John Locke Institute Reviews 

I attended my first JLI course this summer in Singapore. It was amazing! There were so many people from all over the world, all interesting and so fun to talk to. Each lecture gave me something new to think about, and some even changed my perspective on the world as a whole.

After attending the Georgetown Summer University program, my entire academic trajectory has shifted. I have made connections with alumni from Oxford, Cambridge, Columbia, LSE, and many more esteemed institutions that have connected me to a well of immeasurable academic and career opportunities. Beyond the influential professors, authors, and scholars I had the opportunity to connect with, I have created lifelong friendships with students from all over the world each with their own unique and powerful ideas. Furthermore, once your program comes to an end, your journey with JLI doesn’t stop. The institute has become an invaluable tool towards my academic success as well as a family that I can rely on. If you have the opportunity to attend a summer program, I recommend you do anything in your power to go, as it is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

I attended the John Locke Georgetown University summer program and it was entirely worth it. The staff and faculty were amazing and I walked out of it with new knowledge and friends across the world. The professors who were brought were clearly well selected and provided a new insight into IR and politics. Would recommend to all looking for an amazing learning opportunity over the summer.

I attended the John Locke Summer Program in Georgetown this summer and had a great time! I was genuinely challenged about my beliefs and felt incredibly inspired by my peers, preceptors, and lecturers. There are so many memories and friends I made that will stay with me for a very long time. Would recommend to anyone looking for an intellectually stimulating way to spend their summer.

My time at JLI changed the way I see the world. Between the lectures, the debates, and the late-night conversations with staff like Pia and even Mr. Cox himself, I learned patience, how to argue fast without losing respect for the other side, and how to be wrong without getting defensive. I came in as a student and left as someone genuinely rethinking how I want to grow, as a debater, a thinker, and a person.

My daughter was shortlisted in the John Locke Essay Competition of 2024, and invited to attend the gala dinner - at a considerable cost. We were very proud, since being from a state school, she was in the minority. However, it was a shambles. After an hour long speech by the hissingly insane Liz Truss, my daughter’s certificate, along with many others, failed to appear. Come back tomorrow they said. We did. It didn’t. After months of communication, still waiting. Pathetic.

This is a money-making racket that, frankly, abuses the legacy of John Locke. If you are a secondary school student, please do not enter their 'essay prize'. Your wallet and your own dignity will thank you later. Do not be deceived by their tendentious association with elite universities.

The Dubai Economics and Finance program was my third course with the John Locke Institute, and has been another truly memorable course. Every aspect of their courses are exceptionally well thought and planned out, making for very high quality lectures, seminars, Q&A sessions, and precepts where you are both challenged and encouraged to ask questions. The precepts in particular are a great opportunity to discuss and debate the themes raised in the lectures among peers, and always make for great conversations. Although intellectually demanding, these courses are the guarantee of a great time and long-lasting friendships. I would highly recommend!

The John Locke summer programme was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. It was filled with thoughtful discussions and debates, but at the same time lots of fun and activities. I made many lifelong friends and the stories are unforgettable. If you are a student attending a John Locke programme, I would advise you to cherish your time in the programme, and make memories you will hold onto for the rest of your life.

The John Locke Institute offers a genuinely rigorous academic experience that goes beyond surface-level enrichment. The programmes are intellectually demanding in a way that feels purposeful rather than performative. Students are expected to engage seriously with complex ideas, defend their arguments, and refine their thinking through discussion and feedback.
What stands out most is the emphasis on independent thought. Rather than encouraging students to memorise viewpoints, the Institute pushes them to question assumptions, explore multiple perspectives, and articulate their own positions clearly and confidently. The teaching faculty are knowledgeable and approachable, creating an environment where debate is encouraged and curiosity is taken seriously.
Equally valuable is the diverse student community. Interacting with peers from different academic interests and cultural backgrounds adds depth to discussions and challenges you to think beyond your own context. Overall, the John Locke Institute succeeds in fostering intellectual confidence, critical thinking, and a genuine enthusiasm for learning.

I attended the week-long program in Dubai, 2025, it was an amazing experience, the teaching style was one I had never experienced in my life, in my opinion it is a must attend, it changes perspectives, opinions and ideas in a beneficial manner. Honestly, the teachers, students, staff, experiences were extraordinary, I would definitely recommend if you wanted one of the best weeks you will ever experience in your life.

Attending the John Locke Winter School in Dubai was an incredibly rewarding experience. Learning about finance and economics couldn’t have been made more interesting and engaging thanks to the excellent faculty. However, the most enjoyable part of this week-long experience was getting to know a cohort of equally-passionate students who were nothing but kind and welcoming. This was definitely a trip to remember and my only critique would be that I would’ve loved to stay for another week!

This Christmas break, I attended the 2025/26 Dubai Economics and Finance camp with the John Locke Institute. There were many opportunities for me to develop myself academically, through the several lectures I attended during the course. Beyond academics, there were many fun activities and a chance to network with students all across the globe. Overall, this experience was extremely enriching and it definitely will not be one I forget. I highly recommend it to anyone!

This has been one adventure with intellectual discussions combined with serious fun. I got the opportunity to meet some amazing people, from our lecturers to preceptors and made some life long friends. Had I not gone for it, I am pretty sure I would have regretted that decision. So if you do get the opportunity to be a student, take it and enjoy it! You will return will knowledge and amazing memories!!

The John Locke Institute Summer Program in Dubai was honestly such an awesome experience. I made so many friends from all over the world, and we still keep in touch even after the program ended. I was very inspired by the speaker, Steve Kuhn who is an amazing entrepreneur and gave great advice. He has made me rethink my strategy towards my future. I loved the discussions about global finance, especially in such a cool place. Traveling across the world by myself made me feel super independent. The staff did a great job taking care of us. I can honestly say I’m the only one in my family who has ever been to Dubai, and getting to spend New Year’s watching the fireworks was an unforgettable experience.

Wonderful experience! I met many likeminded people from across the globe in Singapore that I hope will be lifelong friends. All the members of staff were super helpful in answering any questions we had about the trip. It really inspired me to be excited about my university course as I am going to study PPE at university. The professors were so accommodating and passionate about their chosen subjects, I would definitely recommend.

Changed my perspective on the world and made lifelong friends

Attending the John Locke Institute was one of the most intellectually stimulating and enjoyable academic experiences I’ve had. The lectures were engaging, challenging, and genuinely thought-provoking, and the seminar discussions pushed me to think more critically and articulate my ideas with clarity and confidence. I especially loved being surrounded by such a diverse group of passionate, curious students from around the world - every conversation felt meaningful and inspiring. Beyond academics, the social activities and excursions made the experience even more memorable and helped build a strong sense of community.

I left the programme feeling more confident, more curious, and deeply grateful for the friendships and perspectives I gained. I would highly recommend JLI to any student who loves learning and wants to challenge themselves.

My experience at the John Locke Institute’s Singapore PPE Summer School was one of the most intellectually demanding, yet inspiring and rewarding environments I have had the pleasure of attending. What stood out to me especially was the emphasis on “thinking for yourself” and being able to have positive discourse in such an inviting way; not necessarily the notion that we (as students) must simply listen and agree as instructed, a value often under appreciated. The economics focus in particular strengthened my own foundational understandings and inspired me to view these ‘principles’ in context with our world and real political policy. However, the community itself was the aspect that motivated me most, being surrounded by like-minded, curious students and experts in their field created the kind of academic rigour that forces you to raise your standards and think bigger about what you can achieve.