Student Visitor Scheme - rolling applications

The student visitor scheme exists to facilitate links and collaboration with other universities, both in the UK and overseas, and to allow doctoral students the opportunity to work with DPIR's leading academics and professionals.

Academic Mentor

Each Student Visitor will have an Academic Mentor who will play a key role in introducing the Student Visitor to relevant opportunities within DPIR and Oxford. Although the Mentor will not provide formal supervision, they will meet twice termly with the Student Visitor, and provide advice on relevant events and other research activities, as well as introduce the visitor to relevant members of staff.

The Academic Mentor will supply a formal letter of support as part of your application, once you have discussed the objectives of your visit with them.

It is recommended that the prospective applicant consider who in the Department might be able to offer you such support and contact them for advice before applying to the Student Visitor Programme. The Academic Mentor should be a full member of the Department. 

Browse a list of DPIR academic staff.

During your visit

Student Visitors may join the department for a minimum of one term and a maximum of three terms.

We ask all successful applicants to supply a short biography and outline of their current research for the DPIR website. 

Browse our current student visitor profiles.

In order to improve the DPIR visitor experience, we will ask you to complete a feedback form at the end of your visit.

Visitor Charges

Student Visitors will normally apply for research funding schemes through their home institution in order to fund the cost of their visit. There are two options:

• Shared desk - £1,500 per term/£4,500 per year

  • University card, University email account, access to library services, IT support

• Own (Assigned) desk – £2,000 per term/£6,000 per year

  • University card, University email account, access to library services, printing facilities and a workspace (when available), IT support

Fees should be paid before arrival at DPIR via the University of Oxford Online Store.

Please note that if your visit is over six months and you need to apply via the Recognised Student route (see below), the fees will be greater than stated here. It is recommended that you consult the University’s fees web pages for further information.

How to Apply

Please note that spaces are limited to 10 visiting students at any given time, so please check that there is space during the period of your planned visit before applying by emailing enquiries@politics.ox.ac.uk.

Your application to the DPIR visitor programme must include:

• A completed Visitor Programme Application Form (see below) 
• A current CV
• A Letter of Support from a full member of the Department of Politics and International Relations wiling to act as your Academic Mentor
• A letter from your home institution, confirming approval of your proposed visit

Completed applications should be emailed to enquiries@politics.ox.ac.uk.

Applications will be considered by the Department’s Directors of Graduate Studies in Politics and International Relations, and the relevant DPIR research centre or programme director (if applicable), and will be assessed on suitability of qualifications and experience, proposed contribution to the department’s activities, and strength of letter of support from the Academic Mentor. Once we have processed your application, we will write to you confirming the outcome, and if successful, confirm the details of your visit.

Visas

Applicants must email enquiries@politics.ox.ac.uk well in advance of the proposed visit start date (at least three months) in order to discuss visa arrangements. The visa arrangements will depend on the length of your stay:

• Up to six months: In order to visit the UK you will need a letter of support from DPIR, confirming your visit. Please submit your application; if this is successful, the Department will supply the letter of support to facilitate your entry to the UK as a visitor under the Visitor visa. 
• More than six months: Please submit your application. If accepted by the Department, you will then need to submit a separate application to the University Recognised Student Scheme in order to then apply for a Student visa. DPIR will supply the necessary letter of support, confirming your visit, to facilitate this process. 

ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme)

A check will need to be made regarding whether the student visitor should apply for an ATAS certificate. This is only relevant for those international students who intend to study at postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects. Nationals from the EU, EEA, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, South Korea and the USA are exempt. Further information can be found at: Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) | Staff Immigration (ox.­­ac.uk).

The ATAS certificate must be obtained before the individual commences their research, although it is strongly recommended they obtain this prior to travelling to the UK.

Sensitive Subjects include:

• Mathematical and Computer Science
• Biological Sciences
• Engineering
• Physical Sciences
• Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture and related subjects
• Technologies
• Medicine

Please let us know in advance if you think you will be affected by this.

College Association

Colleges provide a hub for social events, interdisciplinary interaction and can provide additional support during your visit. Several Oxford colleges have particular strengths in Politics and International Relations. If you wish to apply for association with a college for the duration of your visit, you will need to contact the relevant college directly as being accepted as a student visitor to the Department does not automatically come with College affiliation. Please find a list of colleges here. Please note that there is a separate fee for college association: you will find details on individual college websites.

Terms and Conditions

Visitors who are accepted onto the Department’s Visitor Programme will be required to adhere to the University’s Statutes and Regulations during their visit and to sign the University’s Visitor Agreement (which can be downloaded below).