Think tanks

By focus

Some examples of think tanks and their focus are listed below:

International Affairs, Defence and Security

• International Institute for Strategic Studies
• Royal United Services Institute
• Chatham House

Democratic Government

• The Constitution Unit
• New Local
• Institute for Public Policy Research

Development

• Institute of Development Studies
• International Institute for Environment and Development
• Overseas Development Institute

Economy

• Centre for Economic Policy Research

Equality

• Equality and Human Rights Commission

European Integration

• The European Policy Centre
• Centre for European Policy Studies
• Centre for Economic Policy Research
• Centre for European Reform

Work and Employee Relations

• The Work Foundation
• The Institute for Employment Rights

Other Think Tanks

An additional (non-exhaustive) list of Think Tanks can be found in the “Further Resources” section, below.

The Open Think Tank Directory by the organisation, On Think Tanks, is a useful search tool for finding think tanks within different regions, countries, and topics of focus. 

Skills needed

Excellent communication (written and verbal), research skills, a keen interest in public policy, current affairs or a specific strand of the think tank’s work, as well as team working and networking are essential. At the level of junior researcher, desk-based research and getting out to meetings and talking to people will be central, but you will probably also have to do a lot of your own administration.

For many think tanks you will need a postgraduate degree that's relevant to their area of expertise, and/or some training in research methodologies. Developing a niche is becoming more important in this sector and so it is advisable to start following current political / societal / technological trends to identify and search for think tanks across the globe. In-depth knowledge of an area, region or theme central to the think tank's work can be crucial.

The work of think tanks and professional bodies utilises a wide range of research methods and involves extensive dissemination activities. Rigorous and sophisticated quantitative and qualitative techniques such as surveys, mapping exercises, interviews and focus groups are often used. Postgraduate research, experience of collecting and analysing statistics, specialist knowledge of a specific subject area and language, or some combination of these factors, are commonly asked for. Many think tank websites include staff profiles and it's useful to take a look at these to see how current think tank employees have reached their particular positions. The 'People' section of individual think tanks' LinkedIn pages also show employees’ profiles which can be researched to understand specifics of roles and career paths.

There are also non-research focused roles within think tanks, such as in events, communications, media, campaigns, and core operations (administration, HR, fundraising, IT etc.). Role-specific skills will be required, in addition to demonstration of an interest in policy and the focus of think tanks.

AI tools are being increasingly used for day-to-day work such as communications, research, administration, and fundraising (71% of Think Tanks surveyed for the On Think Tanks ‘State of the Sector 2025 Report’ found were using AI tools). Showing demonstrable familiarity with using AI tools could be an advantage, but ensuring you utilise methods and critical thinking to ensure outputs are accurate and usage is ethical will be essential.

Getting experience

Demonstrating an understanding of ‘how policy works’ in your area of interest and building relevant research skills (for roles that require them) is important. As the number of individuals employed by Think Tanks is relatively modest overall, it is common to gain experience outside of think tanks with organisations in alternative sectors that influence policy – like academia, government, charities. As these organisations are within the policy world, and often work with think tanks, they will also provide valuable experience of interest to think tanks. 

If you don't have much research experience or a postgraduate degree, short internships are a good way to gain experience and start building your network, and are an invaluable addition to your CV. They usually consist of a mixture of research and administrative work. Many think tanks only recruit graduates with a master's or DPhil/PhD. Some larger think tanks offer internship programmes, and the specifics of the experience will vary greatly among the opportunities. However, in general, students should look for a few key attributes in researching internship opportunities with think tanks:

• Do the think tank’s philosophy and its core research themes match your own interests?
• Will the internship provide a range of experiences and contacts?
• Will there be an opportunity to be involved in the research or publication of the organisation’s scholarship?
• Will the experience provide a tangible project to talk about in your CV and later interviews?

Alternatively, ‘to get your foot in the door’, it could be worth considering administrative and related jobs within a think tank before moving to alternative roles – although without building up the necessary research skills and experience these roles will not automatically lead to more research-based positions. You could also see if any of the think tanks could offer you some work experience – even if this is not advertised – as well as structured work shadowing, insights days or paid internships to gain a deeper insight into the sector and to start building contacts. As a starting point, a list of websites is given at the end of this briefing.

Every year there are a number of international and UK-based internships offered through the Internship programmes for Oxford students at the Careers' Internship Office. rganisations such as On Think Tanks and Smart Thinking also have a vacancies page listing UK internships, graduate positions, and other job role vacancies.

As well as advertised opportunities, if you are proactive and network effectively, it is also possible to create an opportunity through alumni contacts, or through tutors or colleagues who have contacts within organisations.

Will I get paid?

Internships and summer jobs are governed in the UK by National Minimum Wage law, which means that if you are carrying out activities that class you as a “worker” by the employer, then you should be paid. Full details of Employment Rights and Pay for Interns are published by the government.

