Academic Visitors and Researchers

Standard Visitor route for up to 6 months

International academics, researchers and scientists can visit the University of Birmingham for up to 6 months:

• to take part in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts (including doctors);
• to collaborate, gather information and facts, or conduct research, either for a specific project which directly relates to their employment overseas, or independently; and
• if they are an eminent senior doctor or dentist, to take part in research, teaching or clinical practice, provided this does not amount to filling a permanent teaching post.

Visitors under the Standard (Academic) Visitor route cannot do any work for the University, teach (except for senior doctors or dentists), fill a permanent teaching post or a genuine vacancy.  

During their visit to the UK visitors must not receive payment from any UK source, except for permitted paid engagements arranged before the visitor's arrival and undertaken within 30 days of arrival in the UK as a Visitor. 

The UK Immigration Rules allow institutions to cover reasonable expenses in relation to the Visitor’s travel and subsistence.

Academic Visitors applying for a 12-month visa 

Academic Visitors can only carry out the following activities for a period of up to 12 months:

• taking part in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts (including doctors);
• carrying out research for their own purposes, if they are on sabbatical leave from their home institution;
• if they are an eminent senior doctor or dentist, taking part in research, teaching or clinical practice, provided this does not amount to filling a permanent teaching post.

Academic Visitors applying for a 12-month visa must meet additional requirements.

They must be:

• highly qualified in their field of expertise - this will usually mean they have a PhD or higher; and
• currently working in that field of expertise at an academic institution overseas

Documents which need to be provided along with the visa assessment form:

• copy of passport (must be valid for the whole duration of the visit to the UK)
• employment letter outlining the dates of sabbatical or exchange and the research to be undertaken (or information about the visitor's employment if they are non-visa nationals)
• research description
• CAH3 code if the research is carried out in one of the sensitive subjects (medicine, engineering, mathematical and computer sciences, biological and physical sciences, veterinary sciences, agriculture and related subjects, other technologies)

If the Standard (Academic) Visitor route has been identified as the most appropriate for your visitor, IST will provide a relevant invitation letter template which will subsequently need to be completed by the inviting School/Institute/College and sent on to your visitor.

Visa requirements

Visits for up to 6 months

All Visitors, visa and non-visa nationals, must meet the Standard Visitor eligibility requirements to visit the UK.

Visa nationals will need to apply for a prior entry clearance – Standard Visitor visa (Academic Visitor route). 

Visiting academics can stay up to 6 months in total as per dates on their visa. Such visa may be extended depending on the visitor's circumstances. 

Non-visa nationals can either apply for a prior entry clearance (if applicable) or seek entry on arrival.

Non-visa nationals who entered the UK with their passport can stay for up to 6 months starting from the date of their arrival in the UK. Some academics may be able to extend their stay provided that they meet all the eligibility criteria, however a visa would be required to cover the rest of their stay in the UK. 

Visits for more than 6 months

All academic visits lasting longer than 6 months require a Standard Visitor visa regardless of the Visitor’s nationality.

Visiting academics can stay up to 12 months in total as per dates on their visa. Such visa cannot be extended.

Visa application for a Standard (Academic) Visitor visa

The earliest the Visitor can apply for a visa is 3 months before their declared travel date.

For more information, please refer to the UK Government website:

Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Visit as an academic - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

ATAS requirements for Academic Visitors and Researchers

Visiting researchers and academics (other than exempt nationals), assessed as Standard Visitors, who are undertaking personal research in certain sensitive subjects must hold an ATAS certificate before they begin any such research.

Although this certificate is only needed before research begins, it is strongly advised that the Visitor obtains this before travelling to the UK.

If ATAS is required University of Birmingham will need to provide the applicant with the research statement including the appropriate CAH3 code. The research statement should be as detailed as possible. This information will need to be provided by the applicant as a part of an online ATAS application.

Research area can be verified based on the relevant HECoS (The Higher Education Classification of Subjects) code.

Schools and Colleges are required to indicate the relevant CAH3 code (or alternatively HECoS code) on the Visa Assessment Form.

UK immigration law does not allow universities to permit international researchers to undertake research in an ATAS applicable area until the researcher has provided the University with the correct ATAS certificate.

The University of Birmingham is required to check ATAS certificate before allowing the research to start and if this is not provided the Visitor must not be permitted on-site.

ATAS - Official Guidance

More information on ATAS and ATAS processing time can be found here: 

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) - GOV.UK. 

Visiting as the dependant of an Academic Visitor