If you do research on higher education, chances are that you have come across at least one of the many societies dedicated to higher education scholarship, policy or practice. You may also already be a member of one society, or several even, and a regular participant in the their events and other community activities.
Research societies are the lifeblood of academic life. But they are also important for many among us who do research for the purpose of informing policy development or some aspect of institutional practice, and not necessarily only for advancing social science.
Aiming to create an overview of the societies out there and to hopefully make them a little closer to the newcomers to the world of higher education research, we have compiled the list you can see on this page.
This list will be updated from time to time. We have tried to include all the research societies we could find – national and international – but there are likely more. It is also likely that the information on societies included on the page changes before we update it, which is why we suggest to always cross-check any information with that provided on the societies’ websites.
With that being said, if you spot a mistake, a broken link, or if you think there is important piece of information missing, we’d appreciate if you would get in touch and let us know. You can find the email address below the list.
Thank you!
Higher education research societies
Country / Region: Africa, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Smaller events, research, advocacy, capacity building, newsletter
Journal(s): None identified
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: U$ 50-100
– Student: U$ 25-50
Membership benefits not specified on the website
Website | Twitter: @ANIENetwork
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: United States, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, newsletter, blog
Journal(s): The AIR Professional File
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: US$ 170
– Student: US$ 50
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @air4data
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: United States, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Annual conference, international higher education pre-conference, networking support, job postings
Journal(s): The Review of Higher Education
Early-career network: ASHE Grads (Twitter: @ashegrads)
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: US$ 185
– Graduate Student: US$ 90
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @ASHEoffice
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: Turkey
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, blog
Journal(s): Higher Education Governance and Policy
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: 100 TL (membership open for citizens of Turkey only)
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @yocad2
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: Australasia
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, newsletter, blog
Journal(s): Journal of Institutional Research (discontinued)
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: A$ 130-143
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @AAIRaustralasia
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: Austria
Main activities: Biennial conference, biannual thematic meetings, support for young scientists, national and international networking
Journal(s): None identified
Early-career network: JuHoFo
Membership fee (annual):
– None (it’s free)
Website | Twitter: None identified
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: Canada, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events
Journal(s): Canadian Journal of Higher Education
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: C$ 110
– Student: C$ 50
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @csshescees
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: Europe, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Annual conference
Journal(s): None identified
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: € 75
– Student: € 55
Membership benefits not specified on the website
Website | Twitter: None identified
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: Finland, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Triennial conference, smaller events
Journal(s): It does not have its own journal
Early-career network: Finnish-based early-career higher education researchers
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: € 20
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: None identified
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: Australasia, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Annual conference, networking support
Journal(s): Higher Education Research & Development, HERDSA Review of Higher Education, Advancing Scholarship and Research in Higher Education Journal
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: A$ 165
– Student: A$ 100
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @HERDSA3
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: International
Main activities: Annual conference, blog
Journal(s): Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: US$ 60
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @hetlportal
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: International
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, blog
Journal(s): Philosophy and Theory in Higher Education
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: € 75
– Student: € 45
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @PaTHES_Society
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: Germany
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support
Journal(s): None identified
Early-career network: HoFoNa
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: € 40-75
– Student: € 25
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: None identified
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: United Kingdom, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, blog
Journal(s): Studies in Higher Education, Higher Education Quarterly, Policy Reviews in Higher Education, Research into Higher Education Abstracts
Early-career network: Newer Researchers
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: £ 110
– Student: £ 50
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @SRHE73
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: International
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, job postings, bulletin, newsletter
Journal(s): None identified
Early-career network: Millennium Scholars
Membership fee (annual):
– Faculty, Researchers, and Leaders: US$ 19-39
– Graduate Students and Postdocs: US$ 0-19
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @star_scholars
Entry last updated: August 2021
Country / Region: Europe, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Annual conference, newsletter, blog
Journal(s): Tertiary Education and Management
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: € 165
– Student: € 82,50
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @TheEAIR
Entry last updated: July 2021
Educational research societies open to higher education researchers
Country / Region: United States, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support
Journal(s): American Educational Research Journal, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Educational Researcher, Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, Review of Educational Research, Review of Research in Education, AERA Open
Early-career network: AERA Graduate Student Council
Section dedicated to higher education: Division J – Postsecondary Education
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: US$ 215
– Graduate Student: US$ 65
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @AERA_EdResearch
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: Australia, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, advocacy, newsletter, blog
Journal(s): Australian Educational Researcher
Early-career network: Early Career and Postgraduate Researchers
Section dedicated to higher education: Professional and Higher Education (Special Interest Group)
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: A$ 180-198
– Student: A$ 90-99
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @AustAssocResEd
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: United Kingdom, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, blog, newsletter
Journal(s): British Educational Research Journal, British Journal of Educational Technology, Review of Education, The Curriculum Journal
Early-career network: Early Career Researcher Network (Twitter: @BERA_ECRNetwork)
Section dedicated to higher education: Higher Education (Special Interest Group)