If you are undertaking a learning and development opportunity such as a micro-internship, or volunteering for a charity or statutory body, or shadowing or observing, then you may not be eligible for the National Minimum Wage. The organisation may reimburse you for your travel and/or lunch expenses, but they aren’t obliged to do so.

As the Think Tank sector is relatively modest in size, it is common to start a career in alternative sectors that influence policy – like academia, government, and charities – before moving into Think Tanks. The mobility of professionals between these sectors throughout careers can be high, so consider Think Tanks as one potential type of employer you can investigate.

For entering Think Tanks directly, as the total number of people working for think tanks is modest and the majority of think tanks are quite small in size, there aren't large numbers of researcher vacancies at any one time. Some organisations only employ experienced researchers on contract work. There are several tiers of research positions in think tanks. Most employers expect prospective entrants to have a detailed knowledge of research techniques, which may be acquired by taking a taught or research Masters degree course or a PhD/DPhil in a particular area.

The most common entry point is at a research associate level, or junior researcher, often beginning directly or shortly after completing a PhD/DPhil. Some research associates are hired with a Masters degree and relevant research experience. Senior associates are typically PhD/DPhil level researchers with several years' experience. Some are also affiliated with a university, often in an adjunct teaching capacity. About half of these researchers come from academia, while the other half are promoted from within the think tank. These researchers can progress to become senior fellows or research fellows and are appointed because they hold outstanding credentials as nationally or internationally recognised experts in their field.

Policy centre directors have sometimes worked their way up within the think tank sector to the top management of their organisations while other candidates are found primarily through informal networks, prestigious academic programs, and government-related organisations.

Securing a job in a think tank involves a careful mix of postgraduate training, experience, skills and networking. Research the area in which you want to work, consider what kind of work you want to do and work backwards to plan milestones and your immediate next steps. You may well also re-define and re-focus along the way.

• Talk to people (contacts, alumni, colleagues, tutors, supervisors) who are already working in a field within which you might want to specialise, or who may know people who are in that field. If you are planning a thesis, already writing one, or undertaking research, think about how this may relate to your future aspirations.
• Search for opportunities in publications like The Guardian, The New Statesman, Tes (formerly The Times Education Supplement), and The Economist. Individual think tank websites are the most common sources for vacancies and consultancy opportunities.
• Contact think tanks you would like to work for; even if they are not advertising it is worth contacting them and asking about any opportunities, particularly if your research interests correspond strongly with their concerns.

Whether you are looking to start building experience in this sector or already have some directly relevant experience to market, tailoring your CV is crucial. Potential employers need to see that you have an understanding of, demonstrable interest in and ability to thrive in their organisation and the role advertised or that for which you are speculatively applying.

Highlight the skills outlined above that you have already gained in your degree – what are the most relevant courses you have taken or transferable skills you have built to develop your knowledge and research skills? How have these skills been further developed outside of your degree, through roles in societies, student editorial work, freelance consultancy, travel, previous work experience and internships, etc? Are you doing all you can in the way you phrase the bullet points in your CV to convey the research, communication, team-work, numerical, regional, thematic or other interests you know that organisation values?

A note about Risk Consultancy

Risk Consultancy is sometimes also considered by people who want to use their research and communication skills beyond their degree. Political, intelligence and security risk analysts examine the respective climate and social conditions of a country, region, or market to determine the level of risk for a particular client. They may provide information relating to government stability, crime or conflict levels, currency convertibility, land rights, as well as other factors that would affect return on investment or other decisions. Typically, analysts gather information pertaining to the area of interest, determine the causes, sources, and level of risk and forward their findings to decision-makers. They also may offer recommendations for overcoming these risks. For companies operating in multiple countries, local political and economic conditions can determine whether their investment is a success or a failure. Events such as regime change or the sudden collapse of a currency can be devastating if unexpected.

Risk analysts come from a broad range of academic backgrounds and are people who can apply their knowledge to understand new and complex situations. Potential employers are looking for ‘intelligent risk takers’ who are well-informed and keep abreast of current events. They also seek individuals who can write concise and coherent reports. Language skills are an asset but not always a requirement in the field. Some positions may expect you to know a particular region thoroughly so you are able to decipher a balance sheet, understand a country’s economic workings, or provide insight into its politics. However, other positions will focus on several areas of the world and therefore do not expect you to be a specialist.

Therefore, in terms of experience required, a combination of an understanding of the political process in a region (and if relevant a second or third language), economic, accounting and financial skills, are useful and sometimes essential. Building evidence and a narrative of these skills and insights through academic, extra-curricular activities and internships is key to finding an entry level position. Concentrating on a particular angle of the sector can help you build a more targeted strategy. If you are interested in a banking context, you might take courses in Economics. If you would like to specialise in a particular region, build your knowledge on its politics, culture, and economy. If you know that your languages are rusty then think about experience that will help you improve them.

