If you’re a postgraduate researcher (PGR) and you’re considering an international placement, internship, or undertaking fieldwork, there are some essential actions you must take before you go.

Following this process means your placement or fieldwork can go ahead smoothly and ensures that you’re properly supported throughout your time away from Surrey.

All PGRs undertaking international placements or fieldwork must:

• Register their mobility with the International Engagement Office via the platform MoveOn, submitting a fully signed PGR risk assessment for travel abroad.
• Register for Surrey’s insurance via TravelCert and ensure they have any other required insurance in place.
• PGRs on a student visa must also submit the required forms with Immigration Compliance.

In the event of an incident in a particular location, Surrey uses the information in MoveOn to identify, contact, and support PGRs who may be affected. Surrey is also legally required to report international placements to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), and this data is drawn from MoveOn.

 Information and template documents to register a placement can be found at Postgraduate Researcher International Placements & Fieldwork.

If you hold a student visa, you must also:

• Complete and send the relevant placement/internship/fieldwork form to Immigration Compliance
• Do this for all placements and all periods of research away from the University, even if the activity is within the UK

You can find the forms here: under International postgraduate research students.

https://my.surrey.ac.uk/research/useful-documents

Need more information?

More detailed information on UK and international fieldwork, placements, and internships for PGRs is available in the PGR Faculty Handbook, found here:
https://my.surrey.ac.uk/research/useful-documents

All the best,

Doctoral College Team