Student Consultancy

Consultancy skills are super important! It means you can understand a problem, analyse information, develop a practical solution, and communicate your recommendation clearly to someone who needs to make a decision.

University teaches you to find an answer. Consultancy teaches you to find the right problem, work out the answer using the evidence, and convince someone to act on this.

Why consultancy skills, why me?

This is not only valuable for becoming a consultant; they're broadly transferable skills that can influence graduate outcomes across many careers. Not only that, these skills are essential to an education at UCL.

• Communication: Almost every graduate role requires you to explain ideas clearly, work with others and communicate professionally. This is the basis of all your course presentations and even a viva!
• Problem-solving: Employers value graduates who can deal with unfamiliar problems without needing everything prescribed.
• Team work: Most professional environments involve collaboration and managing different perspectives. Your degree will require you to work in teams.
• Analytical thinking: Particularly important in graduate roles involving data, strategy, finance, research or decision-making.

What we're offering you

Our consultancy challenges are an ideal way for you to learn, practice, or hone your consultancy skills in a super lowkey way, not connected with grades or your course. Over a day, week, or intensive sprint, you'll work with other students to explore a problem, generate ideas and develop practical solutions.

The added bonus

Do good in the world while you're developing your skills set. Whether you're passionate about climate action, health, education, inequality, technology or community development, our consultancy challenges are a chance to apply your skills to issues that matter. Because we carefully partner with local, national, and international charities, social enterprises, and other non-profits to bring you real-world problems to work on.

All the challenges are real. They matter. The solutions will make a difference.

To take part, you don't need any previous experience! Just curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to get involved.

Explore our previous challenges

Why take part?

• 1. Work on a real problem : Explore challenges facing communities, organisations and society, and contribute ideas that could make a genuine difference.
• 2. Meet people from across UCL: Collaborate with students from different disciplines, backgrounds and perspectives.
• 3. Build skills employers value: Develop teamwork, communication, problem-solving, creativity, project development and presentation skills.
• 4. Try something new: The Challenges are a great way to explore social impact, innovation and entrepreneurship, or another industry without committing to a long-term project.

What happens at a Challenge?

You'll work alongside other students and often hear directly from organisations and communities connected to the challenge. Every Challenge moment is different, but most include:

• Introduction to the challenge by the charity or social enterprise, "The Challenger"
• Team formation and networking
• Creative problem-solving activities
• Mentoring and support
• Developing ideas and solutions
• Sharing and celebrating your work

Is this right for me?

These events are particularly great if you:

• Enjoy working with other people
• Like solving problems creatively
• Want practical experience outside the classroom
• Care about a social or environmental issue
• Are curious about innovation and social change
• Want to meet new people

You don't need to be studying business, engineering or computer science. Students from every discipline bring valuable perspectives. This is truly cross-disciplinarity, an incredibly important way of working given the biggest challenges facing people and planet do not fit neatly into disciplines!

How much time does it take?

Most events are designed to fit around student life, often during Reading Weeks or right at the end of terms, where students can be more flexible with uni stuff.

Typical commitment: One or two days (normally 09.30-16.30) or up to a week.

If you're looking for something longer-term, you might also enjoy:

Research with local communities

Regular volunteering opportunities

What could happen next?

Many students use the Challenges as a starting point. You might:

• Take part in multiple Challenges throughout the year
• Meet future collaborators... or even employers!
• Discover a cause you're passionate about
• Get involved in volunteering or community research
• Explore social enterprise opportunities

A single day could be the start of something much bigger.

Upcoming Challenges