Build your first AI model
Start from a blank file and build a working machine-learning model, with mentors guiding you through the code step by step.
Hands-on AI for students
AI Weekend Workshop
A hands-on weekend where you build and train real AI models from scratch, guided by researchers from Cambridge, Imperial, Google DeepMind, Meta, and the AWS AI lab. You'll be coding, training, and experimenting from the start.
Places are limited. Fully remote.
Who it's for
Built for students ready to go beyond the classroom
- Students who want to build and train real AI models, not just read about them.
- Complete beginners welcome — you’ll write real code and train a model even if you never have before.
- Anyone considering a longer SPARK programme who wants a hands-on taste first.
What you'll do
Build and train a model, in a weekend
Train it on real data
Feed your model real data, run training experiments, and watch its performance improve as you tune it.
Test and improve it
Measure how well your model actually works, find where it fails, and iterate to make it better.
Present what you built
Finish by sharing the model you built and its results — and understanding exactly how it works under the hood.
The essentials
Dates, format, and what you need
- When
- Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 October 2026, 10:00 – 16:00 UK time each day. Both days are required.
- Where
- Fully remote and live over video. Joining instructions are sent by email before the workshop.
- Required experience
- None — you'll build and train your first model from scratch. Any coding you already know is a bonus, not a requirement.
- Fee
- £150 in total, covering both days and all materials. Payment secures your place.
- Certificate
- Every student who completes both days receives a SPARK certificate of completion.
Your mentors
Learn directly from working AI researchers
SPARK mentors hold research roles and PhDs from the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and CISPA, with industry research experience at Google DeepMind, Meta, Amazon, and the AWS AI lab.
What you'll leave with
Expected outcomes
- A working AI model you built and trained yourself.
- Hands-on experience with the same tools real ML engineers and researchers use.
- The confidence to keep building and training AI projects on your own.
- A SPARK certificate of completion to evidence your participation.
- A clear sense of whether a longer SPARK fellowship is right for you.
Ready to reserve your place?
Register and pay to secure your spot for Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 October 2026.
Looking for something longer? Explore SPARK's longer programmes.