This page contains information on internships for students who began their WGSSS-funded studentship before October 2024 and who do not have time built into their award to complete a placement. Internships are optional and not mandatory for students who began their award before October 2024.
WGSSS students whose funding began after October 2024 have time for a placement included in their studentship. Please see the separate Research in Practice page for more information.
As a WGSSS-funded student, you have a range of opportunities to undertake an internship and benefit from the experience.
You may spend between one and three months in a non-academic organisation in the public, civil society (voluntary), or private sectors. The internship does not need to be directly related to your PhD research. Many interns report that the experience provides a new perspective on, and renewed motivation for, their doctoral studies.
Internships normally involve a defined piece of research-based work for the host organisation. At the same time, they offer clear benefits to students, including opportunities to develop:
- Networks among policymakers and practitioners
- Insight into organisations and how they operate
- Skills in report writing, communication, and time management
- Experience of working effectively as part of a team
- A wide range of other transferable skills
Completing an internship can help you to stand out when applying for roles both within and beyond academia.
Internships are not designed to cover fieldwork or data collection, and a student should not continue working on their PhD during an internship. An internship is a separate experience and should be treated as such.
Funding
Students must seek WGSSS approval before submitting any internship application as there are limited funds available
If you are successful, you will be granted a paid extension to your PhD equivalent to the length of the internship (between one and three months), meaning it will not take time away from your research.
Internships may be conducted remotely, on a hybrid basis or in-person. It is recommended that in-person internships are located within a reasonable commuting distance. Funding for travel or accommodation expenses should be provided by the host internship organisation. Expenses are unable to be covered by the WGSSS.
Eligibility
Students will not normally be supported to undertake more than one internship throughout the lifetime of their award.
Students should carefully consider the timing of an internship alongside their PhD workplan and must obtain supervisor approval before applying. It is expected that students will work with their supervisor to update their workplan and ensure there are no clashes with key milestones, including data collection.
Final year students must have more than three months remaining in their funded award period (or six months for part-time students) at the internship start date.
Additional Eligibility Information for International Students
International students are responsible for ensuring that undertaking an internship complies with the terms of their visa before applying. In most cases, international students are permitted to undertake internships part-time only, alongside full-time study in order to meet UKVI limits on working hours.
Some UK public sector bodies, such as the Welsh Government, have additional nationality and eligibility requirements. Applicants who do not meet these criteria will not be eligible to apply. Please check eligibility requirements carefully before submitting an application.
Internship Opportunities
Internship opportunities are shared with WGSSS students via the WGSSS Students MS Teams Channel and WGSSS Newsletter.
UKRI Policy Internships Scheme
Annual Scheme – call usually launches in June
What you’ll do
This scheme enables UKRI-funded doctoral students to undertake a three-month placement with a highly influential policy organisation. Interns receive training and work on a policy topic agreed with the host organisation and relevant to both parties.
Why apply?
The scheme is designed to immerse students in the policy-making environment and develop skills in translating research into policy impact. It offers valuable transferable skills applicable to a wide range of career paths.
UK Gov Open Innovation Team – PhD Placement Scheme
Annual Scheme – call usually launches in June
What you’ll do:
- Work on real-world policy projects (health, justice, education, sustainability, energy, AI, international development).
- Join the Evaluation Services Unit, learning quantitative, quasi-experimental, or qualitative evaluation methods – no prior experience required.
- Collaborate with officials, academics, and experts on evidence synthesis, policy-analysis, and impact evaluation.
Why apply?
- Network with policymakers and gain insight into government workings.
- Boost employment prospects – many alumni have gone on to policy roles in government and think tanks.
- Around 30 placement spots are available across the year-long scheme.
Self-organised Internships
Students may also self-organise an internship. Those wishing to do so must complete the WGSSS Self-Organised Internship Application Form with support from the internship host organisation and your supervisor and submit it to enquiries@wgsss.ac.uk at least three months before the proposed internship start date. WGSSS reviews applications on a rolling basis.
Internships must provide a structured programme of activity or a defined project that supports the development of the student’s transferable skills. Internships must not be used to replace temporary staff or cover routine business-as-usual tasks.
Examples of potential host organisations can be found on the External Partners page.
End of Internship Report
Students are required to submit an End of Internship Report to enquiries@wgsss.ac.uk within three months of completing their internship.
Internship Experiences
In the following videos, WGSSS students who have completed internships describe their experiences and reflect on what they learned and how it influenced their PhDs.
What are the other benefits of completing an internship? Read our students’ internship reports.