Oxford: Home of the World's Greatest Debates

You only need two things to start you on the road to becoming an excellent debater: an opinion, and the will to defend it. For centuries, Oxford has been a city renowned for landmark debates, and it remains one of the world's great centres for rigorous argument. We at Atlas Summer Courses believe that debating and presenting arguments well is a vital skill for academic study in any subject — and we are delighted to bring that spirit of intellectual exchange to India.

What’s Included in a course with Atlas Summer Courses?

Our tailored summer courses for ages 9–24 include all teaching and academic content, accommodation, meals (including Friday night formal dinners), a prize-giving ceremony, all-day trips and activities, airport transfers, access to Atlas Foundations, travel and medical insurance, and a welcome pack. Apply now to secure your place on one of our comprehensive summer courses.

Students debate at the Oxford Union

The Oxford Union is the most prestigious debating society in the world. Founded in 1823, it is also Oxford’s oldest student society, and has a long history of hosting two things: famous speakers from all walks of life, and formal debates on a huge variety of subjects. The Oxford Union elected its first Indian president, D.F. Karaka, in 1933, and a number of distinguished Indian speakers have visited the Union to address its members. In the last couple of years, this has included:

• Politician and diplomat, Shashi Tharoor
• CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi
• Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif
• Indian-American Special Representative to the US State Department, Farah Pandith

When Atlas Summer Courses visited India in 2016, our students tried their hand at formal parliamentary-style debating. This isn't just a case of shouting out your argument: this kind of debate needs you to be disciplined, clear, and ready to listen to other points of view. So, how does it work? The rules are a bit different from any schools debating you might have done before. A typical debate of this kind would look a bit like this:

1. Opening presentations: the spotlight is turned on your argument – no interruptions!
2. The judges then ask each team questions which get to the heart of the issue being debated.
3. The audience ask the teams their questions, followed by the teams asking questions of each other. You will also be able to respond to your questions, but you don’t have to answer all of them.
4. Final remarks: you can either sum up your argument in a one minute speech, or make a closing point related to it.
5. The judges offer constructive feedback on each team’s arguments and presentation skills.
6. The audience vote (for fun!) and the judges present their final decision.

As for what is debated, there are endless possibilities! Last year, our students in India enjoyed debating:

• Should childhood vaccinations be compulsory?
• Are Gender quotas in the workplace good for equality?
• Is space exploration a waste of time and money?
• Should Britain pay reparations for its role in the slave trade?

At Atlas Summer Courses, we believe the most important thing to remember about debating is that issues are never as simple as they seem, and you cannot expect to agree with your peers on every point. What can be agreed, however, is that trying your hand at parliamentary-style debating is a great way to hone your skills in building and presenting a compelling argument. We look forward to seeing you argue your corner with confidence.

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Practice your debating skills on our International Relations and Politics, Politics, or Law courses!

Ready to Join Atlas Summer Courses?

After submitting your application, we'll be in touch very soon to inform you of the outcome. Apply now to begin your journey with Atlas Summer Courses!