Visiting Research Students should be current postgraduate research (PGR) students at another Higher Education institution either in the UK or internationally, who have a viable programme of research, for which study in London is necessary and relevant.

Visiting Research Experience Students should be current postgraduate taught (PGT) or undergraduate (UG) students at another Higher Education institution either in the UK or internationally, who wish to undertake their research experience at King’s. The policy for Visiting Research Experience Students can be found in our pdf, which details further eligibility criteria on the arrangements.

Both Visiting Research and Visiting Research Experience Students should identify a supervisor who is an academic member of staff at King’s and will personally support their application.

Please note that applications will only be accepted from students who have arranged with a potential supervisor that they can visit King's.

Students should apply using King's Apply at least 8 weeks before their proposed start date.

• If you are a Visiting Research student (PGR student), please search for the “Research Non-Award” programme in your subject area and select the month of entry. Example programme title: "Chemistry Research Non-Award".
• If you are a Visiting Research Experience Student (PGT or UG student), please search for the “PGT Research Experience Non-Award” or “UG Research Experience Non-Award” programme in your subject area and select the month of entry. Example programme titles: "Mathematics Chemistry PGT Research Experience Non-Award" or "Physics UG Research Experience Non-Award".

Following this, please complete the following sections of the application form:

• Personal information.
• Education: Detail any previously completed qualifications and provide scans of official transcript and certificates at degree level and above. For UG visiting research experience students, please also include high school documents. If the original documents are not in English, we will also need to see official translations. Please also provide details of your current study.
• Supporting statement: You will be required to upload an official letter confirming you are currently studying in this section. This needs to be on official headed paper and signed or stamped by your university. If the original letter is not in English, we will also need to see an official translation.

The letter should confirm:

1. The title of your current study
2. The date you enrolled
3. Your expected completion date (this date must be after your visit to King’s has ended)
4. Your fee status (if your current study is in the UK)
5. That your study at King's will contribute and relevant to your current research/programme

• English language: You should provide any certification of your proficiency in English as part of your application e.g. previous tests, previous study. Please read the guidance below on English language requirements for further information.
• References: Provide the details of your supervisor at King's as your referee. If you are asked for a second reference, this should be from your current study.
• Details of any funding

Any speculative applications where a supervisor at King’s not been identified will be withdrawn.

Students should allow 6 weeks for applications to be processed.

Current postgraduate taught (PGT) or undergraduate (UG) students visiting as Visiting Research Experience Students

• For visits between 3 months and up to 6 months, a fee of £500 would be charged;
• For visits between 6 months and up to 9 months, a fee of £2,000 would be charged;
• For visits between 9 months and up to 12 months, a fee of £4,500 would be charged.
• For visits of more than 12 months, normal tuition fees for your fee status will apply.

Current postgraduate research (PGR) students visiting as Visiting Research Students

• For visits lasting up to 6 months, there is no fee.
• For visits between 6 months and up to 9 months, a fee of £2,000 would be charged;
• For visits between 9 months and up to 12 months, a fee of £4,500 would be charged.
• For visits of more than 12 months, normal tuition fees for your fee status will apply.

Applicable to all students:

• Please note: extending the length of your visit will incur the fee applicable for the combined duration. This will also apply if you are extending the length during your initial visit or if you are returning to King’s to continue the same research.
• It should be noted that the fee structure proposed will not apply to those who enter King's through a formal exchange agreement (e.g. study exchange agreement). Applicants under these partnership routes must apply via study abroad.

All Visiting Research and Visiting Research Experience Students should be able to communicate effectively in English (reading, writing, speaking and listening) and be able to do so in an academic environment. You should provide any certification of your competence in English as part of your application e.g. previous English Language tests, previous study.

