Make a difference with your research with the Community Research Initiative!

Here at the Community Research Initiative we act as a bridge between the university and voluntary sector, which includes charities, not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises. We do this by empowering students to collaboratively carry out research with these organisations. We offer master's students the opportunity to take on a co-produced dissertation or lend their research and study skills to make a social impact through research volunteering.

We are all about connecting community to classroom, building up your skills, and shifting the power dynamics between researchers and research 'subjects'.

Read on to see how you can get involved!

Meet the team

We are here for YOU at every stage of the community engaged research process. Whether you're curious where to start, or deep within the research process, we offer bespoke 1:1 support and guidance to all of our students.

Master's students: solve real-world problems with your dissertation

Our programme is here to create a more meaningful dissertation experience for master's students at UCL. We are driven by the value of authentic knowledge democracy and our desire to act as a bridge between the voluntary sector and the university.

Explore below to learn more about all the Community Research Initiative has to offer you and the wider London community!

This service is only for postgraduate students.

Skill up for social impact with Research Volunteering

Put your academic skills to work outside of the classroom by volunteering your research and study skills to make a real social impact community organisations. It's an excellent way to hone your skills, develop cross-sector experience and make a genuine positive impact with research.

From literature reviews to focus groups, these short burst opportunities give you a supported and structured way to build your skills in the real world while creating positive impact in the community.

These opportunities are open to undergraduates and postgraduates.

Build your skills for collaborative research

News

Community Research Initiative Showcase 2024
Community Research Initiative Showcase 2024: Creating Knowledge TogetherAt the Community Research Initiative (CRIS), we believe in the transformative power of collaboration.
A PhD Students Journey From Novice to Research Consultant, A Day with East London's Change Makers
On a chilly autumn afternoon in East London...
Dissertation Showcase 2023
We like to work hard and celebrate even harder here at the Community Research Initiative!
Learning through volunteering
It’s an age-old complaint during school, isn’t it – but what’s the point in learning this? Or I’m never going to use this in real-life. Unfortunately, this disconnect between the classroom and the outside world continues into university lecture halls as well.