into our own position on philosophical questions. We covered a variety of questions, most of which I had never thought about before -leading to me viewing the world in a different way. This summer school is a great way to enhance your critical thinking skills whilst of course getting a head start on the key philosophical issues of our world. With all the excellent tutor help, you will leave each session with full understanding of the challenging texts. Overall, it’s highly recommended.
Moiz
Kings College School
Rewarding and Challenging
I found the five days very rewarding, challenging and interesting. The tutors were all enthusiastic and the tuition was pitched at exactly the right level. I have been...
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Andrew
The Piggott Wargrave School
Rewarding and Challenging
I found the five days very rewarding, challenging and interesting.  The tutors were all enthusiastic and the tuition was pitched at exactly the right level. I have been considering studying Philosophy at university but my school does not offer it as an A level option.  I wanted to find out what the subject would involve at degree level and the summer school certainly provided an excellent introduction.  As a result, I will definitely be applying to study Philosophy when I start the university application procedure next term.
Andrew
The Piggott Wargrave School
The Best Choice
I cannot compliment this course enough. Within the philosophy course you will be greeted with a friendly group of tutors who make the knowledge on paper come alive in ...
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Neville
Merchant Taylors School
The Best Choice
I cannot compliment this course enough. Within the philosophy course you will be greeted with a friendly group of tutors who make the knowledge on paper come alive in the form of deep thought-provoking discussions. You will meet a wide variety of people with differing opinions and this makes the course a fantastic opportunity to discuss freely about ancient and modern philosophical problems that remain in our lives today. Not only will you come away with a brand new outlook on the world and philosophy, but, personally, I have walked away with an invaluable friend who I continue these discussions with even outside the classroom. Choosing this course was the best choice I made all summer and the urge to go back and attend it again next year has already grown in my mind. Philosophy is a great subject and Debate Chamber does it fantastic, unparalleled justice.
Neville
Merchant Taylors School
Amazing Learning Environment
The Debate Chamber Philosophy course is an amazing introduction to the world of detailed philosophy, extremely knowledgeable teachers, thought provoking discussions and interesting material all contribute to a welcoming...
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Sacha
Eton College
Amazing Learning Environment
The Debate Chamber Philosophy course is an amazing introduction to the world of detailed philosophy,  extremely knowledgeable teachers, thought provoking discussions and interesting material all contribute to a welcoming atmosphere and an amazing learning environment perfect for providing a taste of university style philosophy, whilst being equally helpful to a more advanced philosopher hoping to extend their knowledge.
Sacha
Eton College
Flowing Discussions
The teachers were all really great, you could feel how knowledgeable they were about the subject, and their enthusiasm for it. Difficult concepts were explained effectively, and questions and debate ...
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Isabelle
John Of Gaunt Sixth Form
Flowing Discussions
The teachers were all really great, you could feel how knowledgeable they were about the subject, and their enthusiasm for it. Difficult concepts were explained effectively, and questions and debate was always encouraged. All questions were welcomed, both by the teachers themselves and the other participants. Discussions were also welcomed, and flowed easily, with everyone contributing ideas.
Isabelle
John Of Gaunt Sixth Form
Had A Fantastic Time
The Philosophy Summer School was an excellent learning experience, and one I’d highly recommend. The teachers were highly passionate about their subjects and the pace was such that...
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Adam
City of London School for Boys
Had A Fantastic Time
The Philosophy Summer School was an excellent learning experience, and one I’d highly recommend. The teachers were highly passionate about their subjects and the pace was such that we covered a lot, but still had time to explore wherever our thoughts led us. The class size (14) was perfect for having extended debates and a wide variety of view points but also allowed for the sessions to be quite friendly and intimate: everyone knew everyone else. All in all, I had a fantastic time.
Adam
City of London School for Boys
Easy To Make Friends
I really enjoyed it. I went in with no real study of philosophy before, just having been interested by the ethics side and enjoyed it a lot....
