Visiting postgraduate research students

If you are currently registered as a PhD or Master’s by Research student at another institution and wish to undertake research at the University of Bristol, then you can apply to study as a visiting research student.

Before you apply

Check you are eligible by reading the Admissions statement for visiting postgraduate research students (PDF, 159kB).

Please note that it can take 4 to 6 weeks for an applications to be processed and offers made; the timings may be longer during busy periods (such as September and January). The preferred dates of your visit are provisional and will be confirmed with the Faculty Postgraduate Research Admin Team as part of the application process.

Applicants are advised to complete their application as early as possible to ensure there is enough time to secure the relevant approvals and make the necessary pre-arrival arrangements (including ATAS and visa applications if applicable).

Please do not make any study, accommodation or travel arrangements until an official offer has been issued.

How to apply

You must first secure the agreement of a member of academic staff to act as your supervisor for the duration of your visit. Find an academic whose research area matches your interests. You should contact them directly, using the contact details given. You should agree provisional date for your visit with them.
Start your application and type the name of your chosen programme from one of the following: Biochemistry (Visiting) (PGR), Biological Sciences (Visiting) (PGR), Cellular and molecular medicine (Visiting) (PGR), Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience (Visiting) (PGR), Psychology (Visiting) (PGR).
Select the start date that is closest to your preferred start time, for example choose “January 2025” if you would like to visit in March 2025.
Fill out the application form, following the instructions in the Admissions statement for visiting postgraduate research students (PDF, 159kB), and submit it with all of the required documents uploaded.

After you apply

The Faculty Postgraduate Research Team will contact you to request any additional information or outstanding documents. They will liaise with your proposed supervisor and communicate the outcome via the application portal.

If your application is successful, an offer to study will be issued. Please note that your start date may be different from the one you requested; the team will advise on a suitable start date, according to your visa and ATAS requirements.

International students

Check if you need a visa. You should select “study” as the reason for your visit.
Please read the sections “Visa options for visiting students” and “ATAS” on the Visiting students page.
If you require a visa in advance of travelling, the Faculty Postgraduate Research team will request a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for your visa application.

Your offer letter will indicate whether you need to apply for an ATAS certificate or not and it will provide details for the ATAS application.