Durham University has excellent library provision with over 1,200 study spaces in the Bill Bryson Library and additional study spaces in our outstanding special collections centre at Palace Green Library, located in the World Heritage Centre. We also have a small Departmental library, which is well-stocked with key texts and readers. Unfortunately we are not able to provide office space for visiting academics.

Durham University also provides wireless access points throughout the centre of Durham, to which visitors will have access. Academic visitors are therefore welcome to bring their own laptops with them, but must be aware that all laptops must have suitable and regularly updated anti-virus software, and must have up-to-date critical updates for Windows. Macintosh computers are also supported by the University’s IT department. An induction to using the libraries can be arranged by prior arrangement. Guidelines are also available. 

The Department of Classics and Ancient History does not provide financial support for travel, accommodation or subsistence. Scholars are responsible for ensuring that they have the correct travel documentation, including the correct entry visas required by the United Kingdom Visa and Immigration Service (UKVI). 

Most applications are for shorter stays of between 3 days and 3 months, although we will consider applications for longer stays in order to allow scholars to engage with academics working in related fields, for example to prepare grant applications. Applicants are strongly encouraged to plan their stay to cover at least part of an academic term, in order to maximise their exposure to the research community in the Department. 

As part of your visit to Durham, you should arrange with a member of Academic Staff to act as your sponsor. Although you will be independent and responsible for your own research activities and work agenda whilst in Durham, it is important for visiting academics to be welcomed into our research community and to be integrated as far as practicable into the work of our Departments, Research Centres and Institutes. A key part in this process is played by the sponsor, who must be someone who is familiar with the applicant's work and/or research area and support the application. 

Upon arrival at Durham, the visiting academic’s sponsor will introduce the scholar to other members of the research community and within the Department. They will also invite visiting academics to any events being organised, and will otherwise be available to provide assistance. The sponsor should also facilitate the visiting academic’s active contribution to Durham's research community.  

Visitors are not charged to cover the costs of the administration involved with the visit. As the Department cannot provide a salary nor other payments to visitors, visitors should apply for research funding schemes through their own home institution to help finance their trip. The academic visitor is responsible for his/her own travel, accommodation and maintenance costs as well as ensuring that they have the correct travel documentation, including visas.

The Department can supply an official letter of invitation to an Academic that can be used to support any application for funding that is made. Unfortunately, though, we cannot assist the applicant with their application for a visa or work permit for the purpose of the visit. 

Visitors will be asked to provide the Department with a short biography and a statement of what they intend to do during their visit prior to their arrival. 

At the end of their stay, visitors will be asked to provide a short report to be attached to their web profile, providing a brief account of any research or other activities undertaken and how they have contributed to the Department during their stay. 

The Department requests that any visitor who uses his/her visit for research purposes, and subsequently publishes material arising from this research, acknowledges the host department, and also send the Department a copy or off-print of any book, article or any other publication which results from their time in Durham. 

It is the responsibility of the visiting academic to ensure that they have somewhere to stay during their time in Durham. Please be advised that accommodation in Durham city centre can be very expensive and is in high demand especially during the summer months. Details on finding accommodation in and around Durham city is available on the University relocation website. Accommodation in Durham is expensive and you should budget to pay approximately £500-600 month for one/two bed privately rented accommodation.  

Please contact the Arts and Humanities Research Team: artsandhumanities.researchteam@durham.ac.uk