overseas institutional visit esrc

Overseas Institutional Visits Scheme

If you are a full-time esrc funded doctoral researcher you are eligible to apply for financial support for overseas institutional visits (oivs) during the period of your award.  the allocation of funds is at the white rose dtp’s (wrdtp) discretion and the academic quality committee (aqc) will oversee the process. this additional funding is intended to provide applicants with the opportunity to establish research networks, to disseminate early research findings, to participate in seminars and other academic activities that are directly relevant to their research, or to undertake specialist research training that is not available within the uk., eligibility and criteria.

• As a result of Covid-19, many of our partner institutions have implemented new procedures for overseas travel, fieldwork and data gathering e.g. updated risk assessments, travel insurance arrangements etc. Students making an application to any of the WRDTP’s additional funding schemes will be asked to evidence their adherence to any relevant policies from their institution, by uploading the relevant documentation to the application form. If you are unsure how to evidence this, please email [email protected] prior to submitting your application.
• For any requests involving overseas travel, students should ensure that at the point of submitting their application, any mandatory periods of self-isolation/quarantine are taken into account when confirming the length/dates of a trip. 
• Applications can only be considered from ‘research’ award holders in the +3 component of their studentship. Students in the initial ‘training’ year of a 1+3 award are not eligible to apply. Students in the writing up non funded part of their PhD are not eligible to apply.
• As OIVs are intended to be an integral part of the student’s research training, any visit in the first year of the PhD must not commence within the first three months of the studentship period. Additionally, visits taking place in the final year of the studentship must be completed at least three months before the end date of the award and prior to the extension period being implemented.
• Applicants should consult the Foreign and Commonwealth Office guidance relating to their intended destination. Visits must not be undertaken if the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against visiting the country concerned. Further guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/travel-abroad
• Only one application can be made during the studentship period. Applications can be for up to three separate OIVs to the same host university or esteemed research institution during the course of the studentship as long as the total period of the visits does not exceed three months.
• Applicants should request to visit universities, but in exceptional circumstances applications to esteemed research organisations will be considered. Applicants will need to demonstrate the justification for visiting the research organisation within their application.
• OIV’s are no t designed to cover fieldwork expenses. Separate funding is available for overseas fieldwork visits. It is recognised that under certain circumstances an element of fieldwork might be undertaken in what is principally an OIV. These circumstances should be clearly justified in the application.
• Successful applicants in receipt of a full studentship award will receive a paid extension equal to the period of time spent overseas. Fees only students will receive an extension to their fees and thesis submission date only.
• Confirmation of approval and the level of support will be sent to you by the WRDTP Office prior to your first visit. You must not commence any visit until you have received formal written approval from the WRDTP Office.
• All successful applicants are required to submit an end of award report within two weeks of the end of the OIV. Students undertaking more than one visit should submit a report on completion of each separate visit. It is expected that your supervisor and the main academic contact at the overseas university or esteemed research institution will provide comments on the benefits of the visits. Failure to submit a satisfactory end of award report will result in ESRC withholding repayment of OIV expenses to your home university in the annual claims process. Failure to submit an end of award report will also jeopardise future funding applications to the ESRC.
• As a recipient of funding you agree to report back to the WRDTP on your OIV experience either on the VIRE , a DTP Matters Newsletter article or by speaking at training sessions/conferences.
• Retrospective claims will not be considered.

How to apply

Students can preview a list of the application form questions by downloading the following file: WRDTP OIV Application Form Preview . An example (demonstrating best practice) of the costings document required as part of the application form (see item 1 below) can be viewed here .

All applications for OIV funding must be made in advance by the award-holder using the WRDTP OIV Application form

The Form requires the following File Uploads. Please use following nomenclature when Uploading to the Google Form.

• WRDTP-OIV-Costings-Upload-Template (Section 1) – (STUDENT SURNAME_STUDENT FIRST NAME_HEI_OIV_COSTINGS)
• WRDTP OIV Supervisor Upload template (Section 2) – (STUDENT SURNAME_STUDENT FIRST NAME_HEI_OIV_SUPERVISOR SUPPORTING CASE)
• Host institution confirmation letter/email of support for the visit (Section 1) – (STUDENT SURNAME_STUDENT FIRST NAME_HEI_OIV_CONFIRMATION OF SUPPORT FROM HOST)
• Your institution’s necessary documentation for overseas travel – e.g. approved risk assessment, travel insurance certificate etc (Section 1) – (STUDENT SURNAME_STUDENT FIRST NAME_HEI_OIV_COVID DOCUMENTATION)

*PLEASE NOTE:  

Accommodation for your OIV should not  be booked through Airbnb. Airbnb are “un-regulated” therefore do  not  adhere to the safety standards required for our insurance, so any claims would be unsupported. Airbnb are  not  responsible for checking that accommodation listed on their site have smoke alarms or fire escape exits etc. The university has to put the health and safety of staff and students first when travelling even if it is the cheaper option.

We expect the relevant Covid-19 related travel documents for your institution to be complete and provided at the point of submitting your funding application. Applications without the necessary paperwork will not be reviewed. If you have any questions about this, please email [email protected]  before submitting your application.*

The student’s local university Postgraduate Scholarships Office is responsible for liaising with the student on matters relating to the award and any subsequent WRDTP funding scheme applications. The local nominated contacts at each university can be found on the Contacts Page in the VIRE. For other general enquiries contact [email protected]

Received applications are checked by the relevant Scholarships Officer to ensure they are eligible for OIV funding, logged and then passed to the Academic Quality Committee (AQC).

All applications received will be reviewed in conjunction with the award-holder’s original studentship application, their latest doctoral project plan, their Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and recent progress reports from their supervisory team. The WRDTP Office will notify the Scholarships Officer when a decision has been made as to their application.  In cases where an application has been declined the reason for such a decision will be outlined in the notification.

Please click the tabs below to access further application guidance:

• Details of the visit/s
• Case for support
• Things to think about
• Visit costs and justifications
• Confirmation of support from the home university
• Confirmation of support from the proposed host

Applications can be made for up to three separate OIVs to the same host university or research institution during the course of the studentship as long as the total period of the visits does not exceed three months.

You should indicate the purpose of the visit and how it relates to your doctoral research. Please describe what has been achieved to date and how the proposed visit will extend/enhance this. Reasons for such a visit might include establishing research networks, disseminating early research findings, participating in seminars and other academic activities that are directly relevant to the student’s research, or undertaking specialist research training that is not available within the UK.

If you are proposing to undertake more than one visit to the same university or research institution you should provide clear justification as to why more than one visit is required.

You are asked to demonstrate the potential benefits of the proposed visit/s to your current or future academic career and, in particular, to demonstrate how the visit/s will offer ‘added value’ to your PhD experience. If the OIV is to be undertaken for research training purposes, the applicant must demonstrate why the training is integral to their research, and also why this training cannot be undertaken within the UK.

Please note that the OIV scheme is not to be used for undertaking fieldwork; however, in exceptional circumstances there may be a requirement to carry out some fieldwork as part of an OIV.  In these cases, the applications must be of high quality and be integral to the work of the PhD, and the fieldwork component is not being covered from the Overseas Fieldwork application process (managed by the RO).

• Are there any conferences or seminars that you could attend while you’re there? (Remember conference costs can be covered by your RTSG).
• Speak to your University International Office; does your University have any links with Universities or Research Organisations in the area that could provide you with opportunities?
• Does the British Council have a presence in the country or region that you are hoping to visit? Are there any events that you could attend or is there someone you could contact to help plan relevant activities?
• Does the Science and Innovation Network have any presence in the country that you are hoping to visit? Do they have any events you could attend?
• Has RCUK got any initiatives or collaborations that you could look into in the country? This is especially relevant if you are hoping to visit the US, China or India.
• Contact your Pathway Leader and explore their links that are already developed.
• Consult the Foreign and Commonwealth Office guidance relating to your intended destination. This can be found at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Applicants should clearly break-down the proposed costs of the visit with notes detailing the justification for each cost. Information on flights and accommodation should be provided.  The costs of the visit should be reasonable and dependent on the country, time period and activity proposed. There is a cap on the total costs of the visit of £4000, though applicants should note that the value of financial investment will be taken into consideration when assessing applications.

Please note that applicants should not include a subsistence allowance as part of their costings document, we would expect this to be covered by the maintenance stipend.

Supervisors are asked to comment on the quality of the student’s research to date and how the proposed visit will extend/enhance this. If the OIV is to be undertaken for research training purposes, please explain why the training is integral to their research, and also why this training cannot be undertaken within the UK.

You are expected to continue your PhD research and training throughout the course of the visit/s and maintain regular contact with your supervisor. Supervisors are asked to demonstrate what arrangements are in place to meet this requirement.

The main academic contact at the host university or research institution should provide written support for the proposed visit. This should include confirmation of the work plan for the proposed visit/s, details of the academic facilities to which you will have access, as well as your registration status at the host university or research institution during the visit period.

Confirmation of support from the proposed host university or research institution can be provided in the form of an email.

WRDTP ESRC Funding Scheme Timescales

A call for applications will be made 4 times per annum, via the vire on the wrdtp website, *panel decisions will be available no earlier than 10 working days after the panel sits..

If you are successful, you must submit an End of Visit report within two weeks of the end of your visit. If you undertake more than one visit within your award you should submit a report after completing each visit.

• WRDTP OIV Report

If you are awarded funding from any of the ESRC schemes we encourage you to share your experience with the WRDTP community via the VIRE Forum.  As a recipient of funding any correspondence or event materials should be appropriately branded, see our Visual Identity webpage for details.

If you have any questions please email [email protected]

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Overseas Institutional Visits (OIV)

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Advice for ESRC funded students who want to apply to spend a period studying at an overseas institution

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

How to apply

The DTC has limited funds with which to support students undertaking an Overseas Institutional Visit.  Visits should be a minimum of four, and a maximum of 13 weeks.  This is an competitive process and students will need to complete an application form in order to apply.

Completed applications for visits to take place during 2020 should be received by

4pm on Fri 15 November 2019.

Completed applications should be submitted to the ESRC DTC Coordinator by email: [email protected]

Applicants must allow at least two months between the deadline to apply and commencing the visit. Therefore visits can commence any time between mid-January 2019 and end of December 2019.

