UACES 55th Annual Conference 2025

Join us in Liverpool for the UACES 55th Annual Conference 2025 where leading scholars, researchers, and practitioners will gather at Liverpool John Moores University to exchange ideas, insights, and innovative research in the field of European Studies.

This year’s conference will engage with a broad range of themes that reflect Europe’s resilience and transformation in a rapidly changing world. The agenda will address critical issues including integration, governance, social equity, and sustainability, offering fresh perspectives on the challenges and opportunities ahead. Throughout the programme and during the plenaries, participants will examine the pathways to building a more resilient, inclusive Europe that can thrive in an increasingly complex, global landscape.

Sunday 31 August

Start your conference experience with a guided walking tour of Liverpool’s iconic landmarks. Led by Liverpool Famous Walking Tours, this two-hour exploration begins at 15:30 and costs £15.00 per person – a fun and informal way to discover the city’s rich history and vibrant culture. This tour can be added on to your registration.

After the tour, join us from 18:00 at the elegant Municipal Hotel for our Welcome Drinks Reception. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet fellow delegates, make new connections, and ease into the conference in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. 

Monday 1 September

The first full day of the conference kicks off with a packed programme of parallel panel sessions and our first plenary session, setting the tone for three days of dynamic discussions around Europe’s place in a changing global landscape.

In the evening, join us at Punch Tarmeys, the largest Irish bar in Liverpool’s creative Baltic Triangle district, for a relaxed drinks reception in place of the traditional conference dinner. 

• Enjoy a welcoming and informal atmosphere for networking. 

• Celebrate with our 2025 Award winners. 

• Hear from a local historian sharing stories about Liverpool’s past and present.

We will also be joined by some music students from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts who’ll be playing throughout the evening.

Following the main reception, PhD and Early-Career Researchers are invited to a dedicated Graduate Forum Drinks event to meet peers and make new connections.

Tuesday 2 September

Tuesday features a full day of panels and the second plenary session, continuing the conversation on pressing political, social, and economic issues affecting Europe today.

We’ve made changes this year to create a more inclusive and accessible social programme, and while there is no formal dinner scheduled, we’ll share a curated list of recommended local restaurants very soon.

Track convenors and delegates are encouraged to organise group dinners, providing an opportunity to reflect on the day’s sessions and connect in a more informal setting.

Wednesday 3 September

The final day of the conference includes a last round of panel discussions and the third and final plenary session, drawing the event to a close with big-picture reflections and future-facing insights.

There are no official social events on Wednesday evening, giving you the flexibility to wind down, explore Liverpool at your own pace, or travel home.

If you are interested in doing a walking tour, Liverpool Famous Walking Tours is kindly offering UACES conference delegates a 20% discount off any order/tour when booked directly on their website. They run daily tours along with limited edition tours throughout the year that depart from the city centre and the cruise terminal, including: 

• Liverpool History, Heritage and Culture Walking Tour 2+ hours 

• The Beatles Liverpool Walking Tour 2+ hours 

• The Beatles Bespoke & Early Years 

• Private & Bespoke Liverpool Tours 

To access the discount code, please email us at admin@uaces.org.

Registration for the UACES 55th Annual Conference 2025 is now open. The early bird deadline is Sunday 1 June 2025, and UACES members benefit from generous discounts on registration fees. If you're not yet a member – now is a great time to join and save on your registration fees. Sign up for membership today at https://uaces.civiplus.net/ssp/membership-sign-form. If you’ve submitted a pre-organised panel, please share this update with the rest of your panel to ensure everyone is informed.

If you are no longer able to attend the in-person conference, please let us know as soon as possible. There may be an opportunity to present your paper during our Virtual Day on Friday 12 September. As part of the registration process, delegates will also be asked to indicate their food preferences for each day, helping us organise catering that meets everyone’s needs.

Registration for the in-person conference is open until Sunday 27 July. Registration for the Virtual Conference is open until Thursday 11 September.

The UK government is currently rolling out a streamlined digital immigration system, please visit their website at Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) factsheet – 2 April 2025 to find out if you need a visa to attend the conference. If you do need a visa to travel to the UK, ConfTool will automatically generate a visa invitation letter when you register.

Caring Responsibilities

UACES recognises that it is not always easy for people with caring responsibilities to attend Annual Conferences in person. We want to make this a little easier by offering funding to those who need it.

We have a limited pot of funding available to those who need assistance with caring responsibilities. Delegates attending the in-person conference will be able to apply for a fixed grant of £100 to help with covering the costs of caring. This can be used in the most appropriate way for you and those for whom you care.

Visa Requirements

UACES recognises that it is not always easy for people who require visas to attend the Annual Conferences in person. We want to make this a little easier by offering funding to those who need it.

We have a limited pot of funding available to help those who need assistance with visa costs. Delegates attending the in-person conference will be able to apply for a grant of up to £100 to help towards covering the costs of visas. 

Travel Support

Student, PhD Researcher, and Early-Career Members of UACES are eligible to receive for travel support for the Annual Conference.

UACES will pay up to 50% of you travel expenses for travel to/from Liverpool up to a maximum of £100, or £75 if travelling within the same country.

For more information on funding available, please visit this link: https://www.uaces.org/liverpool/funding.

• Law: Emmanuel Guinchard, Mary Guy, Jules Bradshaw, Tasnim Ahmed, and Matilde Ventrella.
• Business: Scott Foster.
• Politics & IR: Paul Anderson, and Christinna Hazzard.