Academic visitors are generally academics/researchers on sabbatical leave (paid or unpaid) employed at an overseas academic institution who come to the College to undertake their own research.

They can also include academics (including doctors) taking part in formal exchange arrangements with United Kingdom counterparts and eminent senior doctors and dentists coming to take part in research, teaching or clinical practice.  Academic visitors are not 'employed' by the College and must not be paid or funded by the College.  Payment of reasonable expenses to cover their needs whilst in the UK may however be made.

Visiting Association requests should be made to the HR Staff Hub team. Guidance and a request form can be viewed here.

Departments/Divisions wishing to host an Academic Visitorwho will need to apply for standard visitor visa in advance of travel to UK should provide them with a formal letter of invitation that has been arranged in advance. An assessment form with a template invitation letter is available here.

Nationals of specified countries may not need to apply for a standard visitor visa in advance of travel, if they are visiting the College (and will stay in the UK) for less than 6 months and will be undertaking only the permitted activities for visitors during their stay. This can be checked using the gov.uk check if you need a UK visa tool

Identity/status check

Visitors will not be working or employed by the College, so there is no legal requirement to undertake a right to work check. However, we would still advise the hosting department to undertake an ID check for any visitors who will be issued with a College status and/or undertaking activities at the College. Please ensure that we have a copy of the relevant documents (usually an endorsement/vignette within current passport – However, if the visit is for less than 6 months and individual is a national of a country able to use border eGate they may have no endorsement confirming their entry as a standard visitor)

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Dependent on the type and level of research activity and nationality of the academic/researcher, an additional requirement may include Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certification.

Where ATAS is required for a visitor, it is essential that the individual’s ATAS certificate is checked, and a copy retained by the College before they are allowed on campus or granted access to College systems. Please see the ATAS information on Immigration & Compliance webpages here.

Due to variable ATAS processing times, we would recommend that the hosting manager provides the ATAS information directly to the prospective visitor as early as possible from 6 months before their intended visit start date. We advise the academic/researcher not to make their travel arrangements until their ATAS certificate has been granted.

Please visit the Government's website for information on the Standard Visitor visa process.

Permitted Paid Engagement visitors require a Permitted Paid Engagement visa status which allows them to carry out short-term paid activities such as giving a lecture, examining students, and/or participating in a selection panel for up to a maximum of one month.

The engagement must relate to the visitor’s area of expertise and/or qualifications and must relate to their main occupation overseas.

Departments/Divisions wishing to engage a PPE Visitor should provide them with a formal letter of invitation for each engagement that has been arranged in advance. If the PPE payment will be made by the Casual Worker Team, please follow the guidance and contact the Casual Worker Team for any guidance on setup

When issuing the formal letter of invitation to a PPE visitor, please confirm to the visitor that when entering the UK, they will need to see a UK Border Officer to be granted entry as PPE visitor, to obtain a PPE ‘entry stamp’ in their passport, and not to use the eGates.

Please see the eGates factsheet   , and Request for passport stamp template that the PPE Visitor can carry with them when travelling through UK Border to ensure they are directed to Border Office to have their passport stamped.

Without the correct UK entry stamp / status, these individuals would be unable to undertake the activities they are coming to the College to do or be paid.

It is essential that before any engagement starts, that a right to work document check is completed using the Right to Work Checklist. Where the individual will be paid via the College casual payroll, please ensure that the Casual Worker Team are aware of the permitted paid engagement in advance of the visit, so they can send any offer of casual PPE work, provide relevant information and undertake the right to work check and joiner process.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Where ATAS is required for a permitted paid engagement as the individual will be undertaking ATAS-restricted research during their visit, it is essential that the individual’s ATAS certificate is checked, and a copy retained by the College before they are allowed on campus or granted access to College systems. Please see the ATAS information on Immigration & Compliance webpages here.

Due to variable ATAS processing times, we would recommend that the hosting manager provides the ATAS information directly to the prospective PPE visitor as early as possible from 6 months before their intended visit start date. We advise the academic/researcher not to make their travel arrangements until their ATAS certificate has been granted.

Please visit the Government's website for further information on the Permitted Paid Engagement visa process.

‌The College has a sponsor licence under the Temporary Worker: Government Authorised Exchange category which allows us to act as sponsors for sponsored researchers working on a supernumerary research collaboration/projects to come to the UK for up to a maximum of 24 months.

Sponsored researchers are not employees of the College.  They must not fill job vacancies but can undertake research and work under the full or partial control of the College which will benefit from the research. They are normally invited to come to the UK to lead or to take part in a formal research project which is hosted but not necessarily funded by the College, can be funded from sources in the UK or overseas and paid by either the College or by their employing organisation.

Sponsored researchers must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the College and pass a points based assessment in order to obtain permission to work in the UK.  A Certificate of Sponsorship can only be issued for EEA/Non-EEA nationals where the work/activity is at least equivalent to RQF level 3 or above, and where the activity/funding meets all eligibility criteria, usually including the funding being at least at UK minimum wage hourly rate levels.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Dependent on the type and level of research activity and nationality of the researcher, an additional requirement may include Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certification.

Where ATAS is required for a sponsored researcher it is essential that the individual’s ATAS certificate is checked, and a copy retained by the College before they can be provided with a certificate of sponsorship to make their T5 visa application. The T5 Sponsored Researcher CoS Application Form‌ has relevant questions that the hosting manager needs to assess whether ATAS is required.

Due to variable ATAS processing times, we would recommend that the hosting manager provides the ATAS information directly to the prospective sponsored researcher as early as possible from 6 months before their intended visit start date.

Please see the ATAS information on Immigration & Compliance webpages here.

Departments/Divisions wishing to sponsor a sponsored researcher should complete a T5 Sponsored Researcher CoS Application Form  and email this to the Staff Compliance team along with the necessary supporting documents (listed on the request form) before the College can issue a CoS.

It is essential that before any sponsored research engagement starts, that a right to work document check is completed by the Staff Compliance Team prior to the research start date, and any follow-up RTW check as necessary.

Please visit the Government's website for further information on the Points Based System Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange visa.