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[ckramer]

Hello to everyone,

I have been a postdoc (at a Russel Group university) for nearly three years now, and I just got an informal offer for a lectureship from another Russel Group university last Friday. I have tentatively accepted, and am waiting the formal offer. I had some queries, and I hope you can help:

• What is the normal moving package and how does it work? I would honestly prefer they pay for the moving company instead of me paying and then claiming. The payment is a bit hefty as I will be almost moving across England.
• I have recently for funding from my current university to visit a university overseas and collaborate with their faculty. This funding was competitive across the university, and my application was successful. I was planning to use that money next year if I stayed as a postdoc, however now I will be likely moving to the new university. Is it reasonable to ask for a similar amount (around £ 5,000) after I receive the formal offer? What would be chances of getting this through?

Thank you very much for your help.

[expatinuk]

Hello to everyone,

• What is the normal moving package and how does it work? I would honestly prefer they pay for the moving company instead of me paying and then claiming. The payment is a bit hefty as I will be almost moving across England.

I've never seen this allowed. I think that it's because of tax regulations. If they paid up front then I think you would be taxed on it.

There is no such thing as a normal moving package. Each university is different. I'm also moving in a couple of weeks and the package is extremely nice.

• I have recently for funding from my current university to visit a university overseas and collaborate with their faculty. This funding was competitive across the university, and my application was successful. I was planning to use that money next year if I stayed as a postdoc, however now I will be likely moving to the new university. Is it reasonable to ask for a similar amount (around £ 5,000) after I receive the formal offer? What would be chances of getting this through?

Again, I can't really see this happening. Most places have their own procedures for requesting research money. If  you have a good project proposal, then by all means submit it as soon as you arrive but I can't see that they will automatically give you 5000 because your old institution did.

[drspouse]

I don't think tax is different if you have a perk paid for, or if you pay yourself and get it reimbursed. But it's very unusual for a university HR department to negotiate and pay the movers - you're going to have to do that yourself.

If you want some startup money (which isn't actually unheard of) negotiate this before you accept.

[qrypt]

If the collaboration is something you have already started planning, and in particular if you have entered into commitments for it, then by all means ask for some start-up money on that basis.  That kind of activity is often perceived as valuable, and perhaps they have some money to support it.  If not, then it's a casualty of the move -- but I see no harm in asking.

[ckramer]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the responses. I beleive it will be a good international collaboration for my new University, so I will go for it and ask. I will also attach the actual proposal I wrote to get that funding. It is not much money (less than £5000).

Since this is my first permenant job: do I ask for this after they send me a formal offer?

Cheers,