Explore
Campus
Forum
Sign in
Parliamentary Debate
Clubs
Social Innovation Creative Academia
Pro bono consulting club
Established in 1981, HCDU is the official international varsity parliamentary debate society of Harvard University.
Introducing HCDU
The Harvard College Debating Union (HCDU) is Harvard University's only internationally competitive debate association. We were formerly known as HSPDS. The HCDU debates in the American Parliamentary and British Parliamentary styles. We travel both domestically and internationally to attend tournaments every week.
Visit Gallery
Ever since our founding, the HCDU has been one of the most successful teams in the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA), holding a record eight national titles, more than any other institution. Internationally, HCDU teams have been in five final rounds of the World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC) and won three world championships in the past five years.
Leadership Team
Derek Kim ‘22
President
Eileen Lee ‘23
VP Finance
Patrick Seo ‘22
VP Logistics
Our activities
Committed to excellence in both competitive and educational achievement, Harvard Debate has won the National Debate Tournament (NDT) seven times, most recently in 2016, and finished second five times, since the tournament was first held in 1947. The NDT records show that Harvard Debate has been invited to attend the tournament every year since 1954 – a record of consistency unmatched by any other school.
In recent years, Harvard Debaters have won every major national policy debate invitational. For two years in a row, in 2016 and 2017, Harvard won the Rex Copeland Award for the Top First Round At-Large Team.
Application process
The Harvard College Debating Union is run by a board of students who are elected by the team each winter and additional members appointed by that board. The executive board is responsible for all organizational decisions and planning.
Application deadline
April 21
Interview
May 4
Results announcement
May 8
Online orientation
May 16
First session
May 17
What does our group do for fun?
Harvard debaters organize and teach a modified form of parliamentary debate to middle school students as part of a Boston pilot program organized with a non-profit, Debate Mate.
What competitions do we participate in?
Internationally, HCDU teams have been in five final rounds of the World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC) and won three world championships in the past five years.
What music do we listen to?
Though formal debate at Harvard dates back over a century, the Harvard Speech and Parliamentary Debate Society was founded in the fall of 1981 in response to the recent creation of the American Parliamentary.
Why should you join our club?
Ever since our founding, the HCDU has been one of the most successful teams in the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA), holding a record eight national titles.