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: £ 100-110
– Student: £ 50-60
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @BERANews
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: United States, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Annual conference, networking support
Journal(s): Comparative Education Review
Early-career network: Early Career Development group
Section dedicated to higher education: Higher Education (Special Interest Group)
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: US$ 80
– Student: US$ 40
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @cies_us
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: Europe, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Annual conference, networking support
Journal(s): European Education
Early-career network: None identified
Section dedicated to higher education: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: US$ 45
Membership benefits not specified on the website
Website | Twitter: None identified
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: Europe
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, blog, podcast
Journal(s): European Educational Research Journal, International Journal for the Research in Vocational Education and Training
Early-career network: Emerging Researchers Group
Section dedicated to higher education: Network 22-Research in Higher Education
Membership fee (annual):
– Membership is possible only through national researchers association that is a member of EERA
Membership benefits for individuals not specified on the website
Website | Twitter: @ECER_EERA
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: International
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, blog
Journal(s): Teaching and Learning Inquiry
Early-career network: None identified
Section dedicated to higher education: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: US$ 75
– Student: US$ 40
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @ISSOTL
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: Mexico
Main activities: Biennial conference, networking support, blog
Journal(s): Revista Mexicana de Investigación Educativa
Early-career network: None identified
Section dedicated to higher education: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Membership fee not specified on the website
Membership benefits not specified on the website
Website | Twitter: @comiemx
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: Oceania region, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, newsletter
Journal(s): International Education Journal: Comparative Perspectives
Early-career network: New and Emerging Researchers Fono (NERF)
Section dedicated to higher education: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: US$ 90
– Student: US$ 45
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @OceaniaCIES
Entry last updated: September 2021
Country / Region: Europe, but open to members internationally
Main activities: Biennial conference, networking support, newsletter
Journal(s): Learning and Instruction
Early-career network: Junior Researchers
Section dedicated to higher education: Higher Education (Special Interest Group)
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: € 95
– Student: € 35
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @earli_office
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: International
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support
Journal(s): None identified
Early-career network: Doctoral and Early Career Network
Section dedicated to higher education: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: US$50-100
– Student: US$30-100
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @WERA_EdResearch
Entry last updated: July 2021
Disciplinary research societies with sections dedicated to higher education
Country / Region: Europe, but open to members internationally
Disciplinary society: European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR)
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, job postings
Journal(s): European Journal of International Relations, European Journal of Political Research, European Political Science Review, European Political Science, Political Research Exchange
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Membership is possible only through one’s higher education institution
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @ECPRKnowledge
Entry last updated: July 2021
Country / Region: International
Disciplinary society: Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA)
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, newsletter, blog
Journal(s): Practicing Anthropology, Human Organization
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: US$ 110
– Student: US$ 55-70
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @SfAAnthro (society)
Entry last updated: July 2021
Disciplinary research societies with sections dedicated to education
Country / Region: International
Disciplinary society: Academy of Management (AOM)
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, job postings
Journal(s): Academy of Management Annals, Academy of Management Discoveries, Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Learning & Education, Academy of Management Perspectives, Academy of Management Review
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: US$ 188
– Student: US$ 94
No additional fee for affiliating with two AOM divisions (e.g. AOM Management Education and Development)
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @MED_AOM (division) @AOMConnect (society)
Entry last updated: August 2021
Country / Region: United States, but open to members internationally
Disciplinary society: American Sociological Association (ASA)
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, job postings
Journal(s): American Sociological Review, City & Community, Contemporary Sociology, Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Journal of World-Systems Research, Social Psychology Quarterly, Society and Mental Health, Sociological Methodology, Sociological Theory, Sociology of Education, Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, Socius, Teaching Sociology
Early-career network: Student Forum (Twitter: @ASAStudentForum)
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: US$ 51-385
– Student: US$ 52
Additional fee for affiliating with on of ASA sections Networks (e.g. Sociology of Education): US$ 7-12
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @ASA_SoE
Entry last updated: August 2021
Country / Region: Europe, but open to members internationally
Disciplinary society: European Sociological Association (ESA)
Main activities: Annual conference, smaller events, networking support, job postings
Journal(s): European Journal of Cultural and Political Sociology
Early-career network: None identified
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: € 70-180
– Student: € 40-50
Additional fee for affiliating with on of ESA Research Networks (e.g. RN10 – Sociology of Education): € 10
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @ESA_Sociology (society)
Entry last updated: August 2021
Country / Region: International
Disciplinary society: International Sociological Association (ISA)
Main activities: Biennial conference, smaller events, networking support, job postings
Journal(s): Current Sociology, International Sociology, International Sociology Reviews
Early-career network: Junior Sociologists Network
Membership fee (annual):
– Regular: US$ 289
– Student: US$ 139
Membership benefits
Website | Twitter: @isa_sociology (society)
Entry last updated: August 2021
Clarifications
Country / Region: Most societies are open to members internationally, although many are predominately national in terms of their activities, themes and not least the official language. Providing this type of information goes beyond the purpose of this list, but we advise you to investigate these matters before joining.
Main activities: Many of the societies have a long list of things they do. Here we listed only those we thought were the most important ones and those that societies do on a regular basis.
Journals: We listed only those journals that are owned by societies. Note that many societies have subscription deals or special issues with some journals but we did not include those here.
Membership fees: The numbers we provide here are only for orientation purposes and we advise that you check those directly on societies’ websites. Often there are more than one or two fee categories and also different discounts (for multi-year membership, for example).
“None identified”: This does not mean that a society does not provide a service, only that we were not able to find that information on their website.
The list: Societies are listed alphabetically.