Global Talent endorsement - Endorsed Funders

Eligibility

Eligibility for this path to Global Talent endorsement is dependent on factors relating to both a grant and an individual.

The grant must:

Be from a funding body approved by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI); and

Last for at least 2 years in total; and

Be worth at least £30,000 in total.

You must:

Have accepted, or already hold, a contract of employment or visitor agreement to work as a researcher or specialist technician at the University of Cambridge which involves you:
- directing a unique research or innovation project, either independently or under the supervision of a Principal Investigator; or
- making critical contributions to research by providing core technical or domain excellence or in developing new technologies and methodologies; and

Have a contract/visitor agreement which will last for at least 12 months beyond the date you apply for endorsement; and

Be named, or have your role listed, on the grant agreement; and

Spend at least 50% of your working time on the eligible grant/award (note: this does not mean 0.5 FTE or 50% – part time working is allowed and there are no minimum salary requirements). Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators may be able to aggregate time spent on multiple eligible grants; and

Either hold a PhD qualification or have equivalent research experience (including industrial or clinical research).

Evidential requirements

You will need to provide the following as part of your endorsement application:

A statement of guarantee from the University's Director of Human Resources; and
Unless a link to the grant is provided within the statement of guarantee, a copy of the grant agreement/award letter.

The statement of guarantee will be provided to you, via email from your recruiting/employing department, by the HR Compliance Team. No-one else can provide this document.

How to apply

Once you have the statement of guarantee, you can apply for endorsement.

On the application form, you will first be asked to enter your personal details. Once you have completed those sections, the form will ask you about your application. Please see the following guidance on some of the questions which may not be clear:

Immigration adviser: Do you have an immigration adviser based in the UK?

Please select No, even if you have received advice from the HR Compliance team. Only select Yes if you have engaged the services of an external immigration advisor.

Entry clearance or leave to remain: Are you applying for entry clearance or leave to remain (stage 2) at the same time as making this application for endorsement (stage 1)?

This question is asking if you want to apply for the visa (stage 2) at the same time as the endorsement application (stage 1). You do not need to do so; this is only really beneficial to you if you are currently in the UK and your current visa is about to expire. Please contact the HR Compliance Team f you need further advice on this issue.

Application criteria: Were you endorsed under exceptional promise or exceptional talent criteria?

Select "Neither – I am applying under the UK Research and Innovation endorsed funder route".

Field of Talent: State your field of talent

Enter your field of talent as listed on gov.uk (if your particular field is not listed, please select the closest option).

UK Research and Innovation fast track: Are you applying as part of the UK Research and Innovation fast track?

Select Yes and tick the boxes to confirm that you will provide a statement of guarantee and (unless this has a link to the grant) a copy of the grant documentation.

After you submit the application, you should send the statement of guarantee and grant agreement if required to the Home Office using the email address on the short ‘checklist’ provided at the end of your application.

The Home Office will forward the application to the endorsing body you have selected on your application and, within 18 working days of this referral, you will receive a decision via email.

Once your endorsement has been granted, you can then apply for stage 2, which is the visa application itself. You must do so within 3 months of receipt of the endorsement confirmation. Please see the Applying for the visa section of this guidance.