GSR Research Officer Scheme
Join us as a Research Officer to launch a brilliant career in Government Social Research.
The GSR Research Officer Scheme in now closed for applications. Please register to be notified when it reopens in early 2025.
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 government departments across the UK, from the Ministry of Justice to the Office for National Statistics. With over 2,500 members working across government, you will be joining an established community of social research professionals, getting access to all the training, networking, and access opportunities that come with being part of a social research community that has a diverse array of experiences and professional knowledge.
What would I do as a Research Officer?
Government social researchers play a critical role in gathering, analysing, and interpreting the information which forms the foundation for decision making for policies which affect every UK resident.
As a Research Officer working in the Civil Service, you would contribute through analysis of social trends, development of government policy, and evaluation of how policies make a difference to public services.
Your work might involve developing surveys, analysing data, producing statistics, reviewing existing research evidence, and working with other analysts in government to provide timely and relevant briefings for policy colleagues and ministers.
Where would I work?
This year, we have opportunities available in the following locations: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Salford, Sheffield, Treforest (Pontypridd) and Wolverhampton.
How much would I get paid?
Salaries vary according to department and location, so please check the job descriptions for details. This is the minimum you would be paid: London: £34,410 / Nationwide: £31,120
What qualifications do I need?
Government Social Research (GSR) members come from a range of social science related backgrounds.
There are two entry routes into the GSR Research Officer Scheme:
- the Qualification Route
OR
- the Experience Route.
Qualification Route Eligibility Criteria
You are eligible to apply for this route if you meet the following criteria:
- you have, or expect to achieve, a 2:2 or above in your undergraduate degree in a relevant social research subject (criteria for relevant subjects are outlined below); or
a 2:2 in any subject with a postgraduate degree in a relevant social research subject -
the qualifying social research degree must contain substantial social research methods training (comprising around one third of modules taken on the course) including quantitative research methods and at least three of the following:
- systematic/literature reviews;
- qualitative methods;
- interpretation of data and presentation of results;
- study design, hypothesis testing;
- application of ethics to research.
- you satisfy both the Civil Service Nationality and Right to work in the UK requirements as we do not offer sponsorship.
It your responsibility to demonstrate these criteria clearly on application. Please ensure you indicate the number of credits associated with the relevant modules covering your social research methods training as well as your degree’s total number of credits. We receive a high volume of applications for the scheme, so please ensure you are clear and concise in outlining the relevant modules for consideration.
Experience Route Eligibility Criteria
You are eligible to apply for this route if you meet the following criteria:
- you hold an undergraduate degree, at a minimum of 2:2 in any subject; and have at least 4 years social research practice experience
- your social research practice experience consists of experience working in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team
- to apply via this route, you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills, which must include quantitative research methods and three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research.
- you satisfy both the Civil Service Nationality and Right to work in the UK requirements as we do not offer sponsorship.
It is your responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate these criteria clearly on your application form.
Why join the GSR Research Officer Scheme?
There are many benefits to working in the Civil Service. Here are just a few:
- Meaningful work that that makes a difference to society
- Opportunity to work in a wide range of govt departments
- Opportunities across the UK
- Flexible working
- 25 days annual leave (+8 public holidays)
- Competitive pension scheme
- Inclusive working environment
Join our Virtual Q&A Session
Our Q&A sessions for 2024 have now taken place. Download our .
What happens after the first stage of the application process?
- Stage 2: Fill out the short application form.
- Stage 3: Sit two online tests (the Civil Service Verbal Test and the Civil Service Numerical Test).
- Stage 4: If you meet the minimum standard for both online tests, you will be invited to fill out the full application form. The form will ask you for information including details about your degree.
- Stage 5: Based on the performance of all applicants, a final pass mark will be set for the online tests. This may be higher than the minimum standard for both tests. [This is a process carried out by admin staff.]
- Stage 6: If you pass both online tests, you will be invited to sit the GSR knowledge test (offline). Full details of this test will be provided if you reach this stage.
- Stage 7: If you pass the GSR knowledge test your application will be sent on to sifters, who will consider whether you have demonstrated that your degree contains sufficient social research content. [This is a process carried out by staff.]
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Stage 8: If you pass the sift, you will be invited to a virtual interview. The behaviours that you will be assessed against are:
- Managing a quality service
- Communicating and influence
- Working together
- Further information on what to expect at the interviews will be sent to candidates invited to attend.
What format will the interview take?
This will consist of a blended interview, which should take approximately an hour. It will include a 5-minute presentation with follow up questions to assess your technical skills as a social researcher, in line with the GSR Technical Framework at Research Officer level. At interview you will also be asked questions based on the following Civil Service Behaviours: Working Together, Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and Influencing.
The Civil Service Behaviours framework can be found here and further guidance on Success Profiles can be found on Civil Service Jobs here.
An example of a Behavioural question would be: “Tell me about a time when you’ve had to deal with a difficult customer.” It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in, and use the STAR model to explain: Situation - the situation you had to deal with; Task - the task you were given to do; Action - the action you took; and Result - what happened as a result of your action and what you learned from the experience.
