Global Faculty Fellowship Mini Visits

Each year, the Global Faculty Fellowship will offer 12 short visits of 2-6 weeks to visit the I-X Centre for AI in Science. These visits will have three defined outcomes: As a recruitment opportunity for future GFF cohorts; to build capacity with Partners; and create a wider network of AI in Science engaged faculty from Low- and Middle-Income partner countries. 

The visit provides flexible options for those interested in creating connections through networking with existing GFFs and Imperial Faculty, as well as for those wishing to collaborate by undertaking a short research project at Imperial hosted in a relevant department. 

The length of the visit should be between 2 and 6 weeks. To take place from 2026 – 2028. The first cycle will run in 2026. 

Faculty invited to the visits will be selected from three groups: 

1. GFF candidates unsuccessful in previous rounds 
2. Relevant colleagues who are faculty members and suggested by existing GFFs 
3. Open call for Faculty members at partner institutions to apply

The fund will provide: 

• Subsistence grant: £950 per week to cover food, accommodation and other necessary expenses.  

• Up to £1500 towards return economy flights 

• Payment for standard visitor visa (£127) 

• Contribution towards costs for travel/medical insurance 

• Administrative support for visa application and ATAS clearance, where required. 

Please note, only individuals are eligible for the funding, dependents will not be supported.

Visitors are expected to arrange their own accommodation in London for the duration of their stay. Suggestions for potential accommodation options can be found in our FAQs for visiting researchers.

Participants must:

• Be a current Faculty member at one of the I-X Centre for AI in Science Global Faculty partner institutions. This includes Indian Institute of Science (IISc), National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), India, University of Ghana (UoG), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and University of Sao Paulo (USP).
• Each partner institution will be invited to send Faculty for a mini visit. The selection committee will seek to build a cohort with representation from all partner institutions. To maintain geographical balance and ensure programme diversity, I-X Centre for AI in Science leadership team reserves the right to make final selections with consideration for overall cohort structure.  
• Have a Letter of Support from an academic host at Imperial. The host should ensure that the Letter of Support is approved by the Head of Department. 
• Provide a contact name and email from their home institution to confirm institutional support of the visit and in case of any issues. 

*If you have any queries relating to eligibility, please get in contact.

Applications are now open. Please read the following information carefully.

The deadline to apply is 31st January 2026 (23:59).

Visiting Faculty must decide the purpose of their visit: 

1. Meetings: To attend meetings and events within the remit of a UK standard visitor visa. This will require confirmation from a Host Academic to host you and provide desk space throughout the visit. 
2. Research: To undertake research in additional to attending meetings and events. This will require ATAS clearance and confirmation from a Host Academic to host you and provide desk space for the duration of the visit. 

Visitors are requested to provide a short outline of the activities they plan to undertake during their time at Imperial, so we can help identify if ATAS is necessary.  

All applicants must provide an Imperial host support letter. In addition, we request a contact name and email from your home institution to confirm institutional support of the visit and in case of any issues. 

The host department must agree to bench-fee waiver, workspace/lab access, induction/supervision plan. The I-X AI in Science Centre will invite the visitor to relevant events to network with existing I-X/GFF Fellows including Tuesday coffee mornings and Thursday lunch; however desk space cannot be allocated for the duration of the visit. 

Finding a host academic 

It is your responsibility to identify and contact a potential host department/institute, based on what best aligns with your research focus. A list of all Departments and Institutes, and links to their webpages, can be found here. Visitors should then contact academics directly to explore the possibility of a visit. However, it is at the discretion of the Imperial academic as to whether they would like to host you. We encourage pre-existing collaborators to explore opportunities for visiting researchers. 

A letter template that applicants can use to contact potential supervisors can be found here:  Template letter for potential host supervisors mini visit

Additional guidance for a research visit 

In addition to the information provided above, if you plan to carry our research at Imperial, you must apply for ATAS clearance. Unless you are visiting the Faculty of Medicine or Imperial Business School, as these are exempt. 

Applicants must complete the ATAS Certificate online and provide an Imperial host support letter. You are strongly encouraged to apply for ATAS at the same time as completing the application form, as the wait times for approval can be up to three months, and you must have your ATAS Certificate before you can apply for your visa. Please consider this when proposing the timing for your visit. The ATAS Certificate is free to apply for and your Imperial host can provide further clarification. 

The department hosting your research visit must also agree to bench-fee waiver, workspace/lab access, induction/supervision plan.  

To complete the application:

1. Applicants must first decide on the preferred visit option. Option 1: Meetings or Option 2: Research. You can then identify and contact a suitable Host Academic to seek their approval to host you for the visit.
2. Applicants must submit the application form.
3. Please share the Host Approval Form with your host academic so they can approve and sign off on the date of your visit.

You must answer the following questions (in the application form):

• Please provide a ‘layperson’ summary of your research work (100 words)
• What will you do during your research visit? (200 words) only for Option 2: research

Three groups of eligible Faculty will be invited to apply for the visit opportunity: 

1. GFF candidates unsuccessful in previous rounds 
2. Relevant colleagues who are faculty members and suggested by existing GFFs 
3. Open call for Faculty members at partner institutions to apply

Each partner institution will share the opportunity internally for faculty to apply for a mini visit. The selection committee will seek to build a cohort with representation from all partner institutions. To maintain geographical balance and ensure programme diversity, I-X Centre for AI in Science leadership team reserves the right to make final selections with consideration for overall cohort structure.  

Applications will be reviewed in early February and outcomes will be shared as soon as available.

Applicants will be informed via email and provided with further details on receiving the grant and arranging the visit.

I am a Faculty Member from a University not currently partnered with Imperial, am I eligible?

Unfortunately you are not eligible for this scheme. We keep our website and social media pages up to date with current opportunities, so please check back to see what you may be eligible to apply for.

Is the scheme fully funded?

The scheme covers your flights, travel to visa centres, visa fees and provides a monthly stipend. For a detailed breakdown, please see below.

You should prepare to have at least £200 (or equivalent) available to you if successful as there may be some instances where we you will need to pay in cash/local currency. We will reimburse you when you arrive in the UK. 

Can I extend my visit beyond 2026 if I experience delays?

Please contact GFF@imperial.ac.uk if you are unable to visit within 2026 and we will review your application on a case by case basis. We intend to fill all visit opportunities in 2026, so it is not guaranteed you can apply late.