Visiting researchers
Staff and students at LSE Law School come from all over the world, and bring an unparalleled international and interdisciplinary outlook in teaching and research.
Visiting Fellows
LSE Law School's Visiting Fellows scheme enables scholars with an established research record (typically full-time academics in a tenure-track position) to spend a period of time conducting research in the law school. Visiting fellows may be on sabbatical leave from their normal employment or sponsored directly by other organisations.
Prospective applicants should note that they are expected to present a clear case for being based specifically in the law school, to explain convincingly how their presence and work will complement our research environment and enhance our research profile, and to provide a clear explanation for the proposed duration and timing of their visit.
Applicants should provide a realisable, properly worked-out plan of the research project that they intend to pursue during their time at LSE.
If you would like to know more, click the link below:
Timing
Visiting Fellows may start at any time during the year, subject to agreement between each individual fellow and the law school. Applications must reach the law school at least one term ahead of the visit (if the visit is planned for the Winter Term 2025, the application must be submitted in the Autumn Term 2024).
Duration
Fellowships will normally run for between three and twelve months, but longer visits may, by exception, be approved. Visits for under three months are not possible.
Applicants
Applicants will be scholars with an established research record. The programme is not conceived for scholars looking for a post-doctoral position immediately after the completion of their PhD. Doctoral students, for whom there is a scheme, are not eligible.
How to apply and closing date
The application form (a Word document) can be found here.
The deadlines for applications for 2024/25 are:
- 27 September 2024
- 20 December 2024
- 25 April 2025
Relationship with the law school
We encourage Visiting Fellows to participate fully in the research life of LSE Law School, for example through attending staff and PhD research seminars, seminars run by the different research groups and research projects and other events related to their research. We also encourage Visiting Fellows to give a seminar paper on their research whilst they are visiting, and depending on the length of the visit, to submit a paper to our Working Paper Series.
Status in the School
The title of Visiting Fellow is given to individuals from outside London School of Economics associated with LSE departments, institutes and centres. Visiting Fellows will also be able to enjoy access to the facilities of LSE as a whole, for example the LSE Library.
Funding
At present applications can only be considered from those who already have (or expect to have) adequate financial support. The law school does not provide Visiting Fellows with a research allowance.
Computer facilities and desk space
Visiting fellows will be provided with a LSE login and email address, enabling them to use computer facilities at LSE.
Accommodation
LSE is not able to make any arrangements for living accommodation for visitors.The faculty accommodation website, however, provides useful guidance on finding private rented housing.
End of visit report
At the end of the fellowship, Visiting Fellows are asked to submit a brief written report summarising their contribution to the law school. The report should be sent to law.visiting.fellows@lse.ac.uk
Contact details
Please direct any enquiries about the visiting fellows scheme to
Postdoctoral Fellowships
LSE Law School welcomes excellent candidates to apply for externally funded Postdoctoral Fellowships to be hosted by an established academic in the School.
We are one of the world’s top law schools with an international reputation for the quality of our research. The UK Government’s most recent research assessment (REF 2021) considered 89% of our research to be world-leading or internationally excellent.
The Law School is an international community with an interdisciplinary outlook, committed to building a vibrant, equitable, and truly inclusive environment. We are situated in an historic building overlooking the beautiful parkland of Lincoln’s Inn Fields in central London, next to the Inns of Court – a centre for Law since 1320.
If you would like to know more, click the link below:
The Law School conducts internal selection of candidates for externally funded Fellowships. Approved candidates will prepare an application for funding with expert support from the LSE Research and Innovation Office.
Candidates should submit expressions of interest for internal selection to meet the following deadlines:
| LSE Law School deadline for expressions of interest | Outcome of expression of interest | Funder deadline |
| 15 September | October | December – March |
| 15 January | February | April – July |
| 15 April | May | August – November |
Expressions of interest are comprised of the following documents, to be emailed by the candidate to Law.Research@lse.ac.uk by the Law School deadline:
- Name, website, and deadline of the target Fellowship scheme(s) – sent by the candidate
- CV of the candidate (maximum 3 pages) – sent by the candidate
- Research Proposal (maximum 3 pages) – sent by the candidate
- Example of written work (maximum 10,000 words, including footnotes and references) – sent by the candidate
The candidate must also arrange the following from their academic referee (at any university) and their host academic (at LSE law school):
- academic reference (minimum 1, further references may be requested) – sent by the referee to Law.Research@lse.ac.uk
- statement of support (click here for the online form) – this form must be filled in by the host academic
Interested candidates should initially contact a potential host academic in advance of the Law School deadline to secure their support and request their statement for the expression of interest. A list of Law School academics can be found here. When contacting potential host academics, candidates are advised to send information about the target funding scheme(s), their CV, and Research Proposal. Please note that academics in the Law School can only support candidates whose research interests align with theirs and if they have capacity to provide the required mentorship for the duration of the Fellowship.