Government Social Research Degree Apprenticeship Programme 2025

As an apprentice social researcher, you will be joining a community of over 2000 social researchers across more than 30 organisations across the Civil Service.
The range of opportunities open to you through the Government Social Research Degree Apprenticeship Programme (GSRDAP) is huge – working in government departments responsible for things like business, energy, justice, education, and the environment.
That means you will have the opportunity to have an impact on improving the areas that really matter to the world you live in – working on issues like:
How government can tackle climate change
How government can improve education
How government can prevent crime
How government can reduce homelessness
…that is to say, in government, social research underpins some of the most important challenges that the country faces. They help senior leaders make the biggest decisions better – providing them with the data and insight they need to get the big calls right.
Please see the attached candidate pack for more information or visit our GSRDAP website
Government Social Research Degree Apprenticeship Programme - GOV.UK
Question and Answer Session
There will be a Question and Answer (Q&A) session with the GSR Recruitment Team to chat about the application process and the experience of working as an apprentice in government., As an apprentice social researcher, you will be studying for a bespoke degree in social research whilst putting your cutting-edge research skills to direct use in the workplace every day, by producing the evidence base for decisions on high profile public policies. This is an exciting time to be joining the Civil Service, and with continuous support you will prepare vital briefings for senior officials, ministers, or the public, produce critical social insight and ensure the quality and appropriate use of government data.
Social Researchers study what people feel, think, and do, to answer questions in all areas of society, including education, crime prevention, uses of artificial intelligence, homelessness, climate change, many more. The Government Social Research profession works across these issues and many more to develop impactful research projects and support national and local government priorities.
You can read more about the GSR here. To keep up to date with our latest news and information please follow us on social media – X/Twitter - LinkedIn.
A Government Social Research (GSR) apprenticeship is a four-year programme undertaking the Level 6 applied social research standard including attaining a BA honours degree with the University of Kent.
At the same time, you will be working in a team of social researchers and other analysts in a government department, supported by a manager and a buddy.
Your degree will be a mixture of online and face-to-face teaching with a residential week each year at the University of Kent in Canterbury at the beginning of September. The department you work in will make any necessary travel arrangements and payment for you to attend in-person events, with the University of Kent, from your office location. There will also be a day-long face-to-face teaching session in London arranged by the University of Kent during the 2nd and 3rd terms of each academic year.
About your BA research degree:
+ This is the UK’s first ever bespoke applied social research undergraduate degree apprenticeship. You will develop transferable and applied knowledge, skills and behaviours that will set you up for a long career in modern social research. The course will cover a broad range of contemporary quantitative and qualitative social research methods and skills, alongside how they can be applied to bring about real-world change and help government and organisations make better decisions.
+ This includes, but is not limited to: how to collect and use data for analysis in a range of different social contexts; how to design impactful research projects that could inform some of society’s most pressing questions; how to make use of modern social research software that will also bring you transferrable skills in coding; and you will have the opportunity to undertake an independent research project in an area of relevant interest to you.
Working as a member of the GSR involves the development and use of:
+ Quantitative skills: manipulating and presenting data.
+ Writing and presentation techniques: communicating research clearly and succinctly to senior officials and ministers.
+ Applied research skills: undertaking and using research to provide critical insight to government on a range of issues from the environment to transport.
At the end of four years, successful completion of the End Point Assessment (EPA) will guarantee you permanent employment within the GSR., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace

Benefits
+ Fully funded BA (Hons) Applied Social Research Degree with the University of Kent
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension.
+ Minimum of 25 days Annual Leave, Complete short application form. You will need to provide some personal details and confirm your eligibility for the apprenticeship. Please read the information in the candidate pack.
Stage 2: Online tests
You will undertake two Civil Service Online tests (verbal and numerical). Though
they should work on smartphones or tablets, the tests work much better on large screen devices, such as laptops or desktop computers.
These tests are not timed, meaning you can take as long as you need to complete them. However, the test deadlines are the same as the overall application deadline, so please make sure you give yourself time to complete these 2 tests and the full application form.
If you have recently taken and passed the same Civil Service test when applying for a role at the same test grade (equivalent to an Executive Officer (EO)), you will not have to re-take this test.
Stage 3: Full application form and personal statement.
If the minimum (benchmark) standard of the online tests is met, you will be invited to fill out the full online application form.
Please complete the full application form including details of your qualifications and any predicted grades up to August 2025. Plus, a personal statement of no more than 1000 words. Your statement should include the following:
1. Why you are interested in the apprenticeship;
2. How you are planning to balance work and study;
3. How you are planning to keep yourself motivated and keep track of your performance.
We will not require you to upload or attach a separate CV document to your application form. Once you have submitted your application form you will not be permitted to amend it.
NB: You need to complete stages 1-3 before the application deadline (30th January 2025 at 13:55pm)
Stage 4: Pre-sift - Online test review and pass mark set.
This is an internal recruitment administrative process which will take place after the application deadline. Once the scheme pass mark for the test is set, you will receive your result via Civil Service Jobs. If we receive a large volume of applications, we may set our pass mark higher than the Civil Service online test minimum (benchmark) standard.
Stage 5: Sift
If successful in meeting the scheme pass mark for the online tests, you will be sifted on your personal statement.
Candidates who are unsuccessful at the sift stage will not be given any feedback or comments.
Stage 6: Assessment Centre
Candidates passing the sift stage, will be invited to an assessment centre, with assessments taking place virtually. The assessment is split into two parts: a written assignment and then on a separate day you will have an interview and give a verbal presentation on a selected topic.
Stage 7: Apprenticeship Offer
If you are successful, you will be offered a place on the apprenticeship subject to obtaining satisfactory grades, references (i.e., personal or work) 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, 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 until September 2025.
If an apprenticeship offer has been made and a candidate's exam results received in August 2025 are lower than our minimum requirements (and the candidate has submitted the exam for a remark), the apprenticeship offer will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine if the offer can still proceed.
Additional guidance will be given before each stage of the process.
Overview of recruitment process timeline:

Date
Event
Monday 6 January 2025
Applications open and online tests begin.
Thursday 30 January 2025 before 13:55pm
Closing date for fully completed applications to be submitted.
February / March 2025
Sift period of applications. Candidates will find out whether they have been successful at the sift stage and will be invited to an Assessment Centre.
w/c 31 March 2025
Assessment Centre (Candidates take the written assignment)
Tuesday 22 to April to Friday 2 May 2025
Assessment Centre (Candidates have an online interview, including a presentation.
May 2025
Candidates informed of their Assessment Centre / Interview outcome
w/c 19 May 2025
Successful candidates to be allocated to departments
June 2025
Departments to contact successful candidates to start onboarding and pre-appointment checks.
Thursday 14 August 2025
A-Level Results Day
Early September 2025
Apprenticeship starts
Please take note that the timeline may change.
For further information on the selection process, please see the Candidate Pack.
Please take note that the GESR Recruitment team normally work Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a 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)

+ Resided in the UK for at least the previous 3 years before the start of the apprenticeship.
+ Individuals will also need to demonstrate that they meet the relevant immigration requirements and their eligibility under the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs). Please see below Nationality Requirements for more information.
+ Applicants must not already be eligible for Government Social Research membership i.e., candidates should not hold or expect to hold a degree with substantial social research methods training. This apprenticeship is specifically designed to be accessible to those who otherwise would not be able to apply to other Government Social Research roles.
Desired skills
+ Well organised, able to prioritise and work to deadlines.
+ Able to understand and explain complex information verbally and in writing.
+ Able to use IT, including Microsoft Office, Excel, and Outlook.
+ Able to solve problems, establishing issues and advantages and disadvantages of different options.
+ Able to work independently and as part of a team working towards a common goal.
+ Able to think critically and question things.
Personal qualities
+ Enthusiasm for what a degree in social research entails and a commitment to completing the apprenticeship over 4 years.
+ Interest in undertaking a role which can improve people’s lives.
+ Curiosity in current affairs.
+ Keen to learn and develop.
+ Not required, but flexible to travel within the UK.
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 Guidance, • Have a minimum of five GCSEs (including Maths and English at grade C (4) or above). Or equivalent.
• Minimum of 96 UCAS points under the 2017 tariff point system (e.g., CCC at A Level or equivalent qualifications, not including General Studies) or expected to achieve by August 2025.