Cambridge Program

Hosted at the highly ranked University of Cambridge, Tulane Law's Cambridge Program directly addresses the cutting-edge legal issues surrounding refugees and migration.

Program Dates: July 6 - July 19, 2025

All over the world governments, diplomats, human rights lawyers and legal systems confront an unprecedented wave of refugees and migration of peoples. The Tulane Law School summer program at Cambridge University directly addresses the cutting-edge legal issues, both domestic and international, created by these migrations.

The curriculum provides opportunities to learn from and interact with Cambridge and U.S. faculty with transnational interests, experiences, and contacts. Each course reflects the expertise of the individual faculty members and students will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with them, both in and out of class.

Program Host Institution
The site of the program is Trinity College, Cambridge University. Repeatedly ranked among the top universities in the world, Cambridge University is composed of individual colleges, each with their own unique architecture and personality. The Tulane Program on Refugees, Migration and the Legal Future is housed at Trinity College, the largest college in Cambridge and by itself one of the most prestigious and wealthy colleges in the United Kingdom.

Cambridge is a medium-size university town located approximately 70 miles north of London. The ambiance provided by the striking university buildings located in a park-like setting along the River Cam is one of a kind and never forgotten once experienced. Many pleasant afternoons can be passed exploring the colleges with their beautiful gardens, attending the unique evensong at King's College Chapel, visiting the quaint shops and pubs of the town and surrounding villages, as well as “punting” or boating on the river. A wide variety of museums and stately homes are within easy reach by rail and bus. London is close by and easy to get to by train (50 minutes) from the Cambridge rail station for day trips.

King Henry VIII founded Trinity College in 1546 (his portrait hangs in the splendid dining hall). Famous graduates and faculty of Trinity College include once and future kings, Sir Isaac Newton and many eminent scientists, authors, political figures, and philosophers such as Bertrand Russell and Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Students both reside and attend class inside Trinity College, so everything is very convenient. The student rooms are in the modernized Burrell’s Field, which was designed for undergraduates (rooms are single-occupancy only). The Tulane Program’s office and classroom is also located in Burrell’s Field, steps away from the student rooms.

Follow the adventure on Instagram at #TulaneLawCambridge.

Courses and Materials

Students can enroll in up to three courses in the Cambridge Program. There are four courses to choose from, all centered on the pressing international and domestic legal ramifications of the extraordinary movement of refugees into Europe, the issues posed by the unprecedented migration of millions of people worldwide, and the highly consequential political and constitutional fallout of "Brexit", or exit from the European Union, in the United Kingdom.

Course Descriptions
Brexit and the Migration Problem in the United Kingdom and European Union
(1 credit)
On 23 June 2016 52% of the UK population voted for the UK to leave the European Union. Levels of migration to the UK was given as one of the principal reasons which motivated this vote. What were the concerns about migration and were they real? What will happen to the EU nationals living in the UK? What about EU nationals who would like to come to the UK in the future? What is the optimum level of migration and how can this be properly managed? This course will examine these and other questions relating to migration. The course will draw from Professor Barnard's current research on these issues.

Immigration and Migration Law from a Comparative Perspective
(1 credit)
This course will examine immigration and migration issues from a comparative legal and constitutional perspective, concentrating on the U.S., the Americas, The United Kingdom, and Europe. We will first study the basics of U.S. immigration law as they relate to these pressing global problems. With respect to the UK and EU, we will examine their constitutional structure and how it relates to the policy problems posed by immigration and refugees.

International Migration and Human Rights: Law, Policy, and Practice
(1 credit)
This course will consider the problem of refugees and migration from the perspective afforded by public international law and human rights treaties.

Comparative Asylum and Refugee Law
(1 credit)
This course will examine each component of the definition of a "refugee" in the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, with focus on how the asylum and refugee law in the United States has developed, as well as how the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other countries have defined a “refugee.” We will focus on some of the most legally complicated and controversial aspects of the definition, such as the meaning of "membership in a particular social group," which is one of the five grounds for asylum. For example, we will examine how claims relating to gender-based violence have been brought under the "particular social group" ground. We will also examine the legal processes involved in claiming asylum in the United States, as well as the process of refugee status determinations by UNHCR, focusing specifically on concerns around due process and access to counsel. The course will also address the practical challenges involved in winning asylum cases, including the impact of trauma on memory, credibility assessments, fact-gathering, and the role of expert evidence. Finally, the course will provide an analysis of policies around the detention of asylum-seekers, including the detention of children, and consider various alternatives to detention.

