Opportunities for Visiting Fellows

The Graduate School of Education welcomes Visiting Fellows at various stages of their careers. Visiting Fellows are scholars resident in the School for short periods of time or a specified length of time (up to 12 months) who conduct their own research whilst benefiting from, and contributing to, the research culture of the Graduate School of Education.

Read about our current and recent visiting fellows.

Benefits
Fees
Selection
Expectations
Eligibility
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Application process

Benefits

You will have access to support and guidance provided by academic and administrative research staff. You will be able to engage with colleagues conducting interdisciplinary research; network and attend events in the Graduate School of Education and more widely across the University;
You may join one or more of the School Centres or Networks, benefiting from the vibrant academic atmosphere these present. Within the Graduate School of Education, we have centres focusing on issues of language, globalisation, teaching and learning in schools, assessment, higher education, comparative education, information technologies in education, advanced statistical analysis, narrative inquiry, transformative learning and identities, psychology and education among others.
You may attend one or more of the School’s Reading Groups offered by centres and networks. We also hold regular whole-school events and seminars with frequent participation of a range of educational stakeholders, for instance policy makers, teachers and school administrators;
You will also have opportunities to present your research in School research groups and seminars, and to contribute to the outputs of the School’s research and impact agendas;
Visiting Fellows have access to a wide range of public lectures and seminars across the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law and elsewhere in the University.

Fees

Please note that we do not offer funding. If you are interested in applying for a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Graduate School of Education please read our guidelines for Postdoctoral Fellowships (coming soon!).

The Graduate School of Education charges an affiliation fee (or ‘bench fee’), the amount of which depends on the length of stay. Please note that the affiliation/bench fee must be paid prior to the commencement of any visit.

For an affiliation/bench fee of £1000 per term or £3000 per year, we provide library and email/network access, and access to all departmental events, workshops, and research seminars. At this level of fee we cannot provide a desk or desktop PC in the Department. Visitors in this category are encouraged to bring laptop computers which can be used at wireless areas around the University.
We review fees periodically. The definitive bench fee will be given to successful applicants in their offer letter.

Selection

Visiting Fellows who plan to be resident in Bristol are chosen on the basis of three criteria:

Research topic: Of most importance is the close intellectual fit of the proposed research to the Graduate School of Education research themes and interests of permanent staff.
Space: In order to provide adequate facilities, we limit the total number of Visiting Fellows.
Duration of stay: We may at any one time not have the space to accept a longer stay, but can perhaps accommodate a shorter one.

Expectations

We ask that all Visiting Fellows present at least one research seminar while they are in the School and submit a research output, for example, a paper, PowerPoint presentation or podcast.

We also ask that applicants have a level of English that is of a standard that is suitable for academic work.

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Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply for Visiting Fellow status?

Anyone holding a PhD qualification is eligible to apply for Visiting Fellow status. If you wish to visit us but do not hold a PhD, please read our guidelines for Visiting Research Students.

Applicants who are citizens of an EEA country simply need to complete the Visiting Fellow application form (Word, 63 Kb).

Applicants who are non-EEA citizens are required, in addition, to go through the Tier 5 procedures for Sponsored Researchers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please read our Visiting Fellows FAQs.

Application process

After you have identified a research project that is of mutual benefit to yourself and a member of staff who works in your area, please complete a Visiting Fellow application form (Word, 63 Kb), attaching your CV and if you are outside of the European Economic Area (EEA), evidence of employment in your home country. Please email these documents to: k.j.holmes@bristol.ac.uk

Please note that applications need to be made at least 6 months before the proposed visit. Applications by non-EEA citizens will require substantially more time and effort on the part of applicants due to immigration procedures – see details on eligibility and the FAQs.

Contact:

Kate Holmes
35 Berkeley Square
Bristol, BS8 1JA
Email: k.j.holmes@bristol.ac.uk
Tel: (0117) 331 4291

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