4252 - Statistics University Student Placements

Job summary

This advert is for year-long statistics university student placements, to commence in summer 2027. There are multiple posts available.

Please note that this scheme is only open to undergraduate students currently in their second year of study, looking to undertake a year-long placement commencing Summer 2027 before returning to complete their degree OR to postgraduate students who have a year-long placement built into their postgraduate degree scheme which they are looking to undertake Summer 2027-Summer 2028. Graduates should not apply.

Job description

The role of Welsh Government statisticians is to support decision-making, resource allocation, research and debate within government and the wider community by providing reliable and efficient statistical services. A wide range of topics are covered by Welsh Government statisticians including education, health, housing, poverty, social justice, industry, the economy, local government, transport, the environment, agriculture, demography and the Welsh language. Most of our statisticians work together in a central hub of analysts known as Knowledge and Analytical Services; however, there are also a small number of statistical teams “outbedded” within Welsh Government policy departments.

The general purpose of the role of our statistics placement students is to provide support for Welsh Government’s Knowledge and Analytical Services in respect of statistical needs and projects.

We encourage you to browse our website to understand the work that we do and the types of statistical publications successful applicants may be involved in producing.

https://gov.wales/statistics-and-research

Person specification

The key tasks will be defined by the specific projects that the successful candidate is required to carry out. Examples will include the following:

• Preparation of statistical reports, drawing out key messages, identifying trends and writing insightful commentary that tells the story with data.
• Development of data visualisations and statistical tables to help illustrate messages in data.
• Answering requests for data and analysis from a variety of internal and external sources.
• Data management and manipulation, including efficient storage of data and automation of statistical processes.
• Data validation and quality assurance of statistical outputs

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• A good working knowledge of at least one statistical package or programming language e.g. R, Python, SQL.
• A university student studying for a degree in a numerate discipline (such as statistics, mathematics, economics, psychology or geography) whose degree contains a statistical element.
• Ability to develop and apply knowledge in the analysis and quality assurance of data and the production of statistical outputs.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.

Application process

In your application form, please provide evidence against each of the following three assessment criteria stated in this advert:

• Communicating and Influencing – Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing (assessed via application form and presentation at interview).
• Technical 1 – A good working knowledge of at least one statistical package or programming language (e.g. SQL, R, Python) (assessed via application form and interview question).
• Technical 2 – A university student studying for a degree in a numerate discipline (such as statistics, data science, mathematics, economics, psychology or geography) whose degree contains a statistical element. You must either be an undergraduate student, currently in your second year of study, looking to undertake a year-long placement commencing Summer 2026 OR a postgraduate student with a year-long placement built into your postgraduate degree scheme which you are looking to undertake Summer 2026 – Summer 2027 (assessed via application form and statistics and numeracy ability test).

As a guide, we recommend that you aim to write 250 words for each. Using the “STAR technique” may help you to structure your evidence. For “Technical 2”, you should state the name of your degree scheme and describe the statistical elements you have studied.

To reduce bias within the application process, we will be sifting candidate evidence without identifiers, so please do not include any information that could identify you within your evidence. This includes your name and the name of the institution where you are studying.

• All candidates who have submitted an application by the deadline will be invited to undertake a multiple choice test at 14:00 on 11/11/2026. The test is designed to test your numeracy and statistical knowledge. You will be sent an email with the test. It is a timed test and must be completed and returned via email by 15:00 on 11/11/2026. Only those who pass the test will progress to the application form sift. It is not expected that you will need to revise for the test. If you do not receive a copy of the test at the time specified, please email statscareers1@gov.wales immediately.
• Those candidates who pass both the multiple choice test and application sift will be invited to an online interview. The online interview will take place over Microsoft Teams. The interview will be using various assessment techniques aligned to the Civil Service Success Profiles framework. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. Situational style questions (what would you do if… ?) and past experience style questions (can you give me an example of time when…?) will be used to assess the specified civil service behaviours. In addition, you will also be asked technical questions relevant to the role.
• Five working days before the interview, you will be sent some data to analyse. You will be required to draw out key messages from the data and deliver these in the form of an oral presentation at the beginning of your interview. This presentation will be used to assess the behaviour Communicating and Influencing – Communicate clearly and concisely. The presentation should last no more than 5 minutes and you will remain seated during the presentation.

A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : statscareers1@gov.wales
• Email : statscareers1@gov.wales

Recruitment team

• Email : resourcinghub@gov.wales

Further information

Recruitment principles and complaints
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales. Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk.