Visiting Researchers

The Department of Information Studies is happy to be able to host a small number of excellent visiting researchers and visiting doctoral students each year. We give priority to international scholars with whom we have already established research relationships.

We are unable to accommodate all those wishing to visit, and we are only able to accept those whose research interests fit closely with those of our research centres and groups. We will work with the visiting researchers we accept in advance of their visit to develop an agreed research work plan, which brings clear benefits to both parties. In order to make most effective use of your time with us, we suggest that plans are made well in advance of your visit, usually several months in advance.

Visiting Researchers

To enquire, please contact the PGR Administrator Ian Evans in the first instance (ian.evans@ucl.ac.uk) attaching your academic cv and a short (one or two page) outline of your research interests, your reasons for wanting to visit DIS, the likely length and time frame of your visit and, crucially, how you think your research fits into our research areas. Your details will then be forwarded to the Director of Research. Once discussed, you will be contacted with advice on either how to apply more formally, or the reason we can’t accept you.

Although you might wish to explore your research proposals informally with a specific colleague in our department, please do not email all staff to make a request, as such blanket requests may be counterproductive. If we are interested in accepting you, we will ask you to make a formal application through UCL’s procedures, and it is only after the formal application has been considered that you will receive a decision about whether we can offer you a place. A formal offer can only be made by the Head of Department. These processes can take several weeks, so please allow enough time. If you are a non-UK resident you will also need to make a visa application and this too can take time.

If you are a faculty member at another university and wish to visit DIS as a visiting researcher (‘academic affiliate’), you should apply following the procedures given on UCL’s webpages: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/affiliates-academic-scheme

Visiting as a PhD student

Students currently enrolled on a PhD overseas can apply to study at UCL as a ‘visiting research student’ to conduct research here towards your PhD overseas. You can apply to spend 3 to 12 months at UCL undertaking research which is complementary to the doctoral/PhD project at your ‘home’ university.

To enquire, please contact the PGR Administrator Ian Evans in the first instance (ian.evans@ucl.ac.uk) attaching your academic cv and a short (one or two page) outline of your research interests, your reasons for wanting to visit DIS, the likely length and time frame of your visit and crucially how you think your research fits into our research areas. Your details will then be forwarded to the Departmental Graduate Tutor. Once discussed, you will be contacted with advice on either how to apply formally, or the reason we can’t accept you.

If you wish to apply for doctoral study in DIS you should not apply as a visiting student, but through the normal graduate research routes: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dis/phd

Please note that UCL will normally levy a fee for all academic visitors, so you need to be able to fund your trip, including fees due to UCL, travel and accommodation costs. There are no scholarships at UCL to fund visiting researchers or students and no faculty housing is available. Some of our visitors have been able to find accommodation through services such as https://www.sabbaticalhomes.com/

If we do accept you, as a visitor to UCL DIS, you can expect that normally we will provide you with:

•    Full access to UCL library resources including e-resources
•    Full access to UCL ICT facilities, using a login and password, including access to ICT clusters and Eduroam wifi
•    Some working space in DIS, usually access to shared desks (‘hotdesking’) in the doctoral students workroom
•    Induction and orientation when you arrive in DIS, including health and safety
•    A research mentor or supervisor from the permanent academic staff in DIS, who will act as your main point of contact for planning your visit and throughout your time with us and whom you can expect to see weekly for a supervision or discussion
•    Access to research activities within DIS such as attendance at research seminars and other research training
•    Access to Graduate School or Staff training courses offered within UCL

In turn we will expect you to:

•    Abide by UCL procedures, especially those to do with ethical research conduct, copyright and the appropriate use of UCL facilities
•    Acknowledge UCL DIS appropriately in any publications which arise from the period of your visit to us
•    Contribute positively to the research culture and life of DIS and any research group or centre to which you are attached during your visit
•    Normally, make one research seminar presentation to staff and students of DIS