Politics
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Politics Summer Courses
Explore power, government and the ideas that shape societies with Atlas Summer Courses. Our two-week Politics summer courses, available for students aged 16–17 and 18–24, give you the opportunity to examine political systems, institutions, ideologies and some of the major questions facing societies today.
Through seminars, tutorials and independent study, you'll analyse political ideas and real-world issues while developing your ability to evaluate different perspectives, challenge arguments and communicate your own views with confidence.
What's Included?
Your residential 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.
What Is Politics?
Politics is the study of power, government and the decisions that shape societies. It explores how political systems work, how leaders and institutions exercise authority and how individuals and groups seek to influence change.
The subject can involve examining political ideas and ideologies alongside the institutions and processes through which decisions are made. It also encourages you to consider why political systems differ, how competing interests are balanced and what makes political authority legitimate.
Studying politics means engaging with questions that rarely have simple answers. A Politics summer course gives you the opportunity to explore different perspectives, examine the arguments behind them and develop informed views of your own.
What Will You Study on a 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 and learning needs of their students into account.
Depending on your course, you could explore areas such as political ideologies, democracy, political institutions, elections, public policy, power, international politics or contemporary political challenges.
You might consider questions such as:
- What makes a political system democratic?
- Why do people hold different political beliefs?
- What makes political authority legitimate?
- How should power be distributed within a society?
- How do elections and political institutions shape decision-making?
- How should governments respond to major social and global challenges?
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 a Politics Summer Course
The Atlas Summer Courses Politics 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 political ideas and issues through discussion, case studies and activities. You'll be encouraged to question arguments, compare different perspectives 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, debate and developing your own arguments all play an important role.
Who Are Our Politics Summer Courses For?
Our Politics summer courses are designed for students who are curious about how societies are governed, why political disagreements arise and how decisions can affect people at a local, national and international level.
You don't need to have studied Politics before. The course may particularly appeal to you if you follow current affairs, enjoy debating different perspectives or are interested in questions about government, power, democracy and social change.
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 PPE summer courses, economics summer courses and international relations 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 Politics summer course to explore different political 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 Politics Take You?
Politics connects with a wide range of subjects across the social sciences and humanities.
Students interested in the field may go on to study Politics itself or related subjects such as PPE, international relations, political science, public policy, economics, history or law.
The research, analytical and communication skills associated with Politics can also support future paths across government, public policy, international organisations, law, journalism, research, consulting and the charity sector.
A Politics summer course gives you the opportunity to explore the subject before making longer-term academic decisions and discover which political questions and areas of study 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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