The Open Innovation Team’s (OIT) PhD placement scheme brings PhD students into the heart of government, working with civil service teams on real policy challenges. We’ve hosted more than 150 PhD students since 2016, with many going on to policy jobs in government and think tanks. The scheme offers a unique opportunity to develop skills, grow networks and get an insight into how government works. Find out more and apply below.
Apply here
Applications for our three-month long policy and evaluation placements are now open for June to September 2026, October to December 2026, January to March 2027 and April to June 2027. To apply, please complete the application form.
Applications will close at 12pm on Friday 13 February.
About the team
The 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. Last year, the team launched the Evaluation Services Unit (ESU) to 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.
Alongside our policy placements, we are offering placements in the ESU. The ESU uses a range of methods – quantitative, quasi-experimental as well as qualitative and theory-based – to evaluate government policy and assess its impacts. No prior experience of evaluation methodologies is required, though some knowledge of quantitative and/or relevant qualitative research methods is desirable for this placement.
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 and evaluation 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 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.
For more information about the placement, please read the additional information for applicants.
The application process
There are two stages to the application process. All applicants must complete the initial application form. Those successful at this stage will be invited to a final interview stage.
The use of AI
The OIT uses artificial intelligence (AI) in our work and we want to encourage candidates who work well with AI to do so. However, we expect you to use it responsibly and critically, as you would if you were working as part of our team. AI should not be used to directly draft responses to short answer questions in the application form or help you respond to live interview questions. However, you could use it to seek feedback on responses you’ve already drafted yourself, help you work through your own ideas, or help you prepare in advance of an interview.
Drop in sessions
If you would like to find out more about the placement, we will be running two Q&A drop-in sessions, which anyone is welcome to join
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. This is usually expected to be at an equivalent or higher rate to the UKRI national minimum stipend level, pro rata, and we will ask for evidence of this prior to take up of the placement.
Successful applicants, on receipt of a placement offer, will be expected to be able to pass BPSS security clearance.
For more information on essential conditions please read the additional information for applicants.
Apply for our PhD placement scheme here.
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