The International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR) aims to promote the academic study of religions by fostering international collaboration among scholars within and across its Member and Affiliate associations engaged in the historical, social, and comparative study of religions. The IAHR recognizes the importance of contributing to the future of the study of religions by supporting young researchers and strengthening their academic communities. To this end, it provides spaces for their meetings in an atmosphere of interdisciplinary knowledge exchange, discussion, and cooperation. Thus, the IAHR will introduce the IAHR Summer/Winter School Status & Grant starting in 2025/26.

An IAHR Summer/Winter School consists of a series of lectures, seminars, and other academic activities organized by an IAHR Member or Affiliated association, in collaboration with a study and/or research institution. It takes place over several days to a few weeks during the summer or winter break. Students can attend the school as part of an academic program on their own, or for personal or professional development. The IAHR supports one Summer/Winter School per year with a grant of up to 5000 EUR.

Who can apply for an IAHR Summer/Winter School Status & Grant?

A member or a group of members from one or more IAHR Member or Affiliate associations in good standing is eligible to apply. The application must be submitted in the name of the Member or Affiliate association(s) and with its support.

Application criteria:

• The Summer/Winter School shall be co-organized by a Member or Affiliate association and an academic institution (university or research institute).
• The Summer/Winter School shall address themes, problems, and/or methodological approaches in the study of religions.
• The Summer/Winter School shall be aimed at an international audience, including international lecturers and early-career researchers (PhD students and postdocs).

Evaluation criteria:

• The Summer/Winter School discusses relevant themes, problems, and/or methodological approaches in the study of religions.
• The Summer/Winter School commits to balancing the representation of academic disciplines, genders, and countries.
• Priority will be given to those applications that invite IAHR member scholars as teaching faculty.
• The Summer/Winter School must follow “the IAHR Guidelines for Public Outreach” and comply with the IAHR Code of Conduct.
• The IAHR Summer/Winter School Grant is included in a financing plan that includes at least one other source of income.

Within one month of the event, the Summer/Winter School organizers must provide a report with supporting documents on how the grant was used, as well as pictures from the Summer/Winter School to be published on the IAHR website, its e-Bulletins and its social media accounts.

The IAHR Summer/Winter School Grant may cover the following expenses: travel and accommodation for guest lecturers and young scholars, coffee and lunch breaks, teaching and work material production, and field trips. No more than one-third of the grant can be used for coffee and lunch breaks, teaching and work material production, or field trips.

The IAHR Summer/Winter School Grant is intended as a partial contribution and at least one other financing source is expected. The organizers are expected to reimburse any unused portion of the grant.

IAHR Summer/Winter School Status and Grant applications can be submitted every year by October 31 for the following calendar year in a single PDF document to the IAHR Secretary General. The application must include a comprehensive description of the topic, planned activities, lecturers, and target audience, as well as a budget and a plan to advertise the Summer/Winter School. The IAHR Executive Committee is responsible for evaluating the applications and may appoint a subcommittee for this task. The result of the evaluation will be communicated in early December.

Contact

Andrea Rota, Ph.D.
Secretary General of IAHR

Email: andrea.rota@ikos.uio.no

More information about IAHR: https://www.iahrweb.org/

The Nordic PhD Network for the Study of Esotericism invites MA and PhD students in the Nordic countries to submit proposals for its third annual workshop, to be held at Malmö University on 26 November 2026.

The workshop aims to provide a supportive and interdisciplinary forum for emerging scholars working on topics related to esotericism, occultism, mysticism, alternative spiritualities, magic, alchemy, Theosophy, Anthroposophy, New Religious Movements, Western and non-Western esoteric traditions, and related fields. We especially welcome contributions that engage with innovative theoretical, methodological, and historical perspectives.

To promote discussion and exchange, accepted participants will be asked to give a brief introduction to their project on the day of the workshop, and to share 2,000-3,000 drafts of their projects ahead of the workshop, which will be read and discussed by the other participants and senior scholars.

The purpose of the workshop is to foster scholarly exchange, strengthen academic networks across the Nordic region, and offer doctoral researchers an opportunity to receive constructive feedback on work in progress.

Submission Guidelines

The workshop is open to PhD students, and MA students who are interested in developing a PhD proposal. Please submit:

• Title of presentation
• Abstract (250–300 words)
• Short biographical note (max. 100 words)
• Institutional affiliation

Submissions are evaluated by the organizing committee and should be sent to manon.hedenborg-white@mau.se by September 28. You will receive notice of the outcome by October 5. If your proposal is accepted, you will be asked to share your draft paper by November 12.

