John Locke Institute - Oxford

B C.

The John Locke Institute has been incredibly encouraging and intellectually generous in my academic experience thus far. All of the faculty I've interacted with are thoughtful, sharp, and genuinely invested in fostering young thinkers. JLI is a remarkable institution doing meaningful work, and I would recommend their programs to anyone eager to engage deeply with ideas and develop their voice as a scholar and writer.

Elizabeth W.

Attending the 2023 JLI Junior Program and 2024 Senior Program at Oxford was truly a privilege and extraordinary experience that expanded my intellectual capacity, as the programs offered a unique blend of intellectual challenges, thought-provoking discussions, and extremely engaging lectures. The opportunity to explore topics in philosophy, politics, psychology, and economics in such an intellectually stimulating environment really helped me refine my own beliefs about certain topics and articulate my ideas with clarity and confidence. I was surrounded by bright students, supportive interns, and speakers with controversial ideas. Overall, I really recommend the program to anyone looking to go home confused.

Dorothy W.

I attended John Locke's summer school in Oxford on PPE, which is a fabulous experience both with the courses and people. One of the thing that made me like their courses the most is that their lectures and seminars were complementary for each other. With professors giving university level lectures, while teachers from Oxford or other privilege institutes providing further relative discussions, students are able to gain a in-depth and extensive knowledge. John Locke also have a group of exceptional scholars who are really a pleasure for high school students to get in touch with. They hold a sincere attitude toward traditional values, like critical thinking, yet at the same time they touch deep onto contemporary debates, such as gender and abortion. In my own experience, I was able to acquaint with an abundant group of peers sharing my interest of the world from different cultural background. The discussions with them are also one of life time experiences for me.

Mohammad U.

I joined the John Locke Institute first at the PPE Summer School held in Singapore this year. It was an incredibly transformative and educational experience. I was concerned at first because it was my first summer school, but the lectures, seminars, and conversations were so welcoming that I felt at ease. Faculty, interns, and students from around the world established an encouraging and collaborative environment.
Beyond lectures and seminars, the wonderful places they took us to in Singapore provided a unique dimension to the experience, making it unforgettable. One of the most enjoyable aspects of this program was meeting people from approximately 20 countries, each with their unique perspectives, views, and curiosity. This diverse international community made me feel included and enriched my experience. It was a truly inspiring experience, and the lessons, memories, and friendships I made here are truly unforgettable and will stay with me for a lifetime.

Dani V. O.

I'm in Year 9 from Hong Kong and recently attended the first John Locke summer school in Singapore in 2024. The experience was immensely enriching as it allowed me to engage deeply in discussions that expanded my understanding of complex topics.
The accommodation at the Paradox Hotel was also ideal, conveniently located near our teaching centers and close to shopping centers and public transport, making it easy to explore the city during our free time. There were also interns who were very friendly and helped alot throughout my time there.
This summer school was a perfect setting for personal growth and academic exploration. I highly recommend it to other students looking to deepen their understanding and explore new academic fields without any hesitation.

Mason G.

The John Locke Institute Course was equal in its richness and insight as it was in its entertainment. The course selects top professors, doctorates, and experts in their field willing to discuss and debate key areas of life, providing unique insights beyond what education systems can teach you, on Philosophy, Economics, and Politics equally. With a community of diverse, intellectually flexible, sociable, and curious students, each lecture does not come without striking questions posed by members that challenge the claims made by professors, or even your own worldviews. In smaller discussions, claims are debated extensively and fairly, ensuring that course insights are truly internalized into each student. Personally, I had a lot of fun with the course’s ideological turing tests, which allow students to get the unique opportunity of truly understanding an opposing view on critical issues/topics, while strengthening your own in the process.
Facilities provided by the course are excellent, with interactive and unique rooms catering to big lectures and small-size precepts. Accommodation, being the Paradox Hotel Singapore, was excellent and accessible, only a walking distance to where the course lectures took place. All relevant needs are met exceptionally, with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and breaks provided every day. Finally, the course provided students with the unique opportunity to explore the country/city as a whole, travelling to hawker centers or beaches on Sentosa Island, boosting community bond, spirit, and enjoyability.

Ted C.

I was fortunate enough to gain a place on the John Locke Institute’s visiting scholars programme in Washington DC in the spring of 2024 and it was truly a first-class experience. The program has an excellent blend of meeting academics, practitioners, lobbyists and think tank policy experts, all of whom have fantastic insight as to how the Capital works and what policies are currently trending. My fellow participants on the course were a varied and highly accomplished group from all over the world - Germany, Singapore, Australia, France to name but a few – with the key thing in common being a keen interest in academics, politics and current affairs. As the group is kept deliberately small, we all had excellent exposure to those we met, and it was a great opportunity to develop intellectual flexibility around ideas which were new to me. As we lived together in a lovely DC townhouse, we were able to debate new concepts and discuss the coursework in a lively and intellectual fashion, a fantastic opportunity to do so with others who shared a passion for the social sciences. We had plenty of free time to spend exploring America’s capital, including a segway tour, trips to the Georgetown campus and visiting the vast array of museums and public buildings. Furthermore, the course is held during the beautiful cherry blossom season making it the perfect time of year to explore a truly captivating place.

I have just finished my first semester at Bristol University, and I find myself comparing the vastly different approaches to education between UK university and the John Locke Institute. The immersive and full program on offer at the Institute fosters intellectual curiosity and includes meeting world leading professors from George Mason and Georgetown Universities as well as policy experts in the think tank world. Spending time with Congressmen and Senators tops off the real-world experience and being able to do all of this whilst in Washington DC, the world’s political hub, is hugely stimulating. The quality of education the John Locke Institute offers in just one month is far beyond what the Russel Group universities in the UK can provide. The difference does not just come in the high quality and interactivity core to the way you are taught on the gap year programme, but the fact that whilst you’re learning and assimilating these ideas, the Institute helps you to nurture lateral and flexible ways of approaching problems in a manner I had not experienced before. My time with the John Locke Institute has been one of the highlights of my year, and I am extremely grateful for the time I had with them.

isabelle

One of the best summer programs I have ever done. All the professors were so smart and inspiring, and it was wonderful to learn and debate with people who were just as passionate as myself. Oxford was an absolutely lovely backdrop too, and there were so many opportunities for us to explore the city and beyond!