International Relations
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International Relations Summer Courses
Explore how countries interact, why conflicts arise and how global challenges are addressed with Atlas Summer Courses. Designed for students aged 16–17, our two-week International Relations summer course gives you the opportunity to examine the political, economic and social forces shaping relationships between countries.
Through seminars, tutorials and independent study, you'll analyse international issues, consider competing perspectives and develop your ability to evaluate arguments, question assumptions and form well-reasoned views of your own.
What's Included?
Your residential International Relations summer course includes academic teaching, accommodation, meals, a certificate on completion, airport transfer from Heathrow and insurance.
Choose from Plus, Superior and Premier packages, with accommodation and additional benefits varying by package.
What Is International Relations?
International Relations is the study of how countries, international organisations and other actors interact within the global system.
It explores questions of power, cooperation and conflict while considering how political, economic and social factors influence relationships across borders. From diplomacy and security to trade and international organisations, the subject helps us understand why countries behave as they do and how global decisions are made.
Studying International Relations also means considering different perspectives on the same issue. Countries can have competing interests, and international challenges rarely have straightforward solutions.
An International Relations summer course gives you the opportunity to examine these complexities and develop a deeper understanding of the forces shaping world affairs.
What Will You Study on an International Relations Summer Course?
There is no prescribed syllabus that every student follows. Atlas Summer Courses tutors create their own syllabi, drawing on their expertise while taking the interests and learning needs of their students into account.
Depending on your course, you could explore areas such as diplomacy, international organisations, conflict and security, globalisation, international cooperation or contemporary global challenges.
You might consider questions such as:
- Why do countries cooperate with one another?
- What causes conflict between states?
- How does diplomacy influence international relationships?
- What role do international organisations play in global affairs?
- How does power shape relationships between countries?
- How can countries respond to challenges that cross national borders?
This flexible approach allows tutors to explore their specialist areas while responding to the interests of the group and relevant developments in world affairs.
Any syllabus shown on our website is an example from a previous course rather than a guarantee of the exact topics you'll study.
How You'll Learn on an International Relations Summer Course
The Atlas Summer Courses International Relations summer course combines small-group seminars, tutorials and private study across the two-week programme.
18 hours of small-group seminars
You'll take part in six three-hour seminars, exploring international issues and ideas through discussion, case studies and activities. You'll be encouraged to compare different perspectives, question arguments and develop well-reasoned responses of your own.
2 hours of tutorials
You'll have one tutorial each week, providing a focused environment in which to discuss the essay or problem sheet you've been working on and receive detailed feedback.
Around 20 hours of private study
You'll complete reading in preparation for seminars and work independently on an essay or problem sheet for each tutorial.
Together, these give you experience of a more independent approach to academic learning, where preparation, discussion and developing your own arguments all play an important role.
Who Is the International Relations Summer Course For?
Our International Relations summer course for 16–17-year-olds is designed for students who are curious about world affairs and want to understand why countries cooperate, compete and sometimes come into conflict.
You don't need to have studied International Relations before. The course may particularly appeal to you if you follow current affairs, enjoy debating different perspectives or are considering international relations, politics or another social science at university.
You'll develop transferable skills including critical thinking, analysing arguments, evaluating evidence, independent research and communicating complex ideas clearly.
If you're interested in exploring related subjects, you can also discover our Politics summer courses and PPE summer courses.
Learn from Expert Tutors
Atlas Summer Courses tutors are experienced educators and subject specialists active across academia, industry and education.
They bring their own academic expertise and interests into their teaching and have the freedom to shape their syllabus around both their specialism and the students in their group. This allows each International Relations summer course to explore different global questions and perspectives while responding to relevant developments within the field.
Tutors are confirmed closer to the summer, so profiles on our website are examples of tutors who have previously taught with us rather than confirmation of who will teach your course.
Where Can International Relations Take You?
International Relations connects with a wide range of subjects across the social sciences and humanities.
Students interested in the field may go on to study International Relations itself or related subjects such as politics, PPE, economics, history, law, development studies or public policy.
The research, analytical and communication skills associated with International Relations can also support future paths across government, diplomacy, international organisations, public policy, law, journalism, research and international development.
An International Relations summer course gives you the opportunity to explore the subject before making longer-term academic decisions and discover which aspects of global affairs interest you most.
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FAQs about Our Summer Courses
No. You don't usually need to have studied your chosen subject before joining an Atlas Summer Courses summer course. Courses are designed for the relevant age group, and tutors can adapt their approach to the abilities, interests and experience of the students in their group.
There is no fixed curriculum that every student follows. Our tutors create their own syllabi based on their academic expertise and the interests and learning needs of their students.
This means the exact topics can vary between courses and years. Any syllabus or topics shown on our website are examples from previous courses and shouldn't be taken as a guarantee of exactly what you'll study.
Teaching depends on your age group. Students aged 9–12 and Scholars aged 12–14 learn through structured, interactive small-group classes. Students aged 13–15 combine small-group seminars with private study, while students aged 16–17 and 18–24 experience seminars, tutorials and independent study.
Across our programmes, teaching is designed to encourage active participation, questioning and independent thinking rather than simply listening to lectures.
Your course includes your academic programme, accommodation, meals and a certificate on completion, alongside the activities and experiences included within your programme.
What's included can vary depending on the programme, age group and package you choose, so we recommend checking the individual course details for the full inclusions before applying.
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