Practical Information

The workshop will take place at Malmö University on 26 November 2026. Participation is free of charge. Please note that we cannot cover participants’ travel or accommodation expenses. Further information regarding the venue, programme, and any available travel support will be circulated after acceptance.

We warmly encourage PhD researchers at all stages of their doctoral studies to participate and look forward to welcoming colleagues from across the Nordic region to Malmö.

Organizing committee

Manon Hedenborg White, Malmö University
Tiina Mahlamäki, University of Turku
Tim Rudbøg, University of Copenhagen

For questions and submissions, please contact:

Manon Hedenborg White
Department of Society, Culture and Identity
Malmö University
manon.hedenborg-white@mau.se

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Organized by the Nordic PhD Network for the Study of Esotericism in collaboration with the Department of Society, Culture and Identity, Malmö University; and the Scandinavian Network for the Academic Study of Western Esotericism (SNASWE).

Two postdoctoral positions available at the Institute of Ethnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Deadline 25 September 2026.

https://www.eu.avcr.cz/cs/aktuality/American-Cold-War-Parapsychology/

https://www.eu.avcr.cz/cs/aktuality/Ukrainian-Cold-War-Parapsychology/

The Baltic States Esotericism in Context: Histories, Practices, and Cultural Dialogues Conference application deadline was extended until September 10, 2026. Please download the updated CFP document from the following page: https://esswe.org/resources/pdf/cfp/CFP_Baltic_States_Esotericism_updated.pdf

Seminar series convenor: Rebeka Erdélyiová (Newcastle University), rebeka.erdelyiova@gmail.com

Deadline: 21 August 2026

We invite applications for our first Postgraduate Seminar Series. The seminar series welcomes interdisciplinary approaches to the study of esotericism, including but not limited to history, religious studies, literature, art history, philosophy, anthropology, and related fields. It aims to provide a space for emerging scholars to present their ongoing research and engage with and receive feedback from fellow postgraduates. The seminar series will begin on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, with sessions taking place fortnightly until 3 November 2026. The sessions will feature three papers, followed by discussion with the audience. All sessions will be hosted online via Zoom.

The sessions will be held on the following dates:

• 22 September 2026
• 6 October 2026
• 20 October 2026
• 3 November 2026

Applications

Proposals (max. 300 words) and a CV (max. 2 pages) should be submitted to rebeka.erdelyiova@gmail.com by 21 August 2026. Applicants will be notified no later than 28 August 2026. The event is free of charge.

If you have any questions, please contact rebeka.erdelyiova@gmail.com

Two fully funded PhD positions are available at the University of Vienna (deadline July 2026). Prof Lukas Pokorny would welcome applications especially focused on the study of esotericism. Please see further details here:

https://vdtr.univie.ac.at/my-docschool/call-for-applications#c27061

The Department of Literature, History of Ideas, and Religion at the University of Gothenburg announces two positions as doctoral students in Religious Studies. The call is open for relevant projects within all research areas in Religious Studies at the University of Gothenburg: History of Religion (including esotericism), Systematic Theology, Social Sciences of Religion, History of Christianity, Biblical Studies and Didactics of Religion.

For more information and to apply please check this page. 

ESSWE11

The 11th Biennial Conference of the

European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism

ALTERNATIVE EPISTEMOLOGIES

University of Turku, Finland, June 16–19, 2027

One of the most fundamental questions, both historically and today, concerns how knowledge is produced and legitimized—and it is increasingly clear that these processes are currently undergoing rapid and far-reaching change. New alternative epistemologies are emerging at a rapid pace, as we seek diverse perspectives on global politics, equality and justice, as well as on the environment and nature, threatened by climate change and mass extinction. Conspiracy theories and alternative epistemologies are challenging the legitimacy of scientific knowledge, while new feminist ecologies and magical or creative practices are reshaping art and culture. These––and many other––new epistemologies and theoretical approaches also offer fresh insights into the past and historical materials. The ESSWE11 conference invites participants to explore and discuss various aspects of esotericism in relation to alternative epistemologies and rationalities in the broadest sense.

Please click here to learn more.

We are pleased to announce the election of Mriganka Mukhopadyay (University of Amsterdam) and Pavel Horák (University of Vienna) to the ESSWE Board of Directors. We extend our congratulations, and our gratitude to all of the candidates for their willingness to serve the Society by standing for election.

This conference invites scholars from all disciplines to explore cases of esotericism in the Baltic states, broadly interpreted. We aim to bring together researchers working on historical, ethnographic, literary, artistic, philosophical, religious, and sociopolitical dimensions of esoteric thought and practice. For more information, pleas download the CFP pdf document.