Frequently Asked Questions:
Q:Where is BRAIS 2018 taking place?
A: BRAIS 2018 is taking place in the Forum building at the University of Exeter. Click HERE for more information, including a map of how to get there.
Q: How do I register as a delegate for BRAIS 2018?
Please see HERE.
Q: Is accommodation available for conference delegates?
A: Accommodation will be provided for those who have paid for residential packages. In such cases, delegates will have on-campus rooms for the nights of Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th April. Those wishing to stay for additional nights will have to make their own arrangements. We have recommended a number of local hotels under the 'More Info' tab on our registration page, which may be found HERE. Those who have not booked residential packages will have to make their own arrangements for accommodation.
Q: How many abstracts am I allowed to submit for BRAIS 2018?
You are allowed to submit up to two abstracts. Due to constraints of space and time, no more than one of these can be accepted for presentation, the choice of which is at the discretion of the organisers. N.B. the abstract deadline has passed and abstracts are no longer being accepted for the 2018 conference.
Q: What will it cost to attend BRAIS 2018?
Information on attendee and registration fees is available HERE.
Q: Can the conference registration payment be made by invoice or must a credit card be used?
A: Payment must be made online using a credit or debit card. We cannot issue invoices. Once you have made your payment you will receive a digital receipt via the email address you provided.
Q: What happens if I have registered but can no longer attend the conference? Can I get a refund?
A: These details are available under the 'More Info' tab on the registration page, which you can find HERE.
Q: I want to book my accommodation via BRAIS. How many occupants can the rooms accommodate?
A: The rooms we are offering are single rooms only. We do not have access to rooms which accommodate more than one person. If you require a room that accommodates more than one person you will need to organise this yourself.
Q: When I arrive at the conference, where should I come?
A: You should proceed to the Forum building to sign in as a delegate.
Q: I will be using a Powerpoint when giving my paper. Do I need to submit this in advance?
A: No. If you are giving a paper at the conference and will be using Powerpoint, please bring your presentation with you on a memory stick. The university technicians will not be able to assist with private laptops. All the machines will be PCs.
Q: Are we expected to submit our paper in advance, to share it with out fellow panellists or to circulate it after the conference?
A: No. You may wish to do so, but it is not a requirement for participating in the conference.
Q: Where will the publisher exhibition be?
A: The publisher exhibition will be in the central area of the Forum, in the same building as the conference sessions.
Q: Will there be WiFi access?
A: Yes. The network name and password will be printed in the conference programme.
Q: Will there be a prayer room available during the conference?
A: Yes. The prayer room will be located in Seminar Room 8 of the Forum.
Q: Will there be a place to store my luggage after I check out from my accommodation on the morning of the 11th of April?
A: Yes. Forum Seminar Room 7 has been made available for this purpose, and will be open from 09:30 to 15:30 on Wednesday 11th April.
Q: Do you accept abstracts from undergraduate students as part of the BRAIS programme?
Yes and all papers will be considered on their academic merit.
Q: How many people should be in a panel? Is there a minimum or maximum?
The ideal pre-proposed panel should consist of four papers with one member of the panel acting as Panel Chair. Panels of three papers may be submitted but the reviewing committee may use their discretion to add a fourth person to any pre-proposed panel should they find a suitable abstract.
Q: Can we submit an abstract as co-authors?
Yes, but normally only one author will be invited to present the paper at the conference.
Q: Should I send my CV as well as my abstract?
No, please do not send CVs as additional attachments. The form through which you submitted you paper/panel proposal asks you for all the information we need about you.
Q: Do I need to send a written version of my paper to the conference committee in advance of the conference?
A: No. The abstract you sent is all that we require.
Q: How long should my paper last?
A: If you are presenting in any session that is not Session Four, your paper should last twenty minutes (in the case of four-paper panels), to be followed immediately by ten minutes for Q&A; in the case of five-paper panels, your paper should last twenty minutes, to be followed immediately by the next paper, with a collective twenty minute Q&A session at the end of the panel. Three-paper panels in Session Four will last twenty minutes, followed immediately by ten minutes of Q&A. To work out how long your paper lasts, simply divide the length of the panel by the number of presenters.
Q: I am not currently affiliated to any higher or further education institution. Can I still submit an abstract?
Yes, absolutely. We very much welcome abstracts from independent scholars.
Q: Are there any topics within Islamic studies that the reviewing panel will not accept abstract on?
No. All abstracts will be reviewed and decisions made based on the academic merits of the proposed paper/panel.
When will I find out if my abstract has been accepted?You will have been notified of this already via email. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you haven't.
Q: If my abstract is accepted, will I have to become a member of BRAIS in order to present my paper at the conference?
We would expect all those who are giving papers at the conference to be members of BRAIS but will not insist on this. It bears repeating that BRAIS memebers receive significant discounts on conference delegate fees.
Q: How much does it cost to become a member of BRAIS?
For membership costs, please visit: http://www.brais.ac.uk/membership/join
Q: Do you offer any financial assistance to students whose abstracts are accepted? (i.e. travel, fee waiver, accommodation etc)
PhD students are eligible to apply for conference bursaries. The deadline for application has now passed.
Q: Do you provide any assistance with obtaining a visa to attend the conference?
For candidates whose abstracts have been selected and who happen to reside outside the EU, please write to the BRAIS Administrator stating that you require a formal letter of invitation for obtaining a visa. The BRAIS administrator email address is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Q: Once the conference is over, do you provide individuals with a certificate of attendance/participation? Is there a charge for this service?
Yes. In order to obtain the certificate, please write to the BRAIS Administrator on the above email address, clearly stating your name and the title of the paper which you presented. The certificate may take a couple of weeks to produce but there is no fee for this service.
Q: Are there any plans to publish conference proceedings after the conference?
A: At this stage there are no plans to publish proceedings from the conference, but this is certainly something which may be considered in future years.
Q: Will BRAIS be publishing abstracts, either on paper or online?
A: Yes, online. This will happen after the conference.
If you have any further questions which have not been answered above, please contact the BRAIS Administrator, Lilly Jenkins: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..