Skip to main content

Visiting Postgraduate Scholars

This scheme offers the opportunity for exceptional research students to conduct some of their research in Bath.

Conducting a research visit at the University of Bath

Our excellent facilities and extensive expertise can often be of value to research students elsewhere and we welcome opportunities to foster and develop collaborative partnerships.

If you wish to visit the University of Bath as a Visiting Postgraduate Scholar (VPS), you should ensure that your visit will produce clear research benefits such as:

  • A research article
  • A project report
  • A future research grant application
  • Impact or Knowledge exchange
  • Product development

Eligibility criteria

To be considered for the VPS scheme, you must be formally registered for a doctoral-level research degree (PhD or similar) at another recognised higher education institution, both at the point of application and for the duration of your intended visit. Note: Separate schemes are available for Undergraduate students, students undertaking a Postgraduate Masters degree (MA, MSc, MRes etc) and Research staff.

The VPS scheme provides eligible students with a tuition fee waiver for a period of up to 6 months.

If you are visiting for 6 months or less, you will not be charged tuition fees, and can select the dates of your visit.

Visits of between 6 - 12 months can be considered, but:

  • You will be charged tuition fees on a pro-rata basis for the additional period over 6 months. The tuition fees will depend on your field of study and fee status. Information on postgraduate research tuition fees can be found on our website. You will be provided with the exact cost of your visit once your application has been assessed.
  • No additional tuition fee waivers or funding is available for longer visits.
  • You will be required to start on specific dates throughout the year. You can select your start date from the following main admissions entry dates, which are set each academic year and which usually fall in:
    • Late September/Early October
    • January
    • Late March/Early April
    • Late June/Early July

How to apply

Eligible students will be able to apply for a place by invitation only, once they have found a University of Bath supervisor who has agreed to support their visit.

Application process

Applications are by invitation only.

You must first contact a potential supervisor here at the University of Bath to discuss the possibility of a visit and to seek their support to supervise you for a VPS visit. You can find a suitable supervisor on the research and staff pages for each department. You can also browse Pure, the University’s research portal, for profiles of individual academics as well as the research centres, institutes and units to which they belong.

Once you have found a suitable supervisor at the University of Bath and have their agreement to supervise your visit and research project, ask them to contact the VPS team within the Doctoral College.

If you are invited to apply, your Bath supervisor will need to provide to the Doctoral College VPS team supporting information as part of the application process – this is required before an application can be considered.

Your Bath supervisor will also provide you with a link to complete the online VPS application. Complete applications, including all required supporting documentation, must be received before an application can be considered.

The online application

When completing the online application, you will need to provide:

  1. A letter of endorsement from a member of academic staff supervising your research at your home university (See below)
  2. A scan of your passport
  3. The title of the research project and a short research proposal (maximum 1 page)
  4. Evidence of English Language Competence
  5. Copies of undergraduate and Master’s degree certificates and transcripts (with translated versions) – only needed if visit will be for a period of longer than 6 months

The letter of endorsement from your home PhD supervisor must include:

  • The academics name
  • Confirmation that they are currently supervising your research
  • Confirmation that you are currently studying a PhD (or other level 8 qualification)
  • Title of the degree you are currently studying (for example, PhD in (subject name)
  • Confirmation that they are happy for you to spend time visiting the University of Bath
  • Confirmation that the research at Bath forms part of, or is relevant to, the programme studied at your home institution.

When applying, please note that the online application form is automatically populated with a September start date: this is updated by the VPS team once an offer can be made, and based upon the dates agreed between the applicant and their Bath supervisor. A reference is also requested via the online application form – this can be the email address for your home PhD supervisor.

Application deadlines

VPS applications are accepted year-round. However, VPS applicants must allow sufficient time for application processing, for securing the relevant supervisory support and for making necessary pre-arrival arrangements (which may include visa and ATAS clearance, as well as travel and accommodation arrangements).

As such, the start date of a VPS visit should be set for at least 3 months from the submission of a complete application (including all supporting information).

We advise you to apply as early as possible.

Enquiries

Queries should be directed to your potential supervisor here at the University of Bath