Course Schedule
All courses meet in Trinity College, Monday through Friday, at the following times:

9:00 - 10:10 am: Immigration and Migration Law from a Comparative Perspective
10:20-11:30 am: Brexit and the Migration Problem in the United Kingdom and EU
11:40-12:50 pm: International Migration and Human Rights: Law, Policy, and Practice
1:00-2:10 pm: Asylum and Refugee Law

Please note that this schedule is tentative and subject to change.

The Program concludes on the last Saturday with final exams. Final exams will extend into the afternoon and thus take up most of the day.

Course Materials
Printed course materials will be available upon arrival in Cambridge. Materials are included in your tuition and fees.

Enrollment

The Cambridge Program accepts up to twenty-five students on a first-come basis. Please apply early to ensure your place.

Housing

Trinity College offers attractive single occupancy rooms in Burrell’s Field. Students can start utilize their rooms starting on the first Sunday of the program until the Sunday following exams.

The room fee is $1,500
The rooms are single occupancy only (no exceptions)
While the rooms at Trinity are well ventilated and the weather is usually cool at night, there is no air conditioning
You will be charged for your room through Tulane’s Accounts Receivable billing system
Trinity College will charge students who do not reside in the college an additional fee of $300 to cover the classroom, computer, library, and other services they will be providing. For those who reside at Trinity College, this fee is part of the $1,500 room fee.
Students are encouraged to use the housing at Trinity College. Students making other housing arrangements should be aware that alternative housing should be within walking distance of Trinity College due to severe transportation and parking challenges in Cambridge.

Excursions

In addition to regularly scheduled classes, there are social and educational activities organized by Tulane.

In the past years, excursions have included:

Tours of Trinity College
Pub night
Royal Courts of Justice and Inns of Court in London
Punting on the River Cam
Tea at The Orchard Tea Garden

A calendar of all activities will be given to you when you arrive in Cambridge. Program excursions will not take place on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, leaving the weekends free for students to explore the surrounding area. Please note that the final exam is the last Saturday of the program.

Arrival and Departure

Students should plan to arrive by mid-day on Sunday, July 6 and depart no earlier than the evening of Saturday, July 19. Students should not depart earlier than Saturday evening as exams cannot be rescheduled. Students will be allowed to stay in the dorms through Saturday, checking out Sunday following their exam. The Cambridge Program starts with a brief informal meeting on Sunday, July 6, followed by a reception on Monday July 9 after classes hosted by Professor Barnard.

Faculty, staff, students, and non-affiliates planning Tulane-related travel are required to book their travel through the World Travel Service. Please refer to the Tulane Travel Management website for travel booking procedures.

Effective January 1, 2025, all Tulane faculty, students, and staff traveling abroad for university-related purposes will be covered by Chubb international travel health insurance (Account No. GLM N186660489R). Enrollment is automatic, and no payment is required for medical coverage during Tulane-authorized travel abroad. The university fully covers the cost of the policy, which includes comprehensive benefits such as emergency health insurance, medical repatriation, and medical and security evacuation. Medical insurance and emergency evacuation support are provided by Tulane, with services coordinated by Crisis24. For further details on policy benefits and how to access support abroad, please visit Tulane Global's website: https://global.tulane.edu/international-health-insurance.

Bringing Family
Family members and friends are cordially invited to participate in all activities except the academic course.

Visas
U.S. citizens do not require a visa due to the short time period you will be abroad. International students should check with the appropriate embassy or consulate to ascertain whether a visa is necessary.

Language
The Cambridge Program is conducted entirely in English. Fluency in English is a prerequisite for all students.

Student Reviews

Wholeheartedly. This program is incredible on many levels - the location and atmosphere of Cambridge is priceless, the topics are interesting and relevant, every professor was well-informed and engaging, the program well-run, and on and on.
Enriching experience, both academically and otherwise, that's well worth the expense. An excellent launching point for further travels in the UK and/or Europe.
I am humbled to have done this program: my short stay has offered a slice of English life and perspective on the EU, the US, and the world. The experience has inspired a lifelong passion for return trips to the British Isles -- and to Cambridge in particular -- as another place I called, for a short period, "home," and to continue learning and absorbing legality, history, culture, and the landscape of migrations.
I like the environment of the program. It was incredible to study at such an amazing institution and the events were a lot of fun.

Courses

Generally, I was able to gain comparative perspectives on new and important subject material. The opportunity to learn about Brexit and subsequent issues in the UK from Prof. Barnard was invaluable, and I am so thankful I took her class. This course not only helped me learn more about immigration policy and law, but challenged me to think comparatively as a problem solver. I loved it.
The courses connected well to one another and furthered my understanding of the economics, laws and politics surrounding immigration.
I learned a lot about treaties regarding immigration and how to apply them to life situations.
I know much more about Brexit, immigration and refugee law then I did before, and am now considering a career in these fields, or at least interning/volunteering with a relevant organization.
I gained a much deeper knowledge of immigration law, especially human rights law in the international public law sphere.
I came into the program knowing I wanted to do immigration law, but knowing very little about it. I now understand a lot of the acronyms that the immigration lawyers at my Immigration Initiative use as well as having a clearer idea of the state of immigration not just in the U.S., but globally. I thought the comparative context was especially helpful as I can return to the U.S. with a better understanding of how other countries have handled or are handling these issues.

