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[uk_bound]

I have been invited to another interview in the UK, for a post as a research fellow. This is my second interview for a research position, which is exciting, but the travel costs sting more than a little, since I live in the US.

In my first interview and my upcoming interview, the university I'm interviewing at will pay for my travel costs from the port of entry to the university. My wife and I are responsible pay for the airfare. I have not tried negotiating this point, thinking it could hurt my chances in the interview.

For whatever reason, I'm not surprised at having to pay airfare, but my wife is surprised. To resolve the issue, I thought I would ask you folks if it is common for a UK university to only pay for travel costs from the port of entry to the university, in which case an international applicant (like myself) has to pay for the airfare.

[expatinuk]

It is quite normal for the UK to pay for travel expenses only within the UK.

[stickball]

My experience was that the university footed the entire bill, in advance.  I had to pay cash for a cab from the metro station, but was reimbursed before I left campus for home.  I think it all depends on how badly they want you, and vice-versa.  I'd ask them to cover the costs... It couldn't hurt to ask, right?

[scotia]

My experience is that it depends on the field and the level. I am in a low supply area and we will pay up to a maximum threshold, which should cover a discounted airfare, for lecturer level and above appointments. The threshold is lower for postdocs and would not cover the whole airfare, but should offset some of the costs. The last time I sat on an interview panel for a high supply field lectureship the candidate from the US had to cover his own airfare.

[qrypt]

I think it's stingy.  Perhaps they're doing it this way because the post is a research fellowship.  My staff (faculty) interview trip from the US was covered in its entirety, from Colorado. 

Unfortunately things like this are rarely negotiable here - the decisions are made in advance and it is then considered poor form to change them. 

[science_expat]

This is the same as our policy but we routinely interview overseas candidates by phone. And no, they're not disadvantaged.

I suggest you ask if you can arrange a phone interview.

[uk_bound]

Thanks very much for all the comments, very useful as always. My wife and I talked it over, and literally changed sides on the issue for a short while. That is, after reading your postings and considering other issues, I was more concerned about the travel than she was. In the end, we decided that I should fly to the UK. If she and I would have continued our conversation, there's a reasonable chance we would have decided to ask for a phone interview, but eventually, we had to cut our conversation off. It already took more time to discuss than expected, and we've both been surprised at how physically tired we become after discussing issues like this for a while. This is surprisingly complex stuff.

[august_leo]

If it's a job you think you might really want, you may be glad you saw the department in person.

[sandrino]

I'd be quite torn in this situation. I interviewed in the UK last year and was given a max of £500 in travel expenses, which didn't quite cover my expenses for the 3 or 4 day trip. Another candidate (ironically from the UK, but away in N. America at the time), was phone interviewed, and felt that s/he hadn't been given an equal shot (I knew this person fairly well and we talked after the interview).

 I loathe the idea of using my own cash to subsidize the interview process, but if it's a job that is very good, I might convince myself it's worth it. But it's a bad precedent, and it's pretty chintzy on the part of the university, especially if they're trying to attract the best candidates, wherever they might be.

[drspouse]

My first UK employers offered me a maximum - it nearly, but not quite, covered my flight and then I minimised my other expenses (stayed with a friend, I seem to recall). At the same time I applied for several other UK jobs and none interviewed me, even though they weren't much higher ranking than my eventual employers and my employers were worried I was too research-oriented for them and would leave (they were right in the end).  I don't know if flying someone over was too much of a risk for the other departments.

I just had a phone interview for another post in the UK as I was unavoidably overseas at the time - I was familiar with the department, and would have asked to go and look round before accepting any offer, as I was back in the UK shortly afterwards.

The phone line was poor but it wasn't particularly because of the line that I didn't feel I put myself across well - it was the whole phone vs face-to-face thing. I didn't get the job, it wasn't my interview performance that tipped the balance, but I don't think it helped.