Visiting Researchers

The Department welcomes academic visitors from all over the world, inviting them to become part of our vibrant research community and to participate in its rich programme of events.

Academic Researchers

Lancaster University welcomes overseas academics who wish to spend a period here as a visitor attached to one of its departments. Such visiting academics are accepted by the University on the recommendation of a department, and only after approval from the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

The Department of English Literature and Creative Writing welcomes applications from academic visitors from overseas who wish to come to Lancaster for a period of time between one week and a year to study and/or write independently rather than for a degree qualification.

Those selected hold the title of Visiting Researcher and are not charged tuition fees but simply a 'bench fee' of up to £2,000 - the full fee is only charged if visiting for a full calendar year.

Visiting academic researchers will have:

  • full internet access
  • full lending rights to the University Library
  • access to the Ruskin Library (houses the world's foremost collection of Ruskin materials)
  • the opportunity to sit in on any BA lecture and selected BA and MA seminars
  • access to our extensive programme of Open Research Seminars, Readings and Guest Lectures
  • the opportunity to attend Professor Paul Muldoon's open seminars and lectures
  • the opportunity to attend Professor Mary Talbot's workshops and events
  • Postgraduate Research Students work-in-progress seminars (fortnightly)
  • the opportunity to attend events associated with research centres such as the Ruskin, the Wordsworth Centre, the Centre for Transcultural Writing and the Shakespeare Programme.
  • attend the various Departmental reading groups

Please note:

  • Visiting Researchers are not entitled to office space or any formal supervision or teaching.
  • Visting Researchers are responsible for sourcing their own accommodation for the period of their visit.
  • If your research involves Linguistics or English Language you may be more suited to applying to the Department of Linguistics and English Language.

If you are a member of the academic staff of a university other than Lancaster, and wish to make use of the study facilities and resources of the University and of the department (for example, during a period of leave), you can apply for the position of Visiting Academic Researcher.

To make an application you should submit the following to elcwteaching@lancaster.ac.uk:

Assuming acceptance by the Department the form is then submitted to the Faculty for approval. If approved, you will be sent an official letter of appointment. The University requires the department to charge a fee to visitors, commensurate with their call on departmental resources and facilities, and the department’s basic charge is currently £2000.00 per annum (pro-rata for visits of less than one year). We cannot reduce fees for periods that visitors choose not to be in Lancaster, i.e. travelling around the UK or Europe.

Accommodation & Arrival

The University has a 'Visiting Researchers' information page which details information about:

  • accommodation, including links to helpful websites
  • visa information
  • travel to the University
  • what to do when you arrive on campus
Visiting Researchers

Visiting Research Students

We welcome applications from visiting research students. As a visiting research student you will enjoy all the benefits offered to visiting researchers (listed above); in addition to these benefits you will also be assigned a supervisor for the time you are here.

There are two defined levels: for visits of up to 6 months (category 1), and for visits between 6 and 12 months (category 2).

Tab Content: Category 1

Any study period up to 6 months, and for non-EEA, and for those on a Student Route Visa with no plan to extend. To apply, in the first instance you must submit:

  • A postgraduate application form (available from email: elcwteaching@lancaster.ac.uk), including curriculum vitae, brief research statement, and title of research
  • Once we have ascertained your suitability you may be asked to provide an English language Certificate at B2 level (minimum IELTS 5.5 overall and 5.5 in each element) or we may ask you to participate in a telephone interview.

A statement from your host supervisor, confirming that you have been interviewed and are suitable (linguistically and academically) for admission as a visiting student will then be required by the FASS Admissions Office to finalise your application.

Tab Content: Category 2

Any study period of 6 months or more, for non-EEA students, when a Student Route visa is required. To apply, in the first instance all students must submit:

  • A postgraduate application form (available from email: elcwteaching@lancaster.ac.uk), including curriculum vitae, brief research statement, and title of research
  • Evidence of qualifications

For non-EEA applicants only:

  • English language at B2 level (minimum IELTS 5.5 overall and 5.5 in each element, or equivalent). We reserve the right to ask for a higher score (i.e. minimum university entry requirement), should the allocated supervisor consider this necessary.

For EEA applicants only:

  • Once we have ascertained your suitability you may be asked to provide an English language Certificate at B2 level (minimum IELTS 5.5 overall and 5.5 in each element) or we may ask you to participate in a telephone interview.

A statement from your host supervisor, confirming that you have been interviewed and are suitable (linguistically and academically) for admission as a visiting student will then be required by the FASS Admissions Office to finalise your application.

Tab Content: Fees

  • all visiting PhD students are charged a registration levy of £500;
  • no additional charge is made for visits of up to three months’ duration;
  • for visits of more than three months, students will additionally become liable for 25% of the relevant published fee for each subsequent quarter or part thereof;
  • students studying at Lancaster for the full academic year will be charged 100% of the standard fee.