Excursions

I loved the day in London and lunch at the Middle Temple. It was great to see an alternate legal community. I also really enjoyed tea as a group, as it was nice to be with everyone in a relaxed setting. And punting was very fun! The events were a perfect combination of educational (London), relaxing (tea), and physically enjoyable (punting).
I liked all of the excursions! London, punting, and tea. Would not have wanted any of them to be left off.
Going to see the Royal Courts in London was my favorite excursion. It was a lot of fun and an incredible experience getting to see the legal system in a foreign country.

Location

Cambridge is a deceptively massive city: with hundreds of eateries, a three-story mall, and a pulse of its own.
I love the access of the program: being based at Trinity College offers a central location and scenic post to discover downtown Cambridge.
The true access to Trinity College was absolutely fantastic -- that is a perk of the program that really must be highlighted, because it is so unique and so wonderful. I also really enjoyed the programs we had, particularly the wonderful tour of the Wren Library.
I really enjoyed the town of Cambridge-- it's a beautiful, historic place with wonderful places to eat.
Cambridge has a truly amazing campus and it was sobering to be around so much history.

Beneficial to Career?

Absolutely, I hope to study international law and this was an excellent introduction to problem solving using comparative thinking.
I think the program was beneficial to my professional career because I included it on my resume.
Yes. It provided clarity on the extent of my interests in immigration law, in which I am considering whether to pursue a career. I also gained connections and recommendations in the students and professors.

Program Recommendations

Approach it with an open mindset of experiencing everything. The work is a fair yet interesting load and there is a lot to learn by spending time in towns and with international students/professors.
Soak up every moment. The advantage of a 2 week program is that you can give it all of your energy and focus while still enjoying yourself, then rest when you get home.
Join in every group activity you can. Bring or quickly acquire a fan, a plate, and a cup. The sink water is fine. Be aware that strikes can close down the railways and airports - watch for the alerts. Bringing some pounds along is a good idea, but many places are card-only.
I didn't need to pack as much as I did. Laundry was very accessible on-site.
The dorms were large and located near the classroom. The lack of A/C was problematic because of the historic heat wave, but that's hard to anticipate. However, it may be a consistent problem moving forward. Please plan accordingly.

Travel & Food Recommendations (these recommendations are based on previous years and subject to availability)

Aromi Gelato. Also use the dining hall, it is cheap and the food is good.
The Fitzwilliam Museum is worthwhile. If you take a guided punting tour (separate from the program's group activity), you can learn quite a lot about the various Cambridge colleges and the famous students who attended them. The Winnie the Pooh manuscript and Newton's Principia Mathematica are in the Wren Library - go on your own time, as well as to King's College Chapel. Take the walk back from Grantchester along the river - it's lovely. As for food, the Pint Shop is quite good and has a great beer selection.
The train to Cambridge is easy enough to figure out, and free wifi is everywhere so you don't really need an international phone plan.
Cambridge is a foodie city and sourdough bread its defining specialty: Franco Manca's pizzas, Bread & Meat's porchetta sandwiches, Fitzbillie's chelsea buns, Pint Shop's scotch eggs, and many of the stalls at the Cambridge Market offer hidden delights (such as Northern Chinese jian bing and Bangkok-style pad prik khing). Cambridge also boasts more sushi offerings than expected: every street corner seemingly purveys raw fish on vinegared rice.
Tabanco, Fitzbillies, La Margherita
Ebes a Turkish restaurant
The Mill, The Pint Shop, Heffer's
Sainsbury's and M&S are great, cheap grocery stores.
La Raza, Cafe Rouge
M&S or Sainsbury to load up on take-away lunch food.
Bread & Meat is an excellent sandwich spot. I would also recommend Bould Brothers Coffee for some excellent coffee (a short walk from Trinity Great Gate). I enjoyed The Architect for a sit-down beer. I would also recommend going to Market Hill for lunch (a bunch of different food stands with lots of options, and it's cheaper than restaurants).

Tuition & Fees (What’s Included)

The tuition includes the opening reception, all excursions including Pub Night, the trip to London to the Royal Courts of Justice and Inns of Court, attending a play at the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival, punting on the River Cam, and Tea at the Orchard Tea Garden. It does not include meals other than the reception and the trip to London.

Please see the Tuition & Fees Page for program rates.

Included: