A stimulating, dynamic environment for research

York Law School (YLS) offers a stimulating and dynamic environment for visiting scholars and a welcoming team who will actively support you during your stay. As a Visiting Scholar you will become part of a close academic community and be based in our purpose-built school which provides exceptional facilities for learning and research.

We are particularly keen to encourage applications from international visitors and from those whose interests align with and complement the activity of our research community.

Full details of staff research interests can be found on our Staff Research Areas pages.

York Law Schools hosts two types of research visitor:

  • YLS International Research Visiting Fellows Scheme
  • Self-Funded Visiting Scholar Scheme

YLS International Research Visiting Fellows Scheme

The closing date each year is 16 October.

The YLS International Research Visiting Fellows Scheme provides funding support for distinguished international visitors to spend a period of time in York collaborating with colleagues.

These are awarded on an annual basis ahead of a specified deadline. All potential visiting fellows are encouraged to approach potential hosts in the first instance to ensure their interests align their visit to the York Law School priorities and interests of their potential hosts.

The application for the YLS International Research Visiting Fellows Scheme will be made by an existing member of York Law School staff (the potential host) on behalf of the Visiting Fellow.

York Law School will support three International Research Visiting Fellows each academic year. The aim of the scheme is to stimulate collaborations with prominent international scholars that help advance research in any field relevant to the YLS. The scheme helps to build the research capacity in dedicated fields of research, or around particular research methodologies and approaches.

The specific objectives of the scheme

  1. Building the profile and research intensity among YLS colleagues working around particular research themes or methods. A Visiting Fellow can support and assist in the development of new ideas and collaborative research opportunities.
  2. Advancing the University Research Strategy and YLS’s strategic commitment to the internationalisation of research by forging new international networks, strategic partnerships and collaborative research opportunities.

Costs covered by the scheme

The Fellowship covers the costs of travel, accommodation and activities associated with the Fellows’ visit, up to a maximum of £2,000 per Visiting Fellow. The duration of the visit will normally be for a period of between two and four weeks, but might be for longer periods.

Consideration should also be given to how the Visiting Fellow might best be engaged prior to and after their visit to York. All associated costs will need to be spent by 31 July in the year following the application. No spending after this date will be permitted.

What we expect of Visiting Fellows

Prospective Visiting Fellows will normally be based outside the UK and have a strong international reputation of research and impact in a specific disciplinary field that maps onto areas of potential growth and development within YLS. Where appropriate, a Visiting Fellow might work outside of a university or higher education establishment; such as a research user, policy-maker or practitioner. However, a compelling research case will need to be made in all instances.

It is anticipated that all Visiting Fellows will contribute to and enhance the research environment of YLS generally by committing to a package of research-oriented activities during their stay, including, at least:

(i) a Law School research seminar open to all colleagues; and

(ii) a workshop for PhD researchers and/or postgraduate/undergraduate students.

Other activities of mentoring and research workshops are also encouraged.

Call for applications

The deadline for all applications is 16 October each year for visits up to 31 July the following year.  

Please get in touch to secure your two hosts. If they are interested in hosting you, the members of staff will submit the application on behalf of the Visiting Fellow.

Applications for visits up to 31 July will need to be submitted by 16 October at 5pm of the year prior to the visit. Interested Visiting Fellows will need to get in touch with their hosts at least two weeks before this deadline.

What you need in your application

Please liaise with your potential hosts regarding the information that the York Law School will require. The hosts will submit the following information on your behalf:

  • Name of YLS hosts (at least two YLS colleagues will act as responsible hosts)
  • Proposed period of the visit to York and dates
  • A plan of activities for the visit and proposed outcomes (Max 1 page). Please outline how your visit will advance the strategic interests of YLS.An estimated cost/budget
  • A 2-page summary CV of the proposed Visiting Fellow

Hosts will be responsible for ensuring that both the International Research Visiting Fellows and YLS derive the maximum value from the Visiting Fellowship award.

Application deadline

The window for making applications is between 1 August and 16 October each year.  The York Law School will not consider applications made outside of these dates.

The applications will be reviewed by the Departmental Research Committee and decisions will be made by on or around 13 November each year.

Interested Visiting Fellows should not submit the application. Your YLS hosts will submit the application on behalf of the Visiting Fellow.

For any general queries, please contact sophie.gibson@york.ac.uk ahead of the deadline. 

Self-Funded Visiting Scholar Scheme

There are three deadlines per year for this scheme:  31 October, 28 February, and 30 June.

If you are interested in visiting York Law School as a Self-Funded Visiting Scholar, your research interest will need to align with the York Law School's priorities and the research interests of your potential host.  You can read about York Law School staff and their research interests on Staff Research Areas pages. Please get in touch with an existing member of York Law School staff to see whether they are interested in hosting your visit.  

Visits can be a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 12 months.

What we expect of self-funded Visiting Fellows

Interested visitors are encouraged to approach a potential host in the first instance. All visiting scholars are expected to give a presentation on their research to staff/PGRs and to help develop academic outputs with their host.  

What you need in your application

The existing member of York Law School staff (the potential host) will submit the application on your behalf, so you will need to provide them with the following information.

  • Name of one YLS host (one YLS staff colleague will act as a responsible host)
  • Proposed period of the Visit to York and dates
  • A plan of activities for the visit and proposed outcomes (Max. one page). Please outline how your visit will advance the strategic interests of YLS
  • An estimated cost/budget of how your visit will be funded
  • A 2-page summary CV of the proposed Visiting Fellow

YLS does not currently charge bench fees for visiting scholars in recognition of the contribution they can make in developing academic outputs with their hosts and their potential for enhancing the research culture of the School.

The applications will be reviewed by the Chair of the Departmental Research Committee and the Research Leadership Team.

General information for Research Visitors

The information below is relevant for applicants to the following schemes:

  • YLS International Research Visiting Fellows Scheme
  • Self-Funded Visiting Scholars Scheme

All visits must be taken by 31 July each year, but it is worth noting that the University summer vacation begins in June and lasts until the end of September. Many people are away at this time and YLS provides no teaching or events.

The libraries may also open for shorter hours and may close completely for short periods during the vacation.

The visit should be cost neutral for the School (the visitor is responsible for all their expenses during their time with the School).

The School does not currently charge bench fees for visiting academics in recognition of the contribution they can make in developing academic outputs with their hosts and their potential for enhancing the research culture of the School. This policy operates on the following understanding:

  • The School cannot take any responsibility for providing accommodation, school places for dependants etc. nor can we offer any assistance in making arrangements for travel etc. For advice on accommodation, please contact Accommodation Services for more information.
  • The visitor is responsible for securing an appropriate visa if this is necessary. We will write letters in support of their application if required, but we cannot give any advice about visas. For more advice on visas, please visit the UKVI website.
  • The School is unable to provide an individual office for visitors, so visitors will be expected to make use of space in shared staff offices.

Review of applications

Please note, the Law School is not in a position to invite every applicant and applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria:

  1. Synergies with the department’s research priorities / hosts’ interests
  2. Benefit to the department in terms of research engagement, prestige and potential for collaboration; and
  3. Strength of application/research proposal

All requests for visits must be submitted by your potential host to Sophie Gibson (sophie.gibson@york.ac.uk).

Visiting enquiries from students

In looking to welcome academic visitors from across a range of intellectual interests to York Law School, we regret that we are not currently able to accommodate visits from research students, on account of constraints in space and resourcing.