Applications will be assessed by members of the ESRC DTC Operational Committee and you will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible after the decision is made.

You should read the Guidance Notes for Applicants and OIV things to think about before applying.

The application form can be downloaded here ..

Please note: This is likely to be the last competition run by the ESRC DTC for Overseas Institutional Visits. 

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Overseas Institutional Visits

NINE DTP can support visits to educational institutions around the world, via the ESRC Overseas Institutional Visits (OIVs) scheme.

Visits must be to a Higher Education institution, or an organisation with a substantive research office. The ESRC guidelines state that OIVs should provide support to students to:

• undertake additional specialist research training not available in the UK
• develop language skills
• establish research links that will be beneficial to their current or future academic career
• disseminate early research career findings
• attend and participate in seminars where directly relevant to their research.

The DTP can provide funding of up to £4,000 to cover the costs of travel and accommodation, and can provide an extension of the studentship for up to thirteen weeks at the discretion of the reviewing panel.

Overseas Institutional Visits are most likely to prove valuable in the final third of the period of funded study, owing to the nature of the visits in disseminating research findings; however, applications can be considered throughout the funded period if sufficient justification is provided.

Students can only receive funding for one OIV during the course of their funding. Funds are not limitless, and the DTP cannot guarantee it will be able to support all applications.

Download a copy of the OIV guidelines

See Application form here

When can OIVs be applied for?

We have temporarily suspended the semi-annual application schedule for OIV applications. Applications may be filled at any point.

• OIVs should be undertaken during the full doctoral element of the award; they cannot be undertaken during the Masters or Research Methods training elements.
• Visits cannot be undertaken within the first three months of the Doctoral programme, or in the last three months of funded studies.
• Applications need to be submitted  three months in advance of the proposed visit. Applications submitted later than this may be considered, but will be at risk owing to the time required for review, consultation, and the time required to arrange insurance, visas, etc.

Preparing your application

• OIVs must be student led; students are expected to structure the visit with a clearly defined and developed programme of events and meetings to provide a clear justification for the expenditure and value of the visit.
• Visits must be to a Higher Education institution, or an organisation with a substantive research office.
• All applications must include a letter of support from the intended host institution, which should not only indicate their willingness to host the applicant but also detail how they will support the candidates activities.
• All visits are dependent upon the travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
• OIVs will be covered by the travel insurance policy of the award-holder’s host institution. The award holder will need to ensure coverage from their host institution is secured prior to departure.
• Award-holders must secure the support and authorisation of their primary supervisor for all applications. This should be presented in the form of a formal letter, email, or any other form of correspondence. The letter will need to confirm that the student is making good progress with their studies, and is on track to submit their thesis no longer than six months after the end of the funded studentship.

Things to remember …

• Retrospective claims will not be considered except in exceptional circumstances; no funds should be spent or committed until such time as NINE DTP have given final approval on the application.

• Schools & departments

Overseas Visits and Fieldwork

Information on Overseas Visits and Fieldwork.

Overseas Fieldwork and Difficult Language Training

An additional allowance is available for students who will undertake overseas fieldwork, and/or those who require language training in order to complete their studies. In both cases, this must usually have been outlined in your original research proposal for +3 (or doctoral) studentship holders, or before the commencement of the doctoral portion of the studies for those undertaking 1+3 study or similar.

There are three deadlines per year. Full details and application form can be found on the SGSSS website .

Overseas Institutional Visits

This allowance represents a paid extension to your course of study for a visit, language training, attendance at relevant seminars or for research specific training, networking etc. not available in the UK. It was introduced by ESRC to support and encourage the international engagement of ESRC funded students.

From 2018/19, this opportunity will be available for students in their 3rd year or end of 2nd year.

There are two deadlines per year. Full details and application form can be found on the SGSSS website .

Overseas Institutional Visit Report Form

Once your overseas institutional visit has concluded you will need to submit the following to SGSSS at the email address listed on the bottom of the form.

Additional Information

Guidance and application forms are available on the SGSSS website .

Funded extension schemes

Extensions are additional periods of funded time that are added to your studentship, extending your award end date but not your final submission deadline.   They recognise the fact that if you are undertaking activities such as an overseas institutional visits, difficult language training or an internship you will have less time during these periods to undertake your doctoral work.

We normally expect to be able to award a maximum of 13 weeks (65 days) worth of extension to each student. If you would like to undertake both an Internship and an Overseas Institutional Visit, for example, you should plan to divide the 65 days over the two schemes. Extensions for parental or sick leave, or for CV-19 mitigation are not subject to this restriction.

CV-19 Pandemic: If your planned extension activity (eg. Internship) has had to be cancelled or postponed due to the CV-19 pandemic, get in touch to discuss how to proceed with the Deputy Director for Training and Cohort Development. You will not lose the extension, but you may chose to repurpose it (eg. undertake an Internship instead of an OIV). Any such changes to plans must be approved by LISS DTP.

Applications are processed quarterly on the first working Monday of January, April, June and October. Decisions will take  up   to 2 weeks after this deadline. LISS DTP reserves the right to limit reviewing out-of-cycle review requests, students should plan appropriately and submit their application for funding within the quarterly review periods.

