Student and Early Careers Conference 2026

Every year, this digital conference aims to platform students, early career archaeologists and heritage professionals, and to give them the opportunity to gain presentation experience.

Date: 30 July 2026 
Time: 3 - c. 7.30pm 

Who is it for?

SPEAKERS & CHAIRS: The conference is open to anyone studying archaeology or an associated subject such as osteoarchaeology, anthropology, or cultural heritage management, undertaking an apprenticeship or training scheme, or Individuals within 7 years full time equivalent (FTE) from completion of their first archaeology-related degree or apprenticeship, or for those without formal education in archaeology, within 7 years FTE from the start of their first professional archaeological position. 

AUDIENCE: We always hope the conference audience will comprise anyone who has an interest in the range of topics that will be discussed and/or those who wish to support early career archaeologists and heritage professionals in a welcoming and friendly environment. The conference is free to attend and you can book your place here:

Is there a theme or preferred presentation format?

There is no set theme. Instead, participants are encouraged to present on any topic of their choice. 

The aim is to make as many people as possible feel comfortable contributing, and with this in mind, we will be accommodating a range of presentation and participation options. These will include:  

• Short talks (10-15 minutes)  

• Pre-recorded presentations  (10-15 minutes) 

• Posters 

• Chairing a session (more info below)

Take a look at a presentation from last year's conference, which will give you an insight into what to expect. Jenny Carey Mikkleson presented her research on Critical Peat/Bog Studies in Bog Body Research live on the day. She also charied one of our earlier sessions.

What will I get out of contributing?  

As there is no theme, participants will be able to present on any archaeological or heritage subject of their choice, creating a unique opportunity for individuals to showcase their specific interests, research or involvement in the sector.   
 
Developing skills and confidence in this area could positively impact your future career. The flexible and relaxed nature of this conference makes it an ideal platform for any student or early career archaeologist to gain presenting experience.  

We also welcome participants where English is not their first language. 

The presentations are recorded (with permissions) and made available via the CBA YouTube Channel and on our socials. This provides a platform for your work and an oportunity to share it with large and varied audience.

What support will I get?   

• Ahead of the conference, a 121 mentoring session with tips and advice on presenting and writing will be offered.
• We also offer 121 mentoring for those Chairing sessions.
• On the day, we provide a buddy system to support each session's speakers if help is needed.  

How do I take part?  

If you are interested in participating, please submit a short abstract to conferences@archaeologyuk.org, by Monday 9.00 am 8th June 2026.  

We have created a handy guide to writing a conference abstract should you need it: 

In addition to your abstract please let us know: 

• If you have presented before, 

• The method by which you would like to present  

• State if you would be interested in chairing a session   

We have also created a short intro to Chairing a Session should you wish to find out more: 

If you would prefer to submit a conference poster please follow our handy guide:

You can download the Call For Contributions in full here:

Can I watch the talks from the conference?

The conference talks were recorded and, where permission was granted, are available on the CBA's YouTube channel. 

You can find last year's recordings on the Early Careers Conference 2025 playlist and further examples below.