Relocation Expenses Policy

Policy Scope

This policy complements the University’s staff recruitment and selection processes and aims to support new staff in their relocating to take up a role at the University of Bristol.

Relocation assistance may be claimed by eligible new staff appointed on an open-ended (permanent) contract or a fixed term contract of one year or more (not including extensions to an existing fixed term contract).  

Where the appointed member of staff currently lives outside a 50 mile radius of Bristol and moves within 30 miles of their new place of work they will be entitled to a relocation package as detailed below. Arrangements for this will be made through Human Resources.

All relocation claims (excluding visa reimbursement) should be submitted within a year of the employment start date. However, if this is not possible for exceptional personal reasons, it may be possible to agree a deferred time scale with the Resourcing team. 

Visa Reimbursement
There is a separate Immigration Costs Reimbursement Policy (PDF, 211kB) where staff can check their eligibility and conditions on reclaiming the standard cost of the visa. This cost must be submitted within six months of the visa being approved through the visa expense process as quoted in this policy.

Entitlements

Staff moving from within the UK

Staff moving from outside the UK

Externally Funded Research Fellows

In exceptional cases the HR Director is empowered to authorise the reimbursement of removal expenses in excess of the above limits.

Expenses that can be reclaimed

In all cases, staff claiming expenses should seek the best value possible and the University reserves the right to only pay up to this value where it is exceeded:

* Note: the following travel costs will normally be reimbursed:

 Expenses not covered under this relocation scheme

Making the claim

Once your claim is authorised by Human Resources it will be processed for payment directly into your bank account.  Failure to provide the necessary documentation may result in delays in payment being made.

Should you wish to discuss any aspect of your claim please contact your HR team or the resourcing team.

Leaving the University

In the event of a member of staff who has received a contribution towards relocation from the relocation policy and leave the University within 3 years of taking up an open-ended post or before they have completed 50% of a fixed term contract, the University will require the staff member to repay on a pro-rata basis any relocation policy financial assistance as follows:

Less than one year from start of employment – 100%

More than one year but less than 2 years from start of employment – 50%

More than 2 years but less than 3 years from start of employment – 25%

More than 3 years from start of employment – 0%