Internship or Secondment Extension

Internship Application form

Opportunities: LISS encourages students to undertake internships in order to enhance their future career prospects and increase the impact of their research; however you should discuss a possible internship with your supervisor to ensure that it does not interfere with progress on your PhD.   Internships enable students to develop a sharper sense of the wider relevance of their research as well as professional and transferrable workplace skills in line with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework .  Placements may also build expertise in knowledge co-generation, where research questions, analytical frameworks and knowledge exchange processes are co-designed with academic and practitioner input.

There are three methods through which internships can be developed:

• devise your own internship, through your own initiative, supervisor or institutional support, or
• LISS DTP is informed of internship opportunities, often within major UK government departments, once to twice a year through various ESRC schemes and will advertise these as they are sent to us
• LISS DTP has a set of   Research Assistant Internships   giving students the opportunity to work on academic research projects at one of the three LISS institutions

If your internship is not arranged by LISS DTP, your application should also contain a confirmation letter from the host organisation that they have agreed to the internship. You should also check if any the host organisation has any indemnity or insurance requirements: your Careers Service will be able to advise on Host Agreements.

Some funding may be available to support additional travel costs.   You will be expected to make use of your stipend payments to cover normal travel and accommodation costs.

Students may either interrupt their stipends in order to undertake an internship paid by the host organisation (externally funded internship); or receive a stipend extension of up to 13 weeks to undertake an internship funded by LISS DTP. In both cases, the internship must be approved by LISS DTP.

LISS Funded Internships: Internship extensions can be for up to 13 weeks (65 days); this can be taken as a block or spread over a number of months on a part-time basis e.g. one or two days a week.

As your stipend will continue to be paid while you undertake the internship, this also means that you will be able to develop collaborative and networking opportunities with employers who might not otherwise be able to pay for your time.  In addition to your stipend being paid during the internship, it will be extended by an equivalent period at the end of your original funding end date.

Eligibility: Some of the Masters degrees that 1+3 students undertake have an in-built internship or similar collaboration with an external partner.  1+3 students and their supervisors may also develop such collaborations on an ad hoc basis, for example, in the summer period between Masters and doctoral degrees.  No extension is available for internships undertaken before the PhD portion of the studentship, but some financial support may be available.  If you are interested in undertaking an internship during your Masters degree programme that is not already in-built into your programme, please consult with your supervisor and the Deputy Director, Training & Cohort Development.

Internships taking place in the final year of the studentship must be completed at least three months before the end date of the award and prior to the extension period being implemented

Externally Funded Internship If you are offered a full-time paid internship, secondment or consultancy, you will most likely need to suspend your studentship for its duration. A suspension involves stopping your studentship payments for the duration of the internship, and also delays your submission deadline. Full time ESRC funded students are allowed to undertake a small amount of paid work during their studentship, but this should not amount to more than 6hrs a week.

There is no rigid limit of the duration of time you may suspend for in this case, but the duration must be of sufficiently short duration that you and your supervisory team are confident it will not significantly disrupt your progress.

A suspension to undertake paid work must be justified as being relevant to your thesis or research training and career development. Suspension of studies requests can not be considered on the grounds of financial hardship.

To Apply: Applications (other than for Research Assistant Internships) must be approved at least 3 months BEFORE the start date of the Internship, whether externally funded, or LISS DTP funded .   Internship applications will be reviewed on the first working Monday of January, April, June and October each year.    

Applications for Research Assistant Internships will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  Although the 3 month notice period does not apply, students are encouraged to seek supervisor approval and put arrangements in place several weeks before the commencement of the internship.

If you have not received notification of outcomes within two weeks of the application review date, contact  [email protected]  .  It may take a further 2 weeks to arrange payments or reimbursement.  Queen Mary and Imperial students should contact their institutional LISS administrators (see Key Contacts table) about delays to payments or reimbursements.  King’s students should contact  [email protected]

You will be expected to submit a report at the end of your internship outlining how the experience has enhanced your understanding of wider significance of your research, your personal and professional skills and/or your understanding of knowledge co-generation.  Additional stipend payments will not be added to your award until this report is received.  In addition, you will be encouraged to develop other means of dissemination of your experience, e.g. a short film, to both the LISS DTP and a broader audience. 

Overseas Institutional Visit (OIV) Extension

Overseas Institutional Visit application form

The purpose of the OIV scheme is to support and encourage the international engagement of ESRC funded students.  The scheme funds an extension to the studentship of up to 13 weeks, plus some travel and subsistence costs, budget dependent (   £1500 for European destinations or £2500 for more distant destinations . Please note this   only applies to OIV to be approved from June 2023 round. No retrospective increases.) ).

Funds should be used to provide financial support and time for students to:

• undertake additional specialist research training not available in the UK
• develop language skills
• establish research links that will be beneficial to their current or future academic career
• disseminate early research career findings
• attend and participate in seminars where directly relevant to their research.

