FAQs
When and where is the 2025 IARSLCE Conference?
The 2025 IARSLCE Conference is taking place on August 13-15, 2025 at the Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel & Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa. 329 Umhlanga Rocks Drive, Umhlanga, South Africa.
Navigating Travel Costs
We understand that the cost of travel to Durban, particularly flights, may seem daunting. However, there are important factors to consider that help offset these expenses:
Affordable Accommodations: The cost of staying at the four-star Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel, with breakfast included, is significantly lower than accommodation costs at previous conferences in the United States. For example, room rates at the Dana Hotel in San Diego ranged from $150 to $250 per night, while our negotiated rates for Durban are approximately $87 to $96 per night.
Included Meals: Breakfast is included with your hotel stay, and lunch and dinner will be provided by IARSLCE throughout the conference, reducing food costs.
Transportation Covered: Transportation for conference events and activities will be handled by IARSLCE, eliminating the need for additional transportation expenses during your stay.
Reduced Registration Fees: We acknowledge that travel to Durban is more costly for some and have reduced registration fees to help offset expenses. Last year, early bird registration was $350 for members. This year, members can register at the early bird rate of $225.
By taking advantage of these reduced costs, your overall expenses may be comparable to or even lower than attending past conferences, despite the international travel. We also encourage you to take advantage of the reduced hotel rates available from August 10, 2025 to August 20, 2025 to stay and explore the area should you wish. We encourage you to plan early and make use of the discounts and support we’ve arranged to make this an accessible and enriching experience.
Where to Stay and How to Book
The 2025 IARSLCE Conference will take place on-site at the Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel, a four-star hotel offering comfortable accommodations with breakfast included. While flights to Durban may be more expensive, the significantly discounted accommodation rates make this an affordable option.
We have secured exclusive discounted rates for conference attendees, available from August 10, 2025, to August 20, 2025. With the discount, the cost for a standard room with breakfast is approximately $87 per night for one person or $96 per night for two people.
To book your room at the discounted rate, follow these steps:
Open your internet browser and visit www.coastlands.co.za.
On the homepage, click BOOK NOW.
Under "Hotel Accommodation," select Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel.
Enter your travel dates.
Select the number of guests.
In the Promo Code field, enter: IARSLCE2025.
View the available room types and rates by clicking SHOW RATES.
Choose your desired room type and rate, then click BOOK.
Complete the booking process by filling in your information and credit card details.
We recommend booking early to secure your preferred room type and take advantage of these exclusive rates.
Getting to Durban
We recommend the most cost-effective route of flying to either Cape Town (CPT) or Johannesburg (JNB) and then taking a local flight to Durban (DUR). Flights from major international hubs, such as Atlanta or Newark, to Johannesburg or Cape Town typically range between $1,300 and $2,300, depending on the airline and time of booking. Airlines like Delta, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines frequently serve these routes. From Johannesburg or Cape Town, domestic flights to Durban are widely available through South African carriers like FlySafair, Mango, and Kulula, at an average price of around $120 roundtrip. Please be sure to check for convenient connections and competitive pricing when planning your trip.
Are scholarships or discounts available?
We worked hard to keep conference costs low this year, understanding the travel to Durban is more costly for those coming from the United States, and have reduced the cost of registration for students, community partners, and all attendees. Registration costs this year are on average between $100-$200 cheaper than last year. For example, last year, early bird registration for members was $350 and this year it is $225. Click here for more information about registration.
Additional discounts are available to members of IARSLCE and our Alliance institutions.
The Graduate Student Network (GradSN) will launch their annual call for scholarships soon. Check back here for information or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed.
If you are interested in volunteering on site at the conference, you can get your registration fee covered in exchange for working three volunteer shifts. If you are interested in volunteering please fill out this form. Space is limited.
How do I register?
Register for the conference here. You do not need to be an IARSLCE member or have an accepted presentation to attend; however, current members, students, and community partners do receive discounts on registration. If you aren’t sure if your IARSLCE membership is active, email admin@iarslce.org. If you need to renew or become a member, click here to join.
Alliance institutions receive five $100 discounts on conference registrations. If your institution is a member of the IARSLCE Alliance, please register with your institutional email address so we can verify your affiliation. See list of participating institutions here.
When will the schedule be announced?
Proposals are due on February 10, and notifications will go out in March. We anticipate announcing the schedule soon thereafter. Subscribe to our newsletter receive updates.
Do I need to sign up for specific sessions?
No. Registered attendees may attend any general session, breakout session, or opportunity listed in the conference schedule.
What is your refund, transfer, and cancellation policy?
100% refund until July 1, 2025 and 50% refund from July 2-August 1 15, 2025. No refunds will be issued beginning August 2, 2025. No refunds for no-shows. No refunds for no-shows.
If the conference is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, registration fees will be fully refunded; however, IARSLCE is not responsible for any additional expenses incurred in connection to attending the conference (i.e. flights, hotel, etc.).