We are delighted to welcome applications for the inaugural LSE Impact Research Lab (IRL) programme, which is open to all LSE undergraduate students. The Impact Research Lab (IRL) is an intensive 9-day programme that puts you at the heart of a challenge set by a partner organisation. Working in a multidisciplinary team, you'll research and analyse your challenge, develop an impactful pathway to change, then present your findings directly to the partner and a public audience at the Knowledge Beyond Boundaries 2026 Conference at the LSE Festival.
What you'll do
Your team will be assigned a research challenge connected to one of LSE’s five global research priorities: democracy, political economy, sustainability, future technologies and social inequality. Over nine days, you'll scope the problem, design your research approach, draw on methods and approaches from across the social sciences, and build toward a set of findings and recommendations that speak directly to the partner's needs.
You'll produce a presentation and slide deck for the conference, along with a tailored output for your partner, such as a blog post or video summary. You'll also have the opportunity to record your presentation and will be able to promote your research outputs to prospective employers.
Throughout the programme, you'll be supported by experts in interdisciplinary research methods and academic mentors who will help you navigate the challenge of bringing different perspectives and evidence bases together into an impactful and compelling piece of research.
What you'll gain
IRL is designed to develop the kind of skills that employers across sectors are looking for: the ability to work across specialisms, think critically about complex problems, collaborate under pressure, communicate research to non-academic audiences, and deliver results to a deadline. You'll come away with a tangible piece of work you can point to, and the experience of presenting it to a real client.
You'll also develop a deeper understanding of how different organisations are grappling with the most pressing challenges in the world today, and how your knowledge and insights can contribute to research that has immediate real-world impact.
What to expect
This is a full-time, in-person commitment. You should expect to be working on your project every day across the nine days of the programme. You'll take part in daily workshops, collaborate closely with your team, and engage in structured activities alongside independent research. It's intensive, but is designed to be one of the most rewarding experiences of your time at LSE.
Partner organisations
Our partners for 2026 will be announced soon. IRL partners are organisations grappling with real challenges where social scientific research can make a difference. Partners are drawn from across the public, private, and third sectors.
If you would like to be part of this exciting new initiative, please apply here by Sunday 26 April at 11.59pm BST (British Summer Time).
By submitting your application, you are confirming that you will be present in London and able to attend the programme throughout 8-18 June 2026.