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Betsy
Guildford High School
Easy To Make Friends
I really enjoyed it. I went in with no real study of philosophy before, just having been interested by the ethics side and enjoyed it a lot. It was so mentally stimulating and I feel I’ve learnt so much in a week! The people are all so friendly and the classroom environment was great, the tutors were lovely and engaging and it was really nice to makes friends with people with similar interests. For anyone considering it, go for it!
Betsy
Guildford High School
Made Me Think Deeply
I really enjoyed the breadth of topics that were covered. I think it was well-rounded an included all the fundamental sides of philosophy. Even some topics where I...
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Jessica
North London Collegiate School
Made Me Think Deeply
I really enjoyed the breadth of topics that were covered. I think it was well-rounded an included all the fundamental sides of philosophy. Even some topics where I have come across in lessons I enjoyed how I was able to gain a new perspective and understanding of the topic during the course. Everyone had the chance to give their opinions, since there was a lot of questions constantly being asked. The teachers were also there to challenge our arguments which I thought was very insightful and made me think more deeply about the topics being discussed.
Jessica
North London Collegiate School
Ideas Came Alive
This course was fun, the ideas really interesting, and my classmates supportive and challenging. I have a much better understanding of the different branches of philosophy and what kinds ...
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Ryan
St Luke's High School
Ideas Came Alive
This course was fun, the ideas really interesting, and my classmates supportive and challenging. I have a much better understanding of the different branches of philosophy and what kinds of questions and material they look at. I enjoyed the work especially because the tutors made the ideas come alive so we could play with them and make them our own. Thank you.
Ryan
St Luke's High School
Excellent Group Size
It was really good. The tutors were very interactive and were clear and easy to understand, even when explaining difficult concepts. I thought the difficulty level was just...
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Joseph
Queen's College
Excellent Group Size
It was really good. The tutors were very interactive and were clear and easy to understand, even when explaining difficult concepts. I thought the difficulty level was just right – it was definitely challenging and made you think, but not too difficult to have made you want to give up. Such a small group size was great; there were just enough people to allow a good discussion but few enough to allow everyone to be heard and for people to ask questions and get feedback whenever they needed it.
Joseph
Queen's College
Develop Your Mind
The Philosophy Summer School was an incredible insight into the discipline of Philosophy. It was incredibly varied, and left me wanting more at the end of each session....
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Agatha
Sacred Heart RC School
Develop Your Mind
The Philosophy Summer School was an incredible insight into the discipline of Philosophy. It was incredibly varied, and left me wanting more at the end of each session. It really does not matter if you have not previously studied philosophy; the summer school lays a greater foundation that cannot be paralleled to A-Level lessons. The tutors and the other students were incredibly supportive; the emphasis was not on what you knew, but how well you tackled what you didn’t know. Never have I learnt so much but felt like I knew so little. If you want to develop your mind this is for you!
Agatha
Sacred Heart RC School
Completely Wonderful
The tutors are all very friendly. I think it is an experience that every student should have. The subjects were presented clearly and in a really fun way. The tutors ...
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Kayla
Near East College, Cyprus
Completely Wonderful
The tutors are all very friendly. I think it is an experience that every student should have. The subjects were presented clearly and in a really fun way. The tutors know how to draw your attention to the subjects and interest you. Completely wonderful I never wanted it to end.
Kayla
Near East College, Cyprus
Made Some Great Friends
The Philosophy Summer School is an amazing course. It covers a wide range of topics, allowing you to find out what most interests you. Great friends are...
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Robert
Emmanuel School
Made Some Great Friends
The Philosophy Summer School is an amazing course. It covers a wide range of topics, allowing you to find out what most interests you. Great friends are made and the week is thoroughly enjoyable. I’d recommend this course to anyone considering studying philosophy at university in some respect, or in fact to anyone interested in the subject.
Robert
Emmanuel School
Confirmed My Uni Choices
I found my time at the Philosophy Summer School to be incredibly enjoyable and educational. Seeing as I had never formally studied philosophy before and was considering studying it...
