We are inviting applications for our one-year 2025–26 research internship programme starting in September 2025.

Our research staff spend their time thinking, talking and writing about how to make government more effective. They conduct research in a range of forms exploring themes across our work programme. Using that research, they develop recommendations for how government could better organise itself, develop and deliver policy, and evaluate and regulate its own activities.  

Our research interns work across the research team, with each intern typically allocated to one of the themes in our work programme (e.g. civil service, devolution, public finances, etc). The precise nature of each individual internship will vary according to the needs of the projects that specific teams are working on, but key tasks include:

• Carrying out literature reviews

• Completing background research and conducting interviews with MPs, civil servants and others alongside colleagues

• Undertaking data analysis, including creating and updating charts and developing data visualisation skills

• Working with colleagues across the research and communications teams to organise and deliver the IfG’s public and private events

• Presenting research findings to colleagues

• Writing explainers and contributing to published reports

• Providing other forms of administrative support to the rest of your team as required.  

For full details, including a person specification, please read the job application pack. We encourage all applicants to read the job pack before starting their application.

If you are interested in this role but are not sure you have all the skills we’re looking for, please do apply and give us the chance to consider you as a candidate.  

The IfG is committed to supporting greater diversity and inclusion within our workforce, and to fostering an environment in which everyone feels welcome, supported and valued. We welcome applications from anyone who is interested in government and how to make it more effective, and particularly encourage applications from candidates who belong to groups currently underrepresented in the think-tank sector. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and ethnically diverse candidates, disabled candidates, and candidates from low-income backgrounds.

Salary

The salary for this role is £30,000 per annum.

How to apply

To apply, please complete our online application form, which will ask you to complete a timed multiple-choice test and to answer three written questions. Further details on the application process can be found in the job application pack.

Closing date

The application deadline for this role is Tuesday 29 April at 11:00. No applications can be submitted after this deadline has passed.

Interviews

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview w/c 19 May 2025. 

Any questions?

Please contact recruitment@instituteforgovernment.org.uk if you have any questions about the role or the application process, or check out our internship FAQs.