King's College London

On a sweltering day in Westminster at the start of July, The Policy Institute and King's Careers & Employability celebrated the culmination of the fourth cohort of the King's Parliamentary Research Internship programme at a celebration event in the Palace of Westminster.

The programme, a partnership between both departments, is a unique opportunity for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to engage directly with the inner workings of Parliament.

Established in 2020 by Baroness Deborah Bull CBE, the programme has seen over 50 researchers undertake a 9-month part-time internships directly supporting the work of Peers in the House of Lords and providing participants first-hand experience of how evidence and analysis can be used to inform policymaking, while peers gain valuable assistance from skilled researchers.

Interns are individually matched with Peers who will, through the partnership, have the opportunity to observe and, indirectly, contribute to the work of the Peer in and beyond Parliament. In a tailored programme devised between the Intern and the Peer, they will work both independently and may have some involvement in broader engagement fora and structures including APPGs, select committees or wider involvement with Peers’ individual work beyond Parliament.

Each specific internship will vary in the tasks undertaken but is supported by an education programme delivered by The Policy Institute and King's Careers & Employability. As part of the internship, all interns also are given a mentor from the Policy Institute.

The programme epitomises King’s College London’s commitment to partnerships that ensure knowledge has real purpose beyond the university, and to preparing researchers for their next steps in life by building their skills and knowledge and enhancing future career outcomes for researchers.

Applications for the 2026-27 programme are now open until 16 August to doctoral and postdoctoral candidates studying at King's via King's CareerConnect.