Doctoral Symposium 2026
"Research without borders"
Three days of keynotes, panels, and workshops bringing together doctoral researchers, supervisors, and industry partners from across the globe.
- Location
- London & Online
- Hybrid format
- Dates
- 15 – 17 Sept
- 3 full days
- Registration
- Free
- Early-bird open
- Expected
- 400+
- Researchers & partners
About the event
Where doctoral research meets real-world impact.
Now in its third year, the DCUK Doctoral Symposium is the UK's leading gathering for practice-based doctoral researchers. The 2026 theme — "Research without borders" — explores how doctoral inquiry crosses disciplinary, geographic, and institutional boundaries.
Expect three days of keynote addresses, thematic panels, methodology workshops, and structured networking. Whether you're defending a proposal, mid-fieldwork, or writing up, you'll leave with sharper thinking, broader networks, and a clearer sense of where your research sits in the wider landscape.
30+
Sessions
12
Research tracks
8
Workshops
Keynote Speakers
Leading voices in doctoral education and applied research.
Prof. Stanley Oliver
Director, Doctoral College UK
"Opening Keynote: Research without borders — building a global doctoral community"
Dr. Zahra Salimi
Director of Doctoral Studies, DCUK
"The evolving doctoral journey: flexibility, rigour, and researcher-centred design"
Dr. Paul Oliver
Head of Research, DCUK
"Twelve themes, one question: how management research creates real-world impact"
Programme
Three-day schedule
Day 1
Monday 15 September — FoundationsRegistration & welcome coffee
Opening Keynote — Prof. Stanley Oliver
Panel: Cross-disciplinary doctoral research
Parallel tracks: Research methodology workshops (×4)
Networking reception & poster presentations
Day 2
Tuesday 16 September — Deep divesKeynote — Dr. Zahra Salimi
Thematic paper sessions across 12 research tracks
Workshop: Writing for publication
Workshop: Navigating the viva
Symposium dinner (London venue)
Day 3
Wednesday 17 September — Impact & futuresKeynote — Dr. Paul Oliver
Panel: Industry-doctoral partnerships
Doctoral researcher lightning talks
Closing ceremony & Best Paper Awards
Farewell networking
Call for papers
Present your research to a global audience.
We invite doctoral researchers at any stage — from proposal to completion — to submit abstracts for paper presentations, poster sessions, or lightning talks. Accepted papers will be published in the DCUK Symposium Proceedings (ISSN pending).
Submission guidelines
Abstracts: 300–500 words, structured (background, method, findings/expected findings, contribution)
All 12 DCUK research themes are represented as tracks
Early-career researchers and industry practitioners especially welcome
Submissions reviewed by at least two members of the Scientific Committee
Lightning talks: 5-minute presentations with 3-slide maximum
Poster sessions: A1 format, displayed across Day 1 and Day 2
Best Paper Award and Best Early-Career Researcher Award presented at closing ceremony
Archive
Past symposiums
Best Paper: Dr. M. Rahman — AI governance in SME supply chains
Best Paper: Dr. S. Okonkwo — ESG reporting and stakeholder trust