CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: “Great Little Ideas” – Corpus Christi Graduate Legal Research Course (Oxford, September 2026)

(image source: Corpus Christi College)

Applications are now open for the Great Little Ideas: Corpus Christi Graduate Legal Research Course, which will take place at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, from 1 to 27 September 2026.

The research-led course is designed for graduate law students working on a PhD or equivalent legal research project and aims to support participants in developing a “Great Little Idea” — whether a chapter of a thesis, a broader doctoral theme, or another focused legal research question worth pursuing.

The course is a non-degree academic opportunity resulting in a certificate of completion and seeks to foster independent legal research through seminars, discussion, and engagement with Oxford’s intellectual environment.

Participants will benefit from:

• seminars on research methods and the craft of legal scholarship delivered by College Law Fellows;

• extensive access to Oxford library resources;

• access to Corpus Christi College facilities; and

• opportunities to engage with the broader academic atmosphere of Oxford.

The course further aims to strengthen participants’ abilities in:

• analysing and refining abstract legal questions;
• constructing and critically assessing complex arguments;
• advancing significant research and writing projects; and
• developing academic communication and presentation skills.

The participation fee is £375, while accommodation at a College property is available separately for £50.25 per night (inclusive of VAT).

Applications are open to graduate research students working on a PhD or equivalent legal topic. The organisers particularly encourage applications from candidates from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds.

Applicants should submit:

• a short CV (maximum 4 pages), and
• a statement of up to 500 words describing their “Great Little Idea” and explaining why the Oxford course would be an appropriate setting for its development.

The deadline for applications is Monday, 8 June 2026. Applications and informal inquiries should be directed to Professor Matt Dyson (matthew.dyson@law.ox.ac.uk).

More information is available via the official announcement by Corpus Christi College, Oxford.