The Urban Lab Graduate Student Placement Programme is an exciting opportunity for students to gain work and research experience in local government.
About the programme
Working collaboratively with council officers and policy-makers, Urban Lab students will apply the research skills and subject-matter expertise gained through their studies to current, real-world policy topics.
The programme also offers students the opportunity to interact with peers from other universities and disciplines, as well as with the council’s own multi-disciplinary team of policy analysts and researchers.
We offer multiple platforms for presenting early-stage and completed work and gaining feedback, social events and networking opportunities, and many different ways of getting involved in the life of the council.
The programme aims to match students to policy areas that are relevant to their area of research. They will work closely with a team of Council colleagues, but will also be encouraged to develop independent research skills. Their work will directly contribute to the council’s knowledge base, which is used for evidence-led policy development.
Student testimonials
Awahnee, University of Oxford
What I found the most valuable from my placement at Westminster City Council was the way the Urban Lab facilitates interdisciplinary learning by allowing students to meet, collaborate, and brainstorm with people from multiple teams across the council. I truly believe this increased my learning and exposure to how local government works.
Ximena, King’s College London
I enjoyed my time at the council working on the Environmental Justice Measure. By the end I had acquired several technical skills including statistical analysis, QGIS, and project management. I also really enjoyed feeling like all the work we were doing at Urban Lab could help make a real-life difference to Westminster's residents and climate goals.
Emma, City UoL
My experience at Westminster City Council was very enriching as I entered a very open minded and diverse organisation, very conscious of the work they still have to do on these topics. Working with a team of young people very engaged and who believed in their work was super inspiring to see.
Sharon, King’s College London
I can confidently say that it was an enriching and rewarding experience. This program provided me with a unique platform to gain valuable work and research experience in local government while applying my academic knowledge to real-world policy issues. The hands-on experience with ArcGIS and PowerBI enhanced my technical abilities and allowed me to utilize spatial data effectively in my research and policy recommendations. This practical knowledge has undoubtedly strengthened my profile as a future urban planning professional.
Midanna, LSE
I had a great learning experience as a graduate student intern at the Urban Lab. I was able to gain a better understanding of public sector work while simultaneously developing the skills I am using in my PhD and applying them in a real-world context. I especially valued being able to come into the office and attend meetings, gaining a better understanding of the work the Council does beyond my own project and the impact it has on people’s day-to-day lives. Everyone on the team is so kind, passionate, and highly skilled it made working together such an enjoyable experience. I highly recommend the opportunity to other graduate students.
Applying to the programme
We typically accept new applications twice a year, for Spring and Summer cohorts, but we’re willing to consider applicants on a rolling basis. Interested applicants may find our terms of reference below, and should get in touch with us via email.
