Do I need a degree?
Yes. A new recruit at entry level (Research Officer) would typically have a good first or higher degree in a social science subject, usually with a significant research methods, social policy or statistics component. At the next level up (Senior Research Officer) applicants are expected to have more advanced research skills, which might perhaps gained through postgraduate study or from working in a social research role in another sector.
Many people apply for government social research posts at Research Officer level having gained Masters degrees or PhDs in social science subjects in addition to their undergraduate degree. These higher level qualifications are not a requirement for new Research Officers but it does mean that competition for posts advertised externally to the civil service can be intense.
Do I need a certain number of UCAS points?
No. The skills you can demonstrate having gained through your degree and any subsequent training or employment will be important when you are applying for a vacancy in government social research, but your ‘A’ level or AS level results or their equivalent UCAS point score will not be.
What skills do I need?
The Government Social Research Service (GSR) needs people:
- who have strong social policy, social research methods and/or analytical, statistical and numeracy skills;
- who are interested in the policy process and who want to see research having an impact on government decisions; and
Government social researchers are assessed against their competence to do the job. The skills and competencies needed and their relative importance will vary according to an individual’s level of seniority and their job. These skills are described in the GSR Competency Framework, contained within a Continuing Professional Development Handbook for GSR members.
What are competencies and competency frameworks?
Competencies are the behaviours, skills and knowledge that are needed to do a job effectively. The level at which they are needed and their relative importance may vary according to the job and grade.
Competency frameworks are collections of competencies that are linked together to describe and define what is important in a job.
Would I be offered further training to develop my skills if I joined GSR?
A variety of opportunities are available to government social researchers to aid their personal and professional devlopment and enable them to perform their roles effectively.