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About the Fellowship Programme

The UCL Policy Fellows programme provides UCL researchers with the opportunity to work directly with policy professionals whilst embedded within a policy environment. Offering an in-depth learning experience for early to mid-career researchers and postgraduate doctors, our tailored partnerships provide an impactful policy engagement opportunity.

Our offer 

Benefits

  • Facilitate engagement between academics and policymakers by: 
    • improving the exchange of information (of the latest research and of policy priorities) 
    • developing networks between academics and policymakers 
    • contributing UCL academic expertise to policy-relevant activity. 
  • Enhance mutual understanding of academic research, the development of policy, and the workings of Government. 
  • Assist in the development of a culture in which policy implications and influence are considered throughout the research process, and engagement with policy by researchers is encouraged, facilitated, and rewarded.

For the Researcher 

Policy Fellowships enable researchers to work closely with policy professionals and gain direct experience in the process of policy development. As well as developing policy knowledge and the ability to translate research expertise, Fellowships help to develop transferable skills that are useful beyond academia, such as networking, stakeholder engagement, project management, public speaking and negotiating. 

For the Host Partner 

Host organisations benefit from the skills and expertise of the researcher in helping to inform and shape policy development and have access to some of the latest academic thinking in the relevant area, as well as the researcher’s broader academic networks. Placements also help to develop individual and institutional relationships between academics and policymakers and provide mutual points of contact.  

Outputs

Fellows work on variety of knowledge exchange activities depending on the needs of the host partner. Previous examples of outputs include: 

  • Roundtable session with policymakers and allied partners 
  • Research or project report 
  • Policy brief 
  • Formation of policy  
  • Infographics 

For more examples of benefits, outcomes and outputs of fellowships, see our Fellowship Case Studies.

Our Ethos  

We value the significance of continuous learning and knowledge sharing in the development and execution of Fellowships. To enhance both the inbound and outbound Fellowship models, we collaborate closely with Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE). We are eager to collaborate with universities that administer Fellowship programmes, aiming to exchange best practices and foster cooperation in enhancing the processes and structures that guide the integration of evidence into policy and practice.

Engage with us

If you are interested in partnering on knowledge exchange activities with UCL Public Policy contact, Alice Tofts (alice.tofts@ucl.ac.uk). 

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