The South West Doctoral Training Partnership’s Placement Scheme offers you the opportunity to get up to three months’ work experience in a relevant UK-based partner organisation. This can benefit your research as well as helping to enhance your CV and future employment prospects. All SWDTP-funded doctoral students are eligible to take part. It is not possible to arrange a placement during an MRes year.
If you are interested in doing a placement, it is best to speak to your supervisor in the first instance, and arrange an informal discussion with the SWDTP Collaboration Facilitator.
The Collaboration Facilitator will help you develop your application, as well as approaching external organisations and developing a formal placement agreement on your behalf. You are also required to complete an end of placement report and work with the Collaboration Facilitator to produce a feature or case study which may be used by the SWDTP for promotion and impact reporting purposes.
Full-time placements are usually between one and three months although we recommend a minimum of six weeks. Part-time placements are also possible. Subject to agreement with your supervisor, placements can start at any point during your studies, but not within the first three months and must start, at the very latest, before the last three months of a studentship.
Further information and all relevant documents are here:
What will I get out of my placement?
Placements are an opportunity to apply the skills you’ve learned during your studies in a new environment, develop your networks and explore your own career ambitions beyond your PhD.
“I feel that my PhD research and academic responsibilities within the university have benefited from my three months away (on placement). I have returned to my studies fresh and revitalised, with new ideas and a new enthusiasm for my work… I would highly recommend this scheme to other students in terms of its academic, career and personal benefits.”
– Comment from a former PhD student
Funding your placement
If your placement request is approved you will be given the relevant extension to your ESRC award and completion/submission date. There is also some limited funding available for travel and accomodation costs, which need to be fully-costed in the relevant section of the application form.
Due to budgetary constraints, placements can only take place in the UK. Please contact the SWDTP Collaboration Facilitator (swdtp-enquiries@bristol.ac.uk) if you had been considering an overseas/non-UK placement, to discuss possible alternative options.
3 Month Placement with the Cabinet Office’s Open Innovation Team
We are inviting PhD Students to join our team on placement for three to six months to help us deliver projects on health, welfare reform, industrial strategy, digital transformation and various other priority areas.
Responsibilities include:
- Reviewing evidence to inform policy discussions and help scope out projects
- Generating analysis and policy ideas working alongside officials and outside experts
- Developing project plans to ensure projects remain on track
- Pitching new projects to Whitehall departments and non-government partners
- Managing stakeholders inside and outside Whitehall
- Organising engagement activity, including arranging meetings, university visits and Whitehall policy seminars
The placement will provide an excellent opportunity to:
- Understand more about how Whitehall works and how policy is developed
- Hone writing and communication skills for non-expert audiences
- Develop networks in government, including the Cabinet Office and other departments
- Build knowledge of new policy areas
The Cabinet Office cannot take unpaid interns but SWDTP students can apply for funding and an associated extension through the SWDTP Placement’s Scheme – please contact the Collaboration Facilitator from the SWDTP for advice on accessing these funds. In addition, for anyone living outside of London, the Cabinet Office will provide up to £3000 for carefully justified placement-linked accommodation/travel costs. Further information can be found via the buttons below.
Applications are Open on a Rolling Basis. All queries about applying to be sent to openinnovation@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Please also check our monthly newsletter, where we post the latest placement opportunities. Alternatively, talk to the Collaboration Facilitator if you have an idea about where you’d like to complete your placement.