Restrictions and Eligibility

• Applications must be student-led
• Visits must be related to the completion of the student’s PhD and should not commence within the first three months of the studentship period. Visits taking place in the final year of the studentship must be completed at least three months before the end date of the award and prior to the extension period being implemented.
• Applicants must be from award holders in the +3 component of their studentship. Students in the initial masters year of a 1+3 award are not eligible.
• The purpose of the visits funded must not be for overseas fieldwork as this is supported through other mechanisms, but an OIV can be scheduled immediately before or after a period of fieldwork to save on travel costs.
• Visits can last for up to a maximum of 13 weeks, though LISS DTP can respond flexibly to the needs of the student.
• Visits must involve visiting a Higher Education institution, or an organisation with a substantive research office outside of the UK.
• Visits must not be undertaken if the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against visiting the country concerned.

To Apply: Complete the application form available below. You are encouraged to discuss your OIV plans with the Deputy Director for Training and Cohort Development.

Applications must be approved at least 3 months BEFORE the start date of the OIV.  OIV applications will be reviewed on the first working Monday of January, April, June and October each year.   Decisions may take up to 2 weeks to announce, depending on volume of applications and it may take a further 2 weeks to arrange payment or reimbursement. 

Note for KCL students :  link for KCL students about how to book travel and the travel policy  https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/about/ps/procurement/travel-services-and-events/travel.

Note for Queen Mary students:  The Queen Mary travel and expenses policy states that all travel and accommodation must be booked via KeyTravel. Please go to the KeyTravel website ( https://www.keytravel.com/uk ) for a quote to accompany your application and email it to the QMUL LISS Administrator  [email protected]  who will arrange the purchase of your travel/accommodation using the LISS budget code and raise a Purchase order number which you send to KeyTravel to confirm your booking.

Please see: Queen Mary Finance Guide for LISS Students

If you have not received notification of outcomes within two weeks of the application review date, please contact  [email protected]  .  Queen Mary and Imperial students should contact their institutional LISS administrators (see Key Contacts table) about delays to payments or reimbursements.  King’s students should contact  [email protected]   Students will be expected to submit a report outlining the achievements of their OIV at the end of the visit before the additional stipend payments that comprise the extension will be approved.

Difficult Language Training Extension

Language Training Extension application form

Up to   one extra year’s   extra support may be considered if a student needs to acquire or develop working ability with a language in order to carry out fieldwork (including UK fieldwork) or other parts of their research; this is over and above the funded length of the studentship. Students following a pre-described Masters course are not eligible to apply during this training.  Any anticipated language training should have been mentioned in the student’s application and project summary or be discussed with the Deputy Director, Training & Cohort Development as soon as possible upon commencing the studentship.

Language training extensions beyond six months will only be allowed if the student needs to spend an extended period of time overseas in order to obtain these language skills.  If the student has already undertaken a pre-described Masters course, it is expected that some progress with language acquisition will have been made and therefore it is not expected that extensions beyond six months will be made.  Extensions for language training do not automatically attract overseas fieldwork costs.   Overseas fieldwork costs should only be considered alongside an extension where it is not possible to learn the language outside of the fieldwork site.

Please see Annex 3 p. 43 of   ESRC funding guide    for guidance on groupings of languages.  

Quantitative Methods Teaching Preparation

Quantitative Methods Teaching Preparation Extension application form

It is an ESRC priority to help raise the   quantitative skills of UK social science undergraduates   and a need has been demonstrated to enthuse and train undergraduates in the use of quantitative methods.  A key part of this will be to develop and train academic staff to design and deliver innovative quantitative methods training across the undergraduate curriculum.  Providing doctoral students who are engaging with quantitative methods the opportunity to think, develop and deliver short training ‘courses’ around their particular interests will help build capacity in quantitative methods training and increase the employability of doctoral students if they enter the academic job market.  For example, students may prepare their work into a publicly available training dataset with associated lab-based exercises.  This would be particularly important in disciplines and subjects outside of economics and psychology where there is less availability of appropriately trained staff and good teaching examples and datasets.

To apply for this 3 month extension, students must be specialising in the application of advanced quantitative methods for their doctoral research and they must have completed the data analysis and/or data collection that is to form the basis of their proposal for the quantitative methods to extend their award.

An application for this extension can be found on the LISS DTP website below and should be submitted to the Deputy Director, Training & Cohort Development.  Proposals should be submitted by the student and their supervisor which outline how the extension will be used to either develop skills or experience in quantitative methods teaching, or how they will contribute to quantitative methods provision within the student’s institution.  The proposal should outline what hard output there will be at the end of the extension (eg. a new teaching dataset made publicly available, or a new short course), and should be accompanied by a supporting statement from the Director of the focal teaching programme.

Students will be expected to provide a short report at the end of their extension period to evidence how they have developed/implemented their quantitative teaching skills in order for the 3 additional months of funding to be granted.  

I would strongly recommend the OIV Scheme to other studen ts. An institutional visit is beneficial for developing expertise , exchanging ideas with scholars from another department , expanding research networks and setting up potential collaborations . A visit is also a n excellent opportunity to disseminate early research findings and receive constructive feedback from diverse audiences.   

