Please note: Our Visiting Scholar scheme is now taking applications for those wishing to visit the university. You would be required to comply with any UK Government rules on travelling to the UK. University guidelines may also be subject to change, and you should also be aware that opportunities to meet academic colleagues face to face may be limited and research events may be online.

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The School's Visiting Scholars Scheme enables national and international academics, researchers and practitioners to come to Bristol and spend a period of time conducting research and participating in the school’s collegiate and diverse research community. (This scheme is not offered to PhD students who may apply through the Visiting Postgraduate Research Student Scheme).

Prospective applicants should note that the School only accepts applicants who can demonstrate that they will be engaged in a specific research project for the duration of their visit, and who can illustrate that their research will complement the research interests represented within the School. Visitors are expected to play an active part in the School community during the period of their visit.

Please see below for further information regarding the application procedure and relevant deadlines.

Scheme objectives

The Visiting Scholar Scheme seeks to enhance the already vibrant research culture and learning environment of the School. With this in mind, the aims of the scheme are to:

• offer external academics and interested professionals the opportunity to carry out research with a view to publishing their work;
• enhance the research community at the School through the active participation of visiting scholars in academic life at Bristol;
• further develop and promote external research links with other universities, institutions and practitioners in the United Kingdom and overseas;
• provide School staff and research students with the opportunity to work with and learn from academics from outside Bristol.

Timing

Visiting scholars may start at any time during the year, subject to agreement between each individual scholar and the School. Please be sure to allow sufficient time between applying and the requested dates of the visit.

Duration

Scholars may apply for visiting periods of between two weeks and six months.

Fees/Funding

The School will charge a visitor fee from September 2022, the amount of which will depend on the length of stay.  Please note that the visitor fee must be paid prior to the commencement of any visit. Fee waivers may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that we do not offer funding.  Unfortunately, the School is unable to contribute financial support to assist scholars with travel and subsistence. However, visiting scholars may be able to apply for funding under the Benjamin Meaker Visiting Professorships scheme, administered by the Institute for Advanced Studies.

Fee waivers may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Provision of resources

Visitors will receive/be provided with:

• a University Card;
• shared office/desk space;
• the sponsorship of a School staff member, who will meet with the visitor and provide guidance and advice for the visitor while in Bristol (please note that it is up to the individual to arrange this initial meeting with their sponsor);
• access to the Bristol University Library and all other University Library Services;
• access to electronic holdings, databases and journals where available;
• the visitor's email address will be added to the mailing list, so that he or she is notified of any School events that may be of interest or relevance.

Please note:

• Visitors are encouraged to bring their own laptop computers which can be used at wireless areas around the University.
• We cannot provide assistance with living accommodation.

Applicant eligibility

This scheme is not open to PhD students.

Applicants are required to contact the member of staff they would like to work with and must seek their approval and agreement as a ‘sponsor’ before applying.

Applicants should note the requirements of UK immigration procedures that need to be completed along with the standard application form below.

Relationship with the School

Depending on the length of their visit and the nature of their research, visitors are expected to contribute actively to academic life in the School, in particular through participating in research seminars relevant to their research. Visiting scholars may identify themselves as 'Visiting Scholar, University of Bristol' during their period at the School.

Requirements of tenure

Depending on the length of tenure, the school expects that during the visit period scholars are willing to:

• deliver a staff seminar
• deliver a guest lecture to undergraduates in relevant module(s)
• deliver a guest lecture to postgraduates in relevant module(s)
• commit to reasonable attendance at the staff seminar series
• deliver a guest PhD ‘clinic’

End of visit report

At the end of the visiting term, scholars are asked to submit a brief written report summarising their contribution to the school research committee.  This report may be excerpted and published by the school.

How to apply

Visiting scholars application form (Office document, 36kB) and submit it to the Research Team at business-school-research@bristol.ac.uk

Applicants should provide a clear explanation for the proposed duration and timing of their visit and have clear and realistic research plan to be pursued during that time.

Applications must be accompanied by a statement of support from the academic staff member at Bristol who will ‘sponsor’ your visit.

Follow up

Applications are reviewed by the school research committee at various points throughout the year.

Applications should be submitted electronically.

You will be advised, by email, of the outcome of your application within four weeks of the Research Committee Meeting and where successful will be asked to complete a Visiting Academic Status request form.

Please note: Our Visiting postgraduate research student scheme is now taking applications for those wishing to visit the university from Spring 2023, with a closing date of 30th June for those wishing to visit in Autumn 2022. You would be required to comply with any UK Government rules on travelling to the UK and the rules of your country of origin. University guidelines may also be subject to change, any visit is dependent on availability of desk space within the School.  You should also be aware that opportunities to meet academic staff and other PhD students face to face may be limited and research events continue to be online.

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The School's Visiting PhD Students Scheme enables national and international PhD students to come to Bristol and spend a period of time conducting research and participating in the school’s collegiate and diverse research community. 

