Occasional Students
Spend time with experts in your field and access facilities, equipment and opportunities at Newcastle University.
Occasional students at Newcastle
Newcastle is a great place to spend time working with a recognised expert in your field. We welcome applications from current postgraduate research students, both in the UK and overseas.
As an occasional student, your stay might last anything from a few weeks, or up to 12 months.
To date, we've hosted hundreds of occasional research students from around the world. Our approach is designed to ensure that your application goes as smoothly as possible.
As a registered occasional research student, you'll engage with fellow research students and the wider academic community. You’ll have access to QS 5 Star (2025) facilities and state-of-the-art equipment. You’ll be provided with the resources you need to support your research project in a friendly, welcoming environment.
Application guidance
Your academic host
The first step to becoming an occasional student is identifying a suitable academic host for your visit. Your host will support your research.
If you aren’t yet sure, visit our Faculties and Academic Units to identify who to contact. Use the contact forms to provide details of your intended visit. Your query will be directed to the relevant Postgraduate Research Admissions Selector.
If you already have an academic in mind, you need to contact them directly to ensure they will support your visit. If they agree to your proposal, they will act as your academic nominator.
Approval in Principle form
After discussing your research and agreeing that we can host your stay, you or your nominator will complete and submit the Approval in Principle form. This document sets out the period of your stay, the nature of your research, and how you will be supported. You will need to provide a CV and project outline for the Approval in Principle.
Longer stays and student visas
If your requested stay is for longer than six months or if you need a student visa, we will require more documentation.
Some project proposals will need an ATAS check (Academic Technology Approval Scheme). ATAS is a UK government clearance required for international students applying to potentially sensitive courses in science, engineering, or technology.
Timeline
- UK students: academic nominator submits the Approval in Principle form for consideration at least one month before your visit
- International students: academic nominator submits the Approval in Principle form at least two months before your visit
It’s important to agree a realistic start and end date for your visit with your nominator, as it may be difficult to change this once the process is underway.
Fees and funding for occasional students
We do not charge a fee to occasional postgraduate research students. However, a bench fee may be charged depending on the activities undertaken during your visit.
Some occasional research students are supported financially by their home institution. It can be a good idea to check with your home institution for any funding that may be able to support your stay.
Your academic nominator will be able to discuss this with you, and information will be included in the Approval in Principle form.
Contact us
For any queries about your application progress, please contact pgadmissions@newcastle.ac.uk.
If you have any other queries, please contact doctoralcollege@newcastle.ac.uk.