The European Sociological Association (ESA) warmly invites doctoral researchers to apply for the ESA PhD Summer School 2026, an intensive academic program designed to support early-career scholars in sociology and allied disciplines.
This prestigious event will take place 22-24 August 2026 in Warsaw, Poland, offering a unique opportunity to refine research, receive expert feedback, and build international networks.
🎓 Focus of the Summer School
Participants will present aspects of their ongoing doctoral research, engaging with the key themes of the ESA 2026 Conference:
- Democracy
- Social action
- Solidarity
- Sustainable futures
Feedback will be provided by senior sociologists and peers, focusing on: - Theoretical foundations
- Epistemological approaches
- Methodological design
- Scientific and practical implications
The program culminates in a plenary debate session, addressing the broader challenges faced by PhD researchers, including career development, publication strategies, and navigating the final stages of doctoral study.
📌 Key Details
- Number of places: 25 PhD students will be selected, with 5 additional candidates placed on a waiting list.
- Format: On-site, in-person event.
- Language: English.
- Funding:
- Accommodation for three nights (22-24 August 2026) covered by ESA.
- Meals provided during the Summer School.
- Travel reimbursement of up to €350 per participant (paid after the event).
- ESA strongly encourages sustainable travel options.
✅ Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be registered for a PhD in Sociology or an allied discipline at a European university.
- Be an ESA member (or commit to membership before the Summer School).
👉 African Eligibility:
African PhD students are eligible if they are enrolled in a European university. This means candidates from countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Senegal, and others can apply, provided their doctoral registration is with a European institution.
📝 Application Guidelines
Applications must be submitted via the ESA ConfTool 2026 by 30 January 2026. Required documents include:
- Abstract (max. 350 words) with the following subheadings:
- Title of paper
- Keywords (up to 4)
- Research question
- Theoretical framework
- Methodology (for empirical papers)
- Preliminary findings or conclusions
- Novel contribution and significance
- Curriculum Vitae (max. 3 pages) including:
- Full name
- Academic affiliation (department, university)
- Country of PhD registration
- Current year of PhD programme
- Contact details (email, phone)
- Supervisor's name, affiliation, and email
🔎 Selection Process
Candidates will be chosen through a peer-review process based on:
- Scientific quality and originality of the abstract.
- Contribution to sociological theory, methods, or empirical knowledge.
- Balanced representation across European regions and sociological subfields.
Priority will be given to: - Applicants who have not attended previous ESA Summer Schools.
- PhD candidates in the final stages of their doctoral journey.
Selected participants must submit a full paper (max. 6,000 words) by 15 May 2026. Papers will be circulated in advance and assigned to peer discussants.
👩🏫 Instructors
The Summer School will be taught by members of the ESA Executive Committee, including:
- Milica Antić Gaber (Slovenia)
- Nilay Kaya (Turkey)
- Marilena Macaluso (Italy)
- Maggie O'Neil (Ireland)
- Ana-Cristina Santos (Portugal)
- Ana Vidu (Spain)
- Krešimir Žažar (Croatia)
- ESA President: Kaja Gadowska (Poland)
📧 Contact Information
For further details, applicants may reach out to the Summer School Directors:
- Krešimir Žažar - kzazar[at]ffzg.unizg.hr
- Marilena Macaluso - marilena.macaluso[at]unipa.it
- Nilay Kaya - cabuk[at]humanity.ankara.edu.tr
🌟 Final Note
The ESA PhD Summer School 2026 is more than an academic event-it is a gateway to international collaboration, career advancement, and scholarly excellence. African PhD students registered in European universities are strongly encouraged to apply and bring diverse perspectives to this vibrant intellectual community.
📅 Deadline: 30 January 2026
🔗 Apply via ESA ConfTool 2026
