Visiting Scholars

The School of Divinity welcomes a number of externally funded Visiting Scholars each year to undertake research, collaborate with academic staff, and contribute to the School's vibrant research community.

Depending on their research interests, Visiting Scholars may be affiliated with one of the School's four research centres and institutes:

  • Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics
  • Institute for Bible, Theology and Hermeneutics
  • Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts
  • Logos Institute for Analytic and Exegetical Theology

These affiliations provide opportunities to engage with specialist research communities and to collaborate with colleagues across the University of St Andrews.

During their visit, Visiting Scholars are expected to participate actively in departmental and centre or institute activities, engage collaboratively with staff and students, and present their research to members of the School.

The School of Divinity provides Visiting Scholars with:

  • Full access to University IT and library facilities.
  • A collegial and supportive research environment, with opportunities to attend seminars and research events, collaborate with staff and students, and share their work through presentations and discussion.

Applications are now open for Visiting Scholarships for the 2026–27 academic year.

Length and purpose of visit

Visiting scholars may apply to visit the University for a period of 1 to 12 months, whether for a short research visit or for an extended stay during sabbatical leave from their own university.

The applicant should have a specific research reason to be in St Andrews, for example:

  • access to materials available in the University Library
  • an existing or developing research link with a current member of staff

The University provides access to facilities enabled by an ID card and, if required, a guest email account.

 

There are three types of visiting scholar.

Academic visiting scholars and collaborative visiting PhD students
These visitors will receive computing and library facilities.

Postdoctoral visiting scholars
Postdoctoral researchers visiting for collaborative work or training.

Visiting PhD training student
PhD students from other institutions visiting for supervision or research training. Visiting PhD students are not registered students in St Andrews and are on a non-graduating route.