Overseas Institutional Visit 02.05.22 – 04.07.22 , University of Copenhagen

As part of the LISS DTP Overseas Institutional Visit (OIV) scheme, I had the opportunity to travel to Australia between October and December 2022. I spent time in two leading addictions research centres in Australia (University of Queensland and the National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre based in the University of New South Wales), working with collaborators and sharing my PhD findings.

The OIV gave me an invaluable opportunity to discuss my research, plan my publications, learn more about research methodologies and research careers. I was also able to raise my research profile, make connections with international researchers, and set the groundwork for future collaborations post-PhD.

For a full report on the OIV please click here.  

Overseas Institutional Visit 07.10.22 – 022.12.22 University of Queensland and the University of New South Wales

We would love to hear how your LISS DTP Internship or Overseas Institutional Visit went for you or your student. Please use the links below to make a report on a LISS DTP funded extension scheme. 

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Overseas Institutional Visit – Toulouse School of Economics

In the latest CRE blog PhD student Elena Benedetti reflects on her recent study visit to the Toulouse School of Economic s

During February and March 2020, I had the opportunity to visit the Toulouse School of Economics (TSE) at the University Toulouse Capitole, in the South-West of France. I was able to go following the kind invitation of Prof. Nicolas Treich, whom I met last year at a Centre for Rural Economy seminar. Nicolas is a senior researcher and director of INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique), working mainly in environmental, behavioural and animal welfare economics. This experience was funded thanks to the overseas institutional visit scheme offered by my scholarship, the ESRC-NINE DTP. I really recommend every NINE DTP PhD student apply for the same scheme to visit another institution for a few months. ESRC can fund travel and accommodation, and also extend your scholarship, in some instances.

TSE is a world-renowned centre for research in economics, chaired by Nobel laureate Jean Tirole. It works to connect research to policy, in France, Europe and worldwide, and comprises various economic research groups, including applied economics (environmental, food, health), finance, econometrics, public economics, industrial organization and macroeconomics. The centre recently moved to an impressive new building that won the Pritzker prize this year. It was fascinating to study in this modern glass building with terraces, where we could go to have chats and coffee breaks (the coffee was free for everyone). I had a big office just for myself and I could focus very easily on my research. The environment there was very stimulating and, in a way, I was much more motivated to do my work and be constantly focused. Being there allowed me to appreciate more what I am doing for my PhD and be more willing to explore and study new things. I learnt how important it is to do research with people that are passionate about many of the same things as you. It is extremely vital to connect with other researchers and exchange ideas.

Overall, it was a great experience, both for my professional and personal development. My own research benefitted substantially from this visiting period. I believe the suggestions and feedback I received while there will notably improve the quality of my project. Discussions with various academics enabled me to consider new and different perspectives on my research. I met people that implemented very similar micro-simulation model to mine and we listened to and challenged each other. This was essential to correcting some parts of my research, allowing me to achieve better results.

In terms of dissemination, engagement and knowledge exchange, I had the opportunity to present my work and research findings in a seminar in front of experts in environmental, health and food economics, many of whom gave me excellent suggestions and feedback. This was without any doubt a very useful practice for my presentation skills in view of future conferences and my PhD viva.

The best thing about my visit was the opportunity to meet different types of academics and have direct contact with them on a regular basis. Everyone was kind and willing to help, in every moment. The PhD community was very welcoming as well. They informed me about the possibility of attending the job market conference during my final year of my PhD in order to apply for job opportunities. I could talk with them about my issues and concerns and discuss my research at any time. We also had some social events together where we went for drinks and dinner. I really enjoyed this experience because I could talk with everyone about my project, also during lunch time.

The connection between TSE and IAST (Institute of Advanced Study in Toulouse) offered the possibility to exchange multi-disciplinary skills and knowledge among researchers. I could attend one or more seminars each day (where the lunch was always provided), with speakers coming from everywhere. I learnt about new models and new research topics, among other things; every day I spent there was a learning opportunity. In fact, I am still able to attend these seminars online, which means I can continue to learn new things daily.

Some researchers read my working paper and provided me very detailed comments, essential for the improvement of my work, in view of future journal submissions. Also, I introduced to them the new part of my PhD concerning the effects of environmental regulations on trade. It was extremely useful because I was able to get suggestions on how to develop this new project and which direction to follow before starting it.

The city was very beautiful and charming, with nice streets and squares. The walk along the river is one of the best part of the city, and I was able to enjoy it every day on the way from my house to the university. The sunset was amazing, everything painted with pink color, from the houses to the sky. The food and wine was also great, especially the cheese! My favourite was the raclette and the fondue. I also had the possibility to travel around in the weekends.

Unfortunately, I had to leave Toulouse before the actual return date due to the coronavirus outbreak, but I am very satisfied for the overall experience. I managed to do what I planned to do and create some good networks with many researchers in view of my future career. I would like to go back sometime to visit some of the PhD students I met there. Again, I really recommend that everyone consider this opportunity. It is extremely worthwhile, and can help you appreciate your project more, get more exciting ideas and enrich your skills and personal development.

