The work of Departments/Divisions is enhanced by the involvement and collaboration of non-employees in the Department/Division’s activities. To recognise the association, Imperial may confer an honorary or visiting title on a non-employee during the period of their association.
The title to be conferred will depend on the level of distinction and qualification of the candidate. Please refer to the guidance on this web page for more information.
Requests for Honorary titles (including Emeritus Professor/Reader) and Visiting Researcher associations are managed by honoraryassociations@imperial.ac.uk
Please review all guidance and policies before making a request.
Guidance
- Honorary academic titles for non employees
- Visiting Researcher associations
- Requesting Honorary Associations
- Extension of Honorary Association
- Ending an Honorary Association
- Research Security
- Senior Research Investigators
The work of Departments/Divisions is enhanced by the involvement and collaboration of non-employees in the Department/Division’s activities. To recognise the association, Imperial may confer an Honorary title on a non-employee during the period of their association. An Honorary title may not be conferred on an employee of the university.
The title to be conferred will depend on the level of distinction and qualification of the candidate.
Applications should come from the Head of Department/Division with:
- A copy of the person’s CV
- A citation that should include:
- A description of contributions to teaching
- Research being undertaken with academic staff, as evidenced by joint publications/research projects and research grants or contracts being held jointly, or a significant involvement in industry/academic joint activities within Imperial
- Rationale for offering the association
- The start date and end date of the association
Honorary titles are intended to recognise ongoing attachments and are awarded for a fixed term, which may be up to five years in the first instance. For Visiting Professors and Readers, the initial association may be up to three years.
The following table details the criteria for the use of Honorary titles.
Any requests for Honorary titles other than those set out within the table below must be discussed and agreed with the Faculty Dean/Director or relevant Director in the People Function for academic and professional roles.
The Academic Visitor title may be used for informal arrangements for a limited period (up to one year) defined at the start of the visit. These are managed by the Host Department using the associated Contingent Worker record type. Please use the internal Departmental guidance on setup.
| Approved Honorary Title | Criteria | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Honorary Senior Lecturer | Must continue in teaching, research or joint industry/academic activity | Awarded to those not employed by Imperial (including retired academic staff) |
| Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer | Must continue in teaching, research or joint industry/academic activity to an appropriately high level, usually at a University Hospital or hub GP practice. Will normally hold a consultant post within a Trust | Awarded to those not employed by Imperial (including retired academic staff) |
| Honorary Lecturer | Must continue in teaching, research or joint industry/academic activity to an appropriately high level | Awarded to those not employed by Imperial (including retired academic staff) |
| Honorary Clinical Lecturer | Must continue in teaching, research or joint industry/academic activity to an appropriately high level, usually at a University Hospital. They will normally hold a Specialist Registrar post within a Trust | Awarded to those not employed by Imperial (including retired academic staff) |
| Honorary Teaching Fellow | NHS consultants involved in teaching, including those at outlying hospitals | The Honorary academic title for NHS consultants whose participation in academic activity is only of intermittent or limited nature |
| Honorary GP Teaching Fellow | The Honorary academic title for GPs whose participation in academic activity is being assessed for possible award of the title of Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer | |
| Honorary Practice Fellow | May be conferred on executives, entrepreneurs, innovators or experts whose connection to the university is considered appropriate | Awarded to those who contribute to Imperial's Business School (primarily) by sharing their significant knowledge of the practice of management, innovation and entrepreneurship, or finance. Typical contributions may include teaching single sessions or entire modules, supervision and coaching of student projects, membership in advisory boards or any other type of advisory role, or facilitation of research projects. The position is non-remunerated and awarded for a period of three years (renewable) |
| Visiting Professor | Person of distinction, whose connection to the university is considered appropriate. Will usually be a Professor who works at another institution | Duties will include teaching and/or research |
| Visiting Reader | Person of distinction, whose connection to the university is considered appropriate. Will usually be a Reader who works at another institution | Duties will include teaching and/or research |
| Emeritus Professor / Reader | May be awarded on retirement from Imperial and is given in recognition and appreciation of past service to Imperial and to the specialist subject area | No remuneration is attached to the award, and there is no expectation on Imperial's part for the delivery of specific tasks or objectives |
| Distinguished Research Fellow | Must be a retired member of the senior academic staff. The title is reserved for those who continue to undertake a degree of research-related activities on behalf of the Department/Division, or will continue to contribute to research |
No remuneration is attached. This title may be given in addition to titles of Emeritus Professor or Reader, but NOT in addition to Senior Research Investigator, Visiting Professor or Reader. |
| Honorary Senior Research Officer | Evidence of outstanding ability and a high level of responsibility, evidenced by publication, design and other appropriate means, size of research project/facility, and significant independence of action | |
| Honorary Research Officer | The career grade, with a degree or equivalent qualification; responsible for a major research facility, the operation of which requires knowledge at academic level | |
| Honorary Clinical Research Fellow | Clinicians taking a period of research where not employed by Imperial. Would normally hold a Specialist Registrar post within a Trust | Normally, below Consultant level |
