How to apply for a Government Social Research sandwich student placement

Are you a social science undergraduate in your penultimate year? Do you want to gain practical experience and use your research skills to make a difference? Join the UK Government for a paid student placement.      

You would spend a year working alongside social researchers and policy officials before returning to your studies. The job could involve analysing research data to help government decision making, evaluating the impact of policies, and providing social research advice to help shape government strategy.  strategy.   

Placement students also get a priority interview for a government role upon graduation and many return to work for us.  us.  We offer: 

Salary

• London:Meaningful £25,000work minimumthat (salariesbenefits varysociety 

• Chance according to departmentgain professional economics experience 

• Guaranteed interview for a graduate role 

• Diverse and location) inclusive workplace 

• Flexible working 

Nationwide:For £20,000further minimuminformation, (salariesplease varyrefer according to departmentthe andresources location) for applicants section.  

LocationsSalary 

Birmingham,London: Cardiff,£25,000 Darlingtonminimum Nationwide: Edinburgh,£20,281 Glasgow,minimum 

Salaries Harrogate,vary Leeds,according Liverpool,to London,department Manchester,and Newcastle,location. Salford,Please Sheffield,refer Treforest,to Wolverhampton (locationsthe varyjob accordingspecs tofor department)full details.  

Locations 

Birmingham, Bristol, London, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sheffield, York 

About Government Social Research Research  

We are the professional body for social researchers in the Civil Service. Our Social Researchers study and analyse various aspects of society, like people’s behaviour, opinions, and needs. This then helps the government make informed decisions. We recruit students, graduates, and apprentices to work in over 30 departments across the UK.UK. 

Eligibility RequirementsRequirements 

This scheme is only open to students in their penultimate year of undergraduate study (i.e., year before the final year of study) and who are on track for a 2:1 or 1st class degree, as indicated by exam results of your first year.year. 

To be eligible applicantsyou must bemeet studyingthe following academic requirements: 

• Be on course for a 2:2 or above outcome. This is indicated by your exam results of your first year.  

• Be studying a degree which contains a minimum of 30% course credits in social research methods training in your overall degree content,content. yourYour degree must include quantitative research methods (i.e., research design, data collection (i.e.,[i.e., questionnaire design, sampling, weighting),weighting], and data analysis (e.g.,[e.g., statistical analysis, interpretation))interpretation]) as well as three out of the following five areas:areas: 

  1. qualitative

     Qualitative methods, including research design, data collection (i.e.,(e.g., interviewing, focus groups, ethnographic), data analysis (e.g., thematic analysis)analysis) 

  2. study

     Study design, hypothesis formation, testing and evaluationevaluation, application of ethics to research  

  3. systematic/literature

     Systematic/literature reviewreview 

  4. interpretation

     Interpretation of data (qualitative & quantitative), presentation of results, provision of recommendations/ conclusionsconclusions 

  5. application

     Students are not required to have undertaken research themselves as part of ethicstheir degree course at time of application, but they should have gained an understanding of the principles and skills needed to design and conduct social research and to be able to critically evaluate research methods, strategies and data used by social scientists. 

Individuals will also need to demonstrate that they meet the relevant immigration requirements and their eligibility under the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs). Nationality requirements are explained in more detail on the the Civil Service nationality rules webpage.. 

More information on the eligibility criteria, can be found at the top of this page in the attached Application Guidance Notes, along with a 2024-25 Job Descriptions pack from individual government departments.departments. 

How to ApplyApply 

The GSR 2024-25The Sandwichfull Studentapplication Placementprocess scheme is nowoutlined closed.in the application guidance notes. You can apply for this role on Civil Service Jobs.  

2024-25 Candidates who are successful at the sift stage will be randomly allocated to any of the participating departments.departments. 

Candidates who are unsuccessful at the sift stage will not be given any feedback or comments. If you do not hear from us within 2 months of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.unsuccessful. 

Please note that some departments require candidates to have a UK footprint for 3 years in order to get security clearance.clearance. 

InterviewsInterviews 

Candidates who are successful at the sift stage for the 2024-2025 scheme will be invited for interview at one of the participating Departments. Interviews will take place in November and December 20232024 and will be conducted virtually.virtually. 

Re-join

Re-join GSR after after your placement

placement 

As part of the scheme, we have included an enhancement to the already successful sandwich placement scheme by making an offer of a permanent contract (subject security clearance) to those students to take up upon graduation (in their placement department where possible or another government department) and who:who: 

• are on track for a minimum 2:1 degree containing at least 30% in social research methodsmethods 

• are assessed to have successfully completed their placement by their line managersmanagers 

• have passed a Civil Service Social Research Assessment Centre (SRAC) towards the end of their placementplacement 

• have the right to work in the UKUK  

This means that the placement scheme is now a gateway to a career as a government social researcher. Candidates wishing to apply for the Research Officer Scheme or the Fast Stream after they have completed their degree, should review the relevant schemes full eligibility criteria to ensure they achieve the necessary modules/qualifications. 

Please note: Some departments may not be able to offer a permanent contract if successful at at SRAC and and you will be informed of this, should this be the case.case. 

Equal OpportunitiesOpportunities 

The Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities employer. Candidates with disabilities (as defined in the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act) can choose to declare on their application form that they require adjustments at interview, for which we can make a range of provisions. Please contact us should you have any questions regarding this – we would be happy to help.help. 

We are interested in your skills and aptitudes. We have no preferences for particular backgrounds or universities. We want to reflect the diversity of the country we serve.serve. 

Social mediamedia 

Please follow our social media accounts to keep up to date with relevant information.information. 

Twitter

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Facebook

Complaints procedureprocedure 

Complaints must be submitted in writing or email and addressed to:to: 

gesrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk 

Please provide the fullest account possible of the circumstances surrounding your complaint.complaint. 

If you do not submit your complaint within a year after the campaign took place, we will not be obliged to consider it.it. 

Our commitment to you

you 

• we will aim to acknowledge your complaint within three working days of its receiptreceipt 

• we will take your complaint seriously, give it high priority and investigate it fully and impartiallyimpartially 

• we will aim to send you a full written response to your complaint within 20 working days of its receipt. If this is not possible, we will let you know, and explain whywhy 

• if your complaint is upheld, we shall take action to ensure that the event complained does not recurrecur 

• if your complaint is not upheld, we will advise you of options for pursuing it further, should you wish to do soso 

Working for the Civil ServiceService 

The The Civil serviceService code sets sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.servants. 

The GSR Code is an addendum to the Civil Service code. The purpose of the GSR Code is to set out the GSR’s additional professional standards of behaviour. 

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Commission’s recruitment principles. The The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.