Visiting Scholars Program

Each year, the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE) hosts Visiting Scholars and Visiting Student Researchers who come to the Berkeley campus to work on independent research projects that contribute to the study of labor and employment issues.

IRLE’s Visitors have access to the IRLE Library Commons and collection, University library services, and other UC Berkeley affiliate privileges. Visitors can also request office space in the IRLE building, contingent upon availability. Appointments are not compensated, and applicants must have a UC Berkeley faculty sponsor in order to apply.

Please review the appointment requirements and fee information below before applying.

Requirements

Eligibility
Visiting Scholars are individuals who possess a Ph.D. or its equivalent, and whose primary purpose for residence on the Berkeley campus is to conduct independent research. The length of stay for a Visiting Scholar is at least one month and, normally, not more than two years.

Visiting Student Researchers are individuals who are currently enrolled in a degree program and are working to obtain a degree. Generally, Visiting Student Researchers must hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree or its equivalent. The length of stay for a Visiting Student Researcher is at least one month and, normally, not more than one year.

Read more information about UC Berkeley’s Visiting Scholar program and eligibility.

Sponsorship
Each IRLE Visiting Scholar and Visiting Student Researcher must be mentored and sponsored by one of IRLE’s academic faculty affiliates. Interested applicants are responsible for contacting and securing sponsorship prior to applying. Applications without a designated sponsor will be denied.

Funding
Visiting Scholar and Visiting Student Researcher positions are not compensated. Visitors are required to provide their own support funds.

Application Deadlines
Prospective visitors should submit their applications at least six months in advance, especially if the appointment will require a visa (see “visa requirements” for more information).

Visa Requirements & Processing Time
International scholars entering the U.S. for the purpose of a Visiting Scholar appointment must be on a J-1 visa. Scholars entering the U.S. for the purpose of a Visiting Student Researcher appointment must be on an F-1 visa. Once an application is accepted by IRLE, the applicant will be contacted to review visa requirements.

The processing time for applications depends on the scholar’s visa status:

• Applicants from the U.S.: 2-3 weeks
• International applicants: 4-5 months, depending on country of origin

Please see the J-1 Process Overview for a timeline and list of necessary steps.

Other Requirements
UC Berkeley also requires all Visiting Scholars and Visiting Student Researchers to have health insurance and to demonstrate English language proficiency.

Housing

Visitors are responsible for making their own housing arrangements for the duration of their visit. Housing can be challenging to find in Berkeley and surrounding areas; we recommend that you start looking as early as possible. Visit the Berkeley International Office website for more information on housing.

Fees

There are several U.S. government and UC Berkeley fees for visiting scholars. There is an additional fee for office space, if requested. The total cost varies by appointment — see a summary of fee estimates below:

One Semester
International with space: $3700
International without space: $2950
Domestic with space: $3000
Domestic without space: $2250

One Year (12 months)
International with space: $5800
International without space: $4000
Domestic with space: $5100
Domestic without space: $3300

One Summer
International with space: $2800
International without space: $2500
Domestic with space: $2100
Domestic without space: $1800

Please review the fee breakdowns for complete details.

To Apply

Prospective applicants should email their request to IRLE Associate Director Lori Ann Ospina (lori.ospina@berkeley.edu) and include the following:

• • Current CV
  • Specific appointment start and end dates
  • Name of UC Berkeley faculty sponsor
  • Prospective visiting scholars need to confirm a sponsor before submitting an application. We will not consider applications without confirmed sponsors.
  • Brief description of planned research
  • Applicants must indicate their source of funding while visiting Berkeley, e.g. sabbatical pay, scholarship, government funding, personal funds, etc.

For more information, please visit the Visiting Scholar and Postdoc Affairs (VSPA) website and the Berkeley International Office (BIO) website.