Incoming staff mobility

Most (though not all) staff mobility requests we receive come under the umbrella of the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility programme.  While the UK's departure from the Erasmus+ programme means we currently have no central funding available to support outward staff mobility activities for University of Edinburgh staff, colleagues from European institutions may still apply for Erasmus+ funds from their home institution to undertake short teaching or training visits to the UK and we continue to receive requests for such incoming staff mobility visits. 

Erasmus+ staff mobility

This programme provides funding and a framework for academic and non-academic staff to undertake teaching and training visits to partner universities within Europe and beyond.  

Staff can apply for Erasmus+ funding through their home university towards the cost of travel, accommodation and subsistence.  Visits usually last around 5 days and may involve teaching activities, job shadowing, workshops or training events. These kinds of activities can be mutually beneficial for professional development, sharing knowledge and best practice, and in building relationships and partnerships.  

In the interests of maintaining and developing valuable partnerships and collaborations which have been built over many years, we hope to continue to welcome staff to teach and/or undertake other professional development at Edinburgh.

Capacity to host

We do receive a large number of unsolicited Erasmus+ staff mobility requests, and it is not possible to accommodate all applicants.  All staff mobility visits should be mutually beneficial and there is no obligation for us to receive applicants. If you do not feel that it would be convenient or beneficial to your team to host a visit, please feel free to respond accordingly.

It is easiest to accommodate visits where the applicant provides us with information about:

• their proposed visit dates
• their teaching/training interests
• the aims and objectives of their planned visit

Administrative requirements of hosting

If you receive a request to host a staff mobility visit and would be interested in doing so, arrangements can be made directly with the prospective visitor(s).

Staff with Erasmus+ funding from their home institution will usually have some documents requiring signature - these should be signed by a member of staff on behalf of the hosting School/Subject Area/Professional Service and will generally consist of:

• a teaching/training mobility agreement outlining their dates and planned programme of activity
• a certificate of attendance, or similar, confirming that the teaching/training programme was completed

Visitors would normally be recorded on the Visitor Registration System: 

Find out more about the Visitor Registration System

What support is available to incoming staff visitors?

There’s no obligation for us as the host to organise accommodation or anything outside of the working visit.  However, to assist incoming staff visitors, you may wish to direct them to the following information in advance of their visit:

University accommodation

Campus tours

Staff visa service

International staff weeks

The Study and Work Away Service (SWAY) collaborates with the University of Amsterdam to offer regular international staff weeks.  Participants from institutions worldwide are invited to spend a week in Edinburgh and Amsterdam, where they will attend:

• Workshops and seminars on topics such as international partnerships and collaborations, intercultural communication, and the role of international offices in designing study abroad programmes.
• Panel discussions featuring staff and faculty from different universities and countries sharing their experiences and insights on international collaboration and student mobility.
• Networking events and cultural activities that provide opportunities for staff from different universities and countries to connect and build relationships.

Our next staff week is planned for March 2025.

Information about our joint staff weeks