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It was genuinely one of the most incredible experiences,"

Sana, Department for Education intern

Sheffield is already the largest centre for policy making outside of London. Around 1,000 policymakers are based in the city, part of a larger contingent of over 9,000 civil servants working in a wide range of roles across Sheffield and the South Yorkshire region.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Department for Education (DfE), in collaboration with the University, are offering a wealth of opportunities for students. From the annual Policy Challenge event, where students spend a day working on a real life policy scenario together with civil service policy teams, to fortnight, summer and year long placements, there are many ways our students can put their learning into practice. 

Through the Policy Campus initiative, 25 students spent their 2024 Easter breaks gaining invaluable real world policy experience.

We asked second year BA Economics student Sana Khan, who spent two weeks with the Data Insight and Statistics Division at the DfE, why she chose to take part in the programme and what she gained from the experience.

“Economics can be used to influence and explain our everyday lives and the Civil Service is at the heart of the decisions made by the government. I decided to apply for the internship to gain some insight into this and how the Civil Service works,” said Sana.

“The internship was really well organised and offered a range of opportunities for me. I was able to meet people from different departments and areas of the Civil Service in a variety of positions, who offered insights and advice that really helped me understand more about the unique experiences of those who work there.”

Sana’s time at the DfE has helped solidify her future career plans.

“I will definitely be applying to the Civil Service when I graduate - the work they do is incredible and the culture and the people are great,” she added.

“I’m incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to take part in the internship as it has reassured me that this is something I definitely want to do in the future. It was genuinely one of the most incredible experiences and I was so fortunate to be put with the team I was in.

“The entire team was just amazing and they gave me so much valuable advice -  I just wish it had lasted longer!”

Jake Bruce, a SEO Analyst at the DfE who co-leads the partnerships and outreach strand of Sheffield Policy Campus, said having interns in his team is mutually beneficial:

I really enjoyed working with Sana. It was refreshing to discuss issues with someone clearly passionate about the work. Sana provided insightful contributions to discussions, supported an important piece of work, and was a pleasure to work alongside.

“It was lovely to speak to someone so keen on developing their skills while making the most of the opportunity to chat with colleagues and asking many questions about a range of connected topics. They represented themselves and the University very well.”

Jake shared some advice on how to stand out from the crowd for those looking to pursue a career in the Civil Service.

“Look up Civil Service behaviours and seek out opportunities to demonstrate them during your studies instead of trying to place experiences into each box further down the line,” Jake added.

“Additionally, by developing a broad knowledge of how the country is run, how the Civil Service is structured, the problems each department works to solve, and the ways in which each of our many roles contribute, you will make the best-informed choices of where to start your career. 

“In turn, I believe you will find yourself more prepared, passionate, and motivated to pursue any opportunities available both prior and post joining the Civil Service.”

Sarah Hunter, Employability Manager in the Faculty of Social Sciences, is the Skills lead for the Sheffield Policy Campus and oversees our placements programmes.  

Sarah said: “I’m really proud of the 53 students in total this year who have secured  placements in the Civil Service through the partnership. The Social Sciences Employability Team has worked hard to create a pipeline of support which has featured dedicated events and 1:1 student support, all with the focus of helping students stand out when competing against other Universities in the partnership.

“As a result of our students’ hard work, as well as the expertise and commitment of the Social Sciences Employability Team, I am pleased to report that out of the 30 summer placements available across three partner Universities, 22 (73%) were offered to students from the University of Sheffield. Six year-long placements were also offered, five of which were secured by Sheffield students (83%). 

“These placements will be a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn from senior policy makers, as well as from each other, with their degrees spanning three faculties.”