Visiting Scholars

The Martin Scorsese Department of Cinema Studies welcomes Visiting Scholars to conduct independent research with our faculty. As defined by the Tisch School of the Arts, “the title of Visiting Scholar may be granted to scholars who hold academic appointments elsewhere, to scholars who have no academic affiliation, or to younger scholars who are sufficiently proficient in their disciplines to be accepted as colleagues by the University’s faculty, but who have yet to obtain academic appointments.”

All Cinema Studies Visiting Scholars are required to have a Faculty Sponsor with whom they plan to actively conduct research. Prospective Visiting Scholars must have a Faculty Sponsor in place before an inquiry can be made into applying for Visiting Scholar status.

Visiting Scholar Requirements & Information

• Visiting Scholars must have a PhD in hand at the time their appointment begins. Visiting graduate students are not eligible for the Visiting Scholars program.
  
  
• The Department of Cinema Studies can host no more than four Visiting Scholars per academic year.
  
  
• Faculty Sponsors must be in residence for the duration of a Visiting Scholar’s appointment. Faculty may not be on leave/sabbatical or teaching at an NYU Global site while sponsoring a Visiting Scholar, including extending an appointment. Faculty can sponsor one Visiting Scholar per year.
  
  
• Prospective Visiting Scholars may apply for an initial appointment of up to one year. Visiting Scholars may request an extension of their appointment for up to one year with an updated research statement addressing the need for the extension. No Visiting Scholar appointment may exceed three years (36 months.) Extensions are not guaranteed.
  
  
• Visiting Scholars are responsible for securing their own housing during their appointment. The Department of Cinema Studies does not provide office space for Visiting Scholars.
  
  
• Applicants looking to secure grants or funding before formally applying may request a letter from the chair confirming that the Department of Cinema Studies supports their Visiting Scholar application, but the department cannot extend an official invitation or guarantee the appointment without the formal application being approved by both the school and the university.
  
  
• Visiting Scholars are expected, though not required, to contribute to the academic life of the Department of Cinema Studies by hosting an event, guest lecturing in a course, or meeting with students and faculty to discuss their research. Visiting Scholars may also sit in on classes within the Department of Cinema Studies with the approval of the instructor.

Further information about the Visiting Scholars program at NYU can be found on the Tisch Office of Faculty's Visiting Scholar website.

Visiting Scholar Procedures

1. Initial inquiries for Cinema Studies Visiting Scholars must be submitted to the chair by the Faculty Sponsor at least seven months before the proposed appointment begins. These inquiries should include a CV and an explanation of the research to be pursued.
   
   
2. If the initial inquiry is okayed by the chair, the Visiting Scholar should complete the application information form. The Cinema Studies Administrative Aide will compile the information and submit the application, with the chair’s signature, to the Tisch Office of Faculty. All Cinema Studies Visiting Scholar applications must be submitted six months before the proposed appointment begins.
   
   
3. Applications are reviewed and approved by the Tisch Office of Faculty and the NYU Office of Academic Appointments.
   
   
4. Approved Visiting Scholars will receive a welcome letter, including information about an NYU email address and instructions for obtaining an NYU ID. Tisch Human Resources and the Office of Global Services will work with the Visiting Scholar to obtain a visa, if necessary.
   
   
5. Visiting Scholars interested in extending their appointment should submit an updated application information form at least three months prior to the end of their current appointment. The extension application should include an updated research statement explaining the need for more time to complete their initially proposed research.

Current Cinema Studies Visiting Scholars