Current opportunity

Policy Hack: A Q-Step Student Challenge

Wednesday 28 October 2026, 13:00–17:00
Edinburgh Futures Institute, Room 1.50

Work in a student team to analyse a real dataset, build a simple browser-based dashboard or visual policy product, and pitch what you would do with a £500,000 policy budget. No advanced coding experience is required. Q-Step students and other interested University of Edinburgh students are welcome.

Status: Open—places are limited.

View the challenge and reserve a place

Work placements

Placements give students the opportunity to apply quantitative and computational skills in a professional setting. Projects may involve analysing evidence, working with administrative or survey data, creating visualisations, improving research processes or communicating findings to different audiences.

A placement can help you:

• put methods learned on your degree into practice;
• understand how organisations use evidence to make decisions;
• build confidence in collaborative and professional work;
• develop examples for future applications and interviews; and
• identify questions or experience that could inform later academic work.

Placement availability, eligibility and timing may vary from year to year. New opportunities will be shared with eligible students when they become available.

Explore previous student placement projects

Other ways to get involved

Policy challenges

Work in a student team, analyse evidence and develop a practical response to a real policy problem. Q-Step challenges help you communicate clearly, collaborate and make a persuasive case with data.

Events and talks

Join talks, workshops and community events exploring how data and quantitative methods can help us understand society and public policy. View upcoming events.

Visits and connections

Q-Step connects students with researchers, public bodies, employers and Edinburgh’s wider data-science community. Opportunities may include organisational visits, guest speakers and conversations about data-focused careers.

Who can take part?

Opportunities are primarily designed for Q-Step and quantitative-methods students, although many talks and community events are open more widely. Check each event page for details.

For employers and partners

Organisations can work with Q-Step by hosting a placement, contributing a challenge, speaking to students or exploring another form of collaboration.

Find out how to work with Q-Step

Keep informed

Follow Q-Step on LinkedIn and check the events page for new opportunities throughout the academic year.