Employers generally recruit on a rolling basis and not all positions are advertised. Researching to identify which employers are aligned with the themes, areas and style of consulting that you are most interested in, and then networking and approaching contacts speculatively, are useful strategies to adopt, even when you are seeking internships and freelance part-time experience.

Some examples of political risk organisations include: Oxford Analytica, iHS, Control Risks, Eurasia Group and the Economist Intelligence Unit, as well as specialist units of accountancy, banking and management consultancy firms. Freelance and other opportunities also exist in this area across a range of employers and sectors, from international organisations to financial and oil companies and consumer businesses. For more information about these opportunities please refer to the website links towards the end of this briefing.

General vacancies & occupation information

• Prospects
• Targetjobs
• Jobs.ac.uk
• The Economist
• Guardian: Jobs
• Telegraph: Jobs
• The Times: Appointments
• LinkedIn Jobs
• W4MP: Jobs

Think Tanks 

• The Open Think Tank Directory, by the organisation On Think Tanks, has a useful search tool for finding think tanks in relation to region, country, and topic of focus.
• The Smart Thinking UK job vacancies board for finding varied job roles.

UK

• Fabian Society
• Foreign Policy Centre
• International Institute for Strategic Studies
• Adam Smith Institute
• The Bow Group
• Theos
• Centre for Economic Policy Research
• Centre for Policy Studies
• The Centre for Social Justice
• Chatham House
• The Constitution Unit
• CIVITAS
• European Policy Forum
• Green Alliance
• Green Economics Institute
• Hansard Society
• Institute of Development Studies
• Institute of Economic Affairs
• Institute for Fiscal Studies
• International Institute for Environment and Development
• National Centre for Social Research
• New Economics Foundation
• New Local
• ODI Global (formerly Overseas Development Institute)
• Royal United Services Institute
• Social Market Foundation
• The Work Foundation
• The Young Foundation

Europe

• Brussels European and Global Economic Laboratory (BRUEGEL)
• Centre for Social and Economic Research
• Centre for Applied Policy Research (CAP)
• Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)
• European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM)
• European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE)
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)
• European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA)
• European Policy Centre (EPC)
• European Trade Union Institute (ETUI)
• European Union Institute for Security Studies
• Friends of Europe
• German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
• Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP)
• French Institute of International Relations (IFRI)
• International Crisis Group
• Lisbon Council for Economic Competitiveness (ASBL)
• Mannheimer Zentrum für Europäische Sozialforschung (MZES)
• Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB)
• Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’

US

• American Institute for Economic Research
• Atlantic Council
• Aspen Institute
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Brookings Institution
• Cato Institute
• Center for Economic and Policy Research
• Center for Immigration Studies
• Center for Global Development
• Center for International Policy
• Center for Security Policy
• Center for Strategic and International Studies
• Council on Foreign Relations
• Economic Policy Institute
• Employment Policies Institute
• Foreign Policy Research Institute
• German Marshall Fund of the United States
• Henry L. Stimson Center
• Heritage Foundation
• Hoover Institution
• Institute for Policy Studies
• International Center for Research on Women
• Prosperity Now (formerly Corporation for Enterprise Development)
• Third Way
• Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Political Risk Consultancies 

• Aon plc
• The Cohen Group
• Control Risks Group
• Deloitte Risk Advisory
• Eurasia Group
• FTI Consulting
• Kreller Group
• Kroll
• Medley Global Advisors
• Oxford Analytica
• Risk.Net
• Riskline
• Salama Fikira
• Smith Brandon International Inc.

Recruiters are keen to have a diverse workforce, and many will have policies and processes that are proactive in recruiting students and graduates from diverse backgrounds. An increasing number of recruiters are offering traineeships, internships and insight events that are aimed at specific groups and many are being recognised for their approach to being inclusive employers. 

The On Think Tanks ‘State of the Sector Report’ 2025 found that 34% of Think Tanks surveyed did not have EDI policies, and that this varies largely between regions globally, type of funder, and local government type. Reading this report and investigating the EDI initiatives of individual think tanks you are considering could therefore be valuable.

Try the following to discover more about the policies and attitudes of the recruiters that you are interested in:

• Read their equality, diversity and inclusion policy
• Search their website to see if they have any specific staff networks
• Look for external accreditation such as whether they are a Disability Confident employer, Stonewall Proud Employers Programme, or part of the Mindful Employer charter promoting mental health at work
• Check to see if they are partnering with organisations such as Rare Recruitment, SEO London, MyPlus Students' Club, EmployAbility or one of the many other organisations that are working for specific communities
• Explore what they do to celebrate diversity on their social media pages

The UK Equality Act 2010 has a number of protected characteristics to prevent discrimination due to your age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation. For further information, visit the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s webpage on the Equality Act and the Government’s webpages on discrimination.