Our Visitor Programme aims to enhance the research capabilities of the Department of Meteorology by supporting visits that:

• Strengthen existing, or develop new, collaborative links at the national and international level;
• Broaden the research interests of the Department through the provision of high-quality visiting research lecturers.

We welcome visitors from all over the world at a variety of levels:

• Academic visitors
• Student visitors
• Postdoctoral researchers

For staff hosting a visitor, please download the How-To Guide for Hosts of Academic & Student Visitors which explains what you as the host should do.  IMPORTANT: If your student visitor’s home institution requires you to sign their Placement Agreement, please see P.3 of the above How-To Guide which explains what you need to do.

How to apply to visit the Department of Meteorology

• Find a host – you need to identify a potential host from our staff list.  Please consult with the potential host via email, copying in the Coordinator about your visit dates and proposed activities.
• Once our staff member agrees to host you, the host needs to check desk availability with Nicki Robinson (for BH) and Nicola Bray (for HP). If a desk is available, the host then completes the Visitor Form in conjunction with the visitor (please note that a visitor form is not necessary for visits of 1 or 2 days), as follows:
  • If you are an academic visitor (non-student), please download the Academic Visitor Form (Non-Student) or Academic Visitor Form for Online Visits (Non-Student) and email it to the Coordinator and Nicki Robinson.
  • If you are a student visitor, please download the Student Visitor Form and email it to the Coordinator and  Nicki Robinson.
• Note that the Visitor Programme may not be able to provide all of the requested resources and support.  In order to qualify for eligibility to claim UK expenses (such as travel, accommodation and meals) from the Department’s visitor fund, the visitor is required to give an advertised seminar during his or her stay.
• We strongly recommend that visitors have their own funding to support their visit.  In case additional funding is needed, your host (our staff member) is encouraged to investigate other potential sources of funding before approaching the coordinator with a specific request. Useful sources include:
  • The Royal Society
  • The Leverhulme Trust
  • The British Council
  • The EU also offers funds for exchange programmes.

Presenting a Seminar

For information about presenting a seminar during your visit, please be aware of the University of Reading’s External Speaker Policy, which includes a code of conduct.  There is also some Information for SMPCS Seminar Speakers relating to our Departmental Seminar programme.

How to Reclaim Expenses

• To download the expenses form, click on this link https://www.reading.ac.uk/finance/forms-and-guides-policies-and-procedures/expenses-claim-form and then click on “Finance Expenses Form” in the right-hand box.
• Type the name of the event on the first page in the “Details of Expense” box.
• European visitors: add the Swift / BIC code, the IBAN and the full name and address of your bank.
• Non-European visitors: add the Swift code, the routing number (if possible) and the full name and address of your bank.
• To convert currency to Sterling, click on http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter to convert to the correct daily rate.
• Account / project code sections: leave blank.
• Sign the form; digital signatures are not accepted.
• E-mail the form with scanned receipts to your host for signature.
• Please keep the original receipts in case Finance needs them if something from the copy is not clear.

If you have any questions, please contact the Visitor Programme Administrator, Nicki Robinson, or the Visitor Programme Coordinator, Dr. James Weber.  The Coordinator, who oversees the Visitor Programme, is responsible for funds allocation to support visits at the discretion of the Research Committee.

Updated June 2024