Visiting Scholars

The Department of English and Comparative Literature periodically welcomes scholars for a term of between six months to one year who wish to engage in independent, non-collaborative research. 

The Visiting Scholar designation is designed to link the visiting scholar with the Columbia community to further their research, provide connections to faculty members, and encourage participation in the department and university’s intellectual community. Visiting scholars have a strong intellectual link to the work of the department and are engaged in a clearly defined program of research while in residence. 

Most people who obtain the visiting scholar designation are international scholars, though requests from domestic scholars are also accepted. Potential scholars must meet one of the criteria for Visiting Scholars/Scientists in the Columbia University Faculty Handbook to have an application considered. 

The Visiting Scholar designation is a courtesy designation that does not signify a formal association with the University. As such, individuals given these titles:

  • May not claim a Columbia University affiliation for the purpose of applying for grants or contracts
  • May not be paid for providing services to the university
  • May not engage in work that would normally be provided by faculty and staff (for example, teaching a class)
  • May not register or enroll for courses (auditing of lecture courses is permitted with permission of an instructor)
  • May indicate their designation, including the dates they held this designation and the names of the faculty/officers of research who served as their sponsors during this period, in the section of their curriculum vitae where they list the “fellowships, grants, and honors” they have received (not in the “Appointments” section)

Since Visiting Scholars do not hold appointments, they receive a special Columbia University identification card which allows them limited library borrowing privileges. They are not given office space and are not entitled to administrative assistance. 

Visiting scholars are responsible for arranging for their own financial support and benefits. They may not be paid compensation from a University account, given a fellowship, or reimbursed for expenses without the prior approval of the Office of the Provost. They may, however, receive an honorarium for participating in a conference or giving an occasional lecture if they are United States citizens or permanent residents or, in the case of nonresident noncitizens, if they have an appropriate visa and the prior authorization of the Office of the Provost.

Applicants are responsible for arranging and demonstrating their own financial support and benefits (including health care coverage) while in residence, including travel to and from New York, living expenses, suitable housing, and other expenses that may arise.

Visiting scholars may audit lecture courses with the permission of the instructors. Auditing of summer courses also requires the permission of the Dean of the Summer Session. Visiting scholars/scientists may also use the Dodge Fitness Center and the University’s other recreational facilities on payment of a fee.

Faculty and researchers from other academic institutions or professionals from industry, museums, or other entities who will not hold an instructional or research appointment at Columbia and who want to pursue their own independent research using University resources or facilities without collaborating with any Columbia faculty member or officer of research should complete the following steps:

Step 1: Identify and confirm a faculty sponsor

The sponsor should agree to assist with reading and evaluating the proposal and confirm their availability for collegial support during the term of the visit. Ideally, the faculty member will not be on research or other leave during the period of the visit.

Step 2: Submit the following information to your faculty sponsor

1. A full description (or the original proposal) of the project on which they are currently working and its relevance to the department’s larger mission.

2. A description of the research done to date.

3. A detailed explanation of why they want to come to Columbia, specifically addressing the research they expect to accomplish while here, the specific materials/equipment they want to access at Columbia, and/or particular faculty they want to interview or with whom they want to discuss their project in detail, and the faculty member or officer of research whom they want as their sponsor and why this person would be most helpful to their project.

4. Curriculum vitae.

5. The start and end dates of the proposed visit.

6. Indication of whether a visa will be necessary.

For more information, consult the Description of Proposals Required for Visiting Scholar/Scientist Designations.

For the faculty sponsor: please review the proposal and make suggestions if appropriate and then forward the application to the Chair and the DAAF. In your email, please confirm your support and your availability to the visiting scholar for collegial (rather than collaborative) support during the term of the visit and include a brief discussion of the benefits of the VS designation for the scholar.

Step 3: Department Review

This information will be submitted by the department to a committee for review. If approved, applications will then move on to the Vice Provost's Office for review. 

Step 4: Immigration Screening

Foreign nationals and their home institutions will need to undergo “restricted party” screening using Visual Compliance before any commitment is made to the individual and before the request for the designation is submitted to the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. Once an application is approved, Visiting Scholar status is dependent on the ability of the scholar to meet the requirements set out by the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) for either J-1 sponsorship (the only visa type accepted for the visiting scholar designation) or non-J-1 sponsorship (for domestic scholars who are US citizens or Permanent Residents). 