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Overseas Institution Visit Report: Emma Nielsen

Nottingham DTC student Emma Nielsen, reporting back after her ESRC-funded Overseas Institution Visit to Harvard:

LHR-BOS-LHR and the learning in between: Reflections on an OIV visiting fellowship

Hands up who has a favourite academic paper? You might not like to admit it but, if you do, you are amongst company. I certainly have a favourite . It is a paper I read as an undergraduate that challenged my thinking and got me engaged and questioning in a way no other paper had before. It also played a big part in sparking the idea that later became my PhD.

Having a favourite paper is one thing. The prospect of approaching the author to discuss the possibility of going to work with them on a visiting fellowship is quite another. But that is exactly what we did. After being prompted to think about an overseas study visit at a conference, at the start of the year my supervisor and I started planning.  Ten months later, I was sat in departures at London Heathrow (LHR), awaiting a flight to Boston (BOS) to spend two months at Professor Matt Nock’s Lab, Harvard University.

Why did I go and what did I learn?

Writing grant applications is a sure fire way of crystallising the purpose of your visit. So, as I sat at Heathrow, I knew I was heading to the US with three main objectives in mind. I wanted to: (i) learn new research methods; (ii) understand more about the US research context and; (iii) meet new people and share my doctoral data.

A chance to learn new methods

The most quantifiable gain of the research visit is undoubtedly the research skills I developed. With great mentorship, I was able to learn to use statistics software and advanced statistical techniques that were new to me. Moreover, I was encouraged to think about and explore my PhD data in novel ways. New ideas are exciting. Harvard gave me a real chance to feel the excitement of research, condensed. While at Nock Lab, I was introduced to novel tasks and techniques and as yet unpublished methodologies. This experience was not only exposure to science at the cutting edge of the field, but was interaction and dialogue. I was able to ask technical questions and practical questions, glean the researchers’ top-tips and learn from the problems they faced and the strategies levelled to resolve them. This is insight you can rarely, if ever, glean from a published manuscript or conference presentation.

New lab, new context

I am a fan of the familiar. I find comfort in routine and, in many ways, deem change to be unnerving. I know my supervisor and my department well and I love it at UoN. However, sometimes, there is value in stepping outside of your comfort zone and into different ideas and structures.

I am a Psychologist. In the US, the doctoral structure in our field is fundamentally different. Understanding how the systems are comparable and divergent is an invaluable grounding. Getting to ‘live’ both sides has allowed me to develop a fuller appreciation of the skills my US-educated counterparts have – this is something that will be vital when planning future projects and building effective teams. I found that being immersed in a different research culture has helped me to build understanding; in many ways the field in which I work lacks a common language, with key conceptual differences being apparent between North American academics and their European colleagues. Spending time working on the other side of this Atlantic divide prompted an opportunity to not only comprehensively explore these alternative conceptualisations but also to challenge my own position and assumptions. During my visiting fellowship I had time and space to really delve into where I stand, what I think, and, most importantly, why.

Networking, ideas and many, many questions

I am an odd breed of researcher who looks forwards to the questions at the end of a presentation. At Harvard there were a lot of questions. I was in the privileged position of getting to ask researchers about their work and to present my research to them. It was odd – but awesome – to find that people were keen to devote an hour or two of their schedules to speak with me; my head has never been so consistently full of musings and ideas. My fellowship was an invaluable platform for my work and knowledge to be challenged, both formally when presenting to the lab, but also informally when recruiting knowledge and constructing lines of argument to bring to discussions with other researchers.

To me, my time at Harvard was a way of starting as I mean to go on; academia is increasingly thinking global and thinking collaboratively – this is something I want to be part of. Spending a sustained period of time within a research group broadens horizons and opens doors in a way that snippets of conversation at conferences, e-mail exchanges and 140 character Twitter dialogues just can’t . Throughout the fellowship I was able to establish new connections and initiate collaborations. While I don’t think the success of an overseas institutional visit can be measures in publications, the prospect of co-authored papers is an added bonus.

Through spending time away I also learnt much broader lessons than I set out to. I learnt that I am both more and less independent than I thought. I learnt to manage time in a new way, to be assertive, to take chances. I learnt about what I really value back home. I learnt that pumpkin really is good in pie! l got to experience New England in ‘the fall’ and took time to reflect.  I have come back home with a rejuvenated enthusiasm for all things PhD – moving into the latter stages of my doctorate, that in itself is hugely valuable. I was once told that there are no shortcuts to inspiration. Perhaps this is true - I don’t know - but I do know that the ‘jump start’ of spending time at Harvard sure comes pretty close. 

Advice to other Early Career Researchers?

What would my advice to other Early Career Researchers be? Give it a go ! If you are in any doubt, speak to someone who has done a visiting scholarship before and they will convince you. Yes, applying does take time and awards are competitive, but there is something liberating about giving yourself permission to think big . Like, really big. ‘If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?’ kind of big (this is the question my supervisor asked me when we were discussing the possibility of an international placement). The experience of applying for a grant is undoubtedly valuable. The experience of being open to possibility and believing in yourself is game-changing . And who knows, perhaps you too will get to go and work with the researcher(s) who wrote your favourite paper.

Emma Nielsen

[email protected] @EmmaLNielsen

Nottingham ESRC Doctoral Training Programmes

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Tom Avery’s OIV to University of Pennsylvania, USA

Posted on April 22, 2022 May 4, 2022 Author Brendan Walsh

Education researcher, Tom Avery was awarded Overseas Institutional Visit funding to travel to the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) for two weeks in March 2022.

