Visiting Scholars

Visiting scholar sitting with on blue chair smiling at someone while holding a bookVisiting Scholar Appointments

Who is Eligible for a Visiting Scholar (VS) Appointment?

A Visiting Scholar appointment is designed for independent researchers who are on leave from an academic position or other professional employment to conduct collaborative or independent research at UC Berkeley.

To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Degree Status: You must hold a Ph.D. or the highest terminal degree in your field, typically earned more than five years ago.

  • Employment Status: You must be actively employed or hold an academic position elsewhere and be on official leave during your visit.

  • Location: All research activities must be conducted in person on the UC Berkeley campus. Remote appointments are not permitted.

  • Duration: Appointments are approved for up to one year at a time, with a minimum stay of 30 days and a strict maximum cumulative limit of two years.

UC System Restriction: Current UC faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars, and students (across all UC campuses) are ineligible for this title due to existing UC reciprocity agreements. Additionally, Visiting Scholars cannot hold concurrent UC employment or paid appointments (such as a Lecturer position to teach a course) during their visit.

How to Obtain a Visiting Scholar Appointment

Appointments are driven by faculty placement. Please follow these steps to secure an appointment:

  1. Contact a Faculty Sponsor: Reach out directly to a UC Berkeley academic department or a faculty member whose current research aligns with your goals to see if they are accepting visiting scholars.

  2. Review Fees: If a faculty member agrees to sponsor you, you will need to coordinate the payment of the mandatory VSPA University Services Fee (USF). Host departments may choose to pay this on your behalf, or you may be required to pay it directly.

  3. Check Departmental Fees:  Some host departments charge an additional internal administrative fee. Please check your specific host department's website for their fee structure.

International Visiting Scholars

Foreign visiting scholars typically come to UC Berkeley on a J-1 visa. If you require visa sponsorship to conduct your research at UC Berkeley, please review the critical requirements managed by the Berkeley International Office (BIO).

External Visa Holders (including Fulbright Scholars)

If your visa Program Sponsor is NOT UC Berkeley, click here for detailed information on permitted external visa types, restrictions, and required documentation.

English Language Proficiency Requirement

Per U.S. Department of State regulations, all exchange visitors must possess sufficient English proficiency—verified by an objective measurement—to successfully participate in their program and navigate day-to-day life [22 CFR 62.10(a)(2)]. Please visit the BIO website to learn how to satisfy this requirement.

Visa Fees (Berkeley International Office)

All international scholars requiring visa sponsorship are subject to mandatory visa processing fees assessed by the Berkeley International Office (BIO). These fees cover document generation, federal compliance tracking, and visa maintenance support.

Sponsoring departments frequently cover these costs, but responsibility varies by department. Please check with your host department coordinator early in the process to determine your payment structure. For current rates, view the BIO Itemized Fees List page.

Travel and Extended Absence (30+ Days)

If you are planning to travel or leave the Berkeley area for 30 days or longer, you must obtain prior authorization to ensure your university appointment and visa remain valid.

Planning Your Departure

International Visiting Scholars (VS) and Visiting Student Researchers (VSR) must maintain an active UC Berkeley appointment if they depart the U.S. during their affiliation. To ensure full compliance, all international absences of 30+ days require exceptional approval.

  • Approval Requirements: This requires authorization from VSPA. If UC Berkeley is your visa sponsor, the Berkeley International Office (BIO) will also assist with your request. Our offices will coordinate directly with you to guide you through the necessary steps.
  • Required Documentation: International scholars must submit a brief memo from their Faculty Sponsor affirming their expected return date. You are welcome to use BIO’s standard memo template

Steps Upon Your Return

Maintaining your active status requires a formal check-in once your extended absence concludes.

  • Domestic Scholars: Please note that checking back in with our office after an extended absence applies to domestic scholars as well.

Are Visiting Scholars Compensated?

No. Per UCOP APM-430 policy, Visiting Scholars are strictly ineligible for salary or wages from UC Berkeley. Visiting Scholars must be self-supported or funded by external sources for the duration of their stay.

However, there are a few exceptions for financial support:

  • Living Allowance: Your host department or faculty sponsor may choose to provide a living allowance of up to $40,000 per year to help offset the cost of living in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. This is entirely at the discretion of the faculty sponsor.

  • Reimbursements: Departments may request approval to reimburse UC Berkeley business-related travel and incidental research expenses, provided they align with university policy.

Visiting Scholar Programs by Department

The following list is only a sampling of departmental visiting scholar programs on campus. Not all departments have a formal website dedicated to visiting scholars.