Foreign nationals cannot hold the designation of visiting scholar/scientist if they have a visitor visa status (B-1 or B-2 visa or are traveling under the ESTA Visa Waiver Program). Upon submission of all the documentation required by the US government, the International Students and Scholars Office will issue the DS-2019 form needed to support the J-1 application. Federal regulations require that the applicant for J-1 status have sufficient funds for the period of stay at Columbia and that the applicant meet the health insurance requirements of the Exchange Visitor Program while in the US.

Step 5: Provost Review

After Visual Compliance screening, applications are sent to the Office of the Provost for approval. Please note: this process can take several months.

Upon approval from the Office of the Provost, formal notification will be issued by the Department, along with next steps.

Please note: all Visiting Scholars are processed via the International Students and Scholars office, regardless of whether visa sponsorship is or is not requested. 

Supporting documents required by ISSO for Visiting Scholars without visa sponsorship are listed here.

Supporting documents required by ISSO for Visiting Scholars with visa sponsorship are listed here.

In exceptional circumstances graduate students enrolled in a degree-granting program in the Humanities, Social Sciences, or certain professional fields at another academic institution who want to use University facilities to pursue their own independent research without any collaboration, training, or mentorship from Columbia faculty or officers of research may be designated visiting scholars (visiting scientists in Social Work).

Step 1: Identify and confirm a faculty sponsor

The sponsor should agree to assist with reading and evaluating the proposal and confirm their availability for collegial support during the term of the visit. Ideally, the faculty member will not be on research or other leave during the period of the visit.

Step 2: Submit the following information to your faculty sponsor:

1. A description of the Master’s thesis/doctoral dissertation as outlined in the thesis/dissertation prospectus approved by their home institution.

2. A description of the research done to date.

3. A detailed explanation of why they want to come to Columbia, specifically addressing the research they expect to accomplish while here, the specific materials/equipment they want to access at Columbia, and/or particular faculty they want to interview or with whom they want to discuss their project in detail, and the faculty member or officer of research whom they want as their sponsor and why this person would be most helpful to their project.

For more information, consult the Description of Proposals Required for Visiting Scholar/Scientist Designations.

Step 3: Department Review

This information will be submitted by the department to a committee for review. If approved, applications will then move on to the Vice Provost's Office for review. 

Step 4: Immigration Screening

Foreign nationals and their home institutions will need to undergo “restricted party” screening using Visual Compliance before any commitment is made to the individual and before the request for the designation is submitted to the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. Once an application is approved, Visiting Scholar status is dependent on the ability of the scholar to meet the requirements set out by the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) for either J-1 sponsorship (the only visa type accepted for the visiting scholar designation) or non-J-1 sponsorship (for domestic scholars who are US citizens or Permanent Residents). 

Foreign nationals cannot hold the designation of visiting scholar/scientist if they have a visitor visa status (B-1 or B-2 visa or are traveling under the ESTA Visa Waiver Program). Upon submission of all the documentation required by the US government, the International Students and Scholars Office will issue the DS-2019 form needed to support the J-1 application. Federal regulations require that the applicant for J-1 status have sufficient funds for the period of stay at Columbia and that the applicant meet the health insurance requirements of the Exchange Visitor Program while in the US.

Step 5: Provost Review

After Visual Compliance screening, applications are sent to the Office of the Provost for approval. Please note: this process can take several months.

Upon approval from the Office of the Provost, formal notification will be issued by the Department, along with next steps.

Please note: all Visiting Scholars are processed via the International Students and Scholars office, regardless of whether visa sponsorship is or is not requested. 

Supporting documents required by ISSO for Visiting Scholars without visa sponsorship are listed here.

Supporting documents required by ISSO for Visiting Scholars with visa sponsorship are listed here.

Applications are considered three times during the academic year: 

  • September (for an appointment beginning in mid-January or later that Spring), 
  • January 31 (for an appointment beginning in the Summer), 
  • May 1 (for an appointment beginning in September). 

Please note that these timelines are subject to change. Unfortunately, the department is not able to guarantee specific dates for the processing of visa applications. 

For those interested in accessing collections at Columbia and in the New York City area, please note that a visiting scholar designation is not required to access these materials. Please use the links below to register and/or make appointments to access collections at the following locations: