With the Research & Debate skill added inThe Sims 4: Discover Universityexpansion pack, now, your Sims can learn a little bit more about learning – and how to be more effective at it. As your Sims level up in the Research & Debate skill, they’ll become quicker at finishing homework, more effective at studying, and more.

Spend some time at the Research Machine on either of the university campuses or Practicing Debate in the mirror at your dorm to begin building the machine. By the final level, you can persuade Sims, earn some extra cash, and so much more.

a sim using the research machine at the britechester commons the sims 4 discover university research and debate skill

Research & Debate Skill Overview

Made available in The Sims 4:Discover University expansion, the Research & Debate skillteaches your Sim persuasive communication methods.

How you choose to use these new skills is up to you - you canmanage NPC Sims(which is massively beneficial when living with roommate Sims), coerce others tocomplete tasks on your behalflike your homework or your dinner, or even toperform assorted social interactions.

Image of the University of Britechester Campus from Sims 4 University.

To get started with learning the Research & Debate skill, your Sim can eitherPractice Debate in any mirror, use aResearch Machinesto pursue the skill, orpractice at any podium.

It’ll primarily be built at theUniversity of Britechester, as this university offersall four degreesrelated to the Research & Debate skill, which areEconomics, History, Language and Literature,andPsychology.

the debate guild event at the university of britechester the sims 4 university research and debate skill

You don’t strictly need to attend the University of Britechester to build the Research & Debate skill, as the Foxbury campus has Research Machines in their Commons building, too.

However,the University of Britechesteris home to the Debate Guild, while theFoxbury Institute doesn’t have a comparable clubthat helps your Sim gain the skill at the same time as socializing.

organization menu for the debate guild the sims 4 university research and debate skill

In fact, you technically don’t even need to be a university student to pursue the Research & Debate skill - the skill isavailable for any SimsTeen and up.

Joining The University Of Britechester Debate Guild

Those Sims who hope to build their debate skills on-campus should look into theDebate Guild at the University of Britechester.

Meeting a few times a week, the Debate Guild isonly open to University of Britechester studentsand is a great way for your Sim to continue sharpening their skill and making some friends on-campus while they do.

a sim contributing knowledge to the research machine the sims 4 discover university research and debate skill

To jointhe Guild, you’ll need toattend an eventof theirs, of which there are several throughout the week.

While you’re there,speak to any member of the Debate Guildand ask them to join. From there, like other Organizations, you’llrank upby participating in assorted Organization activities.

a sim writing a research paper the sims 4 discover university research and debate skill

AtRank Threeof the Debate Guild, you’ll unlock a few sweet perks, like:

In all, the Debate Guild is a good way for your Research & Debate Sims to meet new folks around campus andsocialize a bit more casually with their peersfrom the Guild.

several sims at a debate at the university of britechester the sims 4 discover university research and debate skill

Use The Research Machine To Build Other Skills, Too

If your Sim has access to theElectromagnetic Research Archive Machine

These machines can be found in theCommons buildingson both University campuses, and accessed for free while on that lot.

two sims at the podiums debating the sims 4 university research and debate skill

If your Sim has the cash to spend, you can also buy an Electromagnetic Research Archive Machine for your home lot, butit costs §12,000.

But not only can you build the Research & Debate skill on the machine, but you can alsouse them to research other skills, too.

Once your Sim has reachedLevel Sixof the Research & Debate skill, they can begin toContribute Knowledge on the Research Machinewith any skill they’ve mastered.

Doing so builds fame, if you’re also playing with Get Famous.

Just be careful not to over-contribute, lest your Simoverexert themselves a bit too hard…

How To Make Money With The Research & Debate Skill

Once your Sim has fully leveled their Research & Debate skill in The Sims 4: Discover University, they’ll havea few options toearn Simoleonsusing what they learned.

Using thepodiums, your Sim is able to eithergive professional commentaryon any subject in which they’re well-versed orhave professional debateswith another Sim for some cash.

Doing so will also offer your Sim some Fame, if you’re also using theGet Famous expansion.

This is only available atLevel Ten of the Research & Debate skill- your Sim needs to know what they’re talking about and how to present a case if they’ve got any hope of winning!

Additionally, once they’vemastered another skill, your Sim will be able towrite research papers on any computerabout skills in which they’re particularly experienced.

Thesesell for different prices, depending on the quality, but either way, completing one will net your Sim a few Simoleonsautomatically upon completion.

Helpful Traits, Aspirations, And Other Skills

Withthe ideal moodfor building the Research & Debate skill in The Sims 4: Discover University isFocused, you may want to consider theGenius traitfor your Sim.

These smartypants Sims will find themselvesnaturally feeling Focusedthroughout the day, which can help them more effectively build the Research & Debate skill.

Since you’ll bedealing a lot with other Simsto put your skills to good use, theOutgoing traitcan help offeradditional mood boostsfor the amount ofsocializingyou’ll be doing.

And when it comes to aspirations, you can double down on yourSatisfaction Pointearnings by pursuing theAcademic aspiration, also introduced with Discover University.

Aspart of the aspiration, you’ll need to reach Level Seven in the Research & Debate skill, among other things, so the most avid students ought to consider taking it on.

Every Level Of The Research & Debate Skill

In the table below, we’ve kept track of everything that unlock at each level of the Research & Debate skill.

The majority of your unlocks arepassive booststo things like reading and studying time, paper and presentation speediness, and more.

Outside of these passive boosts, you’ll also receive a number ofsocial actionswherein your Sim canconvince other to perform different tasks.

Unlocks And Interactions

1

2

3

Convince Others to Bathe or Do a Keg Standsocials unlocked.

4

5

6

Finish Presentations and Papers quickerthan normal.

7

Convince to Cleansocial unlocked.

Convince to Staysocial unlocked on roommates who are contemplating moving out.

8

Write and Publish Research Paperson the computer.

9

Have Professional Debatewith other Sims at the Podiums.

Give Professional Commentaryat the Podiums.

The only thing that unlocks at the first level of the Research & Debate skill is a notification that tells you about using the Research Archive Machine, which you may not have been using when you first developed the skill.