Visiting MPhil/PhD students

 

We welcome applications from students currently enrolled for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at an overseas institution to undertake research at the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ which supports the PhD at your home university.

Visiting PhD students will be able to spend up to a maximum of 12 months with us taking advantage of our excellent academic and library facilities, as well as receiving supervision from our experienced members of staff.

You must first identify a potential supervisor who is willing to host your visit. Please make contact with the supervisor by email to discuss the research you would like to do as a visiting student at Worcester. You can use the University website to search for ‘Academic Schools’. This will then give you the full list of our Schools along with staff profiles and their research areas.

How to apply

When you have found a suitable supervisor, please click on the following link to apply:
      

In the personal statement section of the application form, please include:

  • The name of the academic member of staff at Worcester who will supervise your visit
  • Your proposed visit dates

Upon receiving your application, we will confirm receipt and will then forward your paperwork to the relevant admissions tutor and supervisor who will assess your application carefully. We will contact you with any questions which we may have and may ask you for an interview, which will be conducted by Microsoft Teams.

If we agree in principle to support your application, we will issue you with a conditional offer letter which will allow you to apply for funding. If you receive funding, then we will make you an unconditional offer.

Before an unconditional offer can be made, all applicants will be asked to provide a series of supporting documents as follows: 

  • A reference from your current PhD supervisor which confirms your current student status, permission to study abroad and suitability for undertaking research at the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥
  • Research or project proposal/outline including reasons why to would like to spend time at the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (1000 words maximum)
  • Passport photocopy
  • Certificate of English Language Proficiency
  • ATAS clearance for most science-based subjects. We will send you more information about ATAS with your offer letter
  • Copy of your most recent degree certificate
  • Evidence of your registration as a current PhD student at an overseas institution
  • Evidence of how you will fund your visit

When to visit

We strongly advise you to plan your visit either by the beginning of September/October or January/February to coincide with the beginning of our academic semesters. However, we can be flexible with the starting time if you have specific needs.

Please note that the University does not guarantee accommodation for International Visiting PhD Students, and you may need to make your own arrangements for accommodation for your time in the UK.

Fees

For information about current fees please contact research@worc.ac.uk.

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 of 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in every component, prior to your visit. We will send you information about how to apply for a CAS for your visa, once your offer is unconditional and, where applicable, ATAS clearance has been obtained.

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, English 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 of 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in every component, prior to your visit.

For more information about visas please visit out Visas and Immigration page.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us for further information on research@worc.ac.uk.

Contact us

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us for further information on research@worc.ac.uk.

Student stories

Anders

anders-moller-jensenVisiting Ph.D. student at the Association for Dementia Studies, ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥

In Denmark, post-grad students are encouraged to go abroad as part of their study. The purpose is to gain knowledge that is not accessible in Denmark, broaden the student’s professional network and learn about post-grad educations in other countries. 

In relation to my research, it was an obvious choice to contact Professor Dawn Brooker and ask if it was possible to stay at the Association for Dementia Studies for 3 month. The reply was swift and welcoming, and right from the first contact Dawn made sure I was introduced to relevant people in her organization to ease my preparation and travel to Worcester.

The enrolment as a visiting Ph.D. student and introduction to the team was well prepared, so right from the beginning I felt at home. In terms of timing, my visit started in September, so there was a lot of team meetings that I was invited to participate in. That gave an incredible insight into how they work, and what knowledge to access during my stay. It is therefore advisable to have a dialogue with the university early on in terms of optimal timing of your visit.

 During the stay it will probably be possible to get involved in some project and it advisable as much as your own Ph.D. plan allows. Also, do not hold back on sharing your view and knowledge with your colleagues. Remember as much as you learn for visiting them - they also benefit from having fresh thoughts brought into their work life.

In terms of living in Worcester the university was helpful in arranging for me to stay in Barrington House. There you’ll have the opportunity to meet other post-grad students visiting Worcester and socialize with them. This gives some interesting insight into other research fields, which always helps to develop your knowledge about science. Worcester in itself is a beautiful English city with a good array of shopping and restaurants available. The travel to Worcester is easy with train from Birmingham International Airport and only 3 hours from London if you will take the opportunity to visit other parts of the country whilst here.

It is with no doubt in my mind that I encourage others to visit ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥. While you are here, remember to think of yourself more as a colleague then a guest, and you will gain friends for life.

Francesca

francesca-serraI am a PhD student from the University of Padua, Italy.

My field of research concerns the assessment of mood disorders. My university gave me this fantastic opportunity to spend a period of study abroad.

It took me a while to choose the right place for my adventure as I wanted to make sure I made the right decision. Working and studying abroad is not always how you would imagine it: expectations could not be met, the experience could be disappointing and, most of the time, staying away from home can be very difficult, especially if you are not satisfied with the work you are doing.

I chose the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥, and in particular Professor Lisa Jones (Prof of Psychological Medicine), because her research group’s work on mood disorders seemed the most interesting and complete in the various fields of research on bipolar disorder. There was another reason that convinced me to choose Lisa: it was her friendliness and her commitment demonstrated by the emails we exchanged before my arrival.

I was very excited but scared at the same time when I arrived in Worcester as I did not know what to expect from this experience. I would, therefore, like to thank the organization of the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ for the warm welcome (a lovely student helped me to settle in my accommodation and in the campus on my first day). The beautiful surroundings contributed to changing my mood during those stressful days. I refer to this green campus I’m staying in: the trees, the grass, the animals and the smell of nature everywhere! I was able to book excellent accommodation in Barrington House (owned by the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥). I would like to thank my flatmates of Barrington House, especially Anders Moeller Jensen (another visiting PhD student, from Denmark) for becoming a friend to whom I could confide and have fun with every day!

The most important thanks goes to the Mood Disorders Research Group for making me feel like home since the first day and for being lovely people outside of work, for trusting me and making me feel like a good fit in the team. I am grateful to be investigating agitated depression in a big sample of bipolar disorder, and mood disorders in relation to menopause. Thanks to Prof Lisa Jones for being such a strong and capable guide for me in the work as well in the life; Dr Kath Gordon-Smith for her unique and daily patience and sweetness; Amy Perry and Sarah Knott for their smile and friendship; Lizzie Ludlow for her kindness.

I have already been here for three months, and I can certainly say that I could have not made a better choice. I find myself surrounded by competent and esteemed people in the research as well as humble and sensitive at appreciating and listening to my ideas. I believe this experience is really important to my professional and personal growth, and I think I still have much to learn from the Worcester group of mood disorders researchers.

The city of Worcester is small and friendly. There is much green space, and the river and bridges are beautiful. There are good shops, good English pubs and I even found a good Italian restaurant. There are many differences to Italian cities, especially all the different sports.

This is my experience in Worcester, newer and richer every day, and it will continue until February! I just wanted to give an advice to anyone who might take the same path: choose the right place and go for it with a confident attitude.