The level of English language you are required to demonstrate for a visiting research or research experience programme is dependent on your length of stay and visa requirements:

• If you are visiting for up to 6 months and wish to apply for a Student Visa OR you are visiting for over 6 months up to 12 months and will require a Student Visa, you must meet the minimum English Language requirement below prior to your visit. This is equivalent to the CEFR level B2.
• If you do not require a visa to study in the UK OR you are visiting for up to 6 months and will require a standard Visitor Visa, competency is assessed on a case-by-case basis based on the information that you supply in your application. If it is determined that you are required to demonstrate your level of English proficiency, you must meet the minimum English Language requirement below prior to your visit. This is equivalent to the CEFR level B2.

Accepted tests:

Please read all of the below information carefully as there are a number of English language tests we can accept to meet our English language requirements.

If a test you have completed is not listed below, unfortunately we are unable to accept it as meeting our English language requirements.

The tests below must have been taken two years of your visit start date in order to be valid. 

All elements of the test results must be demonstrated in one test to be valid (i.e. we cannot take a combination of your scores across two tests).

IELTS (Academic) OR IELTS (Online):
5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each skill

TOEFL iBT (Institution code: 0394) OR OR TOEFL iBT Home Edition OR TOEFL iBT Paper Edition. Please note that we do not accept the TOEFL Paper-delivered Test:
72 overall with a minimum of 17 in writing and listening, 18 in reading and 20 in speaking

Pearson Test of English (Academic):
We also accept Pearson Test of English (Academic) for UKVI. We do not accept Pearson Test of English (Academic) Online
59 overall, with a minimum of 54 in each communicative skill

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) / Cambridge C2 Proficiency:
169 overall with a minimum of 160 in each skill

Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE) / Cambridge C1 Advanced:
169 overall with a minimum of 160 in each skill

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE):
Level III (ISEIII) with pass in each skill

If you require a visa to enter and study in the UK for your visit, please see below:

• Visits up to six months: You should expect to receive a letter of support to obtain a standard Visitor Visa for the duration of your visit.

For students who require a visa to enter and study in the UK but are not required to apply under the Student Visa route (i.e. your visit is up to six months in length) and you are made an offer without an English language condition, your offer will have to be updated to include an English language condition if you wish to apply for a Student Visa. As a result, it is advisable that you send a King’s Apply message immediately after you submit your application if you wish to apply for a Student Visa rather than a standard Visitor visa.

• Visits over six months: You will not be able to enter the UK as a standard visitor. You will need a CAS number from King’s College London to apply for a Student Visa for the duration of your visit.

We are required to monitor the continuing engagement of all students on a Student Visa; given the short nature of the visit, options for this monitoring are being considered. For further information about applying for a Student Visa, please go to our Visa & International Student Advice team's webpage.

Visiting Research Students and Visiting Research Experience Students must not enter the UK on an Academic Visitor visa or a Business Visitor visa. Guidance will be provided to make clear that the Academic Visitor visa is not appropriate because, to qualify for this visa, a visitor must have obtained their doctorate.

Some of the research and research experience non-award programmes will require students to obtain ATAS clearance before they can enrol on their visit. Further information can be found on our ATAS webpage. If your visit will require you to obtain ATAS clearance, the Admissions Office will inform you in your offer letter.

You will not be able to enrol before you have obtained the necessary ATAS clearance, where this is applicable to your research or research experience.

As a visiting research or visiting research experience student at King’s, you will need to enrol with King’s so that you can be provided with an email address, access to all appropriate facilities and support services including the Centre for Doctoral Studies and KCLSU.

We will only be able to enrol students who have been made an unconditional offer and this offer has been accepted via King’s Apply.

Programme Availability

• “Research Non-Award” programmes for Visiting Research Students (PGR) for departments are readily available on King’s Apply.
• “PGT Research Experience Non-Award” or “UG Research Experience Non-Award” programmes for Visiting Research Experience Students will require the programme to be set up and opened on King’s Apply. Please contact the relevant Senior Admissions Officer who is responsible for your department for further guidance.

DBS or Occupational Health Clearance

If your student requires DBS or Occupational Health clearance for their visit, please contact the relevant faculty professional services team.

Queries

Please contact the relevant Senior Admissions Officer for your department if you have any questions regarding Visiting Research or Visiting Research Experience Students.