oxford law visiting phd student

First steps

• What sort of visitor are you?
• Arranging a visit

Timing your visit

• Arranging a visa
• Visitor fees

Oxford regularly welcomes academic visitors to our many departments and research centres each year. The flow chart below will help you work out the most appropriate type of visit for your purpose.

Making an application

Your first steps to arranging a visit to Oxford as a visiting researcher include finding an academic host who is willing to support your application to visit, and working out which visa you will need.

Links to Oxford’s many departments and research centres can be found here . Before making a formal application to your intended host department, you will need to:

• Identify an academic who is willing to act as your academic host and mentor during your visit to Oxford. If your chosen mentor is unable to support your visit, contact the departmental administrator for advice.
• Send a clear research proposal to your intended academic host, outlining your plan for your time in Oxford (and note, if you intend to work on a collaborative project you will need to start this process 4-6 months before you arrive).    
• Check whether the host department has a specific application process for academic visitors, and if so, whether applications are accepted on a rolling basis or whether any deadlines apply.
• Obtain a letter of support for your visit to Oxford from your home institution – you will need this as part of your application.
• Check whether your host department charges Visitor Fees or Bench Fees.

In order to apply, most departments will expect you to include:

• A visitor programme application form
• A current CV
• A Letter of Support from the academic who is supporting your visit
• A letter from your home institution, confirming approval of your proposed visit to Oxford
• Evidence of how you intend to fund your visit.

Other factors to consider:

Visas and timing - Your host department will work with the Staff Immigration team to help you identify and apply for the most relevant visa. Allow at least three extra months if you are a citizen from outside the European Economic Area or Switzerland.  Work with your department and check our Timing your Visit page to ascertain the best time of year to come to Oxford for your specific project.

College affiliation – In some cases affiliation with a college may be available for your visit. If you would like to apply for this, please arrange for a letter from your host department confirming the dates and nature of your visit, and then apply to the college of your choice directly. Oxford colleges all charge a (variable) visitor fee for hosting academic visitors.

Whether you intend to come to Oxford as an independent researcher or to visit a department, you will need to time your visit around the University’s terms and closure days.

Visitors to a department will need to agree the dates of their visit with the department, as this will depend on lab and desk space and faculty availability. Independent researchers will need to pay attention to library and museum closure dates. Some departments may have application deadlines while others do not, but we advise beginning the application process at least a term before you intend to come to Oxford.

Visitors are advised to come to Oxford during term time, as the majority of research seminars are held during the eight weeks of term, and all libraries and research facilities will be open throughout term. The dates of term can be found here: Full term

Details of opening times and closure days for Oxford’s main libraries and museums can be found here:

Bodleian Libraries – Opening Hours Ashmolean – Plan your Visit Museum of Natural History – Visiting us Pitt Rivers Museum – Visiting the Museum

The University and all associated buildings are usually closed over Christmas and the New Year, and occasionally at other times. Please check closure dates directly with the department or library concerned before finalising the dates of your visit.

Travel directions

Visiting academics will need to make their own arrangements for travel to the UK. Once you have arrived,  information on how to get to Oxford by train, coach and car can be found here .

If you are not a British or Irish national, you will need advice on the appropriate visa route for your visit and will need to either apply for a visa before travelling, or know which visa route you will be using when entering the UK. Your host department or college, with support from our Staff Immigration Team , will be able to advise you on the most appropriate visa for your specific visit.

If a visa is required, you may need to apply in advance of travelling to the UK. It can take some time to gather the necessary supporting documents and for visa applications to be processed. You should, therefore, discuss your visit and any visa application with your host department/ college as early as possible, and where possible at least three months before you plan to visit.

Whether you have to apply for a visa in advance or at your UK port of entry you will need an invitation letter issued by your host department/ college in Oxford.

There are three different Visitor visa types which may be appropriate depending on the purpose of your visit to the University of Oxford:

• Standard Visitor – Academic: for academics, currently employed by overseas Universities, who are on sabbatical and are coming to carry out their own research, attend a conference, and/ or share knowledge and experience
• Standard Visitor – Business: for those coming to attend a conference, meeting, or interview
• Permitted Paid Engagement: for those being paid by the University to come to deliver a series of lectures or to act as an external examiner or assessor

Further information on Visitor visas and the application process can be found in the Staff Immigration Team’s guidance booklet (top right of page)

Please note: Collaborative research is not permitted under a Visitor visa. If you are coming to carry out research in collaboration with members of the University you will require a different type of visa and will need to apply before travelling to the UK. If you are intending to come to carry out collaborative research this should be discussed with your host department/ college as early as possible, and at least four months before you plan to visit.

Some visitors who are coming to study or carry out research will also require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate and, if required, this must be obtained before travelling to the UK. The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) requires security clearance from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for studies and research in certain sensitive subjects. Visitors will need to discuss the subject of their studies or research with their host department or college as early as possible to confirm whether they will need to apply for an ATAS certificate, and to allow enough time to obtain this before their visit if required.

