Live Online with Alain de Botton

Not at all. Membership is global and open to everyone. We currently take payments in GBP, EUR, USD, CAD and AUD. If you would like to pay in another currency, please visit your local app store. 

While many of our ticketed in-person events are hosted in London, we will be looking to expand to more locations in the future, so there will be even more opportunities to connect in-person, no matter where you are. In the meantime, all our live online events are included in the price of your Community Membership.

Yes. Both Membership tiers include a 7-day free trial, giving you the chance to explore the benefits before committing.

Each user is eligible for one trial period. Please note that the trial can be used on one tier only, not both.

If you’ve already used your trial, you’re welcome to join your preferred Membership tier at any time.

For Membership support, email: [email protected]
We’ll do our best to respond in 48 hours from Monday – Friday. 

For full details, please see our Membership Terms and Conditions.

If you are a business interested in offering our Memberships to your staff members as part of the employee perks or wellbeing package, please get in touch via [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.

Absolutely. Our spaces are designed to feel welcoming and unpressured. You don’t need to be outgoing or “perform.” Whether you prefer listening, small group conversations or quieter one-to-one connections, you’ll find ways to participate that feel comfortable for you.

Yes, in-person events are ticketed and depending on format and location, carry an additional cost. Prices are always listed clearly on the booking page.

Live online events are included in your Community Membership benefits. 

The majority of our events are for Community Members only. Our community is all about fostering deeper, long-lasting connections through meeting in-person and online, and joining is a commitment to meaningful engagement and experiences that truly grow over time.

We will occasionally run some events where we welcome non-members to attend. Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to hear about these.

We have changed the naming of our previous App Subscription to Content Membership. If you have an active subscription to The School of Life App, you are now a Content Member. 

We have added an additional benefit to your Membership – a 10% discount on all orders from The School of Life shop.

You can also upgrade your current Membership to our Community Membership to get access to additional benefits, including the chance to meet other Members in-person and online.

All members receive a 10% discount in The School of Life shop which is automatically applied at checkout – and is linked to the email address you use to log in to your Membership account. If you use a different email address on the Shop, your discount will not work.

We are unable to link discounts to any Members who have used the Apple ‘Hide My Email’ feature. If you would like to update your email address to receive your discount, please update your details in the My Account area / contact [email protected]

All discounts are subject to the terms and conditions of The School of Life shop which can be found here.

You can access all your Membership benefits, content and features through The School of Life App, available on both iOS and Android platforms.  Once you’ve become a Member, you will be directed to download the app from the relevant App Store. 

You can also access some of our content and the community space via our website.

A Content Membership gives you unlimited access to our full library in The School of Life App, including; 

• 2,000+ articles
• 50+ courses (worth £600+)
• 1,000+ videos
• 20+ Conversation Card Sets (worth £300)
• New weekly content
• Emotional Intelligence self assessment
• Personalised recommendations
• Exclusive podcast with Alain de Botton
• Make commitments and track progress
• 10% discount on all orders from The School of Life shop
• A full week to try it all – for free

This Membership tier best suits people who want to learn at their own pace.

Our Community Membership provides all the access included in the Content Membership PLUS: 

• Connect with other Members online and in person
• Free and exclusive access to meet other Members at Live Online Events
• Free and exclusive access to meet Alain de Botton at x 4 Online Live Events per year
• Exclusive access to ticketed in-person Conversation Evenings
• Exclusive access to ticketed In Person Events
• A full week to try it all – for free

This Membership tier suits people who believe learning is enriched by connection. 

All Members must be aged 18+.

If you aren’t sure which Membership tier is right for you, you can choose a 7-day free trial to help you decide. 

See the full benefits of Membership here.

The School of Life is dedicated to supporting participants in exploring life’s big questions within a safe and thoughtful environment. However, we are not a clinical or medical service. If you feel you require professional assistance, we recommend seeking therapy. You can find more information about therapy sessions through our online Therapy service here. 

Additionally, seek support options in your country. 

For example, in the UK:

Samaritans – 24/7 freephone: 116 123

Mind – free articles, resources, and local support.

If you think you have a medical or mental health emergency, please call 999 (UK) or go to the nearest open clinic or emergency room. Please refer to Find a helpline – www.findahelpline.com  (global directory by country). 

The School of Life Membership is a world of support designed to help you feel more at ease within yourself and more connected to others.

You can choose between two ways to join:

• Content Membership gives you full access to our digital learning library via The School of Life App – including articles, videos, podcast and courses – so you can learn and reflect at your own pace.
• Community Membership includes everything in Content, and adds access to our community programme. Meet other Members online and in person through discussions, free live online events and ticketed in-person gatherings –  for those who feel that learning is enriched by connection.

