This opportunity is part of the King's Edge Summer Skills Programme
Tackle a live policy challenge relevant to House of Lords business
King’s College London students are invited to register their interest in Policy Lab, a new six-week project-based internship delivered through the KPRI Parliamentary Internship Scheme and King’s Edge.
Policy Lab is a chance to work with other King’s students on a live policy challenge connected to business in the House of Lords. Supported by King’s Parliamentary Researchers currently working in Parliament, you will join a small interdisciplinary team to gather evidence, make sense of expert insight, shape a clear argument and produce a co-authored policy briefing for submission to interested peers through King’s network of peers and interns.
Great policy work depends on strong teams: people who can gather evidence, analyse data, understand communities, test assumptions, ask sharp questions, write clearly and turn complexity into something decision-makers can use. We welcome students with strengths in social research, policy thinking and communication, alongside those who can bring scientific insight, technical knowledge, coding, quantitative analysis or data visualisation.
You do not need to be an expert in the final theme. You need curiosity, judgement and a willingness to work with others.
The final themes will be shaped around the King’s Speech on Wednesday 13 May 2026. Students who have registered will be invited to an optional live watch party, where we will listen to the new parliamentary agenda and begin identifying the questions our teams might explore. We will be interested in what the Speech includes, and what it leaves open: the live questions where evidence, analysis and student insight could contribute.
Possible themes may include energy independence, health system reform, SEND reform, animal welfare, asylum, criminal justice, national security, road safety, public procurement, UK-EU agreements or parliamentary standards.
What you will do
Across the programme, your team will:
- respond to a live policy question shaped by the King’s Speech context
- gather evidence from research, data, expert commentary and public debate
- identify the story the evidence tells
- develop clear findings and practical recommendations
- produce a co-authored policy briefing for submission to interested peers through King’s network of connections
Policy Lab will be supported by King’s Parliamentary Researchers based in the House of Lords. Structured check-ins will give your team space to test ideas, sharpen arguments and move the briefing forward.
Who can take part?
Policy Lab is open to all King’s students.
You do not need previous experience in politics, policy or Parliament. This is designed as an entry-level policy internship experience for students curious about public life, social change, research impact or how ideas become decisions.
Time commitment
The programme runs for six weeks from Thursday 28 May to Thursday 2 July 2026.
You will need to commit around five hours per week. Most of this can be organised flexibly, but students must attend the weekly Thursday check-in.
Weekly check-ins take place on Thursday afternoons: 3-5pm in weeks 1, 3 and 6, and 4-5pm in weeks 2, 4 and 5.
Why take part?
By joining Policy Lab, you will contribute to a real policy briefing connected to the House of Lords, gain practical experience of research, evidence synthesis and policy writing, work across disciplines, build confidence communicating complex ideas, and earn 140 K Points.
Register your interest
Register by Monday 11 May 2026 for inclusion in the King’s Speech watch party. But applications after this point are permitted.
After the King’s Speech, we will ask registered students to complete a short skills and interests profile. This will help us confirm themes and build balanced teams.
Places may need to be managed depending on demand and the number of available briefs, but Policy Lab i
Event ID: 01957-B0T7X