Internships

An experience in real politics

The Constitution Unit provides opportunities for interns to work in an influential research body, and we also benefit from the skills you can bring. An internship here is an ideal way for recent graduates to gain experience of work in a policy research environment to inform and support their career choices. Interns include students in the vacation, postgraduates thinking about doing a PhD, and civil and public servants who work for us part-time or on secondment. Our recruitment is guided by the needs of our researchers and by the interests and experience of our applicants. Applicants will normally have a degree or equivalent in Social Studies or Political Science, in Law or in some related subject and should be able to demonstrate that they have the research and office skills needed for work in a research environment.

Interns are attached to one of our researchers who take responsibility for the majority of their workload. Interns with particular skills may occasionally be asked to work for other researchers when this is felt appropriate. The work is varied and will be assigned to reflect the skills and areas of interest of interns. We also offer some training where this is appropriate.

Internships generally last three months, full or part time, and we are flexible in working hours. The positions are voluntary, but the Unit will pay travel costs. We very much value the work done by our interns and you will be treated as part of the team.

Applying for an Internship

Candidates are of a high calibre and competition for our limited places is strong.
To make an application please email Daniel Gover (d.gover@ucl.ac.uk) with the following documents:

• Your CV
• A covering letter stating why you are a suitable candidate for an internship
• The application form
• A piece of work, for example a recent (short!) essay.

Download the application form

Those wishing to join our team should refer to the research currently undertaken at the Unit and specify which area you might like to contribute:

• Judicial Independence
• Parliament
• Coalition and Minority Government
• Freedom of Information and Data Protection

*Note to SPP students: Full-time students are not eligible for an internship at the Constitution Unit until your course is completed. Part-time students are eligible at any point.

Recruitment dates

Dates for the 2012 intakes are as follows:

October 2012 intake

Recruitment advert up: Monday 11 June 2012
Advert deadline: Monday 2 July
Interviews: Friday 20 July (am)
Interns start: Monday 1 October
Interns finish: Friday 21 December