| Honorary Principal Research Fellow | Will have made an outstanding contribution to teaching and research | Equivalent to Professorial status |
| Honorary Senior Research Fellow | Extensive research experience required, the quality of which is determined by refereed publications, invitation to speak at conferences, hold an established national reputation and a known or developing international reputation. Have the ability to attract significant external research funding. Will usually lead a team of other research staff, possible drawn from several disciplines | Broadly equivalent to Senior Lecturer/Reader |
| Honorary Research Fellow | Proven ability of high quality research, evidenced by authorship of a range of publications. Capable of attracting external research funding. May be required to undertake project management and/or supervise teams and other research staff; expected to provide expert advice and guidance to others | Broadly equivalent to Lecturer |
| Honorary Research Associate | The career grade for research staff. Required to produce independent original research and to take initiatives in planning of research. May direct a small team and advise staff and 天美传媒 | Normally post-doctoral level |
| Honorary Clinical Research Associate | A clinical honorary association which recognises and facilitates the university activities of Academic Clinical Fellows who work within Faculty departments as part of their clinical academic training and who hold a doctoral degree. | |
| Honorary Clinical Research Assistant | A clinical honorary association which recognises and facilitates the university activities of Academic Foundation Trainees and Academic Clinical Fellows who work within Faculty departments as part of their clinical academic training. | |
| Requests for honorary titles other than those set out in the table below must be discussed and agreed with the Faculty Dean/Director or the relevant Director in the People Function for academic and professional roles. | ||
A Visiting Researcher is usually someone who has requested, or is asked to come to Imperial, to observe projects undertaken by Imperial that are relevant to their field of study or research. They are not employees of Imperial and are not afforded the same rights and privileges as employees or other visiting academics.
A Visiting Researcher should never receive any form of remuneration.
A Visiting Researcher association can be granted for up to 12 months. Any further extension requests or requests for a longer period than 12 months should be considered under the Honorary and Visiting Association procedures.
A request to grant an individual Visiting Researcher status should come from the Department/Division with the Request for a Visiting Researcher completed form and a copy of the individual's CV attached.
This request should be sent honoraryassociations@imperial.ac.uk. The People Function will confirm the association in writing to the Visiting Researcher.
Visiting Researchers do not need to be health cleared, but can be provided with the clinical services by Occupational Health if required, i.e. if the visitor will undertake duties in a laboratory environment. A risk assessment should be carried out to determine the need for Hepatitis B vaccination or any other immunisations that may be required. If this is the case, they should attend Occupational Health for vaccination, or if they need access to the Biological Services Unit, attend the South Kensington campus.
Request for an Honorary Association
Form to use to action the request
- Email and associated documents from the Head of Department/Division
Information to include in your request
From the Head of Department/Division, and should include:
- A copy of the person’s CV and
- A copy of the person's passport and visa, as relevant
- A completed Request for an Honorary Association (Detailing DoB of the person, start and end date of the association, etc)
- A citation
- Rationale for offering the association
- ATAS Information: The ATAS assessment requirement is included in the request form and must be completed.
Please be aware that the section labelled "For Faculty of Medicine Clinical Association use only" may be left blank if it does not apply to the requested association or faculty.
How you will know the work has been completed
- Offer sent to the individual, copy to requesters.
Submit your request
- All relevant requests and additional forms should be emailed to honoraryassociations@imperial.ac.uk
To extend an existing Honorary or Visiting Researcher association, please use the on the Staff Hub Portal.
Please note that access to this online form is limited to nominated Trusted Requesters from each academic department. The People Systems team manages the list of Trusted Requesters. Please contact the team via hricisinfo@imperial.ac.uk if you would like to add or remove a Trusted Requester.
To formally end an Honorary or Visiting Researcher Association with Imperial, academic departments should use the online . Please note that access to this online form is limited to nominated Trusted Requesters from each academic department. The People Function Systems team manages the list of Trusted Requesters. Please contact the team via hricisinfo@imperial.ac.uk if you would like to add or remove a Trusted Requester.
When submitting any request for a hosted/visiting/sponsored researcher or academic, please review whether:
- the individual is affiliated with or funded by an organisation based in, or connected by way of ownership or control to, a country listed within the Imperial Relationships policy; and
- working in a field relevant to the17 sensitive areas of the economy under the UK National Security and Investment Act 2021
If yes to both, please contact the Research Security Team for advice (see the Research Security guidance).
Please note that this review/advice for the hosting department is in addition to, not an alternative to, the Academic & Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) requirements. These processes can be run in parallel.
The title of Senior Research Investigator (SRI) is available to senior academic staff who are interested in continuing an association with Imperial following full retirement from Imperial or another Higher Education Institution, and with whom Imperial wishes to retain a collaborative relationship.
The Senior Research Investigator title is conferred by Staff Hub. Please refer to the Senior Research Investigator web page for further information on the role and appointment.
Accessibility
If you have any usability or accessibility issues, please contact our team at honoraryassociations@imperial.com.