IES Visiting Researcher Application

STEP 1

NOTE: Current Masters and PhD students who participate in exchange agreements with our Student Exchange Partners cannot apply directly to IES, but must apply through the international office at their home institution. Candidates must be selected and nominated by the student's home university at least 6 months prior to the start of their planned stay at Berkeley.

All other applicants for IES Visiting Scholar and Visiting Student Researcher programs must submit the following materials for review:

• Cover letter, including a 100-word abstract of your proposed research project and the requested period of residence (start and end date) (max. 2 pages)

• Curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages)

• Research Statement describing the project to be carried out while in residence at IES (max. 3 pages)

• Title and abstract of planned public lecture (max. 1 page, for Visiting Scholars only)

• Letter of nomination from a UC Berkeley faculty member, confirming interest in working with the applicant while in residence on the Berkeley campus and indicating the duration of the planned research stay

• Proof of funding, issued within 6 months of your planned start date. Please consult the Berkeley International Office for minimum funding requirements and acceptable funding documentation.

• Proof of English language proficiency (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, signed documentation from an academic institution or English language school). See here for more information. 

All materials should be written in English.

Please submit all materials as a single PDF addressed to IES Director Jeroen Dewulf, atjdewulf@berkeley.edu

A tentative acceptance letter can be provided in advance for prospective visitors who are applying for fellowships that require a statement of affiliation with an American institution (e.g. Fulbright).

STEP 2

Completed applications are reviewed by the IES Steering Committee. Applicants will be notified of the Institute’s decision in writing within a reasonable period of time.

After receiving preliminary approval from the IES Director, applicants will be contacted to complete additional paperwork and pay all required fees including:

• University Services Fee, payable online via credit card before arrival in Berkeley.
  
  
• DS-2019 Processing Fee ($600, non-refundable; for international scholars only) : to be paid before arrival in Berkeley via international money order, wire transfer, or check drawn on a U.S. bank in US dollars, made payable to "UC Regents".
  
  
• IES Administrative Fee (if applicable), paid to IES prior to arrival via wire transfer or check made payable to "UC Regents".
  
  

STEP 3

When all fees have been paid, and IES and the International Office have completed processing your file, you will receive a DS-2019 form. Take this form with you to the U.S. Embassy to receive your J-1 visa for yourself (plus a J-2 visa for each dependent). Do not make any travel plans until you have your J-1 visa in hand

STEP 4

Once your travel arrangements are made, you should inform IES of your arrival date.

***You may arrive up to 30 days before and within 9 days of the start date on your Form DS-2019. If arriving more than 9 days later than initially planned, you may need an amended J-1 Form DS-2019 to avoid problems at the U.S. port-of-entry. Please email jscholar@berkeley.edu if you anticipate arriving more than 9 days after the start date on your Form DS-2019.***

Upon arrival, you will be required to attend an onboarding session to be officially processed as a visiting researcher on campus. After you have completed onboarding, your appointment information will be entered into the University database for the purpose of securing a University ID number.

International scholars are required to attend the Berkeley International Office Scholar Information Meeting.

All visiting researchers are also encouraged to attend the VSPA New Visiting Scholar and Postdoc Orientation.

Questions?

Please contact IES Administrative Director Gia White: gia@berkeley.edu