Open Innovation Team PhD Placement Scheme
We’ve hosted more than 150 PhD students since 2016, with many going on to policy jobs in government and think tanks
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Apply here
Apply here for our 2025 placement scheme. All applications should be submitted by 11:59pm on 14 June 2024. Entries to the scheme received after this date may not be considered.
We are keen to build and maintain a diverse workforce as possible and welcome applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities. Diversity of thought and experience is one of the many strengths of our team.
About the team
The Open Innovation Team (OIT) is a cross-government unit that works on a wide range of policies, including health, justice, education, sustainability, energy, international development, and artificial intelligence. This year, the team has launched a new evaluation service which will evaluate the impact of policies across a range of areas.
For years now, PhD students have played an important role in helping us deliver policy projects, working alongside experienced officials, academics and other experts to deliver the highest quality analysis and advice to colleagues across government.
Our PhD placements run throughout the year, spread across four cohorts. Placements normally last three months, with around 30 placement opportunities each year. Find out what our previous PhD placement students thought of their time with the Open Innovation Team here.
About the placement
PhD placements work on a diverse range of policy projects and are not expected to have prior experience of policy or knowledge of the policy area that they are asked to work on. This year, there may be additional opportunities to work on the evaluation of policies with the Team’s new evaluation service.
Successful applicants should expect to:
- make significant contributions to the policy work the team carries out
- help plan and deliver our events, bringing together academic experts and policymakers to work through policy problems
- assess and synthesise expert evidence and research, and learn how to present this for policymaking audiences
Students will also get the chance to help the team raise its profile, create new products and services for policy colleagues and deliver training and advice to academics.
All PhD placement work aims to build skills and provide students with an insight to what it’s like to work on policy and in government. More than 30 former placement students have since gone on to jobs in policy.
The application process
There are three stages to the application process. All applicants must complete the initial application form. Those successful at this stage will be invited to complete an online written test. Those successful at the written test will pass onto the final interview stage.
Essential conditions for applicants
To be considered, you must be studying on a PhD programme at a UK university, and be in a position to take up the placement prior to your expected viva date. The placements are full time for the 3-month period.
You must also secure funding to cover the cost of the placement from your university, PhD funding body or other suitable organisation.
Successful applicants, on receipt of a placement offer, will be expected to be able to pass BPSS security clearance.
Additional information
For more information, visit our additional information page. For anything not covered, please contact daniel.shipsides@openinnovation.gov.uk. Please note that we are unable to accept applications via email, all applications must be via the application form.
Information sessions
The team will host information sessions where you can learn more about the placement and ask questions. These sessions will take place on Wednesday 15 May, 1-2pm, and Friday 31 May, 2-3pm. Please contact daniel.shipsides@openinnovation.gov.uk if you are interested in attending, or join directly using this link.