Visiting Scholar & Visiting Student Researcher

Nigde Omer Halisdemir visiting scholar and visiting student researcher appointments are temporary, allowing individuals a unique opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of a faculty member in residence at NOHU, Nigde. The time spent as a visiting scholar or visiting student researcher prepares you for a career in academia, industry, government and the non-profit sector. Each year, the University hosts some worldwide researchers who assist in its premiere educational and research mission.

The temporary appointment as a visiting scholar or visiting student researcher is aimed to foster a hub of ideas and a collaborative space for innovation. Please note that previous and current NOHU staff and faculty, as well as all current NOHU students, are ineligible for these positions but they have a chance of applying for the scholarship program coordinated by Higher Education Council of Turkey (YÖK) to be a visiting scholar abroad.

Please visit the following websites for the detailed information;

 https://www.yok.gov.tr/

https://burs.yok.gov.tr/burs-ve-destekler/doktora-sonrasi-arastirma-destegi

Visiting Scholar Definition

A Visiting Scholar is person on leave from an academic appointment or other employment, at a home institution or other entity and may be appointed as a Visitor to Nigde Omer Halisdemir University to participate in a short-term educational, research, or other academic project under the supervision of a Nigde Omer Halisdemir University faculty member. They are individuals who possess a Ph.D. degree or its terminal degree equivalent, and whose primary purpose while in residence on NOHU campus is to conduct independent research. The length of stay for a visiting scholar is at least one month and appointments are granted one year at a time, with a maximum cumulative appointment time of two years. Visiting scholar positions are not compensated. However, departments/ faculties which will host the visiting scholar may request a stipend of up to $5,000 per year. Such stipends can be used to cover items, such as; living expenses, travel costs, and incidental research expenses, but not as a form of salary compensation.

Visiting Student Researcher Definition

A Visiting Student Researcher is person on leave from their student enrollment and is currently enrolled in a degree-granting program and working to obtain a degree at an institution of higher learning other than Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, who wishes to conduct research in residence at NOHU. Generally, visiting student researchers must hold a minimum of a Master's Degree or its equivalent. Visiting student researcher positions are not compensated. However, departments/ faculties which will host the visiting scholar may request a stipend of up to $5,000 per year. Such stipends can be used to cover items, such as; living expenses, travel costs, and incidental research expenses, but not as a form of salary compensation.

Appointment Process

The first step for a prospective visitor will be to seek out a faculty member willing to sponsor and collaborate with you on your research project.  A department’s website has a list of all current faculty members and their contact information which can be found at NOHU’s homepage; http://ohu.edu.tr/  and clicking on "Academics" you can see the faculties and the academic staff inside the departments.  Once you have secured a faculty member who has agreed to sponsor you, the faculty's home department will submit a request to their respective International Relations Office system. You will be contacted directly to complete an application form and other necessary paperwork. Additional requirements for eligibility can also be requested. Although the maximum amount of time allowed is one year, on a rare occasion, a faculty sponsor may request for a reappointment for subsequent years by exceptional approval.

After being approved by the faculty member the candidate should send the following documents to NOHU International Relations Office via email at international@ohu.edu.tr  in order to receive the acceptance letter;

1. The visitor’s curriculum vitae (CV)
2. Letter of Intent
3. The scholarship evidence if the candidate is sponsored by the authorities
4. Upon arrival the guest researchers and supervisor will sign the contract of guest researcher
5. Upon arrival the visitors will have to apply for the residency permit issues so they will have to have a health insurance document which covers the length of visit but it is advised to have this insurance document here in Turkey since some insurance companies may not be recognized by Turkish authorities. You will be guided for the necessary process by NOHU International Relations Office if you get in touch before arrival and after arrival.

Exceptional Approvals

During rare instances when a faculty sponsor wishes to request for a visiting student researcher or visiting scholar appointment outside the norm of NOHU policy, faculty sponsors or department chairs may submit an exceptional request for review.

The exceptional request memo should include:

1. The name of the scholar,
2. The name of the faculty sponsor,
3. The begin and end dates of the appointment,
4. The type of exception requested,
5. Justification for the exception,
6. A brief description of the research to be conducted on campus,  
7. A brief description of how the visit benefits the university, faculty sponsor and host department.

Depending on the type of exception, additional documentation must be submitted along with the exceptional request memo such as:

• The visitor's curriculum vitae (CV),
• Evidence of funding support appropriate to the length of the visit.
• For visitors with a Ph.D. degree or equivalent terminal degree earned within the last five years who wish to be a visiting scholar, they should also include evidence of full-time employment and compensation amount on their employer's official letterhead confirming employment; or if they have a current postdoc appointment at another institution, evidence of the appointment with begin and end dates on official letterhead from the institution.

The types of exceptional requests include:

• An initial or renewal appointment of over one year (e.g. two years) in length
• Renewal appointments more than the allowed cumulative two-year maximum period (case-by-case basis)
• A candidate who wishes to be a visiting scholar without a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree (holds a Master's degree)
• A candidate who wishes to be a visiting scholar with a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree earned within the last five years
• A faculty sponsor requesting an initial or renewal appointment beyond the one-year length for a visiting student researcher

The exceptional request memo and supporting required documents will be reviewed by NOHU International Relations Office for the above criteria.

If you have any questions, please contact your host department or NOHU International Relations Office at international@ohu.edu.tr If you have any questions regarding visas for international visitors, please contact NOHU International Relations Office at +903882252148 or international@ohu.edu.tr