Nationality requirements
The Civil Service Nationality Rules are written into law, they are exempt from the Equality Act 2010 and must be followed. They outline who can and cannot work in the Civil Service.
In summary, from 1 January 2021 broadly the following groups will be able to work in non-reserved posts within the Civil Service:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- EEA nationals with (or eligible for) status under the EUSS
- Relevant EEA or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EEA or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU & Turkish nationals
A reserved post can be filled only by UK Nationals. A non-reserved post is open to nationals from the countries and associations of countries outlined above. These posts are non-reserved posts.
If you fail to follow these rules the appointment will be deemed illegal. Your employment will be terminated with immediate effect.
The Government Recruitment Service (GRS) checks candidates against the nationality rules as part of the pre-employment checks.
Right to work: immigration requirements
You must have the right to work in the United Kingdom and meet the Immigration and Visa requirements for the scheme.
Further details can be found on the Gov.uk Visas and Immigration page
Before the appointment of the successful candidate can be confirmed, the employing department will undertake background security checks. As part of these, we will need to confirm your identity, course details over the past three years (or employment details if you were in employment), nationality and immigration status, and criminal record (unspent convictions only).
All employees must meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). This is a series of basic security checks to confirm identity, right to work in the UK, employment history and, where relevant, details of any criminal record. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.
Additionally, some roles within the government will require you to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC), or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment.
To meet CTC, SC or DV requirements, you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3, 5 or 10 years prior to the date of application (the level of checks that are required are stated in the advert; more information on the levels can be found here ). If you do not satisfy the residency criteria, an application may be submitted and a decision will be made on a case by case basis; consideration will be given to where you lived, how long you were out of the UK and why you were abroad.
If you are applying for a role requiring security clearance, please be aware that foreign or dual nationality is not an automatic bar. However, certain posts may have restrictions which could affect those who do not have sole British nationality or who have personal connections with certain countries outside the UK.
All offers of employment are conditional on successful completion of BPSS and National Security Vetting. Candidates should not resign from their current job until these checks have been successfully completed.
Allocation to a GSR department
You will be assigned to a department for your first posting within the GSR, with an expectation of staying in this department for two years.
We will take into consideration candidates’ preferences on location, but may not be able to fulfil these preferences on all occasions. It is worth noting that any role in the Civil Service will be a rewarding opportunity.
The Civil Service is committed to becoming the most inclusive employer in the UK.
We are committed to understanding, respecting and representing as broad a range of views and backgrounds as we have in UK society. We know that diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to an effective, modern Civil Service. Our vision is to ensure the Civil Service represents modern Britain and is a truly inclusive employer - an example to other employers. We will create an organisation where diversity is not only respected and valued - but celebrated.
What is in it for me?
We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us - regardless of background. If you are interested in developing your career with us – starting with this interesting and challenging role – or doing things differently and inspiring colleagues, then the Civil Service is the place for you. Our passion for diversity and equality means creating a work environment for all employees that is welcoming, respectful, engaging, and enriched with opportunities for personal and professional development.
What is next?
You’ve taken the first step and looked through this page to understand the skills and experience needed to perform this role. Now join us in achieving our ambitions and let us help you achieve yours. Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy: 2022 to 2025.
Under the terms of the Equality Act 2010, we will always consider making reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged in the recruitment and selection process. We are therefore committed to meeting, wherever possible, any needs you specify in your application. We will also consider any reasonable adjustments under the terms of the Act to enable any applicant with a disability (as defined under the Act) to meet the requirements of the post.
How to apply
Details on how to apply for the 2025 scheme will be published here in spring 2025.
Resources for applicants
- For more information about the recruitment process, see the -
- For more information about the kinds role you could be working in as a social researcher, see the -
Social media
Please follow our social media accounts to keep up to date with relevant information.
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LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
Complaints procedure
Complaints must be submitted in writing or email and addressed to:
Head of GESR Recruitment,
GESR Team, Room 1/15,
HM Treasury,
1 Horse Guards Road
London SW1A 2HQ
Please provide the fullest account possible of the circumstances surrounding your complaint.
If you do not submit your complaint within a year after the campaign took place, we will not be obliged to consider it.
Our commitment to you
- We will aim to acknowledge your complaint within three working days of its receipt
- We will take your complaint seriously, give it high priority and investigate it fully and impartially
- 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 why
- If your complaint is upheld, we shall take action to ensure that the event complained does not recur
- If your complaint is not upheld, we will advise you of options for pursuing it further, should you wish to do so
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. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Updates to this page
Published 10 June 2021Last updated 19 March 2024 + show all updates
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Our GSR Research Officer Scheme closed for applications on the 18 March 2024. It will reopen in spring 2025.
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Q&A session slides have been added.
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The GSR Research Officer Scheme is now open for applications.
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The scheme is closed and information on when it opens in February 2024 has been added
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Link to Civil Service Jobs posting added. Application closing date updated. Candidate guide and example job descriptions added.
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Q&A Session information added.
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Application dates changed for the 2023 GSR Mainstream Campaign.
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Updated - Scheme now open
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Update on 2022 scheme dates
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Candidate pack and job description uploaded
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Candidate pack and job description have been uploaded
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First published.