A Research in Practice placement is a funded opportunity for a social sciences postgraduate researcher to pause their PhD studies and spend up to three months (13 weeks) working with your organisation on a discrete project, challenge, or research question.
A core component of ESRC doctoral training, these placements provide researchers with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings, collaborate across sectoral and disciplinary boundaries, build networks, support their professional development and gain insight into the wide range of career opportunities available to them. At the same time, host organisations benefit from fresh perspectives, research expertise, and additional capacity to address challenges, explore new ideas, or progress projects that may otherwise lack dedicated resource.
Placements are designed to be mutually beneficial and we welcome projects from organisations in any industry.
- Policy work – policy research, drafting policy briefs and reports, organising policy events, meeting with stakeholders
- Research Support – literature reviews, surveys, interviews, focus groups, conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, communicating findings
- Data collection and analysis, preparing reports and presentations
- Identifying future research opportunities, grant proposals and applications
- Communications activities and content creation
- Event organisation and management
- Stakeholder engagement
Please note, the above are examples of the types of projects students could undertake within your organisation and is not an exhaustive list.
- The placement opportunity must focus on a distinct project, challenge or research question and comprise a clear programme of activity that supports the student’s skills development
- Placements should not be used as a substitute for temporary staff or to cover business as usual
- A willingness to contribute, where possible, to the additional costs (if any) associated with the placement e.g. travel. Please note, students cannot receive payment for the placement in terms of a salary
- Provision of a suitable working environment
- A named contact who will be available to supervise and support the student over the course of their placement
- Placements can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis
- Placements can be in-person, remote, or hybrid
- Students will continue to receive their stipend and remain registered as a student with their university for the duration of the placement
- Students cannot receive payment for the placement. However, if there are any additional costs associated with the placement, hosts are expected to contribute to these
If you are interested in hosting a student, please complete our placement proforma, which captures essential information about your organisation, the proposed placement project, and the application and interview process. Please allow at least one month for applications and specify the exact application deadline in the proforma.
Once you return the completed form to us, we will share your placement opportunity with our students. Students will apply through UBEL DTP and we will forward the relevant applications to you. You’ll review applications, interview shortlisted candidates and make a final decision.
Before the placement begins, an agreement form will need to be signed by all parties (the student, the student’s PhD supervisor and you, the placement host).
After the placement, we will ask you to complete a short feedback form to help us evaluate our placement scheme and support our continuous improvement. At this time, you can also let us know if you would be willing to host students again.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
- Professor Eva Krumhuber (e.krumhuber@ucl.ac.uk) – UBEL DTP Placements Lead
- Alita Maharaj (a.maharaj@ucl.ac.uk) – UBEL DTP Placements Administrator