Any non-UK academic ro researcher who wishes to visit the UK can do so via the visitor visa sytem.
Note that for some nationalities, they will require a visa in advance of travel, but other nationalities will be able to seek entry as a visitor at the border. For a full list of nationalities who do require a visitor visa in advance on travel, please see the Home Office guidance here.
The Visitor (Standard) visa, or where entry is sought at the border, will be granted for a maximum of 6 months (or 12 months if they are an 'academic visitor' - see below).
There is a wide range of activities that individuals can undertake on the Visitor (Standard) visa. For full details, see the UK Visas and Immigration webpages. However, for individuals visiting the University to undertake a short period of work, the majority of these activities will not be relevant. Therefore, only the activities which are relevant to the University have been described in the eligibility section below.
Eligibility
The table below outlines the types of permissible activities that can be undertaken depending on the type of person being invited to the University.
Type of visitor
|
Permissible activities |
Maximum validity of visa |
Any person invited by the hosting department/institution
|
In addition to undertaking the above activities, visitors are also permitted to:
|
6 months |
Scientists and researchers:
|
|
6 months |
Academic Visitors:
(Note: Undergraduate and post-graduate students currently studying would not qualify as an academic under this definition) |
|
12 months * |
* It is only possible to obtain a 12 month visa where the individual applies in advance of travel to the UK. Where seeking entry at the border as an 'academic visitor', entry will only be granted for a maximum of 6 months.
How to apply for a visa
For further details, please see the How to Apply section of our webpages.
Visitor visa restrictions
In all cases, holders of a Visitor (Standard) visa cannot:
- Undertake any form of employment in the UK (except for the permissible activities listed above);
- Fill a normal post or a genuine vacancy, even on a temporary basis;
- Receive funding for their work from any UK source (payments of expenses, including travel and subsistence may be disregarded – see below);
- Stay in the UK for more than 6 months (or 12 months for visiting academics);
- Switch to any other immigration category whilst inside the UK;
- Have recourse to public funds.
Acceptable Payment
The individual must not receive payment from a UK source for any activities undertaken in the UK, except for reasonable expenses to cover the cost of their travel and subsistence, including fees for directors attending board-level meetings.
A visitor’s travel, maintenance and accommodation may be provided by a third party (which can be the University) provided:
- They have a genuine professional or personal relationship with the visitor; and
- They are legally present in the UK, or will be at the time of the visitor’s entry to the UK; and
- They can and will provide support to the visitor for the intended duration of their stay.