Overseas fieldwork

Departments who hold Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) training grants for Doctoral Training Partnership studentships receive funding which includes unit costs for overseas fieldwork.

There is a separate approval process for departments to apply for exceptional fieldwork costs for STFC-funded students who will undertake long term attachments to overseas facilities. A long term attachment is a single visit of 120 days up to a maximum of 365 days.

Long Term Attachment (LTA) approvals

Departments need to apply for LTA funding for students that started in October 2023.

LTA applications should be submitted to studentships@stfc.ukri.org by 31 March 2024.

Applications for LTAs should include overseas travel and subsistence expenses in connection with fieldwork or other visits that are considered essential to the student’s research or training programme.

Find out more information and download the application form.

Once approved, payments of LTA funds will be made quarterly with the next payment of the training grant. A separate LTA reconciliation form will need to be attached to the final expenditure statement  at the end of the training grant.

Long term attachments to CERN

Students wishing to visit CERN must email the UK Liaison Office at uklo.team@cern.ch, at least four months in advance. LTA commencement dates will be announced as accommodation becomes available.

Find out more about attachments to CERN.

Student travel and medical insurance

It is the responsibility of the research organisation to provide students with adequate travel, emergency medical, repatriation, personal accident, disability insurance and healthcare cover for students on long term attachments.

Please direct any queries regarding student LTA applications to studentships@stfc.ukri.org

Last updated: 18 January 2024

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