DSA Algorithmic State Architecture Programme, Cambridge

Programme fees and payment

The participation fee is £5,500 + VAT (20%).

An offer of a place must be accepted in writing within 14 days of the decision being sent. Places not accepted within that period may be offered to another applicant.

Payment must be completed no later than 15 December 2026, the registration deadline.

If payment is not completed by this date, the offer will be withdrawn. The Digital Statecraft Academy cannot be held responsible for any delays or problems caused by late or incomplete payment.

Invoices can be issued to an employer or sponsoring institution, and purchase order references are accepted. Where an institution is paying, the participant remains responsible for ensuring the payment reaches us by the registration deadline.

Please include your surname and “ASA27” in the transfer reference. Participants are responsible for any bank fees or charges linked to the transfer.

What the fee covers

Programme schedule and accommodation

The programme will take place in Cambridge from 25 to 29 January 2027. DSA reserves the right to change these dates or the venue, and participants will be told of any changes in good time.

Accommodation for six nights will be provided, from the evening of 24 January to the morning of 30 January, including breakfast, lunch, and tea and coffee services.

Participants are expected to make all arrangements in advance so they can attend in person for the full week.

The programme is delivered in person only. Remote or online attendance is not available, and sessions will not be repeated or recorded for later viewing.

Participants are expected to observe the rules of the accommodation and teaching venue throughout their stay, and are responsible for any damage or additional charges they incur there.

Preparation before the programme

All reading materials and specific preparation instructions will be provided in advance.

Participants are expected to arrive with a live problem or programme from their own institution or research. This is the material used in workshops through the week and in the final-day capstone, and participants who arrive without one will get significantly less from the programme.

Visa and travel arrangements

Participants are responsible for securing their own UK visa (if required) and arranging their own travel to and from Cambridge.

The organisers will provide official invitation letters to support visa applications on request.Participants who need a visa are strongly advised to begin their visa application immediately after confirming their attendance.

Visa fees and application costs are the participant's responsibility. Refunds are not given where a visa is refused or delayed (see Section 8).

Attendance and participation

Participants are expected to attend all scheduled sessions during the programme week, including the final-day capstone session.

Active participation is central to the programme. Participants who miss a significant part of the sessions may not receive a certificate of completion.

Accessibility, dietary and medical requirements

Participants should tell the organisers about any accessibility needs, dietary requirements or medical considerations relevant to their attendance at the point of registration, so that arrangements can be made in advance. Requests received close to the programme dates may not be possible to accommodate.

Refunds, withdrawals and substitutions

Participation fees are non-refundable once enrolment is confirmed. Refunds or deferrals will not be given for inability to attend, including but not limited to visa issues, travel restrictions, illness, or personal scheduling conflicts. Participants are encouraged to take out suitable insurance to cover possible losses related to travel, visas, or other unforeseen events.

The organisers accept no responsibility for delays, disruptions, or changes caused by circumstances beyond their control, including but not limited to visa delays, travel restrictions, or other force majeure events.

Cancellation or postponement by the organisers

The programme runs subject to a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached by the registration deadline, the organisers reserve the right to postpone or cancel the programme.

Where the organisers cancel, participation fees are refunded in full. Where the organisers postpone, participants may transfer to the rescheduled dates or receive a full refund.

In either case, the organisers are not liable for travel, accommodation or other costs incurred by participants outside the programme fee. Participants are advised to take out insurance and to avoid non-refundable travel bookings until their place is confirmed.

Certificate of completion

Participants who complete the programme receive a certificate of completion issued by The Digital Statecraft Academy (DSA).

The certificate records attendance and completion of the programme. It is not a University of Cambridge qualification and does not carry academic credit or confer any award.

Participants also join the DSA alumni network, which gives access to online sessions, publications, and event invitations.

Communication and networking

To support collaboration, participants’ contact details (name, surname, email address) may be shared within the cohort and relevant programme contacts.

Biographical information and photographs provided by participants may be used for cohort introductions, programme communications, and DSA network visibility.

Sessions may be recorded in video and audio format. Participants who do not wish to appear in recordings should tell the programme team in advance.

Progression to the DSA Cambridge Fellowship and other DSA programmes

Participants who complete the ASA programme and go on to apply to another DSA programme, including the DSA Cambridge Fellowship, within 12 months of completion will receive a 20% reduction on that programme's fee if they are accepted. Admission follows the standard selection process in each case and is not guaranteed.

This reduction applies to the programme fee only and cannot be combined with any other reduction or discount.

Language proficiency

The programme is delivered entirely in English. Participants are expected to have enough English to take full part in discussions, readings, and group work. The organisers do not provide language support services.

Code of conduct and professional behaviour

Participants are expected to behave professionally throughout the programme, including in sessions, at social events, and in communications with peers, speakers, and partner institutions. Any behaviour considered inappropriate or disruptive may result in removal from the programme without refund.

Intellectual property and confidentiality

Work produced by participants during the programme, including the capstone maturity map of their own institution, remains the property of the participant (or their institution) unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Programme materials provided by DSA, including the Algorithmic State Architecture framework materials, remain the property of DSA and are for participants’ own professional use only. They may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used to deliver training to others without written permission.

Participants routinely discuss live institutional problems during the week. Information shared in sessions should not be repeated outside the cohort without the agreement of the person who shared it. Participants are expected to respect the confidentiality and intellectual property of peers, speakers, and partner institutions.

Data protection and privacy

All personal data will be processed in line with the UK Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR). Participants consent to the collection and use of their personal information for programme administration and communication purposes.

Applications are collected through an online form, and the information submitted is used to assess applications and administer the programme. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Amendments and updates

The organisers reserve the right to make reasonable changes to the programme schedule, format, venue, faculty, or content where necessary. Participants will be told in advance of any significant changes.

Complaints

If something goes wrong, please raise it with the programme team during the week so it can be dealt with straight away. Formal complaints should be sent in writing to office@digitalstatecraft.academy and will be acknowledged within 14 working days.

Governing law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising from them is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.