Purpose of the trip

Tom’s research investigates the experiences refugees have of school in the UK. He is investigating this from a language policy perspective, exploring the presence and effects of raciolinguistic and colonial ideologies in school curricula, school policy, and teacher practice. Effectively asking how refugees navigate a school system designed for white, British speakers of English.

The purpose of Tom’s OIV is to meet with Nelson Flores (an eminent scholar on raciolinguistics) and his PhD students at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) in order to develop long-term professional networks, engage in knowledge exchange, and take part in a doctoral symposium.

In the run up to his visit, Tom was also granted a Graduate Student Award by AAAL for his upcoming presentation at the AAAL 2022 conference. The award is merit-based award that supports the attendance of outstanding AAAL graduate student members at the conference.

Do you think your visit made an impact to your PhD research?

“This trip was an excellent chance to meet and talk with some of the major voices in my field, which I would not have had a chance to do otherwise. I was able to participate in seven lectures at an Ivy League school (UPenn) and listen to over 40 speakers during the two conferences I attended. “

“ I was also able to get some of their feedback on my work and present my work to groups of scholars who are working on the cutting edge of the field. Being in the USA in person also gave me a chance to engage in and grapple with current debates and controversies in my field, some of which will form a key part of my doctoral writing (e.g. is Academic English a tool of colonial domination or a requirement for emancipation).”

Would you recommend the OIV Scheme to other students?

“ Absolutely – and for all the reasons above! The process was quite simple and the SWDTP team were very helpful. “

About the OIV funding

The Overseas Institutional Visit (OIV) scheme is a funding opportunity available to ESRC funded students (more information on the scheme can be found here ). The scheme aims to provide the opportunity for postgraduate researchers to study at an overseas research institution for up to 13 weeks, in order to network with academics and researchers by participating in departmental seminars, events, and training activities.

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Overseas Institutional Visit (OIV): Tia Bennett

Tia is on the Psychology pathway at the University of Birmingham; her research aims to determine how UK policing should construct identification parades to maximise eyewitness identification accuracy.

She undertook an Overseas Institutional Visit to the University of California, San Diego in November and December 2023.

Tia’s visit to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in the winter of 2023 enabled her to work with Distinguished Professor John Wixted, whose diagnostic-feature-detection theory underpins Tia’s research.

Through regular meetings with Professor Wixted, Tia received valuable feedback on her work, developed her data analysis skills (including model fitting on MATLAB and ROC analysis), and discussed methods of data analysis, including innovative techniques which Tia intends to use in her PhD and future career:

“Visiting Professor Wixted and colleagues has given me invaluable experiences and expertise which will be useful for completing my PhD studies, and will also enhance career opportunities available to me.”

The month-long visit provided Tia with opportunities to expand her research network, and also gave her the opportunity to explore San Diego. During her free time, Tia was able to visit San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, and many other sights that San Diego had to offer.

Interested in an Overseas Institutional Visit? Find out more here or get in touch with us on [email protected]

MGS Events Calendar

Please see the above link for the full events calendar. A selection of our upcoming events are listed below.

Fri 10 May '24

Dimensions of police research, thu 27 jun '24, mgs student conference.

Overseas Institutional Visits, 2017-18

Deadline: 30 november 2017.

We are inviting current UBEL students to submit applications for overseas institutional visits. Students can apply for funding and an extension of up to 13 weeks of their studentships in order to visit an overseas institution. This competition will provide funding to successful candidates for visits occuring within the 2017/18 academic year.

Students are invited to apply to visit a Higher Education institution or a research organisation abroad. The OIV scheme is intended to support and encourage the international engagement of eligible ESRC-funded students. The Scheme funds an extension to the studentship of up to 13 weeks, plus travel and subsistence costs.

The scheme is a great opportunity to:

• undertake additional specialist research training not available in the UK;
• develop language skills;
• establish research links that will be beneficial to their current or future academic career;
• disseminate early research findings;
• attend and participate in seminars which are directly relevant to their research

Which students are eligible? ESRC-funded students at the UBEL DTP who are in the +3 (or equivalent) element of their studies. The OIV may not be undertaken during the first three months or final three months of the +3 studentship period.

Which overseas institutions? This must be a Higher Education institution, or an organisation with a substantive research reputation, and be based outside of the United Kingdom.

How to apply

Students must complete and submit their OIV application form and the following documentation before the deadline, 30 November 2017:

• Your Case for Support
• Confirmation of support from your supervisor
• Confirmation of support from the host institution

Please ensure you have read the Guidance Notes before applying.

Application Documents

Application form: UBEL DTP Overseas Institutional Visit Application Form 2018 Guidance Notes: UBEL DTP Overseas Institutional Visit 2018 Guidance Notes Country funding rates: UBEL DTP Schedule of Funding Rates

The closing date for this round of funding is 30 November 2017. All documents must be sent to the UBEL DTP  [email protected] by this date

Check out examples of other students’ Overseas Institutional Visits from the Bloomsbury DTC.

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