Call for papers
Is International Studies ready for what comes next? New thinking, new directions
BISA’s 2025 annual conference celebrated the Association’s 50th Anniversary. This year we are looking ahead to the next 50 years. Is the discipline fit for the future? What needs to change, and how can that change happen? What new thinking, methods, and approaches to research and pedagogy can ensure International Studies rises to the global challenges of the coming decades? Are we ready for what comes next?
Submissions are welcomed which take up the challenges expressed in the questions above, and of any other topic relevant to the advancement of international studies broadly defined. The format for submissions will include individual papers, panels, and roundtables. We encourage submissions which demonstrate multiple perspectives, diverse panels, and a range of innovative formats. Panels and roundtables should be diverse including (but not limited to) gender, ethnicity, career stage, methodological approach, institution, and geographical location. The online system for all submission types will open on 24 September 2025.
The BISA conference is renowned for being inclusive, diverse and friendly. We bring together a worldwide community of specialists to discuss, promote and develop international studies.
01 An in-person conference
Our 2026 conference will take place in person in Brighton. There won't be a virtual or hybrid option. Our bi-annual virtual conference takes place in January 2027, and we offer more than 50 virtual opportunities for participation in events throughout the year. You can find out more on our events pages. We continue to be the only International Studies association to offer coffee breaks, lunches and a networking reception as part of the conference fee, as well as conference fee and childcare bursaries. #BISA2026 will be no exception. We will also continue to invest in a comprehensive programme of virtual events throughout the year.
02 What we’re looking for
Hear from BISA Conference Programme Chair, Professor Simon Rushton, on what makes a good submission in this short three-minute video (COMING SOON!)
03 How it works
For BISA 2026 we will accept three submission types:
- Individual paper submissions
- Panel submissions
- Roundtable submissions
We accept scholarly research papers and policy analysis on any topic related to International Studies in its broadest definition.
Panel - A panel is an opportunity for a group of experts working in a specific area to share papers or papers in progress. Panel submissions should ideally include four papers, a discussant and a chair, however you may also submit panels with no discussant and either four or five papers with a chair.
Roundtable - A roundtable is an opportunity for a group of experts to discuss a particular issue in depth without the constraints of having to speak to a paper. Roundtable submissions should include a minimum of four participants and a chair, up to a maximum of six participants and a chair.
Across panels and roundtables, you must give due consideration to diversity of participants including (but not limited to) gender, ethnicity, career stage, methodological approach, institution, and geographical location.
Each submission (whether a paper, panel, or roundtable) may only be made to one working group. On the proposal submission form this is called a 'track'.
The review process
Once the online submission process is closed, individual paper/panel/roundtable submissions are peer reviewed by the conference programme committee.
Initial peer review is done by BISA working group conveners or track managers, who are assigned submissions based on the working group, or 'track', identified in the proposal.
Working group conveners can accept, decline or refer submissions during this process. They can also build panels composed of individual papers submitted to their working group.
Where there are individual papers with scholarly merit but for which there is no good panel fit within a working group track, the conference chairs will attempt to construct interdisciplinary panels.
Three key points to note are:
- Selection is first and foremost based on academic quality
- There is no limit as to the number of times an individual can appear, but we want to give as many people as possible an opportunity to participate and will bear this in mind when making selections
- Where there are two papers of equal academic quality and one author is not a BISA member, the BISA member will be given preference.
04 Timeline
- 24 September 2025: Submissions open
- 3 November 2025: Deadline for all submissions - papers, roundtables and panels
- Mid-January 2026: Provisional programme published and notification emails sent out
- Mid-January 2026: Bursary applications open – deadline 14 February 2026
- 2 March 2026: Presenter/Speaker, Chair, and Discussant registration closes
- 2 March 2026: Last day for changes to the programme (please check name/affiliation are correct)
- 1 May 2026: Final programme published
- 24 May 2026: Registration for non-presenting delegates closes
- 3 June 2026: Conference begins
05 Costs and bursaries
As always, BISA members will receive a large discount on the fees paid by non-members. We will also be offering bursaries. More details will follow when submissions open.
06 Our conference management system
We currently use a conference and event management system called Indico. When you click to submit your proposal you will be taken to the conference management system where you will be prompted to create an account. Once you are logged in you can submit abstracts (single paper), panels or roundtables.
We will be on hand to help with any system queries. Please contact conferences@bisa.ac.uk should you experience any difficulties.
07 Ready to submit your paper, panel or roundtable?
We encourage all scholars with an interest in International Studies to make a submission.
Submissions will open on 24 September 2025.
Note you will be taken to our conference management system.
Image: Courtesy of Visit Brighton. Photographer - Adam Bronkhorst