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    Politics & Debate Online Course
    Online Program

    Politics & Debate Online Course

    by Oxford Scholastica Academy

    Explore politics through debates, campaign speeches and political party design. Oxford Scholastica combines academic guidance with practical public speaking and persuasion.

    Last verified: 8 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy

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    Politics and Debate at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Applications open

    Eligibility

    Motivated students; advanced English

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 12-14

    Location / Region

    Online

    Cost

    £595; £995

    Duration

    1 or 2 weeks

    Format

    Online

    Application deadline

    Rolling

    Save program
    PoliticsDebatingInternational Relations
    Language: English
    Sessions / cadence: 5/10 × 2h; ~2h/day independent study
    Mentor model: Academic tutor; maximum 15 students
    Assessment style: Projects, debates and personalized feedback
    Main deliverable / output: Political party and campaign speech
    Certificate: Provider Certificate of Achievement
    Time-zone / scheduling model: 1-3 PM UK time

    Politics and Debate summary

    Oxford Scholastica combines political theory with practical debate. You explore how governments, elections and political parties work, then use those ideas in speeches and discussions.

    The emphasis is on participation: designing a party, campaigning and defending arguments. It suits students who want to test an interest in politics while developing confidence in public speaking.

    The longer option extends into citizenship, identity, social movements and a final balloon debate. Its value comes from doing the work and responding to feedback.

    What is Politics & Debate Online Course?

    The Politics & Debate Online Course is Oxford Scholastica's introduction to politics, international relations and government through live teaching and practical challenges. Students compare political systems, study persuasion and leadership, and create their own political party and campaign speech.

    The one-week option builds toward a teacher-moderated campaign debate, while the two-week option adds citizenship, identity, social movements and a final balloon debate. Academic guidance, independent assignments and personalized feedback help students turn political ideas into arguments they can explain and defend.

    Why Succeed highlights Politics and Debate

    • Political party design and campaign debates give abstract political concepts a practical purpose.

    • A maximum class size of 15 supports discussion and opportunities to speak.

    • The published syllabus makes the differences between the one-week and two-week options clear.

    • Personalized feedback and independent assignments encourage progress beyond simply attending tutorials.

    Who is Politics and Debate for?

    Best for

    Curious students who enjoy discussing current affairs and want guided practice in speeches, persuasion and political analysis.

    Not ideal if

    You want entirely self-paced study or mainly passive lectures; the course requires live participation and independent work.

    Is Politics and Debate worth it?

    This course is worth considering if structured speaking practice and tutor feedback are your priorities. Designing a party and defending a political figure give you concrete experiences to reflect on, rather than relying only on a completion certificate.

    The main limitation is the intensity: approximately four hours of work per instructional day requires a real commitment. The certificate is issued by Oxford Scholastica, and a recommendation letter depends on performance, so judge the course primarily by its learning experience.

    A practical overview of cost, time commitment, provider details, student outcomes and online support to review before deciding.

    Cost and what is included

    £595; £995; includes 20 hours of live teaching on the two-week option, 4 hours of masterclass sessions in the listed teaching package, Preparatory reading list and independent study assignments, Detailed, personalized feedback, Online graduation ceremony, Certificate of Achievement after successful completion, Tutor recommendation for outstanding students, Ambassador Program invitation, Ongoing advice and support.

    Dates and time commitment

    1 or 2 weeks; 5/10 × 2h; ~2h/day independent study.

    Provider details

    Review the Oxford Scholastica Academy provider page and official sources before making a final decision.

    What the student gains

    Potential output: Your central practical output is a political party you design and a campaign speech you deliver.. Check whether feedback, certificate, recommendation or application evidence is included.

    Online support and safeguarding

    Check how online sessions are supervised, how mentor communication works, and what support route exists if the student needs help.

    What to check before committing

    Confirm current dates, session schedule, payment terms, cancellation rules, support expectations and what output or certificate is included with the provider.

    Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.

    Compare with similar programs

    How much preparation does Politics and Debate need?

    Effort level

    Moderate to high during the course.

