Debate Chamber Summer Schools are perfect for those keen to take the initiative and get a head start in their chosen field.
Whether their subject is law, philosophy or physics, attendees will have the opportunity to really test their academic mettle and prepare for university applications, as well as making new friends who share their interests and ambitions.
The material will be challenging (for the older age group reflective of what might be encountered in a first-year undergraduate class) but the atmosphere will be relaxed, with small groups, plenty of discussion, debate, and opportunities for students to shape the direction of classes.
Debate Chamber tutors (typically Masters or PhD students) are selected for their exceptional communication skills, charismatic and inspiring presence and very strong subject knowledge. Their role is to energise and inspire future scholars, and to offer a clear view of the path forward.
Working in small groups over several days offers participants a real chance to get to know tutors and fellow students and to explore the topics or questions that particularly interest them.
The Summer 2024 programme includes:
Medicine Summer School (online and in-person options available)
Students will have the opportunity to look at a broad variety of core medical topics, from cardiology to paediatric care, with a focus on clinical engagement at every turn. These courses are taught by fifth and sixth year medical students and junior doctors, and offer an outstanding insight into both the academic content and the broader experience of attending medical school.
Unlike many medicine-oriented events, these courses do not involve large lectures but are entirely small group courses (10-15 students), allowing a lot of individual engagement and feedback for each person.
“This course was the best thing I could have done to reassure me that medicine was in fact the right career for me, and it was also incredibly informative about the highs and lows that medicine as a whole entailed. The tutor was so lovely and so encouraging too; even though it was online, she made it easy for me to contribute without feeling any apprehension and the way she delivered the information was always so positive and clearly understandable.”
Law Summer School (online and in-person options available)
The Law Summer School offers an exciting introduction to the legal profession and is aimed primarily at students who wish to take their first steps towards a law degree or legal career. The course includes seminars on a broad range of legal roles, from criminal prosecution to judicial review of government decision-making.
In each part of the course, you will tackle some tricky and controversial legal questions with problem sets, lively discussions and debates, as well as formal advocacy workshops and exercises. In-person events will also include a full mock crown or county court trial in which students will take the role of barristers for the prosecution or defence – cross examining witnesses and making speeches to the judge and jury.
This year there are separate courses which focus on criminal, civil and corporate, and on international and human rights law. Students can attend all parts for a comprehensive overview or select the one that best matches their interests.
To get started, discover your legal profile and recommended areas of specialism or roles within the law with a fun scorecard.
“This Law course is just brilliant! It has definitely opened up many doors for me and taught me so much more about law on a wider scale, I learnt countless new things that I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t attended and the best thing is the practice it gives you with debates and public speaking, which is essential for law! I really recommend it, the knowledge and information is fantastic!”
Physics Summer School (online only)
The Physics Summer School provides an opportunity for students to explore some of the most exciting and challenging ideas in contemporary physics. The Summer School is split into two parts: Part 1 focuses on classical mechanics and astrophysics and is open to GCSE and A-level students. Part 2 focuses on quantum mechanics and relativity and is open to students who will have completed at least one year of A-level mathematics.
‘This course is absolutely fantastic – it is incredibly challenging, so you never get bored, covering some fascinating topics in depth. It was structured well, looking first at special relativity, then quantum mechanics and finally at the intersection of those two ideas in quantum field theory and the standard model. I couldn’t recommend it more; it is physics done properly, heavy on the maths but still understandable and interesting. I really enjoyed it.’
In addition to these highlighted courses, Debate Chamber also offer courses in Philosophy, English Literature, Economics, International Relations, History and Mathematics.
See a full schedule of courses by subject here, or by date here.
The in-person courses will be held at Woburn House, Bloomsbury, Central London and will take place in July and August – please note that these events are non-residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.
There are also a wide range of live online courses in August for those who prefer to attend from home.
All events, whether in-person or online, will involve small group seminar classes with exceptional tutors and plenty of individual support for each student.
You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors for all courses at https://debatechamber.com/.
Course fees range from £195 – £745 depending on the course subject, format, and length. For students who would have difficulty paying the course costs, there are a limited number of fees bursaries of up to 90%. You can see all the details of the bursary programme here, and the final deadline for bursary applications this year is June 12th.