How to apply for a Government Social Research sandwich student placement
The Government Economic and Social Research (GESR) Team run a 12-month sandwich student placement scheme aimed at students who are seriously considering a career in the Government Social Research (GSR) profession after graduation.
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Applications are now closed. Register to be notified when the scheme opens again for applications in Autumn 2025.
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.
Placement students also get a priority interview for a government role upon graduation and many return to work for us. We offer:
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Meaningful work that benefits society
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Chance to gain professional social research experience
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Offer of an interview for a graduate role
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Diverse and inclusive workplace
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Flexible working
For further information, please refer to the to the job descriptions and the application guidance notes.
Salary
London: £25,000 minimum Nationwide: £20,281 minimum
Salaries vary according to department and location. Please refer to the job descriptions pack for full details.
Locations
Birmingham, Bristol, London, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sheffield, York
About Government Social Research (GSR)
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.
Eligibility Requirements
This scheme is only open to students in their penultimate year of undergraduate study and who are on track to achieve a minimum of a 2:2 in their degree as indicated by their first-year results. “Penultimate’ means that you have one more year at university to complete your undergraduate degree after this placement. To avoid disappointment please do not apply if you are due to graduate in the Summer of 2025, but plan to continue your studies with a post undergraduate degree, such as a Masters.
To be eligible you must meet the following academic requirements:
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Be on course for a 2:2 or above outcome. This is indicated by your exam results of your first year.
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Be studying a degree which contains a minimum of 30% course credits in social research methods training in your overall degree content. Your degree must include quantitative research methods (i.e., research design, data collection [i.e., questionnaire design, sampling, weighting], data analysis [e.g., statistical analysis, interpretation]) as well as three of the following areas:
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Qualitative methods, including research design, data collection (e.g., interviewing, focus groups, ethnographic), data analysis (e.g., thematic analysis)
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Study design, hypothesis formation, testing and evaluation, application of ethics to research
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Systematic/literature review
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Interpretation of data (qualitative & quantitative), presentation of results, provision of recommendations/ conclusions
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Students are not required to have undertaken research themselves as part of their 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 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 2025-26 Job Descriptions pack from individual government departments.
How to Apply
The full application process is outlined in the application guidance notes. You can apply for this role on Civil Service Jobs.
Candidates who are successful at the sift stage will be randomly allocated to any of the participating departments for interview.
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.
Please note that some departments require candidates to have resided in the UK for 3 years in order to be granted security clearance.
Question and Answer Session
There will be a Question and Answer (Q&A) session with the GSR Recruitment Team, to chat about the recruitment and application process for this scheme.
Date: Wednesday 9 October 2024
Time: 12:30pm-13:30pm
Place: Virtual, on Microsoft Teams.
Click here to join the meeting
We will give you:
Information regarding a career in Government social research and in the Civil Service
- An outline of the recruitment process for the scheme
- Our tips on filling out the application form
Interviews
Candidates who are successful at the sift stage for the 2025-2026 scheme will be invited for interview at one of the participating Departments. Interviews will take place during December 2024 and will be conducted virtually.
Re-join GSR after your 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:
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are on track for a minimum 2:2 degree containing at least 30% in social research methods training
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are assessed to have successfully completed their placement by their line managers
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have passed a Civil Service Social Research Assessment Centre (SRAC) towards the end of their placement
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have the right to work in the UK
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 SRAC and you will be informed of this, should this be the case.
Contact point for applicants
GESR Recruitment Team: [email protected]
Social media
Please follow our social media accounts to keep up to date with relevant information.
Equal Opportunities
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.
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.
Complaints procedure
For details on our complaints procedure, please click here
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil 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 recruitment principles. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.
Updates to this page
Published 16 September 2015Last updated 18 October 2024 + show all updates
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Applications are now closed.
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Eligibility Requirements corrected to a minimum of a 2:2 degree throughout page. And details of Q&A session added.
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The Government Social Research sandwich student placement is now live for applications
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The Government Social Research sandwich student placement has now closed.
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The online Q&A session for applicants will now take place on Thursday 12 October 2023, 1-1.45pm.
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Link to Civil Service jobs advert added.
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The details section has been expanded to include the month the scheme opens (October 2023).
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Scheme closed at 11.55am on Monday 24 October - link to application form on Civil Service Jobs Website removed.
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Application deadline extended to 11.55 am on Monday 24 October 2022 and 2023 Job description pack updated.
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Added link to CS jobs for applying
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2023 to 2024 scheme application due to be open date of 3rd October added. Plus new 2023 Application Guidance notes.
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2022-23 scheme now closed for applications.
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Scheme timetable in Guidance Notes amended to show extended application deadline of 16.55pm on 18 October 2021
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Scheme deadline for applications has been extended to 16.55pm on Monday 18 October 2021
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Job descriptions updated
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2022-23 Vacancy open from 4 to 15 Oct 2021 at 11.55am - Civil Service Jobs reference number provided
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2022 to 2023 scheme will open for applications the week commencing 4th October 2021.
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2021-22 scheme closed for applications at 4pm on 18 November 2020
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The GSR Sandwich Student Placements 2021-22 scheme is now open. Including Application guidance notes and Job Descriptions
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Updated with details of the 2020-2021 scheme
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The scheme is now closed and the Application Form has been removed.
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The information on the 2019-20 scheme has now been added
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GSR 2018/19 application form, job descriptions and application guidance has been added
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Information for GSR Sandwich Student Placements 2018-19 has been added
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The Government Social Research 2017-18 sandwich student placement scheme is now closed.
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CoP has been added to the application form and job description.
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HMRC job description has been added.
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scheme opening date has been added. application form in word format and sample job descriptions have also been added.
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Information on how to apply for a 2017-18 Government Social Research sandwich student placement
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First published.