    Best started

    Plan your rolling application early in 2027, then allow two weeks before your chosen session for reading and setup.

    Main challenge

    Preparing clear arguments while listening and responding to opposing views.

    Typical preparation

    • Use your personal statement to explain which political questions interest you and why.

    • Read the preparatory reading list and practice explaining one political issue from two perspectives.

    • Test your computer, webcam and internet connection, and arrange a quiet study space.

    Useful if

    You want to test your interest in politics through active discussion.

    What do students do on Politics and Debate?

    You move from understanding political systems to applying persuasion in campaign speeches and debates. Independent research and writing prepare you to contribute during live tutorials.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Compare democracy, elections and different political systems.

    2. 2

      Study persuasion and research political parties and their promises.

    3. 3

      Design your own political party and prepare a campaign speech.

    4. 4

      Discuss leadership styles before delivering your speech in a moderated Q&A debate.

    5. 5

      On the two-week option, explore citizenship, identity and social movements.

    6. 6

      Examine future study and career pathways, then defend a political figure in the final balloon debate.

    Politics and Debate dates and deadlines

    Applications

    Rolling admissions

    Applications are assessed on a rolling basis.

    Date not confirmed

    One-week course — May intake

    31 May-4 June 2027

    Classes 1-5; £595.

    Upcoming

    Two-week course — May intake

    31 May-11 June 2027

    Classes 1-10; £995.

    Upcoming

    One-week course — first June intake

    14-18 June 2027

    Classes 1-5; £595.

    Upcoming

    Two-week course — first June intake

    14-25 June 2027

    Classes 1-10; £995.

    Upcoming

    One-week course — second June intake

    28 June-2 July 2027

    Classes 1-5; £595.

    Upcoming

    Two-week course — second June intake

    28 June-9 July 2027

    Classes 1-10; £995.

    Upcoming

    One-week course — first July intake

    12-16 July 2027

    Classes 1-5; £595.

    Upcoming

    Two-week course — first July intake

    12-23 July 2027

    Classes 1-10; £995.

    Upcoming

    Two-week course — second July intake

    26 July-6 August 2027

    Classes 1-10; £995.

    Upcoming

    One-week course — second July intake

    26-30 July 2027

    Classes 1-5; £595.

    Upcoming

    Two-week course — August intake

    9-20 August 2027

    Classes 1-10; £995.

    Upcoming

    One-week course — August intake

    9-13 August 2027

    Classes 1-5; £595.

    Upcoming

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Designed for students ages 12-14.

    • Applicants must be motivated to study politics and debate.

    • A personal statement is required for admissions review.

    • No previous academic study of the subject is required.

    • English: FAQ minimum CEFR C1; online terms require above C1.

    • Students from around the world are welcome.

    How much does Politics and Debate cost?

    One-week course fee

    £595 — Five live syllabus classes.

    Funding or discounts

    • Two-week course fee: £995 — Ten live syllabus classes.
    • Scholarships: No full-course scholarships — The provider's social-impact approach focuses on free mentoring and academic guidance.

    What's included

    20 hours of live teaching on the two-week option, 4 hours of masterclass sessions in the listed teaching package, Preparatory reading list and independent study assignments, Detailed, personalized feedback, Online graduation ceremony, Certificate of Achievement after successful completion, Tutor recommendation for outstanding students, Ambassador Program invitation, Ongoing advice and support

    How to apply to Politics and Debate

    1. 1

      Start the official application form and select the 12-14 age group and online study.

    2. 2

      Choose Politics & Debate and your preferred course duration and dates.

    3. 3

      Complete the personal statement, explaining your motivation to study the subject.

    4. 4

      Await the admissions decision and acceptance email.

    5. 5

      Pay the full course fees to confirm your place and complete the Student Information Form before the course starts.

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    Learning format

    Live Zoom tutorials run from 1-3 PM UK time across five instructional days per week, with five classes in the one-week option and ten in the two-week option. Plan for around two additional hours of independent study or group work per day; the two-week teaching package also includes four masterclass hours, alongside weekly video socials.

