Be a consultant

Whether you’ve been approached about sharing your knowledge, or are just exploring the idea of consultancy, we’re here to support you through the process.

What is consultancy?

Consultancy is paid work where the University (or a member of the University) shares their knowledge or facilities with an external organisation – like a company, a government department or a public sector body. 

That could mean offering specialist advice or insight. Or it could involve access to Oxford’s facilities, equipment or services – sometimes it’s a combination.  

Whatever the requirement, Oxford University Innovation (OUI) supports University staff (academics, researchers and professional services) and departments who want to get involved in consultancy, by making sure you and the University are supported to get the best outcome. 

 

Two women collaborate in a meeting, with one writing on a whiteboard while the other looks on.

Why it could work for you

University staff can undertake a certain amount of personal consulting every year under ​the University policy.  

Many staff find it valuable because it:

  • Enables you to apply your knowledge to real-world challenges 
  • Creates new relationships and opportunities for collaboration 
  • Provides evidence of your research’s impact 
  • Can be financially rewarding 
  • Broadens your experience beyond the University 

 

How we support you

Our role at OUI is to take care of the practical side of things and make sure your – and the University’s – interests are protected. So, if it’s financial, administrative or contractual, it’s us.  That includes: 

  • Setting up the contract with the client 
  • Agreeing scope, timing and fees 
  • Protecting intellectual property (IP) and confidentiality 
  • Insuring the transaction 
  • Invoicing the client and paying you 

It means you don’t have to negotiate contracts on your own, work out what’s standard or worry about missing something important – we do this every day. 

'OUI has been successful in arranging consultancy with a range of organisations, from relatively early academic startups to established biotech firms and large pharma companies. I appreciate these interactions, as they bring me into contact with cutting-edge science that would otherwise be invisible to me, place me in proximity to peers and leaders in the field, and provide access to activities such as investigator-initiated studies and participating in clinical trials.'

Robin Choudhury, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford

Some useful things to know

If you’re interested in consultancy and want to take the next step, there are a few important things to be aware of. 

  • For personal consultancy, you’ll need to register as self-employed 
  • You will need to have permission to work in the UK 
  • We invoice the client – and we give you simple templates for logging time and expenses for our invoices
  • Consultancy fees are paid directly from OUI to you, so you’ll need to declare that income and you may need to complete a Self Assessment tax return
Oxford University Innovation sign mounted on the exterior wall of the building

Get started

Contact us if you’d like to explore how consultancy could work for you, or you’ve already been approached about an opportunity. We’ll help you take the next steps. 

Get in touch