Visiting researchers to the Faculty of Social Sciences
Find all you need to know about conducting research as a visiting academic or professional in the Faculty.
Share your expertise and build connections
The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Sussex welcomes visiting scholars and professionals.
We aim to forge connections and foster opportunities for you in your area of expertise, whether you’re joining the Faculty as a visitor from another institution or receiving an Honorary title.
We welcome visiting researchers to the following departments: Anthropology, Education, Geography, International Relations, International Development, Law, Politics, Social Work and Social Care, Sociology and Criminology.
Find guidance about conducting research in the Faculty as a:
Visiting Academics
As a Visiting Academic to the Faculty of Social Sciences you’ll join a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment.
What we offer
When you join us as a Visiting Academic you’ll receive:
- a University of Sussex email account (if appropriate)
- IT support and access to facilities across our campus including the Library.
- shared office space may be available but is not guaranteed.
All visitors can use the Sussex Research Hive – a dedicated space for researchers to work – in the Library and any shared desktop computer on campus.
Your role
Your title will reflect the level of your current academic post at your home institution.
Examples include Visiting Research Fellow, Visiting Senior Research Fellow, and Visiting Professorial Fellow. Titles are awarded for an initial maximum of three years.
As a Visiting Researcher you’ll:
- integrate into the intellectual life of the Faculty
- develop connections within our academic community
- contribute to the research environment.
Applicants will need an academic sponsor from a department or research centre in the Faculty.
You and your sponsor should agree in advance on the focus of your visit, planned activities and expected outcomes. These could include:
- delivering seminars, guest lectures or workshops for faculty, postgraduate researchers and taught students
- producing a working paper, policy briefing, academic publication or similar
- sharing knowledge with students, faculty and research staff (including on dissertations, careers, data sources, analytical strategies and policy frameworks)
- collaborating on a research proposal with a member of faculty.
Visiting Academic positions are unpaid.
You will be given an induction to the Faculty when you begin your visit.
Fees
You are required to pay a £350 fee to cover administrative costs per year or part of the year. This applies to both in-person and remote Visiting Researcher positions.
Should workspace be available, there will be an additional £350 fee per year of part of the year. This workspace may be in a separate building from the department in which you are based.
You may request a fee waiver in specific circumstances (for example for researchers from an ODA-eligible country, who recently completed a PhD at the university). This must be submitted in writing for consideration alongside your application.
How to apply
To apply, you’ll need to:
- identify an academic sponsor in the Faculty of Social Sciences and agree on the aims and outputs from your visit. You can use our Find a Researcher tool to locate a suitable sponsor
- download our application form and complete it with your supervisor, who will submit it on your behalf.
Acceptance is based on the following criteria:
- the anticipated contribution the applicant will make to the School’s academic life
- the quality of the proposed project or activity
- the fit between the applicant’s interests and those of the proposer and host research centre or department
- the relevance of any proposed outputs to the host research centre or department
- you must hold a PhD to apply for a visiting title.
If your application is approved, you’ll receive an offer letter and a request for documents for us to carry out ID checks.
Please allow at least two months for the necessary administrative procedures to be completed. Due to additional visa requirements, applications from scholars outside the UK may take longer to process.
Honorary
The title of ‘Honorary’ is awarded to people who are: not employed by a higher education institution; are leaders in their field; and have an established association with the University of Sussex. You may be eligible to apply without a PhD.
To support your work, you will receive a Sussex email account, IT support and access to facilities including the Library.
Shared office space may be available but is not guaranteed. All Honorary visitors can use the Sussex Research Hive and any shared desktop computer on campus.
Honorary positions are unpaid.
To apply, you’ll need to:
- identify an academic sponsor in the Faculty and agree on the aims and outputs from your visit
- download our application form and complete it with your supervisor, who will submit it on your behalf.
Email SocSci-VisitingResearchers@sussex.ac.uk for further details.
Research Associates
The position of Research Associate is for those wanting to continue an affiliation with the Faculty – most commonly recent Postgraduate Researchers or Postdoctoral Researchers at the University of Sussex.
To qualify for this position, you must have a sponsor in the Faculty who is willing to recommend you and serve as your point of contact.
If your application is approved, you will be granted the title of Research Associate and a Sussex email address.
Email SocSci-VisitingResearchers@sussex.ac.uk for further details on how to apply.
Visiting Doctoral Researchers
We welcome visiting PhD researchers to come and study in the Faculty. This can be a good way to enrich your doctoral research experience and make connections.
Find out more about being a Visiting Doctoral Researcher at Sussex.