Postgraduate Research Students Conference

Postgraduate Research Students Conference 2025

The 29th Postgraduate Research Students Conference of the German Historical Institute London will take place on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th January 2025. The Conference aims to give postgraduate research students from the UK and Ireland working on German history the opportunity to present their work-in-progress and to discuss their research with other students working in the same field.

The Conference is intended for postgraduate research scholars working on German history from the Middle Ages to the present at a UK or Irish university. Ph.D. students at all stages are encouraged to apply. All participants will be expected to briefly present their research projects, but if capacity is limited, preference will be given to second- and third-year students.

A course on German Palaeography is planned for the first day of the conference. Should you wish to take part, please indicate your interest in your application. Please note that places will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Application Details

If you are interested in attending, please send an email to PGconference@ghil.ac.uk by Friday 15th November 2024 and you must include the following:

full contact details – name, address, email address and telephone number
the exact title of your Ph.D. project
the date you started your Ph.D. project (and whether you are enrolled part- or full- time)
the name, address, email address, and phone number of your university and supervisor
an indication of whether you have undertaken research in Germany
an indication of whether you wish to participate in the Palaeography course scheduled for the morning of 9th January 2025

The GHIL will arrange accommodation for participants from outside the Greater London Area and offer a lump sum towards the cost of travel to London.

Call for Applications (PDF file)

Postgraduate Research Students Conference 2024

“It was an incredibly beneficial experience and I received lots of invaluable feedback on my thesis work. It was the first time I have ever presented a paper at a conference, and I am already looking forward to exercising my new, improved skills at the next one”.

The German Historical Institute London held its 28th Postgraduate Research Students Conference on 11-12 January 2024 at Mary Ward House in Bloomsbury. Twenty-eight students joined the GHIL’s Research Fellows over two days as they discussed their PhD projects with other students working in the same field.

Seventeen students presented their ongoing research in panels consisting of thematically similar projects and the panels were chaired by the GHIL’s Research Fellows. As well as discussing their subjects and methodologies, the participants exchanged information about practical difficulties, such as how to locate sources, or find one's way around German archives. The conference offered students plenty of opportunities to network and create lasting connections as well as facilitate professional growth within a research context. A palaeography course was organised as an optional part of the programme. The course was taught by Dr Claudia Wedepohl (Archivist, The Warburg Institute) and it was well attended.

The Institute also introduced the participants to its role as a research centre and library for German history in London, the facilities it offers (conference and lecture programme, library etc.), and the support it provides in facilitating contact with German archives.

Conference Co-ordinator: Dr Indra Sengupta

Administrative Support: Julian Triandafyllou