Information on ATAS for studies is provided by the Student Immigration Team  and on ATAS for research by the Staff Immigration Team.

Academic visitors to Oxford will usually need to pay a fee, whether tuition fees for recognised students or administrative fees for academics. Most visitors will apply for research funding to cover the costs of their visit to Oxford, either from their home university or from an external funding scheme. Funding is not usually available from Oxford host departments.

Visitor fees and access to facilities

Most Oxford departments and research centres charge a visitor fee to all visitors to cover the administrative and practical costs of hosting visitors (e.g. visa assistance, IT support, desk space). You will need to contact your intended host department to discuss the charge for your specific visit.

In addition to affiliation with an Oxford department, academic visitors will usually be provided with a University card, access to library services, printing facilities, and often with a workspace and University email address. Academic visitors are able to attend research seminars and guest lectures across Oxford University. Fees usually range from £200-500 per month.     

External funding schemes for visitors

The following organisations have funding schemes for academic visitors:

• British Academy Visiting Fellowships (for international visitors)
• Leverhulme Visiting Professorships
• Some colleges also offer funding for visits – details can be found on their websites

Related document

• Overseas visitor communication leaflet

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Visiting Doctoral Students

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Wolfson College welcomes a handful of visiting doctoral students from around the world each year. The purpose of this scheme is to enable doctoral students from other universities to work with a Governing Body, Emeritus or Supernumerary Fellow on a specific piece of research in Oxford. 

When can I apply to be a visiting doctoral student?

You are able to apply to come for periods of 3 months, up to a maximum of 9 consecutive months.

The periods are:

• October – January (application must be received by 01 April)
• January – April (application must be received by 01 September)
• April – July (application must be received by 01 December)

Applications will be decided at the first meeting of the College’s Fellowships & Members Committee (FMC) of the term prior to the desired start date.

Dates outside these periods, including the summer vacation, may be considered on request.

Please note that visits are not normally renewable immediately and an extension would require a full application and will be considered alongside other new applications.

How much does it cost?

The college fee for Visiting Doctoral Students in 2024-25 academic year is £1,273 per term OR £3,819 per 9-month academic year (October – June), to be pro-rated according to the length of visit. The fee for each visiting period is payable in full no later than 14 days prior to the start of the visiting period.

Please note that this rate will normally increase each year according to the percentage increase in standard student fees.

Visiting Doctoral Students are not eligible for any student funding from Wolfson College, including but not limited to: college bursaries, travel grants, language course grants, or hardship support.

How do I apply?

All applications should be submitted via the online form.

You will need to upload the following documents to your application:

• Completed application form
• Curriculum vitae
• Supporting statement from Proposer (must be a Governing Body Fellow or Emeritus Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford)
• Evidence of current enrolment as a doctoral student at another university
• Evidence of current right to study in the UK, including appropriate visa (as applicable)*
• Evidence of sufficient funds to cover expenses whilst in Oxford**

*Wolfson cannot sponsor visiting students for UK student visas. If you are an international student who would ordinarily need a visa to study in the UK and you are not already enrolled at a UK university, please see the  UKCISA website  for guidance and contact your home university’s international study office.

**This would normally be a letter from your bank which confirms that you have sufficient funds to cover your living and transport costs during your proposed visiting period. The letter should be on headed paper and should be written in English.

Applications should be submitted according to the following deadlines:

• 01 April (for a visiting period from October – January of the same year)
• 01 September (for a visiting period from January – April of the following year)
• 01 December (for a visiting period from April – July of the following year)

Will accommodation be provided?

Should your application be approved, you may apply for accommodation in College. Please note, that College accommodation is limited and so cannot be guaranteed. Priority for accommodation is given to full-time Wolfson students who are enrolled on a degree programme offered by the University of Oxford.

Oxford has a large selection of privately-rented houses and flats available for short-term and long-term lets.

For more info on accommodation at Wolfson College, please visit our accommodation page .

Can I get Common Room membership?

Visiting Doctoral Students will become members of Common Room. Members are permitted to purchase lunch and dine in College. Visiting Doctoral Students are entitled to receive the student dining subsidy.

Visiting Doctoral Students can also use the College facilities such as the library and gym. There is an additional cost to join the gym to cover the cost of the compulsory gym induction. Members can also chose to participate in sports and arts activities in College. All members are required to pay a termly Common Room subscription charge.

Visiting Doctoral Students are not permitted to submit applications for partners or family to be considered for associate membership to the College. They are not eligible for membership of Common Room on the basis of their Visiting Doctoral Student status beyond their visiting student period.

Will I get access to all University facilities?

Visiting Doctoral Students are solely affiliated with the Common Room at Wolfson College (and any relevant Wolfson College research cluster) and are not permitted to make use of or granted access to any University facilities. They are not enrolled at the University of Oxford and do not receive any formal qualification, certificate of attendance, or transcript following the end of their visiting student period at Wolfson. As Wolfson Visiting Doctoral Students are not members of the University of Oxford, they do not have access to University resources and facilities.

Access to the Bodleian Libraries must be applied for separately on the grounds of enrolment as a doctoral researcher at a non-Oxford institution. Visiting Doctoral Students will be responsible for obtaining access to the Bodleian Libraries, which is free of charge for UK doctoral students; charges may apply for non-UK students. Online access is available within libraries to e-journals and most databases, but remote access from outside is not permitted.

For more information on the scheme and how to apply, please see the information above. If you have any further questions, please contact the Academic Office:  [email protected]

Home > Articles > The University & Its Traditions

Oxford University Visiting Scholars: What to Expect & How to Prepare

Oxford University regularly receives academics for visits that can last from a month to a year. Academic visitors are usually provided with a University card, access to library services, printing facilities, and often with a workspace and University email address. Learn more about becoming a visiting scholar and how to prepare for your visit to Oxford.

Who Can Visit and Research at Oxford University?

The University of Oxford receives academics that are employed at universities overseas. For those who want to visit for less than a month, researchers also have the option of visiting Oxford’s libraries and attending seminars. Graduate students can also study under the supervision of an Oxford academic using the Recognised Student status .

There are two types of visiting researchers to the University:

• Visiting Scholars (meaning people who are staff or research-active in other institutions)
• Doctoral Researchers (who are registered as doctoral students at any other institution).

How do you Apply to Become a Visiting Scholar at Oxford?

The first step towards visiting Oxford as a scholar is determine the sort of visitor you are. Undergraduates and master students should start by contacting the Study Abroad Office at their current institution for advice on how to apply. Doctoral students can contact the  department and professor they would like to visit directly. Once they have agreed on the visit, they can officially apply online here: Graduate Admissions . Most departments will ask you to send them a programme application form, a resume, a letter of support from the academic supporting your visit, and evidence of funding.

Faculty members should consult  Oxford’s divisions and departments are listed  here , arrange a visa , look for accommodation, and check how to open a bank account , arrange  healthcare  and  make connections with other researchers .

Can you Apply for Funding for your Visit to Oxford?

Most Oxford Departments and research centres will charge a small fee to cover the administrative and practical costs of visitors (such as assisting with your visa, providing you with desk space, etc).

You can apply for funding to help you plan your visit to the University. You can find information on potential funders is here:  External funding schemes .

The following organisations have funding schemes for academic visitors:

• British Academy Visiting Fellowships (for international visitors)
• Leverhulme Visiting Professorships

Why do Scholars Visit Oxford?

Oxford University has a thriving international community that includes academics, researchers and students. There are normally about 140 countries represented and engaged in research at Oxford. Its cosmopolitan environment offers a supportive and fascinating atmosphere for academics. 

Useful Links for Visiting Scholars

You might found these useful if you’re staff:

• The  Staff Gateway : This site provides information about working at the University of Oxford.
• The  People and Organisational Development Team (POD): It offers an excellent on-line induction course for staff.
• The  Centre for Teaching and Learning : It offers an Oxford Essentials course for new academic staff.
• The  Research Staff Hub  and the  Oxford Research Staff Society (OxRSS): They provide support and networking opportunities for those employed by the University for research purposes, in particular people on fixed-term contracts.

There’s also a club for new members’ partners:

• Newcomers’ Club : For partners of University members.

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Visa requirements for academic visitors (doctoral students and faculty) to Oxford University

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From 1 January 2021 all EU, EEA and Swiss nationals visiting a department/ faculty or college, that have not been resident in the UK before 31 December 2020, will need to enter the UK under the appropriate visitor route:

• Academic visitors who are non-visa nationals ( Check UK visa  and  visa national list ),  visiting for less than 6 months  (e.g. professors, postdocs, doctoral students) must show the Academic Visitor letter to a Border Control officer on arrival to get a visitor stamp in their passport. Please email your host department in the UK to request the letter.
• Academic visitors who are visa nationals or non-visa nationals ( Check UK visa  and  visa national list ),  visiting for more than 6 months  (e.g. professors, postdocs, doctoral students) can apply for the  academic visitor visa  (sub-category of the standard visitor visa) for  up to 12 months . Please see  Academic Visitor Visa  section: ( Types of Standard Visitor visas | Staff Immigration (ox.ac.uk) ). Such visitors will also need the Academic Visitor letter before travelling to the UK. Please email your host department in the UK to request the letter.

Students will not be supported for visits of over 6 months. 

• Student visitors who are non-visa nationals ( Check UK visa  and  Visa national list ), must show the Student Visitor letter to a Border Control officer on arrival to get a visitor stamp in their passport. Please email your host department in the UK to request the letter.
• Student visitors who are visa nationals ( Check UK visa  and  Visa national list ) will need a visa and the Student Visitor letter before travelling to the UK. Such students can apply for the Visitor Visa(for visits up to 6 months). The visa cannot be extended over 6 months or be changed into the student route. A letter can be provided by the Department to assist with the application.  More information about these student visas can be found here: ( Before you arrive | University of Oxford )

Note, all visitors will need to obtain additional medical insurance for all costs not covered by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Please consult the UK government website for details:  Healthcare for visitors to the UK from the EU - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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