    Tutorials are live rather than prerecorded.

    Mentorship and feedback

    • An academic tutor guides political challenges and debate practice.

    • Classes contain a maximum of 15 students.

    • The named tutor, Arushi Sharan, is an Oxford DPhil candidate in International Development.

    • Arushi has taught Comparative Politics and published policy and governance research.

    • Students receive detailed, personalized feedback on their work.

    Time-zone considerations

    • Live tutorials follow the same 1-3 PM UK-time window.
    • The summer schedule uses British Summer Time, UTC+1.
    • Convert this window to your local time before choosing a session.
    • International students join the live classroom from around the world.

    Tech requirements

    • Use a computer for online tutorials.

    • Have a stable internet connection.

    • Have a working webcam.

    • Join live teaching through Zoom.

    • Arrange a quiet room without tutorial interruptions.

    Assessment style

    Progress is demonstrated through projects, written assignments, speeches and debates, supported by personalized tutor feedback.

    • Deliver a campaign speech and take part in a moderated Q&A debate.
    • Complete political research and independent writing assignments.
    • Two-week students defend a political figure in the final balloon debate.
    • Successful completion requires attendance, positive participation and appropriate required work.
    • Required work must be original.

    Portfolio / outputs

    Main deliverable / output

    Your central practical output is a political party you design and a campaign speech you deliver.

    • A 500-word political systems essay or local representative letter

    • Political party and manifesto research

    • A balloon-debate speech on the two-week option

    • Certificate of Achievement after successful completion

    • Personalized tutor recommendation for outstanding students

    Politics and Debate FAQs

    No academic prerequisites are required. Admissions focuses on your motivation, curiosity and willingness to challenge yourself.

    Plan for approximately four hours: two hours of live tutorials from 1-3 PM UK time and around two hours of independent study or group work.

    The one-week option covers classes 1-5 and ends with campaign speeches and a Q&A debate. The two-week option adds classes 6-10, including citizenship, identity, social movements, career pathways and a final balloon debate.

    No. Successful students receive an Oxford Scholastica Academy Certificate of Achievement. Oxford Scholastica has no formal connection with the University of Oxford.

    A personalized tutor recommendation is conditional. Outstanding students receive one, highlighting their debating skills, contributions and engagement.

    You need a computer, stable internet connection and webcam. A quiet room where you can participate without interruptions is recommended; tutorials take place through Zoom.

    The course FAQ lists CEFR C1, equivalent to IELTS 6.5, without formal testing. The online terms use the stricter wording above C1, so families near that threshold should discuss their level with admissions.

    Online terms allow cancellation within 14 calendar days of entering the contract, subject to deductions. If the course starts within that period, costs already incurred may also be deducted; cancellation outside the stated exception does not qualify for a refund.

    Alternatives to Politics and Debate

    Compare these related options if you want a different subject emphasis or an in-person experience.

    Alternatives to Politics and Debate

    TED Summer School

    In-person summer study with a debating subject focus

    Debating
    Deadline: Not announced
    From £5995
    15-18
    London
    In-person

    Best for

    Older students prioritizing speaking and debating

    View details

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    Ben Stacy

    Content reviewed by

    Ben Stacy

    Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader

    Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.

    View author page

    Sources & verification

    Source types reviewed

    • Booking Form
    • Terms & Conditions | Oxford Scholastica Academy
    • Online Summer School 2027 | Oxford Scholastica
    • Online Summer School Dates & Fees | Oxford Scholastica
    • Arrange a Call | Oxford Scholastica Academy
    • Oxford Scholastica Academy FAQs
    • Booking Form
    • Politics & Debate (12-14) Course Outline
    • Online Politics & Debate Course (Ages 12-14) | Oxford Scholastica

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 8 Oct 2026)

    • Course ages reviewed

    • Session dates checked

    • Duration options compared

    • Tuition totals verified

    • Full syllabus reviewed

    • Daily workload checked

    • Certificate conditions reviewed

    • Online cancellation terms reviewed

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.