You will only be considered eligible for the academic and research appointments route if responsibility for academic, research or innovation leadership and development or if research or innovation is a primary function of the role you have accepted.
The 'academic, research or innovation leadership and development' category is for individuals in senior leadership roles at a departmental, faculty or institutional level. Typical duties may include strategy development and delivery and overseeing the management of staff and resources. Example roles (not exhaustive) include Vice-Chancellor/Principal, Pro Vice-Chancellor/Vice-Principal, Dean, Associate Dean, Head of School, and Research Institute Director.
The ‘a primary function’ category is for individuals appointed to perform research or innovation activity at an eligible employer organisation. To be considered eligible for endorsement, research or innovation must be a primary function of your role, meaning it is one of the main responsibilities that defines your appointment. For example, if your role involves teaching, postgraduate/PhD supervision or curriculum development, your endorsement application must demonstrate that research or innovation is one of your main responsibilities alongside teaching, supervision, or curricula. If research or innovation is not a primary function of your role, you will not be considered eligible.
In both categories, your endorsement application must additionally confirm that the role you have accepted requires as an essential qualification a PhD or equivalent research experience. This means that the knowledge, skills and experience required to perform the role are at the competency level expected of an individual who has completed a PhD or gained equivalent research experience in an academic, industrial or clinical setting. Your job description must clearly state that a PhD or equivalent research experience is an essential requirement for the role. If your job description states that a PhD degree or near completion is an essential requirement, then your role will be considered eligible. This must be corroborated by the statement of guarantee signed by the Human Resources Director or equivalent at the organisation to which you have been appointed. You will not be considered eligible if your job description states:
- that a PhD or equivalent research experience is a desirable requirement of the role
- that the role requires either a PhD or another postgraduate degree (eg MSc, MA, MRes)
What is “research or innovation” activity?
“Research or innovation” describes a spectrum of practice around the creation and use of knowledge in the fields of science, engineering, humanities, social science and medicine. Examples of research or innovation activity include curiosity-driven research and discovery, applied research, and technological or methodological development. To be considered eligible under the ‘a primary function’ category, you must be appointed to perform research or innovation by the above definition. If you are employed in an academic support role, or other professional services function that supports researchers within your organisation, you will not be considered eligible for the academic and research appointments route of the Global Talent visa.
You are encouraged to look at all endorsement options before making an application.
