Research Visitor Programme 2027-28 at Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, University of Oxford (Michaelmas Term 2027)

The Research Visitor Programme of the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford, encourages mid-career and senior scholars, judges, practitioners, post-doctoral researchers and policy-makers engaged in the field of human rights law to visit the Institute for a period of self-directed study and research.

Applications are reviewed three times a year. Applications to visit during Academic Year 2026-27 are now closed; this post covers requests to visit in Michaelmas Term 2027 (Academic Year 2027-28), with the later rounds for Hilary Term 2028 and Trinity Term 2028 listed in the timeline.

• Mid-career and senior scholars, judges, practitioners, post-doctoral researchers and policy-makers engaged in the field of human rights law.
• Graduate students, whether at doctoral or master's level, are not eligible.
• Research Visitors should have no official affiliation to the University of Oxford or Mansfield College.
• You must first establish a sponsor, an academic member of the Institute or one of its Academic Affiliates, who will support your visit.
• The application needs a letter of support from the Head of Department (or equivalent) of your home institution stating that you are a full-time staff member or employee (or equivalent) and that the visit has its full support.
• Applicants from outside the UK may apply: the guidelines state that Research Visitors from outside the European Economic Area who do not have the right to visit the UK must obtain the appropriate visa before arrival.

• Allocated desk space in the Institute's Helena Kennedy Reading Room.
• A University Card and a University email address.
• Full access to the Bodleian Law Library, all other Oxford University Library Services, and electronic holdings, databases and journals.
• Permission to attend Faculty and Institute lectures and seminars (by arrangement with the lecturer) and to join discussion groups during term.
• Termly sponsorship meetings, a listing on the Institute website and invitations to Institute events.

Visitors are asked to sign a Research Visitor agreement and to present their work once a term in an academic visiting seminar.

There is a programme fee of GBP 700 per term and a further fee of GBP 175 per month or part-month thereafter, payable in full before arrival in Oxford. Applicants who can demonstrate that they cannot afford the fee may apply for a fee reduction, which the Institute will consider.

The Faculty does not provide a salary or other payments. Research Visitors are responsible for all travel, accommodation, visa and living expenses and will ordinarily need to show they have the funds to cover the costs of the visit.

Visits can be for periods from one university term to a full academic year. Applicants are encouraged to plan their stay to coincide with at least one academic term.

Once you have the support of a sponsor, complete the Research Visitor Programme Application Form and email it to the Programmes Coordinator at bonavero-programmes@law.ox.ac.uk with the subject line 'Bonavero Institute Research Visitor Application'. Attach, as one single PDF, a CV, a list of publications, a research outline, two references and the letter of support from your home institution, each no longer than 2 sides of A4.

Deadline for a Michaelmas Term 2027 visit: noon UK time (5:30 pm IST) on Thursday 4 February 2027.

Applications are reviewed internally and then by the Institute's Management Committee, which meets termly in week 5. The Programmes Coordinator confirms the outcome shortly after the meeting. Applications are assessed on scholarly merit, practical value and relevance to the Institute's key research themes.