Community Research Initiative

Welcome to the Community Research Initiative

Also known as "CRIS" to our friends

We bring people together across the student-community divide to explore the possibility of co-designing research to create a positive social impact. Whether its through your course or as a volunteer, our programme is here to take your research skills from classroom to community.

Explore our offers

Masters programmes

PhD programmes

Undergraduate programmes

Curious about how your research could make a difference?

Working with a UCL student has made a massive impact on our organisation, particularly because we are so grassroots and wouldn't have been able to do this research on our own.
-South Asian Health Action

Check out our full impact gallery

Join us at an upcoming Community Research Initiative event

Events & Activities

Community Research Initiative Showcase 2026

09/09/2026 | 14:00 - 16:00

Join the Community Research Initiative (or CRIS to our friends) for our annual celebration of our students and communities who did something a little different and worked to co-create research for social impact. This year, we’ll be highlighting our student leaders and community leaders who have bridged the uni

Give it a Go

Community Research In Action Field Trip

29/09/2026 | 14:00 - 17:00

Want to see community research in action? Join us on our immersive field trip as we explore how communities in London create, share and use knowledge to drive social change. “It has really brought a really interesting group together and made me feel part of the UCL research community.”– A UCL student who joined us for our first trip!

Volunteering

Make a difference for World Mental health day - Social Impact Pop Up

08/10/2026 | 11:30 - 15:00

Want to make a difference in the world of mental health?Student Social Impact has loads of ways for you to get engaged with charities, communities, and local intitiaitves that are tackling the mental health crisis across the world. From using your research skills to help charities to volunteering to reduce lonliness in local communities.