Information for prospective visiting faculty
Department faculty may sponsor a limited number of visitors who do not qualify for academic appointments at the university but who wish to use the facilities of the university to pursue their own research. Such visitors are designated visiting scholars and may visit Columbia for a period of up to one year in visiting scholar status.
Visiting scholar application requirements
Visiting scholar designations may be extended to those who:
- are visiting from, and have an ongoing affiliation with, an outside academic or research institution or organization
- hold a doctoral degree or recognized research-related expertise
- have a source of financial support from outside Columbia University
- be proficient in English.
To be considered for visiting scholar status, applicants must identify a political science faculty member willing to serve as the faculty sponsor while they are on campus. This is an academic advisory role and not a financial one. It is the responsibility of the applicant to locate a faculty sponsor.
Once a sponsor is secured, applicants must provide the following to the Director of Academic Administration and Finance:
- Cover letter stating the purpose of research and the proposed beginning and ending dates of stay (not to exceed one year) in the United States. The statement of research should clearly indicate how research at the Department of Political Science will contribute to the outcome of the applicant's proposal.
- Curriculum vitae
All applications must be approved by the department chair and the vice provost for faculty affairs. The vice provost requests that applications be submitted three months before the proposed start date.
Visa sponsorship
International scholars should obtain a J visa. Tourist visas are not accepted for research visits.
If applying for a J-1 visa, the scholar must submit additional documentation required for the university to issue the DS-2019 form to support the J-1 application. The department will provide the applicant with information about these required materials, including evidence of English language proficiency and evidence of funds sufficient for the period of stay at Columbia. (The current minimum funding requirement is $2800 per month)
Costs
Scholars are responsible for a university-mandated fee of $500 paid to the ISSO, which is charged when the university prepares the scholar's DS-2019 form, creates the visiting scholar designation, and prepares the email account for the scholar. This fee does not include visa fees charged by the United States government.
Recognizing the value of visiting scholars' presence and participation in the department's activities and that support of such scholars contributes to its educational mission, the department also takes into account the costs associated with hosting such visitors. The department, therefore, requests payment of a fee to the department of $500 for visits up to six months in duration and $1000 for visits of seven to twelve months' duration.
The department fee must be paid by credit card upon the vice provost's approval of the application. Please click here to make a secure payment.