Inward Staff Travel & Visitors
Inviting visiting staff and students to Durham
Departments and Institutes are able to invite international staff, researchers and students for short term visits and Durham hosted fellowship programmes.
The Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) offers short-term fellowships, based on a theme, for external participants and includes honorarium, travel, accommodation, subsistence and cost associated with loss of salary (when applicable): https://www.dur.ac.uk/ias/fellowships/iasfellowship/
For other short-term student and staff visitors, the host Department or Institute will be responsible for coordinating support for the visitors which includes:
- Offering an official invitation letter: to help support visitors in their visa application, and some visitors may need a letter for their home institutions. An invitation letter should be produced using the following template: Template Visa Invitation Letter [doc]
- Supported by further guidance from Human Resources: https://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/hr/eligibility/visaandexternalexamin/LetterofInvitation-AcademicVisitor.pdf
- Visa advice:
- The Immigration Office provides guidance for student visitor visas: https://www.dur.ac.uk/immigration/password/staff/studentvisitors/
- Human Resources offers staff visitor visa guidance: https://www.dur.ac.uk/hr/eligibility/gudiancefordepartm/visandexternalexamin/
- Coordinating accommodation or directing the visitor to accommodation resources: https://www.dur.ac.uk/collegesresearch/
- Directing visitors to CIS for campus cards, CIS usernames, and support.
- And, provide specific outlines for the nature and length of the visitors stay, including financial arrangements, as outlined on the invitation letter.
- Other useful resources for short-term stay in Durham:
- Travelling to and around Durham: https://www.dur.ac.uk/greenspace/travel/todurham/
- Around Durham and Stockton: https://www.dur.ac.uk/hr/staff.induction/around/
- This is Durham tourism: http://www.thisisdurham.com/
- Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site: https://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/
The University has a dedicated Relocation Manager, Stina Maynard, who is available to offer guidance on moving to Durham. Stina can work alongside fellows, visiting researchers and new staff to provide support with domestic arrangements, accommodation search, area information and useful tips for living in the UK to help them settle into the area as smoothly as possible. Please telephone +44 (0) 191 334 6417 or email stina.maynard@durham.ac.uk for more information.
Fellowships for Durham staff
In addition to inviting external staff in to Durham for short term work, we encourage Durham staff to explore international fellowship and research opportunities in their areas.
The Institute of Advance Study (IAS) welcomes internal applications for their fellowship scheme. Internal applicants must be supported with a letter from their Head of Department. https://www.dur.ac.uk/ias/fellows/internal/
External fellowship opportunities are often advertised to the International Office for short or long-term placement. More details about the objectives, funding, and length of the placements can be found on the respective websites.
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowships: encouraging researchers from all disciplines to conduct joint research activities with colleagues at Japanese universities and research institutes.
- Fulbright Scholars: supporting the research and teaching of scholars visiting colleges and universities in the United States.
- Newton Fund: building science and innovation capacity in developing countries.
- Commonwealth Scholarships: scholarships and fellowships for UK citizens.
Additional opportunities for external engagement:
- Further financial support for all disciplines to build high-quality, competitive research proposals is available to apply for through the Research Office’s Seedcorn Research Fund: https://www.dur.ac.uk/research.office/local/funding/seedcorn/.
- Travel grants for research are promoted through the International Office as well: https://www.dur.ac.uk/international/global/travelgrants/.
- Durham Business & Innovation Services offer opportunities for research and commercial development including research commercialisation and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP).
