International Visitors Scheme
Closing date: Open – no closing date
Full proposals can be submitted at any time and will be reviewed by the Chair of the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research on a rolling basis. The application process has been designed to be simple and we aim to offer a quick response to proposals within a few weeks.
Grants under this scheme will be funded through the UKRI/EPSRC ‘Additional Funding Programme for Mathematical Sciences’ [part of the £300M government investment announced in 2020].
Open to all mathematicians in the UK, this scheme offers academics and their departments the opportunity to apply for funding to invite and host leading international academics for short mathematical research visits. Funding is for mathematical research activity in the UK only.
Value of award: The Heilbronn Institute can fund up to a maximum of £10k for International Visitors (for 3 weeks accommodation and subsistence, plus international and local travel, an honorarium of up to £2.5k for a 3-week visit, plus up to £1k caring costs).
Scope of the scheme: The funding is designed to provide the opportunity to invite international academics from a wide range of fields of mathematics: research areas of interest include, but are not restricted to, Algebra, Algebraic Geometry, Combinatorics, Data Science, Number Theory, Probability, and Quantum Information. We will fund visits from an international visitor of up to 3 weeks hosted at the applicant’s home University with the purpose of raising the profile and enriching the research environment for the department. Visits previously funded under this scheme so far have resulted in research collaborations, well attended talks, seminars, and colloquia.
The Heilbronn Institute particularly welcomes applications for, but not limited to, the following International Visitor activity purposes:
o Travel and local expenses for the international visiting professors/academics.
o Support for the visitor to make short visits to other departments in the UK during their visit.
o Reasonable caring costs incurred by the visitor [please see more on caring costs here].
Eligible Costs:
o Return international travel to the UK: Economy is the expected class of travel for all flights.
o Travel within the UK: Standard is the expected class of travel for all rail journeys.
o Maximum accommodation rates per night of £150 for hotels outside London and £200 for hotels in London.
o Maximum subsistence of £45 per day on the basis that hotel inc. breakfast. (Alcohol is not permitted as an eligible cost).
o Honorarium, up to the maximum sum of £2.5k for a 3-week visit, or pro-rata for a shorter duration.
[Any honorarium offered will need to be justified in your application and should be at an appropriate level based on the length of stay and activities that will be undertaken by the visitor].
What we’re looking for
o Visitors that deliver impact in mathematics, which may be through producing high quality research, sharing new research developments with the UK community, or creating new collaborations.
o Visits that will benefit not just experienced but also early career researchers and students in the department(s) visited are encouraged.
o Representation of mathematicians is very important to the Institute, and we encourage applicants to consider inviting visitors who come from under-represented groups within mathematics.
o Mathematical impact needs to be balanced with environmental concerns, so we encourage applicants to consider this in their proposal. Thinking carefully about visitors co-ordinating travel plans, eg combining a visit with another event in the UK. Please see some guidance on sustainable travel in this link.
Your proposal should include:
o A justification for inviting the International Visitor and the impact you expect it to have for your department and on UK mathematics.
o Draft programme for the visit.
o How much funding is requested from the Heilbronn Institute, and how will it be used.
o A clear outline budget, including any contributions you have so far, and if you expect to request further funds from other sponsors.
o Support from the Head of the host department that this is the chosen departmental HIMR International Visitor for the year.
How to apply: Applications of no more than two pages of A4 to be sent to the Heilbronn Manager at heilbronn-manager@bristol.ac.uk.
Please Note:
1. Only one application per department for funding to support an international visitor can be submitted in each funding year [1 October – 30 September].
2. Institutions will be reimbursed after the visit has taken place and following receipt of the host academic and financial reports.
3. Applicants are responsible for making all the arrangements for the invited visitor and associated events/activity funded by the award.
4. All activities, expenditure, and expense claims need to be completed by 30 September 2028 to ensure all costs are incurred before the grant end date. Any activity that takes place after this date will not be eligible.
5. Alcohol is not permitted as an eligible cost.
6. We will only reimburse for actual costs incurred.
Contact details: If you have any questions please contact the Heilbronn Manager at heilbronn-manager@bristol.ac.uk who will be pleased to discuss proposals with potential applicants and give advice on the submission of an application.