Applying for Overseas Fieldwork and Difficult Language Training
Guidance for ESRC Funded Students
Students must begin the process of applying for Overseas Fieldwork at least 3
months prior to the date they intend to commence the fieldwork.
Step 1
Check the status of the country you want to visit on the FCO website at
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/
No application for overseas fieldwork to a country where the FCO advises against all travel
will be approved. Where the FCO advises against all but essential travel, applications for
overseas fieldwork will only be approved by special permission of the Director of Doctoral
Studies for your School and you are advised to consider carefully whether the period of
fieldwork is essential to your research, given the implications to your health and safety.
Step 2
Contact the Research and Enterprise Coordinator (REC) for your School:
Global Studies: Jayne Paulin, [email protected], (01273) 877107
Education & Social Work: Deeptima Massey, [email protected], (01273) 678464
Law, Politics & Sociology: Lindsey Allen-Cavell, [email protected], (01273)
873256
BMEC/SPRU/STEPS: Janet Snow, [email protected], (01273) 678063
Psychology: Lene Hyltoft, [email protected], (01273) 678940
Your REC will advise you of the steps you need to take through your school:
Your research outline (for +3) or dissertation (for 1+3) needs to be satisfactory.
Ethical clearance will need to be granted (if appropriate.)
You will need to complete a risk assessment and insurance application.
Information on these steps is available via the links below, but in the first instance you
should contact your REC:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/staff/research/spg/researchgovernance/apply
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/hso/policies
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/finance/services/corporateaccounting/insurance
When you have got approval from your school to commence fieldwork you should complete
the fieldwork application form with signatures: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/rsao/forms/
Step 3
While you are going through the process of getting your application to proceed to fieldwork
approved by your School you should start to research the extra costs involved. You should
acquire quotes1 for the following costs where applicable to your fieldwork:
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Where it is not possible to obtain a quote, a realistic estimation may be acceptable.
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Difficult Language Training*
Return flights to the country of fieldwork
Visa costs
Vaccinations
Interpreter/Translation costs
*If you are applying for a contribution towards Difficult Language Training costs, you should
assess if it is more cost effective to undertake this training in the UK (taking in to account
costs of flights, visas etc).
Step 5
Complete the DTC Approval of Expenses Form, available from
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/doctoralschool/internal/esrc/overseasfieldwork
Ask your supervisor for a statement of support for your overseas fieldwork. Attach evidence
of the quotes received above (such as email correspondence, print outs or links to pages
with these details). Email your completed ESRC DTC Approval of Expenses Form to
[email protected]
Step 6
Your DTC Approval of Expenses Claim will then need to be approved by the Director of the
Sussex ESRC DTC. We will let you know you know the outcome of your claim and will
arrange payment of the approved funding to you.
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