Help us shape the programme

Symposia are 90 minutes in length and typically include four speakers and a chair allowing for each speaker to present for 15-20 minutes with a moderated panel discission/ Q+A at the end of the session. The symposium should be a focused, formal session where multiple invited experts present short talks or papers on a single, specific sub-topic. 

Workshops are 45 minures in length and typically include three speakers (on of whom acts as a chair). A workshop is an interactive, hands-on session where participants actively practice skills, build something, or work through a problem together. Please note that we are restricted by the layout of the venue, all workshops must be able to accomodate theatre style seating. 

An oral presentation typically consists of a single speaker delivering an individual research paper or talk (often with a few slides) to a small audience. These oral presentations are 10 minutes in length and followed by a brief round of questions. These oral presentations may be held in a mixed session where multiple unrelated or loosely grouped speakers take the stage. 

The College is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion for our existing and future members, associates, affiliates, staff and visitors in all our practices.

Please read our speaker diversity policy before submitting your proposal.

We are aware that not all groups can be represented in a single session but efforts should be made to take into account the diversity of our workforce, including;

• Gender, ethnicity and other protected characteristics
• Professional background (different faculties, special interests)
• Varying career grades (SAS psychiatrists, resident doctors, LE doctors and emerging researchers)
• People with lived experience
• Geographical representation (especially international perspectives and global diversity)
• Speakers from different institutions (proposals with speakers from one institution will not be accepted)

We encourage submissions that consider issues of health inequality and how this can be mitigated.

Submissions should take an approach that supports collaboration and promotes the patient voice, either through having speakers with lived experience on the panel or presenting on patient narratives, patient satisfaction outcomes or feedback.

Royal College of Music
Prince Consort Road
London SW7 2BS

Please note that this event will be taking place in-person only. This conference will not be livestreamed and/or recorded in any capacity.

• Relevance – does your session address a current and pressing issue in psychiatry
• Innovation – we are supportive of proposals that focus on new research, groundbreaking findings and essential updates
• Balance – aim for a well-rounded session with diverse speakers and perspectives
• Impact – how will your session contribute to the knowledge and practice of attendees

The College encourages balanced, evidence-informed discussions that reflect the diversity and complexity of views within psychiatry. Please ensure you consider including speakers or panellists who can represent different perspectives to ensure a balanced and comprehensive discussion.

Ensure you select appropriate subject matter and focus on scientific discovery, open communication and new learning that is clinically relevant. Think about diversity within scientific research and understudied topics such as

Diagnostic areas: learning difficulties and neurodivergence, particularly comorbidities with psychosis and affective disorders; Personality disorder; Substance misuse

Age groups: older adults; children

Health inequities: research, implementation and intersectionality

In your proposal summary and learning objectives think about the applicability and relevance of your proposal to clinical practice, patient care and/or professional development

We strongly encourage including disaggregated data in your scientific submission, so including sub-categories such as age, sex, disability or geographic area

Make sure your proposal is as focused as possible, avoid making it too wide or diffuse. Detailed, intriguing and topical pitches often score highly

Consider cross collaboration with other specialties, faculties and special interest groups to gather different perspectives

This conference will be an in-person event and we would therefore expect all speakers to present in person. If there are mitigating circumstances, or international speakers are involved in your session please make a clear case in your submission as to why a virtual presentation would be necessary

The College is committed to providing high quality sessions focused on educational content that is free from commercial influence or bias. You are therefore expected to provide any declarations of interest for all speakers.

Please disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that may be relevant to your submission. This includes both commercial and non-commercial interests, including but not limited to:

• Financial or commercial relationships with organisations, companies, or sponsors
• Recommending, supporting, or nominating family members, friends, or close colleagues
• Holding a position of influence and/or influential role within the College or another organisation that may benefit from the presentation. (e.g., Chair, presidential leads, congress advisory board members or other leadership role)
• Any involvement in the review, selection, or decision-making process related to this programme
• Any other relationship or circumstance that could be perceived as creating bias, conferring an unfair advantage, or constituting self-promotion

Please ensure you have contacted all speakers to obtain their permission, prior to submitting your proposal

We will let all submitters know the outcome of their proposal by late March 2027. 

• To submit your proposal you will need to use our online portal Oxford Abstracts

• All submissions need to be submitted through the portal, we will not be able to accept submissions by any other method

• To start your submission click the 'submit your proposal' link which will take you through to Oxford Abstracts

• If you have used Oxford Abstracts previously you should have log in details. If you have forgotten your password click the 'forgot password' button

• If you are new to Oxford Abstracts you can create and account by clicking the 'sign up' button. You will need to enter your name, email address and set a password. Please ensure this email address is one you have access to and use regularly as this is the email we will use to contact you

• To confirm your submission please ensure you complete all sections of the form

• You are able to edit and amend your submission up until the deadline (midnight (GMT), Friday 12 February)

• No changes will be possible after the deadline, so please ensure that all submissions that you wish to be considered are marked as complete by the deadline. Any drafts or incomplete submissions after the deadline will be deleted

• There is no limit to the number of submissions you can submit. Please avoid submitting duplicate proposals, try to amend your proposal if you notice any errors. If we notice any duplicate submissions we will delete older versions and retain the most up to date version for review

• All submissions must be recieved by the deadline, midnight (GMT), Friday 12 February. Any submissions recieved after the deadline will not be considered

• Please do not submit poster abstracts. A separate call for poster submissions will be available later on in the year

• Once the submission deadline has passed, all submissions are then sent for review

• Each member of the EAOF committee is allocated a random selection of the proposals and is asked to mark them against set criteria

• Once all the reviews have been collated, each submission is given a mean score and an indicative score for acceptance into the programme is allocated

• The organising committee then meet to discuss all submission, highlighting any areas that might be underrepresented

• Some sessions are held in reserve for commissioned sessions, which are either filled with hot topics that come up throughout the year or underrepresented areas 

• Once all submissions have been reviewed we will inform you of the outcome of your proposal. This should be no later than mid March 2027

• If your submission is accepted you will be allocated a date and time for your session on acceptance

• If your submission is accepted you will be asked to confirm the details of your submission for the programme 

• You may be asked to make some changes to your submission before it is formally accepted for the main programme, this could include, a change of session title, alternative speakers or change of format

• Where deemed important and necessary the committee may appoint an independent co-chair for the session

• Don’t be disheartened if you are unsuccessful. We will provide feedback where possible and please do consider resubmitting
  

Please note that the call for posters will be open shortly. Those wishing to submit a poster for display at the conference should refer to the 'Call for posters' button on the EAOF homepage.