Eligibility

Visiting postgraduate research students should be currently registered as postgraduate research students at another institution either in the UK or internationally. Applicants will need to demonstrate a strong academic record and a viable programme of research to be followed during their visit.

Applicants should identify a sponsor who is an academic member of staff within the School and will personally support their application and agree their proposed set programme of work.

Applications will only be accepted from students who have the support of their prospective visit with the identified sponsor.

If English is not your first language, you need to meet profile level 'B'. Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Fee structure

Please note we do not offer funding. The affiliation fee (‘bench fee’) is free up to a 3-month (or 92 days) period. For longer periods, the monthly fee is £250 per month during the entire visit period (pro rata fees apply for any period less than one month).

A waiver of the fees may be considered, and a case should be made in this respect alongside the application form. The waiver will be assessed on grounds of academic merit of the applicant and/or the applicant’s personal circumstances or if the applicant is from a low income country (as defined by the ODA).

Duration

Students may normally apply for visiting periods of between 4 weeks to 6 months.

Scheme objectives

The visiting postgraduate research students scheme seeks to enhance the already vibrant research culture and learning environment of the school.  With this in mind, the aims of the scheme are to:

• offer external to the University postgraduate research students the opportunity to carry out research with a view to presenting or publishing their work.
• enhance the research community within the School of Economics, Finance and Management through their active participation in the academic life at Bristol.
• further develop and promote external research links with other universities, institutions and practitioners in the United Kingdom and overseas;
• provide staff and research students within EFM with the opportunity to work with and learn from other research students from outside Bristol.

Relationship with the School

Depending on the length of their visit and the nature of their research, visitors are welcomed to contribute actively to academic life in the School. Depending on the applicant’s qualifications, the school may provide you with the opportunity to:

• deliver a guest seminar to academic staff
• deliver a guest lecture to undergraduates/postgraduates in relevant module(s)
• commit to reasonable attendance at the seminar series and Primary Units

Provision of resources

Visiting Postgraduate Research Students will receive/be provided with:

• a University Card
• hot-desk space
• the sponsorship of a School of Management staff mentor, who will meet with the student and provide guidance and general academic support, but they are not able to advise on other issues eg legal or visa queries. It should be noted that it is up to the individual visitor to arrange this initial meeting with their mentor
• access to the Bristol University Library
• the visitor's email address will be added to the student mailing list, so that they are notified of any department/School events that may be of interest or relevance
• access to all School events, workshops and research seminars.

Please note:

• Visitors are encouraged to bring laptop computers which can be used at wireless areas around the University.
• We cannot provide assistance with living accommodation, although the University Accommodation office may be able to help.

End of visit report

At the end of the visiting term, students are asked to submit to the school research committee, a brief written report summarising their contribution.  This report may be excerpted and published by the school.

How to apply

Complete the Visiting PhD application form (Office document, 137kB) (complete and return as a word document) and submit it before the deadline for the round. 

You will also be required to submit the following documents with your application form:

• A letter confirming that you are currently studying for a PhD. This will need to be on official headed paper and signed or stamped by your university. If the original letter is not in English we will also need to see an official translation
• Complete the Visiting PhD Students Application Form
• Reference from your primary or secondary PhD supervisor at your home institution. It is your responsibility to ensure that the reference letter from your supervisor is sent in before the designated deadline
• Statement of support from the academic member of staff at University of Bristol who will sponsor your visit
• CV (2 x A4 pages maximum length)
• Outline of clear research objectives and programme of work to be pursued.  Applicants should provide a clear explanation for the proposed duration and timing of their visit and have clear and realistic research objectives and programme of work to be pursued during that time.

Follow up

Applications are reviewed by the School PGR Director and Deputy School PGR Director and are considered for approval four times a year.

Applications should be submitted electronically by no later than 4pm on the day of the deadline for the round in which you apply. Late applications will not be considered.

Accounting and Finance application deadline:

Applications open on 3 October 2022 and will be considered in four rounds, with round one closing on 28 November 2022; round two on 20 January 2023 and round three on 24 April 2023. Round four closes on 10 July 2023. Applications to begin study in September 2023 will not be accepted after that.

Contact: Student Administrators (PGR) (Business School PGR Team Mailbox business-school-pgr@bristol.ac.uk)

Management applicant deadline:

Applicants for the September 2023 intake must apply by midday on Friday 21 July 2023.

Contact: Student Administrators (PGR) (Business School PGR Team Mailbox business-school-pgr@bristol.ac.uk)

Visa requirements

All visiting students from outside the UK require a visa, regardless of length of study. Some students will need to apply for this visa in advance, some can travel through eGates on arrival. For visits six months of less, please read the short-term visa guidance. For longer visits, a Student visa is likely to be needed, and you must meet the eligibility requirements for this.

If you are already in the UK on a Student visa (and you are visiting from another UK institution) you need to be studying at a partner institution or agree to the visit as an agreed temporary location. You should contact Student Visa Services for advice. Please also note that most visa types will require ATAS, if the course needs ATAS. Some nationalities are exempt from the ATAS requirement.