Doctoral Colloquium 2026: London

The 2026 BHC Doctoral Colloquium in Business History will be held in London, UK on March 26th. 

The participants will be invited to a welcome dinner on March 25th in London. Typically limited to ten students, the colloquium is open to doctoral candidates who are pursuing dissertation research within the broad field of business history from any relevant discipline (e.g., from economic sociology, political science, cultural anthropology, or management, as well as history). Most participants are in year 3 or 4 of their degree program, though in some instances applicants at a later stage make a compelling case that their thesis research had evolved in ways that led them to see the advantages of an intensive engagement with business history. We welcome proposals from students working within any thematic area of business history.  Topics may range from the early modern era to the present, and explore societies across the globe. Participants work intensively with a distinguished group of BHC-affiliated scholars (including the incoming BHC president), discussing dissertation proposals, relevant literatures and research strategies, and career trajectories. 

Applications (a statement of interest; CV; and a letter of support from the dissertation supervisor (or prospective supervisor)), and a three to five page presentation of the PhD project are due by December 8th, 2025, via email to Carol Lockman (clockman@Hagley.org). Questions about the colloquium should be sent to its director, Prof. Eric Godelier (eric.godelier@polytechnique.edu). Applicants will receive notification of the selection committee decisions by mid-January 2026. If they travel to London, all participants will receive a stipend that partially defrays travel costs to the annual meeting. If accepted, Colloquium participants have a choice of pre-circulating one of the following: 

a 15-page dissertation prospectus or updated overview of the dissertation research plan; 

or 

a draft dissertation chapter, along with a one-page dissertation outline/description. Participants should choose the option they feel will most assist them at this stage in their research and writing. We will need to send the prospectus/overview or a chapter draft and outline by February 25th. Those will then be posted on a Colloquium webpage on the BHC website and shared with all participants to read in advance. A photo will be needed for the DC webpage.