The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) PhD Policy Internships Scheme offers UKRI-funded doctoral students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in policy and law-making environments across the United Kingdom. Such internships at the Northern Ireland Assembly are hosted by the Research and Information Service (RaISe), where the interns routinely contribute to the Assembly process by providing research support and analysis.
What is RaISe?
RaISe is the Assembly’s in-house, dedicated research service, providing impartial, objective, timely and non-partisan research support to Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). The Service covers a wide range of policy areas, including health, education, justice and the economy, meeting MLAs’ unique research and information needs and facilitating them in undertaking their advisory and scrutiny roles and responsibilities. RaISe provides confidential services as required, while aiming to be as open and transparent as possible.
The internship experience in the Assembly
Interns at RaISe are treated as integral members of the individual research team they join for three months, under the supervision of a line manager. They engage in a variety of activities, including:
- Contributing to briefings (written and oral, published and unpublished) on current issues
- Preparing blog posts, Information Packs, Topical Digests, Constituency Profiles, and Constituency Casework Guides
- Identifying potential stakeholders and others to inform Assembly committee inquiries (see examples), evidence sessions and stakeholder events
- Co/delivering internal seminars for RaISe staff
Recent interns’ outputs from recent internships have included a blog post on the potential for wind energy in Northern Ireland and a Topical Digest on algal blooms in Lough Neagh.
Benefits for interns
Providing a front-row seat in the Assembly process, RaISe offers UKRI-funded interns a number of opportunities that enable them to:
- Increase knowledge and understanding of how research can inform policy and law-making
- Gain first-hand experience in the legislative process, including relying on research to compile outputs aimed to inform Assembly scrutiny and law-making in key areas
- Develop broader skills through training relevant to both policy and law-making, as well as personal development
As the interns gain insight into how decisions are made and where evidence fits in, they also have a chance to apply and appropriately adapt academic training in a legislative context, enabling them to translate research into outputs that genuinely facilitate MLA deliberations and decision-making in Assembly plenary, committees and constituency. Communicating complex ideas is part of the daily routine when working in RaISe, whether that’s drafting a briefing, presenting to a team, identifying, securing and analysing data, or engaging with Assembly and Departmental officials about policy and legislative proposals. While interning in this multi-disciplinary service, students sharpen their existing skills and gain new ones that go far beyond academia, helping them to think differently about research impact and collaboration. And importantly, they learn about operating in a fast-paced environment, where information overload is negotiated in the regular course of work. The whole experience nurtures confidence and opens up new ways to think about what and how a research career could be.
While no two internship experiences are the same, past students have explained how their time in the Assembly has been both eye-opening and enriching. One shared: “I had an amazing time during the internship – I had freedom to explore topics within my Team’s remit, and everyone was so supportive.” That intern worked primarily on the rapidly evolving topic of AI in education, which kept him on his toes, but also made the experience exciting and relevant to current Assembly considerations. He credited the internship with building his confidence as he stepped outside his academic comfort zone and prepared briefings for a legislative audience, leading him to consider new career paths beyond the PhD. When departing, he remarked: “[i]t was a privilege to work in such an interesting and beautiful place, and I especially miss the Stormont scones!”.
Applying for the Internship
The UKRI Policy Internships Scheme is open to PhD students funded by UKRI, with the Northern Ireland Assembly hosting students funded by AHRC, BBSRC, EPSRC, ESRC, MRC and NERC (read the full criteria here). Students from all disciplines are welcome to apply, whether you’re a chemist, historian, engineer or economist, your perspective can bring real value to the work of RaISe.
Applications typically open annually, with the 2025 call running from 2 June to 12 September – see the full details and apply here.
Available funding when interning
Under this Scheme, interns normally continue to receive their usual stipend and tuition fees when undertaking their three-month internships. And there is provision for interns to claim expenses for travel and accommodation costs, as explained in full at: Annex A in the UKRI Applicant Guidance.
Assembly Library on Twitter
Northern Ireland Assembly on Facebook