John Locke Institute Reviews 118

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.

My experience at the JLI Summer School, Singapore 2025 was transformative. Challenging and complex conversations with students and staff, as well as the interesting topics and engaging delivery of lectures, allowed for a highly conducive environment.

I attended the Singapore PPE program and it was genuinely the most intellectually stimulating experiences of my life. The constant academic rigor, the constant urge to question everything you've learned, to hold every person around you accountable for the things they believe in (including yourself). This kind of environment is truly once in a lifetime. You learn about everything, and can talk about everything under the sky - from what it means as a human to speak to another, what makes a person separate from other organisms, to why countries trade intangible products, the importance of game theory, and the ability to wield power in a world that is increasingly trying to silence difference, feedback, and curiosity. I could not recommend JLI enough.

This 7-day course was one of the best weeks of my life. Everyone- from the distinguished faculty to the amazing, intellectual students challenged me in the best way possible, causing me to come out of the program with a new mindset and fresh ideas. It's safe to say that this program truly brought out the best in me and gave me the confidence to continue pursuing my interests and never give up on my journey of being an "adventurous bee".

I loved the Singapore PPE Summer School. From having opportunities to connect with like-minded, driven individuals to learning more about the world and how we live in it, the Singapore PPE Summer School was a marvellous opportunity for me to learn how to to think critically.

I attended this programme and found it engaging and really memorable. One moment that stood out to me was during the Q&A in Tom Palmer’s talk, where he answered a question about the UAE and explained why it shouldn’t simply be seen as a tax haven, but as a country built around the rule of law and strong legal structures. I liked how thoroughly he explained his reasoning, as it challenged a lot of assumptions and made the topic much more interesting.

Another highlight was Martin Cox’s lecture on game theory, where he used a scenario involving people shooting at animals to explain strategic decision-making. It was a surprisingly effective and memorable way to understand how incentives, risk, and human behaviour interact, and it definitely stood out as one of the best lectures of the programme.

I also really enjoyed the sessions on logic and argumentation with Nick Tasker. Sitting in surprisingly comfy booths made thinking about arguments and logic even better. The topics were explained clearly, and the Q&A at the end of each lecture made the sessions feel interactive rather than one-sided.

Outside the lectures, the experience was just as meaningful. One of the most important things I learned was how willing everyone was to share their opinions and disagree openly and respectfully, even outside formal sessions, including over lunch. I learned a lot about other cultures, made great friends, and everyone was friendly and welcoming. One of my favourite highlights of the trip was being trusted to explore the city independently within walking distance. Trying Milo at BreadTalk, walking around together, and taking far too many Instagram-worthy photos from the boat while watching the light show really stood out.

Overall, the programme was well organised, informative, and enjoyable, and I would highly recommend it to students who enjoy learning beyond the classroom and engaging with ideas through discussion. I would definitely recommend JLI. :)