Bristol Debating Union

Welcome to Bristol Debating Union! We are a fun, diverse community that meet to debate a range of issues from law to sport using the British parliamentary format. We are the university's only competitive debating society with more than 60 years of history behind us! We welcome members from all levels of experience - you don't have to have debated before to attend. Our aim is to provide a forum to develop your public speaking, logical thinking and teamwork whilst surrounded by a supportive group of trainers and friends. What do we do? We hold practice sessions on Mondays, where you will have the opportunity to debate a different motion each week, receiving feedback at the end of the session. On Wednesdays, we host training sessions. In these sessions there will be a lecture teaching you how debating works, focusing on different techniques each week. After the lecture, there will be the opportunity to debate a motion. People of any experience level are welcome at either! As you progress throughout the year, you will also develop your argumentation, intuitive thinking and skills working under pressure. In our sessions we debate, run lectures and bring in speakers. We send teams to competitions at other universities most weekends. Competitions can be for novices, pros, from London to Athens. Throughout the year, BDU hosts the Bristol pro-am and the Bristol Open where teams from all over the country come to compete. We also regularly hold socials. We have family schemes, hold pub quizzes and drunk debates, Christmas events, or even just going to the pub after sessions!