Open Programme

The IAS Open Programme invites applications from Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é academic colleagues to host an international scholar as an IAS Visiting Fellow, with IAS logistical and funding support up to £3500.

Visits funded through the Open Programme scheme are expected to initiate or extend international research collaborations leading towards sustained research activity with a legacy. We anticipate that applications will include substantive plans for future research engagement and high-calibre outputs. Funded applications should enhance Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é’s international research reputation and extend the range of the University’s research partnerships.

IAS Visiting Fellows should be outstanding scholars operating at the cutting edge of their disciplines at any career stage. The programme funds the Fellow’s visit, and applicants must demonstrate the intended outcome of the visit as part of their application form.

Visits would ordinarily be for one week and we expect that, during their stay, the Fellow will be embedded into the wider research community of the University as a Fellow of the IAS. We welcome applications that include plans for engaging scholars from across a wide range of fields and disciplines (and both campuses) with the Visiting Fellow.

The outcomes of visits should provide a lasting legacy, through, for example, the development of new relationships and avenues for future collaborative research projects, leading to co-publications and joint funding applications.

Eligible Costs – Travel and accommodation for Visiting Fellows, including a maximum of £35 p/d towards the cost of an evening meal and £15 p/d for a lunch. Please note that we incorporate one IAS-organised seminar/workshop with lunch and an invitation to a collegial Coffee Morning into the schedule of all Visiting Fellows as standard. We do not fund additional meetings within Departments, Institutes and Schools.

You must discuss travel funding requested with your proposed Fellow – if they require funding for transfers on their end, or other similar costs, this must be within the budget you request, we are unable to increase funding once awarded.

Successful applications will receive dedicated support from the IAS, including

  • Organisation of the Fellow’s visit
  • Profile on IAS website and social media
  • Promotion to a wider audience
  • Access to International House
  • Organisation of a hybrid seminar/workshop at International House
  • A dedicated Friends and Fellows Coffee Morning to meet colleagues from across the University

Successful applicants will be expected to report on outcomes from the visit, and to respond to requests from the IAS on the legacy of the visit periodically in future.

Please Note: Visiting Fellows are not permitted to deliver teaching and should not be scheduled as such.

ATAS Approval:

Please also consider if ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) approval is needed for your Fellow's visit. ATAS is a scheme run by the UK government for international students who want to study certain subjects in the UK. The ATAS certificate is issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and gives security clearance to study these subjects. ATAS clearance only applies to certain subject areas, where the knowledge gained could be used in the development or delivery of weapons of mass destruction (e.g., certain science, engineering or technology subjects).

More details are available here on the Academic Technology Approval Scheme page.

Timescales:

The following deadlines will apply for applications for the academic year 2024-25:

  • 5pm on Friday 18th October 2024 – for visits taking place between February and April 2025
  • 5pm on Friday 17th January 2025 – for visits taking place between May and July 2025
  • 5pm on Friday 18th April 2025 – for visits taking place between August and October 2025
  • 5pm on Friday 18th July 2025 – for visits taking place between November 2025 and January 2026

Please note: the application form was updated in May 2024, all future applications will need to use this new form, accessed on the page below.

How to apply:

The IAS Open Programme scheme is a competitive process and we expect to award between 4 and 8 Fellowships per quarter.

To apply you need to complete an application form from the below link and submit it to ias.applications@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk before the current deadline.