The College aims to appoint one Academic Distinguished Visitor each year. Such visitors are leading figures from academia. During their residency, it is expected that they contribute actively to the intellectual life of the College at all levels: undergraduate, postgraduate, fellowship, and Old Members. Visitors typically give a short lecture or presentation to the College community, and they write a brief piece about their time in the College for The College Record – the College’s annual alumni magazine. Such a period of residency marks an important part of a lifelong connection to the College.
In addition to accommodation, the College offers senior membership, a library card, generous dining privileges (free of charge) at High Table and the opportunity to engage fully with our community of Fellows and undergraduate and postgraduate students across the full range of academic disciplines.
Academic Distinguished Visitors will typically be colleagues from other universities (normally at the rank of Professor) who intend to conduct research in Oxford and be affiliated with the College while on funded sabbatical leave from their host institution. While they do not receive an honorarium, the College is sometimes able to assist with travel expenses to and from Oxford. For the 2026-27 academic year (application deadline 31st December), the College invites applications from colleagues working in fields represented in the Medical Sciences Division. The College welcomes applications for proposed projects that are interdisciplinary in nature, as long as they would have a natural home in the Division for which applications are actively sought.
Applications may be submitted at any time of year by emailing a C.V. and brief cover letter to academic.recruitment@queens.ox.ac.uk; all applications received before 31st December will be considered at the first meeting of Academic Committee in Hilary Term (i.e., in January 2026, for residency during the 2026-27 academic year).
Please download the Further Particulars for more details.