Residencies & Placements

Staff residencies can be flexible in duration depending on the nature of the projects and researcher availability. They can last between 12 and 30 days, on a part or full-time basis. The time spent on residency can be taken continuously at one time or spread in blocks over a longer period.

Staff residencies are open to all contract types, with Head of Department/line manager approval.

There are two types of residency:

Outwards: researchers in residence

Outwards residencies offer a powerful way to equip researchers with the skills and knowledge to develop impact. Experiences in non-academic settings help build networks, understand stakeholder needs, and acquire transferable skills. Colleagues are expected to be embedded in the host organisation for example, by attending meetings and events, or collaborating with the organisation and its stakeholders on a dedicated impact project.

We can offer up to £4,000 per staff residency, to be used within 6 months. Funding can cover PhD student workload support (with Head of Department approval) and direct costs such as travel, events and project costs. It does not cover academic salaries. Financial support towards partner staff time, if there is clear justification for it, is acceptable.

Inwards: practitioners in residence 

Inwards residencies enable external practitioners to interact with social scientists in a university setting, and help partners to understand more deeply the relevance of the social sciences to their own work. Practitioners in residence will be expected to have a planned programme of knowledge exchange or engagement activity for the duration of their time at the University.

We can offer up to £4,000 per partner residency, to be used within 6 months. Funding could costs such as travel, events, project costs, and a financial contribution towards the partner spending time at Royal Holloway where they would not be able to do this without support.

PhD placements must equate to 1-3 months full-time in duration. Students who choose a full-time placement will need to interrupt their PhD for that period. Students who opt for a part-time placement must work the equivalent hours over a longer period and cannot work more than 20 hours per week.

Students will be paid in line with the UKRI-rate (currently £400 a week) and be allocated an additional travel and expenses budget up to £200 per week, to be agreed on a case-by-case basis. Funds will be paid in one up-front payment.

PhD students must have approval from their supervisor and have at least 6 months until their submission deadline (you would not be eligible if you have submitted your thesis).