- Facilities
- Fee
- Supervision
- Procedure
- Accommodation
- NVS Programme - Support and Social introductions from Cambridge University
Many philosophers pass through Cambridge each year for short periods, meeting up in informal ways with friends and colleagues in the Philosophy Faculty. The following brief remarks are addressed to those who wish to establish a more formal status as an Academic Visitor to the Faculty. The Faculty has a limited number of Academic Visitor places each year, and these are intended for academics who are employees of other institutions. Please note that there is a maximum length of stay of one acdemic year.
Academic Visitors are normally academics on leave from home institutions who are offered the use of libraries and other faculty and university facilities in Cambridge.
Post-doctoral fellows whose research is funded via grants administered within the university do not count as academic visitors.
Academic Visitor status is NOT open to PhD candidates. Information for Visiting Graduate Students can be found here.
Facilities
As an Academic Visitor, you will be able to attend any lectures and seminars in the University, use shared desk space in the libraries, and join in the life of the Faculty.
Fee
There is a charge of £600 (plus 20% VAT, where applicable) per term. It is possible, in special circumstances, to apply for a reduction of this fee and any prospective visitor who wishes to plead special hardship may make such an application. Please note that the full fee must be paid a minimum of four weeks in advance of the start of your visit. Please note that the fee will be £675 per term (plus 20% VAT, where applicable) for any visit starting after 30 September 2025.
Supervision
The offer of Academic Visitor Status does not include any formal discussion or supervision of your work during your visit to the Faculty, but you are welcome to discuss your work informally.
Procedure
If you would like to apply for Academic Visitor Status
- Write to philadmin@phil.cam.ac.uk with a short outline of the proposed research you wish to carry out in Cambridge, your estimated arrival and departure dates, your full CV, and a copy of your passport.
- We also need two academic references, one of which should make clear your current position in your university or institution.
Applications must be received a minimum of nine months before the proposed start date of your visit. If you apply in July, August or September, please leave a minimum of twelve months as the Faculty Office is unable to assess applications during these months.
After all applications have been reviewed the Faculty Office will inform you whether the Faculty is able to offer you Academic Visitor status.
The Home Office has introduced rules on the treatment of Academic Visitors and you must check with the British Embassy in your home country whether you need permission from the UK Border Agency and/or a visa. Academic Visitors from outside the EU/EEA must not stay in the UK for more than 12 months. Please allow enough lead time to obtain your Visa.
In order to make the most of a visit to the Faculty applicants must already be fluent in written and spoken English.
PLEASE NOTE: Individual lecturers are not in a position to grant Academic Visitor Status to prospective visitors and should not be contacted directly. All applications have to be considered by members of the Faculty Board.
Cancellation
Please note that, should you cancel before your arrival, an administrative fee of £200 (plus VAT at 20%) will be retained from any payment made.
Accommodation
We regret to say that the Faculty is unable to help with accommodation but the University does have an Accommodation Service that might be able to help you. Visit their webpage www.accommodation.cam.ac.uk
