Oxford Debate Summer School
Are you passionate about debate, or keen to develop your public speaking skills? Join our Debate Summer School in Oxford, or online, to sharpen your speaking prowess and develop the confidence and knowledge to put you ahead of the curve – in preparation for university and beyond
Get excited about debating
Develop your public speaking and debating skills in a world-famous setting on our debate summer school.
Learn from world-class debate tutors
You’ll make friends with students from around the globe as you hone your debating and presentation skills, and meet a successful professional who’s a master in this field.
Be inspired
At our debating summer school you’ll develop your ability to create persuasive and coherent arguments – a crucial skill you’ll use both now and in the future. And you’ll achieve all of this while enjoying the magic that Oxford has to offer.
Get the OSA experience
Follow in the footsteps of famous speakers both past and present – from British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to campaigner and actress Emma Watson – when you speak at the historic Oxford Union.
In Oxford | 15-18 Year Olds
Experience Debate & Public Speaking
Want to improve your public speaking and debate skills? This Oxford debate summer school programme will help you develop confidence, learn persuasive techniques, and practise the art of rebuttal — skills that are essential in many careers and day-to-day life. You’ll learn what made famous speeches so powerful and put your skills to the test in our international diplomacy challenge.
In Oxford | 15-18 Year Olds
Experience International Relations, Politics & Leadership
This course helps students better understand the importance of relationships between nations and cultures. We’ll explore case-studies of international relations in action — and how it’s created significant change. You’ll also put your new-found diplomacy skills to the test in our United Nations challenge.
In Oxford | 15-18 Year Olds
Experience Law
Enhance your public speaking and debating skills by studying our Oxford law summer school programme. This course will give you a strong understanding of the legal system and different types of law, including human rights, international, corporate, and criminal. You’ll put your new-found understanding into practice with a mock trial.
Online Courses | 12-14 Year Olds
Politics & Debate
This course will enable you to explore politics, international relations, and systems of government. Along the way, you’ll practise your debating skills, writing speeches and debating with your peers about political ideas that interest you. You’ll leave the course with more confidence in your public speaking abilities and with a greater understanding of government and politics.
On this course, you’ll:
- Practise debating and public speaking
- Learn about key ideas in political theory
- Understand how countries work together in international organisations
- Be “Prime Minister for a day” and make a plan for tackling issues you care about
Online Courses | 15-18 Year Olds
International Relations, Politics & Debate
What does it take to negotiate the greatest challenges facing our world – from COVID-19 to poverty to climate change? What role do governments, international organisations and activists play? On this course, you’ll debate key issues, such as what you, your country and the global community can do to prevent and respond to catastrophes.
To further develop your debating and public speaking skills, you’ll discuss:
- International Law and Organisations, such as the UN, NATO and the WHO
- Political theory
- Diplomacy and crisis management
- Revolutions and political change
Online Courses | 15-18 Year Olds
Law
Are you interested in learning about the law, or considering a career as a lawyer? Explore legal concepts and develop your debating skills, then use your knowledge, public speaking, and problem-solving abilities to tackle real-world legal projects. Talk to a successful legal professional about what a career in the field is really like, and prepare to submit compelling applications to your future chosen universities.
On this course, you’ll cover:
- Philosophy and history of the law
- Types of law: Criminal, public and corporate law
- Human rights law
- A mock trial
Online Internships | 15-18 Year Olds
Law Internships
If you’re passionate about Law and are thinking about studying it at university, an academic research Internship with Oxford Scholastica will give you crucial and hard-to-find legal work experience.
You’ll be supported by a Mentor, an academic researcher, and you’ll work with interns from around the world to co-author a research paper on a cutting edge legal topic. The resulting paper will be submitted for publication in an academic journal.
You’ll finish the internship having gained important legal work experience, as well as a Letter of Recommendation.
Online Internships | 15-18 Year Olds
Politics & International Relations Internships
Guided by your Mentor, an academic researcher, you’ll collaborate with interns from around the globe. You’ll co-author a research paper on a cutting edge politics or international relations topic for publication in an academic journal.
You’ll conclude the internship having gained hard-to-find work experience, as well as a Letter of Recommendation and a Certificate.
Students from up to 85 different nationalities chose to experience our debate courses last year:
9 out of 10 said our debate summer courses were one of the most memorable summers of their life
9 out of 10 said that our high school summer debate courses gave them greater certainty about their future direction
94% of students said they had a greater certainty over their future academic and career choices
Why choose one of our Oxford Debate summer school programmes?
The Best Courses
We’ve designed our high school summer debate courses to stimulate, stretch and challenge you – regardless of your existing subject knowledge.
The Best People
Your debate course will be taught by tutors that are current or former students and faculty of world-class institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
Your Future Success
Our Oxford summer courses are designed to help you discover, experience and prepare for a successful future personally, academically and professionally.
Get the Oxford Scholastica Experience
If you attend our Oxford Summer School, you’ll be taught debate in the city of Oxford, where many world-famous speakers have debated.
Debate Summer School Testimonials
Oxford Scholastica manages to combine academic rigour with wonderful socials to create an awesome overall experience! They’re singlehandedly responsible for the best summer of my life!
I loved my experience! I recommend it to anyone who knows what they’re doing and wants better preparation, or who has no idea who they want to be when they grow up! I was both at some point and OSA filled that gap for me.
My daughter thoroughly enjoyed her Oxford Scholastica Debating course. She learnt a lot during the program and it helped her to widen her thinking. She kept saying that she wanted it to last longer!
What You’ll Get From Our Debate Courses
Our Debate Summer School is a perfect introduction to the art of persuasive speaking. Prepare for your future success by joining one of our fully-accredited debating courses. We will:
- Give you hands-on experiences where you test your leadership skills – for example, by taking on the role of a UN Diplomat
- Show you what is involved in effective public speaking and argumentation – you’ll receive teaching from expert staff from world-class institutions
- Give you an insider’s view of debating through our Hero sessions with inspiring professionals who have built successful careers in your chosen field
- Give you the chance to build an international network of students and join our community of Oxford Scholastica Academy alumni
- Explore many topics, including the British Parliamentary Debating style, politics and international relations, global institutions, financial crises, and many more
- Help you decide whether a public speaking career is the right choice for you, and introduce you to the wide variety of career options available in this field
- Help you choose the correct degree for you, and show you how to prepare a strong application
- Invite you to take part in a simulation UN Security Council
- Enable you to graduate when you’ve successfully completed your debate course – you’ll attend a formal Graduation Ceremony
Get an Authentic University Experience
College-style teachingYou’ll learn in small, dynamic classes just as you at top UK universities. You’ll be taught by our first-class teaching faculty thereby ensuring you have the very best debate summer school experience.
University-style independenceYou’ll have the opportunity to study, socialise and take part in legendary activities such as punting. You’ll have the opportunity to meet and make friends with ambitious students like you from all over the world.
Real-world skillsReserve Your Spot Today
Ready for a life-changing educational experience? Apply in minutes and reserve a spot for Oxford's #1 rated summer school or our online programmes.