Visiting Research Fellowships
Find out about the Visiting Research Fellowship (VRF) opportunities in the School of Law, Politics and Sociology.
Join the School of Law, Politics and Sociology
We offer a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment in which you can undertake your planned programme of activities and research. You’ll be given a Sussex email account, library access, resources and IT support. You’ll also benefit from facilities across our campus. Depending on requirements and availability, you may also have access to shared office space within the School.
When you join you’ll be affiliated with a department within our School – either Law, Politics, Sociology or Criminology. You’ll also have a sponsor in that department.
About the Fellowships
Our Visting Research Fellowships are offered for a maximum of 1 year and minimum of 2 weeks. The fee is £200, regardless of length.
If your application is successful, you’ll be given the title of “Visiting Research Fellow”. If you hold a Professorship at another institution, the title will instead be “Professorial Visiting Research Fellow”.
You’ll need to attend the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ in-person for at least 2 weeks (up to a maximum of 12 months) during your Fellowship, unless otherwise agreed. Multiple visits can be made within that time.
You will need a departmental sponsor from within School of Law, Politics and Sociology. This can be any member of staff willing to develop a research collaboration with you.
Outputs
You’ll be expected to contribute to the intellectual life of the School and deliver a presentation on your area of research.
You should agree with your sponsor what the focus of your visit(s), activities and outputs will be during the Fellowship. These could include:
- giving seminars, guest lectures or holding workshops for faculty, postgraduate researchers, and/or taught students
- producing of a working paper, policy briefing, academic publication or similar
- knowledge exchange and sharing with students, faculty and research staff (such as on dissertations, careers, data sources, analytical strategies, policy frameworks etc.)
- collaborating on a research proposal with a member of faculty.
It’s expected that both you and the host department will benefit mutually during the visit. A plan will be agreed to develop a long-term relationship after your Fellowship finishes.
Eligibility
You must be employed by another Higher Education Institution. You’ll also be expected to hold a PhD or equivalent.
You cannot be in receipt of a salary or fee from the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ during the period of the Fellowship.
There should be a specific link between your research interests and those of one or more individuals in the host department.
How to apply
Applications must be received at least two months before your Visiting Research Fellowship is planned to start. Overseas applicants should apply well in advance to allow for visa processing times.
To apply:
- Review the academics on our tool to identify a potential sponsor. You will need to contact them to discuss the possibility of them acting as your sponsor.
- Discuss your Visiting Research Fellowship with your sponsor and decide on your proposed outputs (see above).
- Contact lpsresearch@sussex.ac.uk for a copy of the application form.
- Return the application form to lpsresearch@sussex.ac.uk, along with a covering letter that includes a brief description of the research activities you wish to undertake during your visit. You should also include a current CV and dated letter or email of academic or professional reference.
(Honorary) Visiting Professorships and (Honorary) Visiting Senior Research Fellowships
In addition to our VRF scheme, we also appoint a select number of recognised experts whose research aligns with a department within our School of Law, Politics and Sociology. These Honorary appointments are designed to support a longer-term association between the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ and the appointee, which is mutually beneficial.
These appointments are for three years (renewable once). They do not require in-person visits, although these can be arranged. However, a clear and strong intellectual connection with the relevant discipline within the chosen department is required.
Appointees are awarded the title Honorary Visiting Professor or Honorary Visiting Senior Research Fellow depending on individual circumstances:
- (Honorary) Visiting Professorships
The title of Visiting Professor is offered to academics who are of Professorial level (including emeriti).
The Honorary Visiting Professor title is conferred on individuals with a non-academic background who have achieved prominence in public life, or who have attained an appropriate level of distinction within their area of practice.
- (Honorary) Visiting Senior Research Fellowships
The title of Visiting Senior Research Fellowship is offered to academics who are of Senior Lecturer/ Reader or Associate Professor level. The title of Honorary Visiting Senior Research Fellowship is offered to professionals at a broadly comparable level in their profession.
How to apply
Appointments should be proposed by a current member of faculty in the School of Law, Politics and Sociology and supported by the Head of Department.
For your application to be successful, there should be a clear mutual benefit between you and the School of Law, Politics and Sociology.
To apply you should submit a CV along with a statement of expertise, the connection with the department and the sponsor, and the anticipated benefits and contributions of a 3-year association.
Applications for appointment will be considered by the Head of School following discussion with the Head of Department. Departmental support for the appointment will also be sought.
If successful, you’ll be associated with a department or discipline within the School, or one of our research centres. You’ll also have access to our library, IT services and email platform.
There are no fees for appointees to this scheme.