We’ve had a lot of adventures here at Adventure Dragon. We’ve swam with sharks, made friends with a unicorn, and even defended the city from gargoyles while playing a virtual reality game on a real life roller coaster. But none compare to fulfilling our Harry Potter dreams by enrolling in a real life Hogwarts inside a real, enchanting castle in Poland. If you want to know what it’s really like, hop on over and read our College of Wizardry review here. There’s secret passageways, a real dungeon, a tavern full of real barmaids and real booze, and a Dark Forest just like the one in Harry Potter. There’s even a sorting ceremony to divide you into different houses, a sport not unlike Quidditch, and a competition to win the House Cup. But one of the things that stood out to us the most was just how complex and ….well, real….all the classes are. While attending the College of Wizardry, you will attend real classes. Real, magical classes…that bear a striking resemblance to the ones available at Hogwarts. Coincidence? Heck, no. This place is a dream come true designed to make all YOUR dreams come true. So here’s a detailed breakdown of every class you can study, as well as how alike or unalike they are to the ones you’re already familiar with at Hogwarts. The only negative thing here is that you can’t take all thirteen. You’ll have to choose just six. How will you ever decide?
The 13 Classes at College of Wizardry – And their Similarities to the Classes at Hogwarts
1. Alchemy
What is it?
Mixing Potions and magical elixirs
Where else you’ve seen it —
The Alchemy class at College of Wizardry is most like the Potions class taught at Hogwarts. While Hogwarts has an Alchemy class as well, the latter is a more advanced elective available only to sixth and seven year students. Since Hogwarts’ Potions class is a core class and compulsory to all first year students, it is the one most like the core Alchemy class taught at Poland’s Czocha College of Wizardry.
Hands-on?
Yes
A typical day in class —
During a typical day in class, students can learn how to concoct everything from disease-removing liquids and concentration-boosters to poisonous potions and bizarre elixirs that enhance the brewer. During Adventure Dragon’s stay at the College of Wizardry, we created a memory serum during our Alchemy class. And then tested it out! Upon drinking, students began to recall vivid memories from their pasts and spill secrets about them.
2. Arithmancy
What is it?
learning how to read and use magic numbers
Where Else You’ve Seen It —
Arithmancy was also offered at Hogwarts, where it was an upper level elective subject hated by many but adored by Hermione Granger. When Harry Potter remarked that her homework looked “terrible,” Hermione responded “Oh, it’s wonderful! It’s my favourite subject!”
Hands-on?
Not really.
A Typical Day in Class —
On a typical day at Czocha, students learn mathematics-based divining techniques that can predict as well as shape the future, present, and even the past. It’s mostly classroom-based, so it’s not a favorite by many.
3. Beastology
What is it?
the study of magical creatures and humanoids and ways of interacting with them…especially for purpose of achieving desired effects
Where Else You’ve Seen It —
Beastology is similar to Care of Magical Creatures, which is an elective rather than a core class taught at Hogwarts.
Hands-on?
Yes
A Typical Day in Class —
On a typical day at the College of Wizardry, students may learn hands-on training in how to calm down enraged minotaurs, or they may learn how to seduce merfolk in the water. During Adventure Dragon’s stay at the College of Wizardry, Dragon and his pal Soelle learned about identifying dragons (Dragon says he’s already an expert) and even got hands-on experience feeding medicine to a blind but dangerous, cranky creature.
4. Conflux Studies
What is it?
A combination of history, civics, and social studies for wizards
Where Else You’ve Seen It —
Conflux Studies is similar to the History of Magic course taught at Hogwarts.
Hands-on?
Nope, lecture style
A Typical Day in Class —
A typical day at the College of Wizardry is not unlike a typical day in a history or social studies class in a non-magical world. Lots of lectures, note-taking, discussions, and debates on the ethics of issues governing the magical world today.
5. Herbology
What is it?
the study of magical plants for arcane purposes
Where Else You’ve Seen It –
Herbology is also one of the core classes taught at Hogwarts where it is mandatory for the first five years of a student’s education.
Hands-on?
Yes.
