International Relations and Politics
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International Relations and Politics Summer Courses
Explore how countries interact, political decisions are made and global challenges are addressed with Atlas Summer Courses. Designed for students aged 13–15, our two-week International Relations and Politics summer course gives you the opportunity to investigate power, government and relationships between countries.
Through discussion, case studies and independent study, you'll examine political ideas and international issues while developing your ability to evaluate different perspectives, question arguments and form well-reasoned views of your own.
What's Included?
Your residential International Relations and Politics 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.
Why Study International Relations and Politics Together?
Politics explores how power is organised, decisions are made and societies are governed. International Relations looks beyond individual countries to examine how states, organisations and other actors interact on a global level.
Studying the subjects together allows you to connect domestic political decisions with events beyond national borders. Questions about conflict, trade, migration, security or climate change, for example, can involve both the priorities of individual governments and cooperation between countries.
An International Relations and Politics summer course gives you the opportunity to explore these connections and develop a deeper understanding of the political forces shaping events around the world.
What Will You Study on an International Relations and Politics 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, abilities and learning needs of their students into account.
Depending on your course, you could explore areas such as political systems, democracy, international organisations, diplomacy, conflict, global cooperation or contemporary political challenges.
You might consider questions such as:
- Why do countries cooperate with one another?
- Why do conflicts between states occur?
- What makes a political system democratic?
- How do international organisations influence global affairs?
- How do governments respond to challenges that cross national borders?
- What role do power and diplomacy play in international relations?
This flexible approach allows tutors to explore their specialist areas while responding to the interests of the group and relevant developments within the field. 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 and Politics Summer Course
The Atlas Summer Courses International Relations and Politics summer course combines small-group seminars with independent study across the two-week programme.
24 hours of small-group seminars
You'll take part in eight seminars where you'll explore political and international issues through interactive discussion, case studies and activities. You'll be encouraged to consider different perspectives, question arguments and explain the reasoning behind your own views.
12 hours of private study
Between seminars, you'll complete independent work that could involve reading, researching a political or international issue, analysing a case study or preparing a presentation.
Together, these help you become more confident analysing complex issues, developing your own arguments and engaging respectfully with perspectives that may differ from your own.
Who Is the International Relations and Politics Summer Course For?
Our International Relations and Politics summer course for 13–15-year-olds is designed for students who are curious about current affairs, world events and how political decisions are made.
You don't need to have studied International Relations or Politics before. The course may particularly appeal to you if you follow global events, enjoy debating different viewpoints or want to understand why countries and governments behave in particular ways.
You'll develop transferable skills including critical thinking, analysing arguments, evaluating evidence, independent research and communicating your ideas clearly.
If you're interested in exploring related subjects, you can also discover our Politics 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 and Politics summer course to explore different issues and perspectives while responding to relevant developments in world affairs.
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 and Politics Take You?
International Relations and Politics connect with a wide range of subjects across the social sciences and humanities.
Students interested in these areas may go on to study international relations, politics or related subjects such as PPE, history, economics, law, development studies or public policy.
The research, analytical and communication skills associated with International Relations and Politics can also support future paths across government, diplomacy, international organisations, public policy, law, journalism, research and the charity sector.
An International Relations and Politics summer course gives you the opportunity to explore these interests at an earlier stage and discover which political and global questions you might want to pursue further.
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Explore our full range of courses by subject, age, and location using our course finder. With over 40 subjects available across top locations, there’s something for everyone.
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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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Choose from over 40 subjects taught through flexible, age-appropriate programmes. Our tutors adapt their teaching methodologies to different age groups and shape course content around students’ interests, rather than following a fixed curriculum.
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