Visitor and Exchange Programmes

"What did I like about my visit? Engagement with world class scholars... everyone had time to talk and I was made to feel very welcome."

Alex Bellamy, Visitor

The Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR) visitor programme exists to facilitate links and research collaborations with other universities, governments and organisations, both in the UK and overseas. We welcome visiting academics and outstanding doctoral students who wish to benefit from Oxford’s vibrant research culture and contribute to the activity of the department.

Our collaboration with Sciences Po through the OxPo (Oxford-Sciences Po Network) facilitates various academic and student exchanges. These opportunities are advertised at the beginning of each calendar year.

Each round of visitor and exchange programme applications will be listed on this page, below.

Associate Members

Those wishing to apply for associate membership of the Department should first read the Associate Members Policy. All applications are submitted via enquiries@politics.ox.ac.uk and are discussed at the General Purposes Committee meetings in Week 0 and Week 7 of each term.

Download the DPIR Associate Members Policy

Download the DPIR Association Application Form

Current visitor and exchange opportunities

Student Visitor Scheme - rolling applications

Please note that spaces are limited to 10 visiting students per annum pro rata.

Academic Visitor Scheme

Rolling deadline

Visitor Scheme to Oxford for Sciences Po young doctors

Deadline:

3 Mar 2025

Visitor Scheme to Oxford for Sciences Po Faculty: SciencesPo-Nuffield College Fellowship

Deadline:

3 Mar 2025

Visitor Scheme to Oxford for Sciences Po doctoral students

Deadline:

3 Mar 2025

Opportunities for Oxford PhD Students and Junior Researchers

Deadline:

3 Mar 2025

Open Society Foundations: Open Society initiative for Eastern Africa

The Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA) plays an active role in encouraging open, informed dialogue on issues of importance in Eastern Africa.

Rolling deadline

Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grants

Research Project Grants for innovative and original research projects with a maximum grant value of £500,000.

Rolling deadline

Horizon Europe

The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges.

Rolling deadline

ESRC responsive mode grants (£350k - £1m) (internal University of Oxford applicants only)

This is one of the most "classic" and flexible grant opportunities. There are no constraints in terms of topic.

Rolling deadline

ESRC New Investigator Grant (internal University of Oxford applicants only)

Are you an early career researcher? Would you like to gain experience of managing and leading research projects and teams?

Rolling deadline

Carnegie Corporation of New York

The Corporation supports innovative projects, organisations, and individuals striving to create meaningful change.

Rolling deadline

Visiting Research Centres

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism offers Journalist Fellowships.

Additionally, if your field of research is aligned with the research agenda of either of DPIR's research centres below, and you would like to work within the unit as a visitor, please contact the relevant centre administrator in the first instance, who will be able to confirm if the centre is willing to host you.

CSSJ (Centre for the Study of Social Justice)

Visitor experience

Oxford is a world class institution, and the Department of Politics and International Relations is a leader in the field, combining strength across all the major sub-disciplines, geographical coverage and intellectual pluralism with an excellent research environment.

Academic Host/Mentor

Each Academic or Practitioner Visitor has an academic host who will supply a letter of support as part of your application; provide advice on collaborations, events and other research activities; and introduce the visitor to relevant members of staff and other contacts.
Each Student Visitor will have an Academic Mentor who will be the main point of contact for the student, meeting twice termly and actively involving the student in the work of the department. The Mentor will provide advice on events and other research activities and introduce the visitor to relevant members of staff and other contacts, but will not provide formal academic supervision.
Visitor Contribution

Academic visitors have the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of department activities during their stay. This may involve collaborating on a research project, organising an event, authoring or co-authoring a research paper or working paper, developing a research proposal for external funding or assisting a research centre in developing networks. Visitors are asked to provide an account of their activities within the department at the end of their stay.
Student Visitors have the opportunity to get involved with a wide range of department activity during their time in Oxford. They may wish to engage with researchers in their field, perhaps in association with a DPIR research centre or programme; attend events such as open seminars, workshops and informal gatherings; or assist a research centre in developing networks. They will also be able to access Oxford’s world-class library resources during their stay. We ask Student Visitors to provide an account of their activities within the department at the end of their stay, which will be received by the Head of Department and the Director of Research. We will also ask the Academic Mentor to provide feedback on the success and productivity of student’s visit.
Resources for Visitors
In addition to the support of an academic (via a host or mentor), visitors will be provided with:
- a University card,
- University email,
- access to library and printing services
- and a workspace with IT facilities in the department (where possible, may be in our open-plan area).
Visitors are welcome to attend seminars and guest speaker events throughout the University (we regret, however, that visitors cannot attend course-specific classes).
Networks

All visitors are allowed to join one of the research networks in the Department once they have arrived if they are interested in doing so.
Timing your visit

The timing of visits is an important consideration, as the atmosphere of the department changes across the academic year.
Applicants are advised to time their visit to coincide with one of Oxford’s three terms, as colleagues are more likely to be available during these times, and visitors who wish to participate in a full calendar of events and other similar research activities should aim to visit in Michaelmas or Hilary terms.
Conversely, if looking for a quieter working environment, you may prefer to visit in Trinity term or the long summer vacation.