Visiting Students in the Department of Architecture and the Department of History of Art

Cambridge University is known worldwide as a major centre of learning and research across the whole spectrum of arts, humanities and sciences.  We receive requests every year from students and academics who would like to come here for a limited period to undertake research that will augment their work at their home institution.

The Departments of Architecture and History of Art both welcome inquiries from potential Visitors and if we have the capacity, we are happy to accommodate Visiting Students and Visiting Scholars who meet our academic and English language criteria for acceptance.

Visiting Student:

As a guide, a Visiting Student must have a similar level of academic attainment to that required for admission to the equivalent Cambridge PhD programme. The following pages set out these requirements: PhD in Architecture: PhD in Architecture | Postgraduate Study (cam.ac.uk) and PhD in History of Art: PhD in History of Art | Postgraduate Study (cam.ac.uk)Excellent English is essential and if English is not the native language, we shall need evidence that the required levels in reading, writing, speaking and listening have recently been achieved.  

We shall require:

  • A completed application form – available here.
  • A detailed research proposal.
  • A covering letter which explains specifically why the application is being made to Cambridge University.
  • The name of an identified Cambridge supervisor who has agreed to supervise the Visiting Student.
  • A letter of support from the proposed Cambridge supervisor, which confirms having held a successful interview with the student.
  • A CV which should contain relevant information (max. 4 pages).
  • The names and contact details of two referees, one of whom must be an employee, familiar with the student and his/her work, at the home institution.
  • A certificate of enrolment from the home institution.
  • Transcripts and certificates for all other undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications.
  • Written confirmation from the home institution that the student has permission to undertake a period of research in Cambridge, and that the specified research directly contributes to the student’s PhD thesis. 
  • If English is not the student’s primary language, confirmation of his/her spoken, written, reading and listening proficiency with either a recent IELTS certificate (with a minimum average score of 7.5, and not lower than 7.0 in each category) or a TOEFL certificate (with a minimum score of 110).
  • Confirmation of who will pay the fee.
  • Details of the type of visa the student will be applying for or already holds.

Cost options for a Visiting Student:

Up to 6 weeks

Visiting Students shall receive:

  • Regular Supervisions (fortnightly) during term time
  • Access to attend Department-level Seminars and Lectures
  • Access to Faculty Library

Cost: £90 a week.

Full term

Visiting Students shall receive:

  • Regular Supervisions (fortnightly) during term time
  • RAVEN Password (i.e. access to University online systems)
  • University Access Card
  • Access to Faculty Library
  • Access to attend Department-level Seminars and Lectures
  • Access to some MPhil Lectures and Seminars, with prior agreement from Course Director
  • Access to all University Libraries

Cost: £720 a term

Up to 12 months

Visiting Students shall receive:

  • Regular Supervisions during term time
  • RAVEN Password
  • University Access Card
  • Access to Faculty Library
  • Access to attend Department-level Seminars and Lectures
  • Access to some MPhil Lectures and Seminars, with prior agreement from Course Director
  • Access to all University Libraries
  • Access to College buildings

Cost: £2,400 a year

Please note that we do not have studentships or bursaries to support students financially.

Accomodation and living expenses:

Neither Department is able to offer accommodation which means that Visiting Students are responsible for finding their own place to stay while in Cambridge.  However, the University has an Accommodation Service which may be able to provide some advice and assistance (see https://www.accommodation.cam.ac.uk/). All Visiting Students should have arranged for a place to live in Cambridge before they arrive for the visit.

All Visiting Students must ensure that they have sufficient funding to cover all their living costs for the duration of their visit.  It is important to realise that the cost of living in Cambridge can be quite high.

Immigration/ visa requirements:

All non-UK nationals must ensure they have the correct immigration permission for an approved visiting period at the University.  The Department does not cover visa costs.

For information, please see:

See also: Short period of study | International Students (cam.ac.uk).  The most likely visa is a Visitor Visa for a short period of study which covers a limited period of research in the UK undertaken as part of a degree course at an overseas institution.

Application process and deadlines:

Generally we would expect students to apply for one or two terms at the outset, and for their visit in Cambridge to fall within the academic year (October-June) when academic staff will be in Cambridge to supervise.  For a longer visit, i.e. a third term or longer, we shall assess the progress of the research project towards the end of the original visit period to determine whether extending the visit is justified and feasible.

All applications will be considered by the Architecture and History of Art Faculty Board.  The application form and supporting documents should be submitted by the following dates, in order to be considered by the next Faculty Board meeting in that term:

Michaelmas:  14th November

Lent: 20th February

Easter: 28th May

Please note that applications cannot be considered unless all supporting documentation is available.

Applications that miss the deadline will be considered by the Faculty Board in the following term.

We suggest applicants allow at least four months before the proposed start date of the visit.

We cannot accept applications which do not meet the academic and language requirements of the University for PhD programmes.