In 2027, ESSE’s annual Doctoral Symposium, providing young scholars with the opportunity to present their research and receive valuable feedback, will take place at Istinye University in Istanbul (Türkiye) from 25 to 26 August 2027. The Symposium is open without charge to PhD students in English Studies who are in at least the second year of their doctoral research at the time of submitting their application. Eligible students (see below) can apply to give a brief presentation of their work-in-progress in one of three strands:
1) English Language and Linguistics,
2) Literatures in the English Language, and
3) Cultural and Area Studies in English.
Each presentation will be limited to 10 minutes, followed by a 15-minute discussion. These presentations should focus on the issues or hypotheses explored in their doctoral research, the results achieved so far, and, most importantly, the methodology used, with the aim of receiving feedback from both peers and established scholars in the field. Each strand of the Symposium will be led by two experts who will serve as Convenors. They will review the applications, lead the discussions, and provide feedback on the presentations. Participants are expected to be present for the entire Symposium, attend all presentations within their assigned strand, and actively engage in the discussions. Eligible students can submit an application to only one strand of the Doctoral Symposium and should specify in the application which strand they wish to be placed in, and how their research relates to English Studies.
ELEGIBILITY
To be eligible, the applicant or their supervisor must be recognised by the ESSE Treasurer as a member of an ESSE-affiliated national association (or, in relevant countries, a department that is part of an ESSE-affiliated national association) at the time of application. Students who have attended the Doctoral Symposium before need to demonstrate clear progress from their previous participation. In the event of a shortage of places, preference will be given to candidates who are applying for the first time.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Applicants can apply for financial support to a maximum of € 500 per applicant. Eligible expenses include travel, accommodation and subsistence costs in accordance with the ESSE Budget and Reimbursement Guidelines (see below). Applicants for financial support must themselves be members of their national associations affiliated to ESSE. In the event of a shortage of funds, preference will be given to candidates who are applying for the first time. Applications for financial support will be considered by a committee consisting of the Coordinator of the ESSE Doctoral Symposium and the Convenors.
APPLICATIONS
The application should provide information on the following four points:
the main topic and issues, including the thesis proposed/hypothesis defended;
the methodology, theoretical perspectives and standpoints;
the data/corpora/materials under consideration;
the results obtained so far.
Applications must include a letter from the student’s PhD supervisor giving the (provisional) title of the dissertation and confirming that the student is working under their supervision and has completed at least their first year of PhD studies.
In the case of students who ask for financial support, this letter should also include a declaration that it is impossible for the applicant to draw on other sources of funding, including funding earmarked for the ongoing doctoral project, for the purpose of participating in the ESSE Doctoral Symposium. In addition, the application of students who ask for financial support should include:
information on the applicant’s eligibility and a full explanation of the need for financial support;
the applicant’s CV;
a provisional budget proposal. Please use the ESSE Expense Form, and check the ESSE Budget and Reimbursement Guidelines.
All applications must be submitted via the form provided here.
Questions about the Doctoral Symposium and the application procedures can be sent to the Coordinator of the ESSE Doctoral Symposium, Professor J. Lachlan Mackenzie, at lachlan_mackenzie@hotmail.com.
DATES
The application deadline is 31st January 2027.
The eligibility check and the selection of submissions by the Convenors will be completed and announced by 28th February 2027.
The Committee’s definitive decision on the financial support will be communicated to all applicants by 31st March 2027.
PLEASE NOTE
ESSE’s decisions regarding selection for participation and financial support are final and cannot be appealed.
ESSE Doctoral Symposium 2027