Exploring Law Conference overview

Dates

5-8 April 2027 (Registration: 5th April, 2-3pm. Ends: 8th April, midday)

Location

In person at University of Cambridge. (Main programme at Faculty of Law, Sidgwick Site. Accommodation at four host Cambridge Colleges).

Programme aims

We aim to provide a balanced view of Law as an academic subject and profession, and offer an insight into life as an undergraduate Cambridge Law student.

Attendees will experience a certain degree of independence at the Conference, which we expect to be handled responsibly. A commitment to following the Conference's schedule, rules and restrictions is essential.

Conference format

4-day residential law programme, co-run by Faculty of Law and undergraduate student committee. Place holders are expected to attend the whole conference.

Academic programme: Taster lectures by Faculty academic staff, workshops with law firms and barrister chambers, admissions guidance and Q&A sessions.The programme includes regular breaks.

College life: Evening social and law-exploration activities.

Free time: The programme includes limited free time to explore the city.

Accommodation: You will stay overnight in undergraduate student accommodation and have meals in the same spaces as the University's own students. We arrange all accommodation and meals. (Note: Accommodation and sessions are for students only; parents/carers cannot be accommodated).

Travel: You must arrange and fund your own travel to and from Cambridge.

Support and safety: 24-hour on-call support from the Conference Committee, Faculty Outreach Coordinator and College Porters.

Event history

Founded 50 years ago, the Exploring Law Conference was formerly known as the Cambridge Sixth Form Law Conference.

Programme support

The conference is made possible through the generous support of our Access and Widening Participation Partners.

Places & cost

250 total places (150 free, 100 self-funded) for unaccompanied students.

Includes 3 nights' accommodation at a Cambridge College and all meals from Monday dinner to Thursday breakfast. There is no additional charge for accommodation and meals.

Fee for self funded place: £240 (part-subsidised).

Travel costs are not covered by the Conference but we have a small number of travel bursaries available, which free-place applicants can apply for.

Application timeline

• Mid-October 2026: Applications open (via this webpage)
• Late November 2026: Applications close (late submissions are not accepted)
• Early January 2027: Application outcomes confirmed and further instructions sent to place holders.

Eligibility criteria and selection

You must be:

• In a UK school or college
• In Year 12 (England/Wales), Year 13 (N.Ireland) or S5 (Scotland) for the 2026-2027 academic year.
• Studying for academic qualifications* such as A Levels or International Baccalaureate.
• Interested in studying Law at university. (No prior law study is required).

* Please note that Applied A Levels, Level 3 Diplomas/Certificates, and BTECs are generally not suitable qualifications for applying to Cambridge and therefore will not be accepted as suitable qualifications for this programme (if the student does not also study 3 A Levels alongside these). You can find out more about entry requirements for Cambridge on the University's course admissions webpages. This programme is not suitable for students considering the Foundation Year.

Free place eligibility:

To apply for a free place, you must attend a state school. You are more likely to be awarded a place on the programme if you meet 1 or more of the following criteria:

• Care Experienced
• Eligible for Free School Meals (now or any time in the past 6 years)
• Home postcode (IMD Q1 or 2)
• Living in an area of low progression to higher education
• Caring responsibility
• Estranged
• Attending a low-performing school
• From an underrepresented ethnic group
• From an under-represented region

We do take into account other factors and personal circumstances that might have affected your academic development and performance. 

Selection process:

The Exploring Law Conference is always heavily over-subscribed. Applicants are not guaranteed a place. We aim to ensure that places go to those who will benefit most from the experience, while prioritising those who have faced educational or personal disadvantage.

All applications are reviewed after the closing date in November.

Applications are split into two distinct pools (free and self-funded) and assessed based on widening participation criteria, interest and motivation.

Travel bursaries

Eligible free-place applicants can apply for travel bursaries up to a maximum £100 (dependent on individual standard-class travel costs). We have 20 travel bursaries available. Bursaries are dependent on attendance at the Conference and are paid within 6-8 weeks after the Conference.

Application is no guarantee of a bursary. Bursaries will be allocated according to the above widening participation criteria and and confirmed at the same time as place decisions.

All attendees must make their own travel arrangements to and from the Conference.

Testimonials

Read testimonials from previous attendees.

Committee information

The Conference is run by the Faculty of Law and a committee of Law undergraduates from various Cambridge Colleges. Committee members remain part of the Conference until their final year, each year taking on more responsibility.

Committee members

• President - Jacob Sawyer (Corpus Christi College)
• Vice-President - Sneha Mittal (St John's College)
• Lydia Douglas (Lucy Cavendish College)
• Joe Evans (St John's College)
• Yvonne Gao (St John's College)
• Saoirse Halford (Homerton College)
• Rizah Khan (Downing College)

Faculty Outreach Coordinator

• Rosalind Boswell

If you have any questions about the Exploring Law Conference, please email the Faculty Outreach Coordinator, Ros, at outreach@law.cam.ac.uk.

For information relating to admissions and applications to study at the University of Cambridge, please refer to the University admissions website and the Faculty of Law's BA Tripos website.