2027 Bell Chair Graduate Student Conference in Canadian Politics
February 11 and 12, 2027
The Bell Chair in Canadian Parliamentary Democracy at Carleton University is pleased to announce the return of the Canadian Politics Graduate Student Conference in February 2027. First held in 2011 and again in 2015, 2019, and 2024, this conference is an opportunity for advanced MA and PhD students to present their research on Canadian politics. Many leading scholars and practitioners in Canadian politics today got their start at this conference!
The conference will be held in Ottawa on the Carleton University main campus in Ottawa on Thursday February 11 and Friday February 12, 2027. Travel subsidies are available. There is no registration fee.
Proposals are welcome on all topics relating to Canadian politics and government, including: political institutions, political participation and behavior, public policy, Indigenous politics, gender, race, political economy, Canadian foreign policy, and other fields. Comparative work that includes a significant Canadian focus is welcome. The conference will include panels on professional development and a field trip to Parliament (schedule permitting).
The Bell Chair Graduate Student Conference is an excellent venue for students new to academic conferences to develop presentation and networking skills. For students with conference experience, the conference offers an intimate setting to receive feedback on your research and connect with fellow participants.
Participants must be currently registered in a masters’ or doctoral program in political science or related discipline. Proposals must include a title, institutional affiliation, current program status, name of supervisor, and an abstract of 100-200 words. Proposals should be sent to: bell.chair@carleton.ca.
Partial travel funding is available for those coming from outside Ottawa. Participants are also encouraged to seek funding from their home department/university.
The Hon. Dick and Ruth Bell Chair for the Study of Canadian Parliamentary Democracy was created in 2009 in Carleton University’s Department of Political Science from a generous gift from alumna Dr. Ruth Bell, MA/65, LLD/84. It commemorates a lifetime of civic and political engagement, and the love that she and her late husband Dick Bell, a former MP and cabinet minister, shared for Canada. Ruth Bell was a distinguished citizen of Ottawa who was a lifelong women’s activist, political scientist, and member of the Order of Canada, and the Chair promotes better understanding of the dynamic and ever-evolving Canadian parliamentary system through supporting research projects, hosting visiting scholars, and running speaker events and conferences.
The Bell Chair graduate conference provides you with a unique opportunity to visit the nation’s capital and the centre of Canadian politics. The winter season is one of the best times to see Ottawa and its fabulous indoor and outdoor activities.
Submission deadline: November 2, 2026
Notification of selection: November 20, 2026
Papers due: January 22, 2027
Conference dates: February 11-12, 2027
Further Information
If you have queries about any aspect of the conference, feel free to email bell.chair@carleton.ca or contact the holder of the Bell Chair, Professor Jonathan Malloy, directly at jonathan.malloy@carleton.ca