UKRI Policy Internship at the Climate Change Committee: Insights, Experiences, and Application Guide

During the final year of my PhD, I completed a UKRI Policy Internship at the UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) from February to April 2024. This three-month experience was exciting and offered me invaluable insights into policy-making for climate change. It's a unique opportunity for PhD researchers to explore a career in policy, apply their knowledge, and enhance their experience.

My experience

The CCC is critical in advising the UK government on climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. As a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) researcher focusing on carbon footprint and environmental impact analysis of passenger cars, this internship felt like a great fit. However, I was delighted to meet fellow interns from various disciplines, including chemistry, geography, engineering, and physics.

One of the standout moments was contributing to the UK’s Seventh Carbon Budget. I worked closely with infrastructure, industry, and waste management teams. My daily tasks were diverse and dynamic, from reviewing decarbonization technologies and evaluating recycling infrastructure costs to actively participating in stakeholder and expert group meetings. Given my background in emissions modelling and data analysis, much of my work is centred around building models and conducting detailed data analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across various sectors.

A particular highlight for me was seeing how the CCC model outcomes were presented to various industry stakeholders and how debate and interests were facilitated. Another highlight was understanding how research and data collection is conducted and applied to build greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and mitigation strategies.

This experience allowed me to apply my technical skills in a new and impactful context, gave me a first-hand understanding of the policy landscape—a valuable career perspective—and allowed me to meet great people in a friendly and inclusive atmosphere.

Application

Here’s an overview of the process and some tips for prospective applicants. Your research body or department will fund the internship (in my case, the EPSRC), which should not impact your PhD progress or financing. The duration of your PhD is expected to be extended to accommodate the internship.

1. Explore Your Eligibility: Start by exploring the UKRI Policy Internship Scheme's official webpage. Check if your UK-based research funding makes you eligible for the scheme, and carefully review which UK policy body aligns best with your research interests. The CCC is just one of many exciting options, with others including Energy Security & Net Zero, and Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.
   2. Writing Your Application: The initial application involves general and competency-based questions, such as your motivation for applying and the skills you bring to the table. Don’t be discouraged if your discipline isn’t directly related to policy work. What matters is your motivation and your ability to highlight transferable skills. Even as a carbon footprint researcher at the CCC, much of the work involved adapting my expertise to a different scale and context.
   3. The Policy Briefing (POSTnote): A critical component of the application is the 2-page policy briefing, or “POSTnote.” You must choose a topic of your choice outside your direct discipline, introduce it, discuss it impartially with research, and provide policy recommendations. You should focus your efforts on this task—it’s the best opportunity to showcase your research, communication, and presentation abilities. Worth reading and taking influence from official POSTnotes. Make it count!
   4. The Interview: If you pass the application stage, you’ll be invited to a 60-minute interview. My interview focused on my motivations, understanding of the CCC’s work, and scenario-based competency questions (e.g., teamwork). Be prepared to discuss how your skills can be applied in a policy context and take the opportunity to ask insightful questions. Preparation is key—practice delivering your answers, having multiple examples ready, and immersing yourself in CCC’s research. My best advice is to bring your enthusiasm through, as that alone can go a long way.
   5. Post-Selection: If successful, you’ll have the chance to arrange your internship dates and discuss the team you’ll join. Additionally, you may have some reporting duties to your governing body.

Good luck! 😊