Absolutely! You don’t need any prior experience to get involved in debating with the Phil. In fact, many of our current Council members had never debated before joining the society — some only discovered their passion for it after giving it a try here at the Phil.

Each year, we run Maidens, our dedicated first-year debating competition, designed specifically for beginners. It takes place in the first term and is open to anyone in their first year of university, regardless of course or debating background. Maidens offers a friendly, welcoming environment to learn the ropes of debating, build confidence, and meet other students who are just starting out too.

Getting involved in competitive debating at the Phil is easier than you might think — and you don’t need any prior experience to start! One of the best first steps is to attend Novice Training, which runs regularly during term time. These sessions are specifically designed to introduce you to the basics of competitive debating, whether you're interested in speaking or judging. Keep an eye on the Phil’s Instagram for updates on training times and locations.

Novice Training is a great way to build skills in a relaxed and supportive environment — and it’s also a fantastic opportunity to meet Team DC, the Phil’s competitive debating team. They run the sessions and are always happy to offer advice, feedback, and guidance as you start your debating journey.

Yes! The Phil is proud to welcome and support English as a Second Language (ESL) speakers. All major competitive debating tournaments we attend — both in Ireland and internationally — include dedicated ESL breaks, ensuring fair and inclusive opportunities for speakers who are not native English speakers.

The University Philosophical Society has several active subcommittees that offer unique ways to get involved beyond debating. These include The Elizabethan Society, which aims to include women and gender minorities in all aspects of discourse, The Udoma Subcommitte, which aims to represent POC and Ethnic minorities in the spheres of debating, and The Bram Stoker Club, which runs weekly paper readings.

Each subcommittee hosts its own events, discussions, and projects throughout the year — and the best way to get involved and stay up to date is by following them on Instagram, where they post regularly about upcoming meetings and opportunities to participate.

The easiest way to stay updated on Phil activities and events is by following @tcdphil on Instagram, where we post regularly about upcoming debates, training sessions, and subcommittee events. You should also keep an eye on your TCD email inbox for our weekly email, which outline everything happening in the society that week — it's the best way to make sure you don’t miss anything!