A Typical Class at College of Wizardry –
On a typical day at Czocha, students might take a field trip into the Dark Forest to learn how to identify and use the different magical plants present there. During Adventure Dragon’s stay at the College of Wizardry, the Herbology and Runic Magic classes often paired up on these excursions to complete exercises together.
6. Invocation
What is it?
learning how to deal with beings and energies from the beyond
Where Else You’ve Seen It —
There is no Invocation class at Hogwarts. The closest thing to it is probably a mix of its Ghoul Studies class and Charms class (with an emphasis on the Summoning, Banishing, and Skurge Charms) and then a little bit of Apparition class thrown in to complete it.
Hands-on?
Sometimes
A Typical Class at College of Wizardry –
The Czocha Handbook says that “there is no such thing as a typical Invocation class” because there will always be such a “wealth of variety.” It’s important for all students to learn about the nature of the unseen planes of existence. But beyond that, you may get the chance to summon elementals or spirits. Or perhaps learn about fae contracts and the politics of faerie courts. You may create and practice various forms of protection, from basic magic circles to amulets or lines of salt. Or maybe you’ll learn how to exorcise ghosts. Invocation also includes the broader applications of transportation, so students may learn about the folding of space via extra-planar travel — a wizard’s most reliable form of teleportation. During our time at the College of Wizardry, we didn’t get the chance to do anything hands-on…which was a real bummer. But just like in a non-magical world, sometimes the enjoyment of a class comes down to who’s teaching it and that teacher’s approach to teaching. Some teachers make things exciting. Some….don’t. If you decide to attend the College of Wizardry, YOU might get to do something exciting. And that’s part of the beauty of it.
7. Magical Defense
What is it?
learning how to protect and defend oneself against magical attacks
Where Else You’ve Seen It?
Magical Defense is almost identical to Defense Against the Dark Arts, one of the core classes taught at Hogwarts.
Hands-on?
Yes
A Typical Day in Class —
At College of Wizardry in Poland, a typical day might involve learning how to duel in a safe, controlled environment where students can sharpen their skills in both offensive and defensive magic needed to protect themselves from magical attacks.
8. Magical Theory
What is it?
the study of how magic works
Where Else You’ve Seen It —
Magical Theory is also a class at Hogwarts and can be seen on Harry Potter’s timetable in the film version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Hands-on?
Not really
A Typical Day in Class —
I don’t think there’s a more humorous description than the one written in the Czocha Handbook:
“A typical Magical Theory class begins with the professor asking students what they know about magic, and then gleefully shaming them with the revelation that they know exactly jack and shit.”
After that, you’ll probably discuss the origin of magic, its subjects, spell components, magical artifacts, or various other topics involving the framework of sorcery and the inner mysteries of how magic actually works.
9. Mind Magic
What is it?
using magic to affect the mental processes of others as well as themselves
Where Else You’ve Seen It —
There is no Mind Magic class at Hogwarts. The closest thing to it is probably the Charms class (with a concentration on the Memory Charm or any other charm that could affect the mental state)
Hands-on?
Yes
A Typical Day in Class —
During our time at the College of Wizardry, we learned how to cast “Joyexia” to alter someone’s emotions. The magic only works if the target’s mind is “open,” however, and if they’re unfocused, the spell fizzles without any effect. An empath in our class became so overjoyed at the precise instant the spell worked on another student that the two of them began singing and dancing in unison around the room. We also worked in pairs to learn how to defend against mind magic. Somehow my buddy Soelle’s magic misfired during the exercise, and the slip-up sent the vampire student she was partnered with into a blood-hungry rage. I watched in terror as she stood guard over him while other students searched for something (other than human flesh) for Mr. Fangs to bite into. Ultimately (and luckily), an orange did the trick.
10. Physical Education
What is It?
Kinda like P.E. in the non-magical world….except it involves learning how to combine both physical and mental powers together in order to use the body in a sorcerous context
Where Else You’ve Seen It —
Do they have a PE class at Hogwarts? I don’t think they do. But they do have Flying class, compulsory for all first year students. And then there’s Quidditch, of course. Both are perfect examples of the types of physical education that are present and necessary in a magical world.
Hands-on?
