Global Talent endorsement - Senior academic and research appointments

Eligibility

Eligibility for this path to Global Talent endorsement is dependent on you being appointed, or holding, a role with responsibility for:

academic, research or innovation leadership and development; and/or
directing or leading (a) an individual or team research project or research programme of work, or (b) an individual or team innovation project or innovation programme of work.

In practice, the following roles at the University will be able to access this route: Professor, Head of Department, Director of Research and Principal Research positions. Associate/Assistant Professor roles may be eligible, but this will need to be assessed on a case by case basis - please contact the HR Compliance Team in the first instance. Postdoctoral research positions (i.e. Research Associate, Research Assistant) are not eligible for this path.

Evidential requirements

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

a job description setting out the duties and responsibilities of the position; and
a statement of guarantee from the University's Director of Human Resources.

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 ‘Exceptional talent’.

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), then choose the most appropriate endorsing body, again with reference to the list of fields by endorsing body. For academia, this should be either The British Academy, The Royal Academy of Engineering or The Royal Society.

Fast track consideration: Are you applying for fast track consideration?

Select "I have been appointed to a qualifying academic or research position at a UK higher education institution or research institute" and provide the job title as noted on your employment offer letter. The employing institution is University of Cambridge.

Tick the box to confirm that you will provide a statement of guarantee.

Position applied for: Are you applying for a particular position within the UK?

If you have a job offer from Cambridge, select Yes and provide the details. If you are already in post, please select No.

After you submit the application, you should send the statement of guarantee and your job description 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.