Government Social Research - Research Officer Graduate Scheme 2026

Job summary

Government Social Research (GSR) is the analytical profession within Government for Civil Servants who generate and provide social and behavioural research and advice.

GSR members enable government to understand issues relating to society, groups, and individuals, and support policy debate and decision-making through a variety of approaches, advice, and evidence. We currently have over 2,600 professionally accredited members across 50+ departments / organisations.

Government social researchers play a critical role in gathering, analysing, and interpreting the information and evidence that informs government policy, delivery, and decision-making. As a Research Officer working for a Civil Service organisation, you can contribute to the reporting of social trends, the development of government policy, and the evaluation of how policies make a difference to public services. Your work might involve developing surveys, analysing data, producing statistics, reviewing existing research evidence, and working with other analysts in government to provide timely, relevant, and robust briefing for policy colleagues and Ministers.

GSR members come from a wide range of professional backgrounds and disciplines covering the breadth of social and behavioural sciences. Our work puts people at the heart of government decision making by providing expertise in applied quantitative and qualitative design, analysis approaches, evaluation, and interventions to solve complex problems. GSR takes a scientific and tailored approach supported by bodies of knowledge and a range of research methods to inform, influence, and provide robust and defensible decision-making at all levels.

Join us, and you will be a valued member of the wider GSR community, where people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds can form lasting professional relationships with supportive networks. While these are full-time roles, our flexible working arrangements will give you space to achieve a work-life balance that suits you.

Question and Answer (Q&A) Session

Interested in finding out more about being a social researcher in government? Want to apply for this role, but not sure if it’s for you?

Attend our Q&A session via Microsoft Teams:

Wednesday 11 February 2026 on Microsoft Teams from 16:30-17:30

Join the session here

We will give you:

• An outline of the recruitment process for the scheme
• Our tips on filling out the application form.
• A chance to ask a current social researcher more about their role in government.

Job description

The Government Social Research Profession:

• Provides analytical insight to enable decision makers to understand systems, processes and change associated with people, groups, organisations, and society – for example measuring their attitudes, perceptions, behaviours, and intentions – to inform and improve the quality of delivery, policy debate, and decision-making.
• Anticipates and evaluates the impact of government decisions, enhancing collective understanding of ‘what works, for whom, to what extent, in what contexts, how and why/why not?’
• Provides expert social research advice and evidence to design, challenge, trial, improve and implement government policy and delivery.
• Maintains and grows social research professional skills, knowledge, and expertise amongst its members.
• Seeks to fully represent society through our membership profile and the work that we do.

Person specification

To be eligible for a Research Officer Role, there are two entry routes – either the Qualification Route or the Experience Route.

The entry criteria for each route are as follows:

Qualification Route Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply through the qualification route, applicants MUST:

• Hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of a 2:2 by August 2026
• The degree must contain substantial social research methods training (comprising around one third of modules taken on the course), including quantitative research methods and at least three of the following:
  • Systematic/literature reviews
  • Qualitative methods
  • Interpretation of data and presentation of results
  • Study design and Hypothesis testing.
  • The application of ethics to research

Social Research Methods Degree Content Criteria

To qualify the degree must include quantitative research methods including research design, data collection (i.e., questionnaire design, sampling, weighting) and data analysis (e.g., statistical analysis).

It must also include at least three of the following:

• systematic/literature reviews
• qualitative methods, including research design, data collection (i.e., interviewing, focus groups, ethnographic), data analysis (e.g., thematic analysis)
• interpretation of data (qualitative and quantitative), presentation of results, provision of recommendations/ conclusions
• study design, hypothesis formation, testing, and evaluation.
• application of ethics to research

Experience Route Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for GSR Membership through the experience route, applicants MUST:

• Hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2, in any subject, or a degree equivalent (e.g. an Advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS), plus have at least 4 years’ social research practice experience.
• Social research practice consists of experience working in a research agency, market research agency, or specialist research team. In your application you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills, which must include quantitative research methods and at least three of the following:
  • Systematic/literature reviews
  • Qualitative methods
  • Interpretation of data and presentation of results
  • Study design & Hypothesis testing.
  • The application of ethics to research

Whichever the chosen entry route, it is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate these criteria clearly on their application. Please ensure you indicate the number of credits associated with the relevant modules covering your social research methods training.

We receive a high volume of applications for the scheme, so please ensure you are clear and concise in outlining the relevant modules for consideration.

These two entry routes, the Qualification Route and the Experience Route, also require you to satisfy both the Civil Service Nationality Rules and the Right to work in the UK requirements. Please note, we do not offer visa sponsorship.

If successful you must hold, or be willing to obtain, security clearance to CTC/SC/DV level. More information about the vetting process can be found at the following link Security Vetting and Clearance Levels Guidance

In addition, some departments require candidates to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years having spent no period longer than 3 months outside of the UK to get security clearance.

Qualifications

You need at least a 2:2 or higher in your undergraduate degree and to satisfy either of the entry routes (qualification route or experience route) described above.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• You will be invited to complete a GSR Knowledge Test prior to sift. If successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to attend a interview which will include assessment of your technical professional skills as a Social Researcher.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• A Civil Service pension
• Access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning
• An extra day off for The King’s birthday

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, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

The recruitment process comprises the following stages:

Stage 1: Register on VidCruiter website.

Stage 2: Fill out the application form.

Stage 3: Sit two online tests (verbal and numerical reasoning). Online tests will begin from 3 February 2026. Please note that your application and both online tests must be completed before the 17 February 2026, 16:00 deadline.

Stage 4: When the application window closes, based on the performance of all applicants, a final pass mark will be set for the online tests.

Stage 5 Candidates informed whether they have passed online tests.

Stage 6: If you pass both online tests, you will be invited to sit the GSR knowledge test.

Stage 7: If you pass the GSR knowledge test your application will be sent on to sifters, who will consider whether you have demonstrated that your degree and / or experience contains sufficient social research content.

Stage 8: If you pass the sift, you will be invited to a virtual interview. Further information on what to expect at the interview will be sent to candidates invited to attend.

Stage 9: Successful candidates will be offered the role of a Research Officer, subject to meeting entry requirements, providing references, and passing security checks.

All candidates will be offered a role based on merit. Location preferences will be taken into consideration but are not guaranteed. Please take note that due to the limited number of posts available in specific locations, successful candidates may be offered roles in nearby towns. It is important for candidates to note that many of the roles are located outside of London.

Occasionally, a department may withdraw from the scheme before positions are offered, or we have more successful candidates than available placements. In such cases, applicants will be placed on a reserve list. The reserve list will be open for 6 months.

Recruitment Timeline:

Please note that this timeline may be subject to change.

3rd February - Registration opens and online tests begin.

17th February at 16:00 - Scheme closes (all tests and full application form must be submitted before this deadline)

w/c 2nd March – Candidates take the Knowledge Test

w/c 16th March - Applications are sifted to decide who will be invited to the Interview.

From w/c 20th April - Candidates take the interview

End of May – Candidates notified of outcome and, if successful, assigned to a government department.

September / October 2026 - expected start date

Due to a large volume of applications, we are unable to provide feedback on individual applications.

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

Security

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 : GESR Recruitment Team
• Email : GESRRecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : GESRRecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Further information

Complaints procedure

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of recruitment based on fair and open competition with decisions made on the basis of merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact us, the Government Economic and Social Research Team (GESR) by emailing gesrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you may contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.