Duh.
A Typical Day in Class —
Fireball Dragon! At Czocha, Fireball is the sport of choice. We even played in the Fireball tournament. The balls at school games are rarely ever enchanted to immolate, but if you make it to the big leagues, you’ll be playing with ones that gloriously flame in a red-hot fury. To win the game, each team uses fireballs to injure or eliminate opposing team members in order to help their own team gain and retain control of the dragon eggs that will make them victorious.
11. Ritual Magic
What is it?
Learning rituals to use to produce powerful magic
Where Else You’ve Seen It —
Hogwarts doesn’t have a Ritual Magic class. Can you think of any class that is similar?
Hands-on?
Sometimes…a little
A Typical Day in Class —
You might learn chants and meditations or certain rituals used to achieve very specific outcomes. Rituals for health and prosperity are favored by Healer students, and rituals to track and trace individuals may be useful for Guardians. Some require specific words, gestures, or actions. Others need a group to perform choreographed actions in unison. Some rituals even require sacrifices or offerings to be made.
12. Runic Magic
What is it?
study of both the theory and practical applications of using runes to produce desired magical effects
Where Else You’ve Seen It —
Runic Magic is similar to the Study of Ancient Runes elective class at Hogwarts.
Hands-on?
Yes
A Typical Day in Class —
You might learn how to enchant an object with simple, single word magical inscriptions. Or you may spend the day runebreaking — learning how to break and defuse traps and wards. Runes can also be used as an offensive weapon when your wand is not accessible. This became the focus of one of our lessons when the Runic Magic and Herbology classes paired up to take a field trip into the Dark Forest. A minotaur and a werewolf attacked our class while we were without wands, so the Senior students had to fight them off using safety runes while the other students searched for trees willing to give them wood to quickly transfer their magic into, thus making new wands.
13. Technomancy
What is It?
combining magic with technology to produce desired magical effects
Where Else You’ve Seen It —
Hogwarts does not offer a Technomancy class. Phooey. The magic clearly exists, however, and there’s evidence of it all around the castle. Hogwarts is super saturated with enchantments almost everywhere you look. And Hermione’s Time Turner marks one of the best examples of modern technomancy techniques.
Hands-on?
Yes
A Typical Day in Class —
In class, you’ll be learning how to imbue objects with magical energies. This involves everything from the classical and sometimes archaic practice of enchanting non-moving objects such as jewelry, books, and weapons…. to modern technomancy techniques of combining magic with advanced machinery and moving parts. You might learn how to craft a magical talisman, cursed book, or self-writing pen to help with your studies. Or maybe you’ll gain the skills to make a clock run without batteries. Or have fun playing with moving stairs.
If you’d like to know more about the entire experience of attending a College of Wizardry event, then read our detailed summary and review of the four day adventure here:
Hint — there’s sooo much more than just magic courses. Prepare to get lost in moving bookshelves and hidden passageways…find secrets hidden in the real dungeon…drink with buddies in the tavern…cheer on your house during the sorting ceremony and tournaments to win the House Cup… and so much more. It’s an experience you’ll never forget. (Dragon STILL won’t stop talking about it.)
- All photos marked as “Defy Gravity” belong to Cryssie of Defy Gravity Photography. She does amazing work that you can check out on her page. Thanks so much for letting us use your pics!
- All other photos, unless otherwise marked, were taken by Susanna Kelly of The Wandering Chocobo. Thanks for taking Dragon on an epic adventure he’ll never forget inside the College of Wizardry! You can read about Susanna’s own geeky adventures at Czocha here.
- This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase one of the Amazon products listed in this article, I earn a small commission at no extra charge to you.
- Please do not copy or reproduce any of the photos on this page without permission from their owners. It makes dragons sad. And nobody likes a sad dragon. Except for maybe sad people. Away with you, you poopy pirate.
Omg how did I not know this existed?! This sounds like the coolest thing ever I need to go to Poland right now! Thanks for sharing, taking Harry Potter classes is on my bucket list now for sure! 😀
I’m glad you enjoyed the read, and I hope ya get the chance to go! It’s pretty freaking amazing! <3