The teaching style adopted is usually a combination of tutor and student input, and is reliant on students' reading of key texts, preparation of arguments, responses to a presentation and/or analysis of documents and various group activities. In February each year the course moves to Paris for a week for seminars at UNESCO, the OECD and the Institute for International Educational Planning (IIEP).

The course is assessed through one unseen three-hour examination paper, five written assignments and a research dissertation.