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The Summer School of our Standing Group on Interest Groups brings together leading scholars in the fields of interest groups, lobbying and civil society to deliver an intensive course on the core aspects of interest group research.
The 2025 Summer School of our Standing Group on Interest Groups, offers an exciting opportunity to explore the latest trends and advancements in researching interest groups, civil society and lobbying.
Alongside expert-led lectures, you will receive personalised feedback on your work and gain valuable insights from a practitioner session.
Open to PhD and Master's students, as well as practitioners, this programme is ideal for anyone interested in learning how interest groups are conceptualised and examined across Europe and beyond.
Join us to deepen your understanding of political advocacy and lobbying research, while expanding your network alongside peers and top scholars from around the world.
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Questions? Contact our Events Team
The conference is proudly hosted by the Maastricht University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS). Founded in 1976, Maastricht University is one of the youngest universities in the Netherlands, situated at the heart of Europe in the border region between Germany and Belgium.
The Summer School welcomes PhD students, research Master’s students, and advanced Master’s students from political science, public administration, public affairs, communication, international relations, or related areas. Practitioners with an interest in interest groups and lobbying research are also encouraged to apply.
To apply, you must submit the following by 16 April 2025:
You will be informed about the outcome of your application by email within May 2025.
Partial or incomplete applications will not be processed.
You will be expected to present your research in the form of a research paper, book chapter, or research proposal (6,000 to 8,000 words) and participate in the discussion of other participants' papers.
The Summer School will be delivered in English; you will therefore be expected to have a good command of written and spoken English.
A registration fee of €280 applies. This includes a welcome drinks reception, lunch each day, and a farewell dinner. Successful applicants will receive a direct link to complete their registration.
Please note that your registration is not confirmed until your application has been accepted, and your payment is received in full.
To encourage students from diverse backgrounds and universities to attend, successful applicants may apply for a reduced registration fee. To do so, please include a statement in your Summer School application explaining why you require the reduced fee, along with evidence that you are not receiving any other funding for the event. Before applying, participants should explore all available funding options provided by their university, including scholarships, grants, and bursaries.
Accommodation is not included in the conference fee, but there are many hotels and hostels in Maastricht depending on your preference. Here are some recommended options from the organising team:
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