Q. When is the conference taking place?

The conference is taking place from 1pm Monday 8 July to 3pm on Wednesday 10 July 2024.

Acceptance emails have now been sent and a draft programme will be available soon. Please check your junk folder if you are waiting for confirmation.

Q. Where is the conference taking place?

The conference is taking place at Durham University’s Lower Mountjoy campus and Collingwood College.

You can find details of how to get to the University on this page.

Q. When can I register?

Registration is now open and will close on 21 June 2024. Use the Conference Booking link which is available on our Events menu or via your SHS membership account.

You must be an active member to register for the conference and will be directed to login when you use the Conference Booking link.

Membership of the SHS starts at just £15, see our membership pages.

Q. Who is able to attend the conference?

The conference is open to all members of the Social History Society, whether speaking or not. We encourage speakers, panellists and strand convenors to attend the whole event where possible.

You must be an active member to register for the conference and will be directed to login when you use the Conference Booking link. The link will bring up the options you are eligible for, i.e. if you are have a concessionary membership you will be able to book the concessionary rate.

Membership of the SHS starts at just £15, see our membership pages.

Q. How much does the conference cost?

The standard conference fee will be £230. A discounted early bird rate of £200 is available until 17 May.

The concessionary fee will be £190. A discounted early bird rate of £160 is available until 17 May,

A day fee is available for £100. A discounted early bird rate of £90 is available until 17 May.

We have worked with Durham University to make the conference as affordable as possible. The costs are directly related to the costs of room hire, catering and staffing. We do not make a profit from our annual conferences.

Q. What does the fee include?

The standard and concessionary fees cover registration for the three days, refreshments, lunches on Tuesday and Wednesday, and dinners on Monday and Tuesday.

The day fee includes registration for one day, lunches (if Tuesday or Wednesday), refreshments, and dinner (if Wednesday or Thursday).

The concessionary rate is available to Postgraduate Students, unwaged Early Career Researchers, and those working outside Higher Education. If you are unsure as to whether you would be eligible for this concessionary rate please contact us at socialhistorysoc@gmail.com

Q. How should I pay?

You can pay by card using the Stripe payment system, PayPal or as a BACS transfer.

If a third party is paying for your tickets (e.g. an institution or funder), please select the BACS payment method on checkout and pass the payment banking details, or the secure supplied card payment URL, to whoever makes the payment. If you book during the early bird period, you will be charged at the early bird rate even if the payment comes in afterwards. Please note that your tickets will not be confirmed until payment is received.

If you are applying for a bursary, we ask you to  select the BACS payment method on checkout but leave the payment details blank. Orders will be kept on hold until the bursary competition closes. Successful applicants will then have their orders confirmed, and unsuccessful applicants will have the option to make a payment or cancel the original order.

Q. What are the options for accommodation?

We have secured some campus bedrooms for delegates, which can be booked using the Conference Booking link. The bed and breakfast rooms are available for £52.50 per night. Prompt booking is recommended as we anticipate that these rooms will be booked quickly.

Other hotel accommodation is available in Durham. For those working to a budget, there are three Premier Inns in the city: one at Walkergate in the town centre and two in/around industrial estates, to the east and the north of the centre. There’s also a Travelodge, to the east (but more central than the eastern Premier Inn).

For those planning on staying in Newcastle there are two Premier Inns, near to the train station. The Gate, which is adjacent to the main shopping centre and chain restaurants, and Quayside, which is just below Tyne Bridge, to the east of it. There is also a Travelodge on Quayside, to the west of the bridge, and slightly closer to the train station, and Central, to the east of the bridge and just north of quayside.

Q. Do you offer bursaries?

We are offering 15 bursaries to support postgraduate and early career historians presenting at our 2024 conference.

This year’s bursary package covers the full costs of registration and two nights bed and breakfast accommodation. We are unable to provide bursaries to cover travel costs.

Applications are open to any registered postgraduate or anyone within three years of completing a PhD and without institutional support.

Applications need to be made before midday on Monday 8 April, using the form on the Bursaries page.

We ask bursary applicants to book their place at the conference and any on-campus accommodation at the point of their application. Applicants should select the BACS payment method on checkout but leave the payment details blank. Orders will be kept on hold until the bursary competition closes. Successful applicants will then have their orders confirmed, and unsuccessful applicants will have the option to make a payment or cancel the original order.

Q. What is your refund policy?

The Conference registration fee is non-refundable. If we are required to cancel the conference, for example due to a pandemic, all conference fees booked and paid via the online system will be refunded in full.

If you registered and are then unable to attend please let us know at socialhistorysoc@gmail.com.