International Institutional Visit (IIV)
Students must read the IIV FAQs in full before applying.
The International Institutional Visit (IIV) Competition is intended to support and encourage the international engagement of eligible ESRC-funded students. The Competition funds an extension to the studentship of up to 13 weeks, plus travel and subsistence costs as determined by the UBEL DTP.
Funding Available
- An extension to the studentship (equal to the period of time spent on the IIV). Successful applicants in receipt of a Full Award will receive a paid extension to their studentship (stipend and tuition fees) equal to the period of time spent on the IIV, an extension to their thesis submission date equal to the period of time spent on the IIV, plus the costs element;
- A Front-end amount (The Front end element depends on the country to which you are travelling and the rates are published in the UBEL DTP Schedule of Funding Rates. This sum is designed to be used as a contribution toward initial flights and accommodation costs) For funding rates please refer to UBEL DTP Schedule of Funding Rates.
- A weekly cost element (The costs element is paid at a flat rate of £70 per week).
For example, a successful IIV application for two separate visits to an organisation in France totalling six weeks:
Front end amount £510
Costs element (£70×6) £420
Total £930You would continue to receive your stipend while on the Visit(s) and your tuition fees would be paid.
The award would be extended by six weeks in total (therefore, a submission date of 12th December 2025 would be extended to 12th February 2026) and you would receive your stipend during this extension
- A weekly cost element (The costs element is paid at a flat rate of £70 per week).
Who can apply
- Applications must be from ‘research’ award holders in the +3 component of their studentship.
- Students in the initial ‘training’ year of a 1+3 award are not eligible.
- Visits taking place in the final year of the studentship must be completed at least three months before the end date of the award and prior to the extension period being implemented.
The application can provide for up to three separate IIVs to the same host organisation during your studentship, as long as the total period of the visits does not exceed 13 weeks.
The IIV must be related to the completion of your PhD, and must involve visiting a Higher Education institution, or an organisation with a substantive research reputation, and be based outside of the UK.
For more details on Eligibility criteria, please read UBEL DTP International Institutional Visit 2025/26 Guidance Notes.
Please note: an IIV should not be designed as essential part of your PhD study.
Current UBEL students can apply for this competition via the Survey Monkey Apply portal, by clicking the “Apply Here” button below. Please refer to the guidance notes before completing an application.
Friday 26 June 2026 | Competition opens on Survey Monkey Apply |
Tuesday 1 September 2026 | Application Deadline |
Wednesday 23 September 2026 | Outcomes Announced |
Browse blog posts from previous students sharing their experiences of International Institutional Visits.
From PhD to policy: what three months in the Open Innovation Team taught me about turning evidence into action
A PhD can be wonderfully absorbing. You spend months refining a question, learning a dataset inside out, and stress-testing analyses until the results finally start
International Institutional Visit to Boston, USA
As part of my PhD, I spent two months at the Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR) at the Tufts