Visiting Scholars

Visiting Scholar Appointments

Who is eligible for a Visiting Scholar Appointment?

A Visiting Scholar appointment allows individuals who earned a Ph.D. (or the terminal degree in their field) more than five years ago to engage in short-term educational or research projects under the supervision or sponsorship of a UC Berkeley faculty member.

Per the University of California Office of the President policy (PDF), Visiting Scholars must be on leave from an academic position or other employment, and their primary purpose at UC Berkeley must be to conduct independent or collaborative research.

Visiting Scholars are self-supported through external funding sources that cover their expenses for the duration of the appointment. Remote appointments are not permitted—all activities must be conducted on campus.

Appointments are granted for up to one year at a time, with a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of two years.

Current UC staff, faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and students (across all campuses) are not eligible for Visiting Scholar appointments. In addition, Visiting Scholars may not hold concurrent UC employment or appointments during their visit (for example, a Lecturer position to teach).

International Visiting Scholars

Please click here for detailed information on permitted visa types, visa categories that are not appropriate, and the documentation requirements for individuals holding externally sponsored visas.

Are Visiting Scholars Compensated?

Visiting scholars are ineligible for compensation, whether in the form of salary or wages, from UC Berkeley. Visiting scholars are self-supported and appropriate to the duration of the appointment from external sources. However, individual research units/departments or the faculty sponsor may provide a living allowance of up to $30,000 per year to help offset the cost of living in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Departments may also request approval to reimburse a visiting scholar's UC Berkeley business-related travel costs, and incidental research expenses, as long as they are aligned with the UCOP APM-430 policy. 

How does one obtain a Visiting Scholar Appointment?

Please contact the academic department or a faculty member whose research aligns with your training and research goals. They will help you determine your eligibility and notify you if they are accepting visiting scholars. They may also assist in covering the required University Services Fee on your behalf if you are unable to do so.

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.