The Yale Summer Debate Program is Yale's largest debate program held during the summer, and is open to middle school and high school students. Most students are from New Haven and surrounding areas, though we have welcomed students from across the country and world in recent years.

Non-credit

Commuter

Accepts International Students

Financial Aid

Application fee waiver

This five-day program offers students a rigorous, rewarding, and relevant debate experience. YSDP is built on the philosophy that debate is not just an activity, but is a set of skills students can use to critically engage with the world, no matter their interests, helping them to become better speakers, students, and most importantly, thinkers.

We train in the parliamentary debate style, the most popular in the world (and the one used by top Connecticut tournaments like the Yale Invitational and Yale Osterweis tournaments). Our program is open to all students entering grades 6-12 of all levels; students with no prior experience to advanced debaters will find the program tailored but challenging. We work to accommodate all students, from middle school beginners to national debate champions.

This upcoming summer, we’re proud to offer:

- World-class staff of Yale debaters and UDL coaches;

- Typical instructor to student ratio of 1:10 or better, including small-group and individualized instruction (and plenty of practice debates!);

- Customized curriculum that works to improve speaking style, argument construction, and refutation;

- Focused discussion of essential knowledge, including topics related to international relations, moral philosophy, education, and criminal justice.

By the end of the program, students should leave with more confidence in public speaking and better command of the style and strategy of parliamentary debate.

Yale Summer Debate Program (students from New Heaven public schools)

Aug 19 - Aug 23

1 week

Commuter

0 USD

Yale Summer Debate Program (all other participants)

Aug 19 - Aug 23

1 week

Commuter

599 USD

Students who attend New Haven Public Schools (or have an UDL program at their school) can attend YSDP at no cost. All other students can attend for $599. ​

Financial Aid

The Yale Summer Debate Program is proud to offer a generous financial aid policy. All students at New Haven Public Schools and any school with a UDL program can attend the program for free. While the price of the program is $599 for all other students, please email [email protected] to apply for financial aid if this poses a challenge. Attending this program should place no burden on any family. Both full and partial financial aid is available depending on the situation.