FAIRS'26 is intended to allow PhD and MRes/MPhil students working on AI related projects to discuss their research and issues around doing a PhD with senior scholars in the field and with other Forum attendees. The forum is aimed at those who have either completed a Master's degree in an AI field and who are interested in progressing to a PhD, or are current doctoral or research Masters students. It will give students the opportunity to receive feedback in addition to the supervisory arrangements at their own institution. Students will be expected to contribute with a 5 min presentation on their PhD work (with feedback and discussions) and to small workshop discussions on issues related to the conduct of the PhD.

The programme will begin at 10.30 a.m. to reduce the need for attendees to stay in Cambridge on Sunday night. (If modestly priced accommodation is required, Cambridge Youth Hostel (see www.yha.org.uk) has shared bedrooms from around £29.00 a night - please make your own reservation and payment arrangements). Registration for the Forum will open at 10.30 a.m. on Monday, but participants who cannot arrive before the 11.00 a.m. start are encouraged to come straight to the Forum venue.

The programme for the Forum will include a number of structured sessions. After the welcome messages there will be a short workshop session to set the tone of the day, followed by a presentation and discussion of "Getting a PhD - Doing Good Research", led by experts in the AI field with extensive experience of supporting and examining PhD students. During the lunch break students are encouraged to discuss their research with other Forum attendees. The first afternoon session (13:45-15:45) will consist of 5 min presentations by students on their research project and 5 min feedback/discussion (details of presentation format below). This is followed by a panel session (16:00-16:45) allowing participants to put their questions about PhD research and careers to a panel of academics, recent PhD students, and industrial representatives.

At the mid-afternoon and end-of-afternoon coffee breaks, students are again encouraged discuss their research with other attendees, and for an important opportunity for networking within the AI community.The evening session (from 17:00) is a lighthearted (but useful!) session on how to Survive Your Viva. This session and the Forum as a whole will close at 18:15.

Students attending the Forum are of course invited to participate in the main AI-2026 conference (i.e. December 15th-17th 2026). A discounted Student Rate is available for student delegates at the conference. The Forum will be a stand-alone programme which will take place the day before the conference. Full details are at www.bcs-sgai.org/ai2026.

Presentation Format
Please prepare no more than 3 slides, covering an introduction or motivation and problem statement, theoretical background, aim and objectives, current accomplishments and future steps/conclusions. If you haven't started your PhD yet, please present the area of interest/challenge that you are interested in and how you think you can approach/solve this problem.

Where?
FAIRS’26 will be held in Peterhouse College, University of Cambridge.

Price
The registration fee is £35 + VAT. The fee covers lunch and refreshments during the day.

Getting there
Cambridge is within easy reach of the A14, the A11 and the M11. Click here for a map of the location.

Parking
Parking is problematic in the Cambridge area, and the University Centre web site recommends use of the following, all within a five minute walk:

1. Garden House Moat House Hotel car park, opposite the Centre (fee payable)
2. Lion Yard Car Park, on Corn Exchange Street off Pembroke Street (fee payable)
3. Silver Street, outside Darwin and Queens' Colleges (pay and display for motorcycles only)
4. Along the Backs (pay and display).

We would also suggest that you might consider using the Park and Ride facility, which has buses to the city centre.

If you have mobility problems or are a Blue Badge holder then we will of course be able to offer you parking near to the University Centre. Unfortunately we cannot extend this to other attendees.
Lunch
Included with the registration fee and to be taken together at Peterhouse Dining Hall.

Refunds/Cancelations
A refund, excluding fees, will be issued if a cancellation request is received by 8th December 2026 (email to sgai-conference@bcs.org.uk), otherwise, name substitutions will be allowed after this date.

Accommodation
If modestly priced accommodation is required, Cambridge Youth Hostel (see www.yha.org.uk) has bed and breakfast from around £29.00 a night - please make your own reservation and payment arrangements. Bed and Breakfast accommodation may also be available on a first come first served basis in Peterhouse College. Please contact the organisers to arrange this.