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Abigail
Hurtwood House
Confirmed My Uni Choices
I found my time at the Philosophy Summer School to be incredibly enjoyable and educational. Seeing as I had never formally studied philosophy before and was considering studying it at university I thought it would be wise to have some formal teaching to make sure the subject was for me.  The summer school did just that and has greatly motivated me and cemented my choice of university course.
Abigail
Hurtwood House
A Phenomenal Week
If you are worried that this course is out of your depth, don’t be, and read this review. I attended having never studied philosophy, only having read...
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Annabel
Kent College
A Phenomenal Week
If you are worried that this course is out of your depth, don’t be, and read this review. I attended having never studied philosophy, only having read philosophy books, but many others had never even done that. The subject titles may seem daunting, but it will all become clear during the sessions because it is explained so well. The tutors are very accommodating. It sounds so cliche, but an important part of the experience was that I made friends with the other students, and I was really very sad to leave them. When you’re in a room of 13 others who have also chosen to give up a week of their summer holiday to do philosophy, you immediately have something in common with everyone. You will absolutely learn something new, and it will be valuable whether you wish to pursue philosophy or not. Take my advice: just go for it. It was a phenomenal week.
Annabel
Kent College
Expanded My Knowledge
The Philosophy Summer School was very insightful and addressed topics that are not typical of an a level curriculum, which was especially good for expanding my knowledge. The teachers ...
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Lilymae
Bishop Stopford School
Expanded My Knowledge
The Philosophy Summer School was very insightful and addressed topics that are not typical of an a level curriculum, which was especially good for expanding my knowledge. The teachers are helpful and engaging, and being in a class with people who have a genuine interest in the subject made the course more welcoming and enjoyable.
Lilymae
Bishop Stopford School
Eye-Opening
Good opportunity to learn the foundations of Philosophy which is not only fascinating and useful if you want to study Philosophy further but also eye opening about the ...
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Samuel
Dauntseys School
Eye-Opening
Good opportunity to learn the foundations of Philosophy which is not only fascinating and useful if you want to study Philosophy further but also eye opening about the way you form opinions and think about issues in other subjects.
Samuel
Dauntseys School
Brilliant Teachers
This course was really useful for me because it gave me a clear insight into what Philosophy is like at degree level; I learned the standard of work we would ...
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Katie
Tormead School
Brilliant Teachers
This course was really useful for me because it gave me a clear insight into what Philosophy is like at degree level; I learned the standard of work we would be going over and got a feel of how demanding it would be. Importantly, I learned the areas of philosophy that appeal to me and this will aid me in my university research, as I have a much clearer idea of what to look for. Notably, the teachers were brilliant; they were young, enthusiastic and fantastic at explaining and engaging with the class. They both challenged and encouraged you. The booklet we received at the start with all the information we were to cover was invaluable, as it meant I could concentrate on what was going on without the need to make countless notes. It will be useful to reference back to, especially if universities interview. A great week. Thank you.
Katie
Tormead School
Inspiring Tutors
The small class size and friendly, relaxed but stimulating environment allowed me to really begin to understand the ‘essence’ of Philosophy. I wanted to come to the summer school to...
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Polly
Burgess Hill School for Girls
Inspiring Tutors
The small class size and friendly, relaxed but stimulating environment allowed me to really begin to understand the ‘essence’ of Philosophy. I wanted to come to the summer school to see what it would be like to study Philosophy at university; the course allowed me to realise Philosophy is the discipline I wish to pursue. I had a great week meeting new people and discovering new theories and ideas – the tutors were really inspiring and I highly recommend this course!
Polly
Burgess Hill School for Girls
A Great Experience
The course is a really great experience, as you learn about topics that you probably haven’t before; and in much more detail. Especially as I had barely done any...
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Holly
Francis Holland School
A Great Experience
The course is a really great experience, as you learn about topics that you probably haven’t before; and in much more detail. Especially as I had barely done any philosophy beforehand, it was great to basically try something new. As well as this you make great friends, and the atmosphere is really comfortable.
Holly
Francis Holland School

Practical Details

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

📅 Course Dates: The online Philosophy Summer School is open to students aged 15–18 and will take place from 11th – 15th August 2025.

⏰ 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.