Applicants must be:  

• Institutionally affiliated with a university or equivalent research or cultural organisation outside of the University of Sydney.
• An early or mid-career researcher (EMCR), with PhD or equivalent professional or creative practice experience.
• Available to visit the University of Sydney between February to November 2027.
• Seeking to spend a substantive period at the University of Sydney (nominally 2 weeks, but longer visits are possible).

Applicants must agree to the following requirements:   

• Fellows must reside in Sydney for the duration of their fellowship, the substantial part of which must coincide with the Australian academic year (February to November) unless circumstances dictate other times.
• Visiting fellows should be present at the University of Sydney for the duration of the fellowship as specified in the letter of award.
• Target funding schemes and rounds should be clearly identified with eligibility confirmed in advance .
• Where relevant, grant applications should specify the University of Sydney as the administering organisation.
• No additional stipend or living allowance is attached to these fellowships.
• Fellowships must be taken up and funding fully spent in 2027.  

Note that additional requirements may apply to the respective fellowship schemes. Please read through the relevant guidelines carefully.

Applicants must secure the support of a current FASS academic staff member to host their proposed visit. The academic host should have similar or complementary research interests to those of the applicant. University affiliates (including honorary, adjunct, and emeritus professors) are not eligible to sponsor international visitors and cannot be nominated as your primary academic host.

How to identify relevant FASS staff

Applicants who do not have an existing connection to the University can:

• Search for academic staff with specific research interests;
• Refer to the directory of FASS academic staff; or
• Contact SSSHARC who can assist in finding an appropriate host. Please include a brief description of the proposed research with your enquiry.

When contacting a potential academic host, please provide:

• A copy of your CV and list of publications;
• A brief explanation of why you would like to apply for a Visiting Fellowship and the activities you would like to undertake; and
• The potential dates of your visit.

Applicants must agree to a program of work with their academic host before completing their application.

Visiting Fellows are responsible for ensuring they hold a valid visa for entry into Australia that will allow them to engage in all the activities they wish to undertake during their stay.

The University's Immigration and Global Mobility (I&GM) team can recommend the most suitable visa for each Visiting Fellow based on the nature and duration of their visit. They will also provide Visiting Fellows with an invitation letter and instructions on how to lodge their visa application.

The I&GM team advises that tourist and visitor visas (e.g. 600, 601, and 651) aren't suitable for the recipient of a Visiting Fellowship payment or for visitors who plan to undertake or collaborate on research. Visiting Fellows will typically require a 408 Temporary Activity - Research Activities visa or 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa.

As some visas can take up to several months to be approved, it's important for applicants to consider visa processing times when planning the dates for their proposed visit.