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Hi there, We're Molly and Cherish and we run the Community Engaged Dissertation programme at the Community Research Initiative.
Got an idea you're passionate about researching and interested in making a difference in the community? We're here to help you explore it.
On this page, you'll find everything you need to take your first steps into community research. There's no pressure, no commitment, and no wrong place to start. Simply follow the steps below and see where your ideas take you...
Book onto our group office hours
Your first step is to chat to us and other students interested in writing a dissertation with our programme during our group office hours. No question is a silly one! We run our office hours from September to March each year. If you're keen to have a chat with us outside of these times, then just book a 1:1 with our team.
See your community research journey from start to impact
1. Community Matchmaking
Your first step in your community-engaged research journey is to connect with a community organisation, usually between November and February. You can do this in two ways:
- Community Noticeboard: This is a space for ideas that we’ve collected from our local and wider London voluntary & community sector. These ideas represent what local charities, community or citizen groups considers most important, right now, to further what they do, fill a knowledge gap, or change and improve something for some of the most pressing social issues. Think of the Noticeboard research ideas as seeds for collaboration which you can rework with a community partner so that it works for both of you.
- Matchmaking Service: If you have an idea or organisation you’re really passionate about working with, we'll connect you for a knowledge exchange. You might instantly click with an organisation or chat to a few potential partners: it's about finding the right fit. We'll help you every step of the way.
Your aim here is to find a topic you care about, is academically rigorous, and is genuinely useful to a community organisation. And here are some events we'll be running to introduce you to community research and some of our community partners.
2. Research Together
Once you're matched with your community partner, you're onto the exciting part, learning how to work on a co-created project for your dissertation research. Don't worry, we have lots on offer to support you as you set up your partnership and decide what you'll work on.
Required events and deadlines
Attend our Terms of Engagement Workshop: A 2-hour workshop where you'll meet your community partner and explore how you'll work together. This sets the tone for your whole project, so it's our only mandatory event. This year's workshops take place on Thurs 25 Feb 2027, 09:30-11:30 and Wed 17 March 2027, 18:00-20:00.
Send us your Terms of Engagement Form by Mon 31 May 2027: This is a form which sets out how you'll work together with your community partner. Think of this as the blueprint for your community partnership. We'll tell you everything you need to know about this at our Terms of Engagement workshop.
Follow your programme's dissertation requirements: We don't know what your programme wants from your dissertation, so it's up to you to make sure you're fulfilling all the requirements and meeting all the deadlines you need to.
Connect us with your supervisor: We’ll support you with your community partnership, and your supervisor will be your go-to person for academic guidance. To help us stay connected, please let us know the name of your supervisor.
Recommended events
Cohort Kick Off: Meet students from across UCL who are working with community partners to turn their dissertation research into real-world impact.
Lunch and Learns: These are short, friendly online sessions where we get together over lunch and chat through some of the questions you’ve been sending our way about writing your dissertations.
Show Up And Write: As you immerse yourself in your research, we offer focused writing sessions, where you'll get together as a group for some writing time - with free snacks.
Career Supercharger: Network with our alums to find out how they used their community-engaged dissertation experience to help land meaningful, impactful roles in the charity and community sector.
3. Make an impact and celebrate
You've submitted your dissertation - and now's your chance to celebrate and shine. We host our annual celebration event, where you come together as a cohort to celebrate your partnerships.
Once your dissertation is out of the way, that's when we ask you to turn your head to using your research to have an impact in the form of a community product. This could be a report, podcast, poster, presentation - or something else entirely. As ever, we give you support so you know how to design something that's accessible, engaging and achievable in the time available. You can also make an application to our Community Engaged Dissertation Impact Fund, which helps turn your ideas into real‑world impact with your community partner.
Required events and deadlines
Apply for funding from our Community Engaged Dissertation Impact Fund by 1 September 2027. Students and community organisations can apply by sending in a short application that outlines what you’re hoping to create, the impact it will have, and a simple breakdown of how you’d like to use the funding. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so you can apply whenever your idea is ready to go.
Finish your Community Product by February 2028: Within 6 months of submitting your dissertation, we ask that you share your findings in a way that's useful and usable with your community partner. By this stage, you've already put so much effort into your research...now's your opportunity to help create a lasting difference in the community.
Recommended events
The Community Research Initiative Showcase: Come together to celebrate your community partnership. Expect engaging panels and posters showing how our CRIS leaders have some tackled some of the most pressing social issues.