Research visitors

A stimulating, dynamic environment for research

York Law School (YLS) offers a stimulating and dynamic environment for visiting scholars and a welcoming team who will actively support you during your stay. As a Visiting Scholar you will become part of a close academic community and be based in our purpose-built school which provides exceptional facilities for learning and research.

We are particularly keen to encourage applications from international visitors and from those whose interests align with and complement the activity of our research community.

Full details of staff research interests can be found on our Staff Research Areas pages.

This year the York Law Schools is hosting the Self-Funded Visiting Scholar Scheme.

There are three deadlines per year for this scheme:  31 October, 28 February, and 30 June.

If you are interested in visiting York Law School as a Self-Funded Visiting Scholar, your research interest will need to align with the York Law School's priorities and the research interests of your potential host.  You can read about York Law School staff and their research interests on Staff Research Areas pages. Please get in touch with an existing member of York Law School staff to see whether they are interested in hosting your visit.  

Visits can be a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 12 months.

What we expect of self-funded Visiting Fellows

Interested visitors are encouraged to approach a potential host in the first instance. All visiting scholars are expected to give a presentation on their research to staff/PGRs and to help develop academic outputs with their host.  

What you need in your application

The existing member of York Law School staff (the potential host) will submit the application on your behalf, so you will need to provide them with the following information.

  • Name of one YLS host (one YLS staff colleague will act as a responsible host)
  • Proposed period of the Visit to York and dates
  • A plan of activities for the visit and proposed outcomes (Max. one page). Please outline how your visit will advance the strategic interests of YLS
  • An estimated cost/budget of how your visit will be funded
  • A 2-page summary CV of the proposed Visiting Fellow

YLS does not currently charge bench fees for visiting scholars in recognition of the contribution they can make in developing academic outputs with their hosts and their potential for enhancing the research culture of the School.

The applications will be reviewed by the Chair of the Departmental Research Committee and the Research Leadership Team.

General information for Research Visitors

All visits must be taken by 31 July each year, but it is worth noting that the University summer vacation begins in June and lasts until the end of September. Many people are away at this time and YLS provides no teaching or events.

The libraries may also open for shorter hours and may close completely for short periods during the vacation.

The visit should be cost neutral for the School (the visitor is responsible for all their expenses during their time with the School).

The School does not currently charge bench fees for visiting academics in recognition of the contribution they can make in developing academic outputs with their hosts and their potential for enhancing the research culture of the School. This policy operates on the following understanding:

  • The School cannot take any responsibility for providing accommodation, school places for dependants etc. nor can we offer any assistance in making arrangements for travel etc. For advice on accommodation, please contact Accommodation Services for more information.
  • The visitor is responsible for securing an appropriate visa if this is necessary. We will write letters in support of their application if required, but we cannot give any advice about visas. For more advice on visas, please visit the UKVI website.
  • The School is unable to provide an individual office for visitors, so visitors will be expected to make use of space in shared staff offices.

Review of applications

Please note, the Law School is not in a position to invite every applicant and applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria:

  1. Synergies with the department’s research priorities / hosts’ interests
  2. Benefit to the department in terms of research engagement, prestige and potential for collaboration; and
  3. Strength of application/research proposal

All requests for visits must be submitted by your potential host to Sophie Gibson (sophie.gibson@york.ac.uk).

Visiting enquiries from students

In looking to welcome academic visitors from across a range of intellectual interests to York Law School, we regret that we are not currently able to accommodate visits from research students, on account of constraints in space and resourcing.