Explore the full benefits of Membership here.

Membership lasts for one year and renews automatically unless cancelled.

Your Membership renews automatically each year at the price in effect at the time of renewal. We’ll email you at least seven days before renewal, reminding you of the cost and your benefits. 

If you’d prefer not to renew, simply turn off auto-renewal in your account settings at least 24 hours before your renewal date.

Yes. You may cancel at any time by turning off auto-renewal in your account settings or by emailing [email protected]. You can continue to enjoy all of your Membership benefits until the end of your annual term. Please note: we do not offer refunds for unused months.

Memberships are for individual use and can’t be shared with others. This means only you can use your Membership benefits or attend events booked with your Membership.

If you are a business interested in offering our Memberships to your staff members, please get in touch via [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.

Yes, in-person events are ticketed and depending on format and location, carry an additional cost. Prices are always listed clearly on the booking page. 

Live online events are free and included in your Community Membership benefits.

Find all the planned Membership events via the Events tab in The School of Life App or in the Community Space. 

For live online events, please RSVP so we know how many people are attending. 

For in-person events you will need to buy a ticket through the App or the community space website. Once booked, you’ll receive a confirmation by email.

Yes, all events are 18+

Most online events are included in your Membership. Some in-person events (depending on Format and location) carry additional costs. Prices are clearly listed on the booking page.

Currently, Membership payments can be made in GBP, AUD, CAD, USD, or EUR.

Please note that we are not responsible for any exchange rate differences at the time of purchase.

Not at the moment.

Events take place worldwide, both online and in person. Live online events are scheduled across a range of time zones, while in-person events are currently held primarily in London, with plans to expand to other cities globally in the future.

Please make sure to:

• Double-check your confirmation email, the App or our website before the event to confirm the venue.
• Provide us with a correct and up-to-date email address.
• Add [email protected] to your safe senders list

We cannot be held responsible if you do not receive venue details due to missed or undeliverable emails.

Both our In-person and Live Online event times vary. Some are short and focused (around 90 minutes), others allow for deeper exploration (2 hours), and some stretch over a half-day or even a full-day festival. Each event page lists its exact duration so you’ll know what to expect.

Unfortunately, we are not able to take reservations in advance.

We aim to run events on weekends where possible. However, our most popular events currently take place midweek. We recommend checking the specific event date to find a time that suits you.

Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds or transfers for missed events. Please make sure you’re available before booking. Full Event Terms can be found here “Event Terms”. 

We issue an electronic confirmation by email, which serves as your ticket. 

If you do not receive the confirmation email shortly after booking, please check your spam/junk folder. 

Please note we cannot be held responsible in the event you do not receive your ticket because you failed to enter your email address correctly. 

Email [email protected] if you would like to change any information on your ticket.

We do not allow filming of any of our live events, as our events are a safe space. Recording could inhibit the sense of safety and privacy that attendees need to participate fully. Occasionally, we may do some filming for promotional purposes, but this is always done thoughtfully and with consent, and it never compromises the closed nature of the sessions. Our goal is always to create the very best experience for our participants, preserving the openness and trust that make the events meaningful.

Group sizes vary depending on the format and nature of the event.

Our In-person events typically range from 30 to 40 participants, depending on the format. Live Online events also vary in size; some are capped at 40 participants to allow for a more interactive experience, while others can host up to 300 attendees.

We tailor capacity to suit the style and objectives of each event, ensuring the best possible experience for everyone involved.

Yes, if you are a member, simply select each event you wish to attend and complete the checkout process. Please note you can only book 1 ticket for each event. 

Most of our events are for our Community Members only. However, we occasionally host Membership taster events, Bring a Friend events or Public events – these will be clearly labelled in our events calendar.

If you have any special dietary, health or other requirements, please notify us at the time of booking in the check-out process. We are able to accommodate most requirements, but cannot guarantee this. Please note that it is your responsibility to contact us at the point of booking, and if necessary for your attendance, obtain confirmation by email (through [email protected]) that we can meet your needs. If it turns out that we are unable to meet your requirements, you will be entitled to a refund.

No need. We will verify your Membership in advance and check you in to the event upon arrival.

No, just come as you are. All materials you’ll need will be provided, unless otherwise communicated at the time of booking. Our events are designed so you can arrive with nothing but your curiosity and openness.

We’re still in the early stages of building our global programme. Right now, many events are online (so you can join from anywhere, please check the time zone), and we’re steadily growing our in-person presence. As our Membership expands, we hope to bring more gatherings closer to you, both in your time zone and, eventually, in your city. 

For Membership support, email: [email protected]. We’ll do our best to respond in 48 hours. 

For full details, please see our Membership Terms and Conditions.