Visiting Opportunities

Visiting Fellowships target researchers at an early stage of their career (pre-major review) who already hold a tenure-track university affiliation and wish to conduct a specific piece of research on a topic relevant to the research of the Hellenic Observatory.

Applications by practitioners and researchers outside the academia may also be considered, but normally applicants should hold at least a PhD degree or have equivalent professional experience.  

The Visiting Senior Fellowship category is aimed at academics that are of the Lecturer (post major review), Senior Lecturer or Reader level, and practitioners or professionals at a broadly comparable level in their profession.

The title of Visiting Senior Fellow is given to individuals from outside the School associated with School Departments/Institutes/Centres. The status is intended to apply to scholars who have already published work of distinction, as well as recognising the contribution from those in government service, in professional practice, in the private sector, or in other appropriate fields, to research and other Departmental/Institute/Centre activities.

The School may confer the title of Visiting Professor or Visiting Professor in Practice for a defined but renewable period on persons of appropriate distinction whose connections with the School are appropriate to the visiting title. It includes individuals with a non-academic background who may have achieved prominence in public life, or who have attained distinction in the professions. The Visiting Professor in Practice title is for those who have appropriate distinction within their area of practice without however having sufficient academic distinction. The Committee reserves the right to reject a Visiting Professor application and either suggest the conferment of Visiting Professor in Practice or Visiting Fellow/Senior Visiting Fellow status, as appropriate.

Timing: The next deadline for submissions will be announced in August. Appointments can start at any time after the appointment start date, subject to agreement between the individual fellow and the Hellenic Observatory. However, we do prefer Visitors to be with us during term time and for a period of 6-12 months.

Duration: Fellowships will normally run for 6-12 months, but longer visits may, by exception, be approved. Shorter visits (minimum 10 weeks) may also be considered but this is not the School’s preference.

Status in the School: The title of Visiting Fellow, Visiting Senior Fellow, Visiting Professor & Visiting Professor in Practice is given to individuals from outside the School associated with School departments, institutes and Centres. Visiting Fellows have access to the facilities of the Hellenic Observatory, and will also be able to enjoy access to the facilities of LSE as a whole.

Funding: Visiting fellowships do not carry an emolument and the Hellenic Observatory does not normally offer a stipend. It is advisable that all interested applicants should firstly research the likely costs associated with living in London as these costs are high before proceeding with an application.

- The Hellenic Observatory will however be able to offer support of up to £5,000 per annum in the form of reimbursements/expense claims upon submission of the relevant receipts to cover flight(s) and a daily maximum accommodation/living allowance. A minimum visiting fellowship (any level) period of 6 months is required to apply for the support. It is essential for the Fellow to be based in London for this period of time.

- If you wish to apply for a visiting fellowship and to be considered for the financial provision, please supply the additional documentation justifying the request for financial provision under the HOW TO APPLY HEADING ‘Financial Provision Justification’.

- The discretionary fund of up to £5,000 is limited.

Computer facilities and desk space: Visiting Fellows, Visiting Senior Fellows, Visiting Professors & Visiting professors in Practice will be provided with an LSE login and email address, enabling them to use computer facilities at the School (for example, in the LSE library). The Hellenic Observatory may be able to provide Visiting Fellows , Visiting Senior Fellows & Visiting Professors with desk space, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Accommodation: the School is not able to make any arrangements for living accommodation for visitors. The LSE’s accommodation website, however, provides useful guidance on finding private rented housing. 

Visiting Fellowships require a review and selection process and applications are considered for approval several times a year.

Application Materials

Your application should include the following:

• Cover letter outlining the rationale for why you wish to spend time at the Hellenic Observatory, LSE. This should include information about your planned research programme, the benefits the fellowship will bring to your on-going research; and the ways in which you expect the Hellenic Observatory to benefit from the collaboration.

• Research Proposal normally not to exceed 8 pages. The research proposal should specify clearly the research question of the proposed research and give details about the analytical framework, literature and methodological approach to be followed. It should also explain how the proposed research relates to the applicant's past research and publications.

• Up-to-date Curriculum Vitae.

• Period that you are interested in. Please note that we prefer Visitors to be with us during term time.

• Statement of Living Costs providing an outline on how the applicant proposes to meet their living costs during their stay in London. 

• Financial Provision Justification: where the applicant wishes to apply for the Financial Support then a description on why the funding is required should be given.

Term dates 2021/22 :

Michaelmas term: Monday 27 September – Friday 10 December 2021
Lent term: Monday 17 January – Friday 1 April 2022
Summer Term: Tuesday 3 May (due to May bank holiday) – Friday 17 June 2022 

You will be advised, in writing, of the outcome of your application within seven weeks of the deadline for each round.

Call for applications:

The next deadline for submissions for Visiting Fellows, Visiting Senior Fellows, Visiting Professors & Visiting Professors in Practice is Monday, 28th February 2022 5pm GMT. The Visiting appointment start date for this round of applications is from 3rd May 2022.

Please send applications to hellenicobservatory@lse.ac.uk