Visiting scholars program

What is the Visiting Scholars Program?

The Faculty is committed to promoting the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and expertise through staff and student mobility. The Visiting Scholars Program provides a supportive scholarly environment where academics can:

• Collaborate with ABP staff on research projects
• Develop and share their academic work
• Engage in professional development opportunities
• Contribute to teaching and learning activities
• Participate in and enrich the Faculty’s research community

Visits typically range from two weeks to one semester (12–16 weeks), although longer appointments may be approved in exceptional circumstances.

If your proposed visit is less than two weeks, please contact the Faculty to determine whether the formal application process is required.

Eligibility

Visiting Scholars are selected through a competitive process based on:

• Academic qualifications
• Quality and relevance of the proposed research
• Alignment with the Faculty’s strategic priorities
• Existing institutional partnerships and collaborations
• Availability of Faculty resources to support the visit

Applicants must be either:

• Current employees of a recognised academic institution; or
• Scholars with an established reputation in their field.

PhD or other graduate research students who wish to visit the Faculty should refer to Melbourne Global Mobility for specific Research Study Abroad and Exchange information.  Other students should refer to the University’s Study Abroad and Exchange website.

Expectations of Visiting Scholars

Visiting Scholars are expected to contribute actively to Faculty life during their appointment through the following activities:

Presentations

• Deliver at least one public seminar or presentation of their academic work to the Faculty community.

Promotion and Engagement

• Provide a short biography and profile information for promotion through Faculty communication channels.
• Be available, where appropriate, for media engagement related to their research expertise.

Academic Contribution

Contribute to the Faculty community through one or more of the following:

• Consultation and mentoring of postgraduate research students with shared research interests
• Guest lectures within Faculty teaching programs
• Professional development sessions for academic or professional audiences within their area of expertise

Research Acknowledgement

• Acknowledge the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning in any publications or presentations arising from work undertaken during the visit.

End-of-Visit Report

• Submit a brief report outlining activities, achievements, collaborations, and outcomes from the visit.

Application process

Applications are submitted through the online form.

Before applying, prospective Visiting Scholars must contact an academic member of staff. Applications are accepted throughout the year. However, to allow sufficient time for review, planning, and administrative processes, applicants are encouraged to submit their application at least 6 and preferably 12 months before their intended start date.

Required Documentation

Applicants will be asked to provide the following information and supporting documents:

• Contact details
• Proposed dates and duration of the visit
• Confirmation from an ABP academic who has agreed to host the visit
• Confirmation of how any applicable visa costs will be funded
• Curriculum Vitae (CV), including qualifications, research and teaching appointments, and publications
• Cover letter and proposed program, including:
  • Research topic and objectives
  • Methodology and sources of information
  • Anticipated outcomes and longer-term research prospects
  • Planned collaboration with ABP staff
• Current employer information, including a letter of support from the Dean (or equivalent) endorsing the visit and proposed program
• Academic transcripts from the most recent qualification completed (for early-career scholars)
• Evidence of English language proficiency (for applicants from non-English-speaking institutions)

Visa Requirements

Following approval of a Visiting Scholar application by the Faculty’s Deputy Dean, applicants will receive guidance on the visa process and next steps.

Visa applications must be arranged through the University of Melbourne’s nominated visa advisers. Processing times may vary significantly and should be taken into consideration when planning a visit. For further information on processing times, visit the Australian Government's Home Affairs website.

For visits longer than three months, visa costs may be up to AUD $2,000. Applicants should discuss these costs with their Academic Sponsor to determine available funding arrangements.

Visa costs may be funded through one of the following options:

1. Full payment by the Academic Host’s Program or Discipline
2. Full payment by the Visiting Scholar
3. Shared payment between the Program/Discipline and the Visiting Scholar

Options 2 and 3 apply only to 408 Research Activity visas for Visiting Scholars undertaking a significant research component during their visit.

Application form

Academic Sponsors

After your Visiting Scholar has been offered their appointment via HUGS and this has been approved as required, please complete the Visitor Visa Assessment tool and submit it here for a free visa lawyer assessment that includes advice regarding cost.

For further information, visit the Australian Government's Home Affairs website.

Further information

For further information, please refer to the faculty’s Visiting Scholars Policy or contact the Office of the Dean and Faculty Executive Director: abp-visitingscholars@unimelb.edu.au.