UK universities and independent research institutes sponsor research staff routinely. Every listing here is at an employer holding a valid Home Office sponsor licence, verified against the current gov.uk register each day.
Two visa routes dominate: Skilled Worker, via the university or institute's Certificate of Sponsorship, and Global Talent, for candidates with a substantial publication record and formal endorsement from a UK research body. Global Talent is not tied to a single sponsor, so you can change employers freely.
The general Skilled Worker salary threshold is £41,700. Most postdoctoral and research fellow roles at Russell Group universities meet or exceed this - check the specific role's going rate. New-entrant discounts (for candidates within 4 years of their first UK Skilled Worker CoS, or under 26) can reduce the threshold for early-career researchers.
Common visa routes: Skilled WorkerGlobal TalentHigh Potential Individual
Live openings
110 sponsor-verified roles
Research Assistant/Associate
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Research Assistant
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Research Fellow
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Research Assistant/Associate in Theoretical Computer Science (Fixed Term)
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Ease Research Assistant
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Research Assistant
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Research Fellow
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Research Assistant (850713)
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Research Assistant/Associate
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Research Fellow
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Research Fellow
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Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Research Fellow
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Research Fellow in Molecular Quantum Sensing
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Research Fellow - Synthetic Organic Chemistry
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Research Assistant
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Postdoctoral Research Associate
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School of Natural Sciences PhD studentship (Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Chemistry, Computational Biology, Genetics, and Sports, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences) – January 2027 intake
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Research Assistant
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Research Fellow
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Research Assistant / Associate
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Research Assistant/ Associate in MSK Immunology & Data Science
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Computational Senior Research Fellow
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Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Research Assistant
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(Senior) Research Fellow in Software Development
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Research Fellow - Health Data Science
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Research Fellow
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Research Software Engineer - ATLAS
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Research Fellow
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Research Fellow
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Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Research Fellow
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Research Assistant/Associate
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Research Fellow
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Postdoctoral Scientist - Iron biology and iron trafficking in health and disease
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Postdoctoral Research Associate - Insect Genetic Rescue
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Research Assistant
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Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Research Fellow
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Staff Research Scientist, Reinforce Learning
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Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Research Assistant
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow
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Senior Applied Research Scientist - Personalization
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Research Scientist - Personalization
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Principal Research Scientist - AI Safety
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Research Associate in Organometallic Chemistry
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Research Fellow
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Research Fellow
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Common questions
Sponsorship for research roles
Which universities sponsor postdoctoral researchers?
Effectively every research-intensive UK university holds a Skilled Worker licence: Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial, Manchester, Edinburgh, KCL, LSE, Glasgow, Bristol, Warwick, Nottingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Southampton, Queen Mary, and the specialist institutes (Crick, Wellcome Sanger, John Innes, Diamond Light Source). Post-92 universities also sponsor - listings here cover both groups.
Do research roles qualify for Global Talent instead of Skilled Worker?
Yes, if you have (a) a strong publication record in a recognised field, or (b) an offer from an eligible institution combined with endorsement from a UK research body (Royal Society, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, Academy of Medical Sciences, UKRI, or the Royal Society of Edinburgh). Global Talent is preferable when available - no sponsor tie, 5-year visa, direct path to settlement.
Can I bring dependants on a Skilled Worker visa for a research role?
Yes. A spouse or partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants. Dependant partners can work any job for any employer, with no minimum salary. This differs from the Student visa route, which restricted spouse dependants for most course types after January 2024.
What are the discounted salary rules for early-career researchers?
Skilled Worker offers reduced salary thresholds in specific circumstances: (a) new entrants - candidates under 26, or within 4 years of their first UK Skilled Worker CoS - can qualify at 70% of the standard going rate down to a £33,400 floor; (b) PhD relevance - candidates whose PhD is directly relevant to the role can qualify at 90%; (c) STEM PhD roles - reduced to 80% of going rate down to £33,400. Check the exact rules on gov.uk before relying on this.