Information for Visiting Researchers

Academic staff and researchers from any Research Organisation within the UK and the rest of the world are welcome to visit the Department of Environment and Geography. This role will involve no remuneration, but offers you formal attachment to the Department of Environment and Geography and access to research facilities such as IT services and the library. The Department assumes that visitors will come to York to pursue their independent research and develop collaborations with departmental colleagues. The Department does not provide or arrange any academic supervision.

Visiting researcher positions can be awarded from any period from one month to a year. Visiting researchers will normally be expected to present a paper in one of the weekly departmental seminars during semester-time or at other events. Professors or researchers visiting for more than a term or more who wish to collaborate with the University on a regular basis can apply to the Senate for the conferment of title of Honorary Visiting Professor or Honorary Visiting Fellow, depending on their status. 

Researchers who are currently studying for a PhD can apply to visit the Department to undertake independent research under this scheme for up to three months. If a longer visit is planned, applications should be made online via the University Visiting Students scheme. For more information and to apply, please see the University guidance for visiting students. Visiting students can apply to attend taught modules in the Department.

If you are interested in applying please read the information below.

How to apply

All Research Visitors require an academic host. Please identify an academic host on our People page, and reach out to them with your application. They can then submit a request for your visit on your behalf.

To apply, please prepare the following documents and send to your proposed academic host, copying in Katie Harrison via the Research Support inbox (environment-research@york.ac.uk):

• a brief letter of application, covering;
• why it would be useful to you to spend time in York
• how you intend to pay the monthly fees (£250 per month)
• the period you wish to be in York (e.g. start and end date of your stay), and your plans for finding accommodation.
• whether you will require access to specialist computing facilities, equipment or laboratory space, and/or technician support (note that additional fees will apply)
• a one to two page research proposal for your time in York
• a one to two page CV, with full name, address, and current academic position
• a letter of recommendation from your Head of Department or other senior academic who knows you and your work; or, if you work in industry, government or for an NGO, a letter of recommendation from your line manager or other senior leader who knows you and your work. 

If you would like to be given the title of Honorary Visiting Professor/Fellow, please contact Dr Katie Harrison (katharine.harrison@york.ac.uk) and Prof. Lisa Emberson (l.emberson@york.ac.uk), who will advise on the Honorary Positions nomination process. Applications are open year-round but final approval is limited to the University of York nomination deadlines (see University of York guidelines on honorary positions)

Applications are reviewed by the Deputy Head Department for Research and you will be informed as soon as possible of the outcome. Unfortunately we are not in a position to invite every applicant and applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria:

• how they fit with the department’s research interests
• the benefit to the department in terms of research engagement, impact and outreach, prestige and potential for collaboration
• the strength of application or research proposal.

Facilities

The following are provided for visiting researchers:

• University of York email address and use of University and Department computing facilities, including limited use of printing and photocopying
• Use of the University Library and online journal access
• Admission to most undergraduate and postgraduate lectures (the academic year runs September to June)
• Copies of course material
• Admission to research seminars and other public events
• Shared office space

Fees

Bench fees are costs which visiting academics are required to pay, in order to cover the costs that the University will incur in hosting them. These are £250 a month or £3000 a year. These can be funded through grants held by the visiting researcher or covered by the visiting researcher themselves. 

Please let your academic host know if the fees are problematic for you, as we do not intend for these costs to be prohibitive and there may be ways in which we can help.

Visas and accommodation

If you require a visa to enter the UK it is essential that you seek advice on how to obtain the correct visa to suit the purpose of your visit. The Department cannot provide advice on visas. For more information on visa applications, please visit the University pages on Immigration Advice.

The Department is unable to help with accommodation, but the University Accommodation Services has advice and is able to assist if required.