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Government & Politics

Policy Analyst

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Primary Secondary Post-16

A policy analyst is someone who helps organisations and the government make good decisions by studying important issues and writing reports. They collect information, look at what is happening in the country or local area, and suggest what rules or laws might help people the most. Policy analysts often work in offices, using computers to do research and write about subjects like health, education, or the environment. Their work helps to shape the future by making sure new policies are fair and helpful for everyone.

Policy Analyst

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📊 Statistics

Average Salary

Policy analysts in the UK typically earn between £25,000 and £45,000 per year, depending on experience and location.

Number of Jobs

There are around 20,000 policy analyst roles in the UK, working for the government, charities, and private companies.

Typical Working Hours

Policy analysts usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, mainly during normal office hours.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Education Policy Analyst

Someone who studies and suggests ways to improve schools and learning for children.

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Healthcare Policy Analyst

A person who looks at how doctors and hospitals work and finds ways to help people get better care.

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Environmental Policy Analyst

Someone who helps make rules to keep the air, water, and land clean and safe for everyone.

Learn about Policy and Government

Study subjects like English and History

Pay attention in school and do your best in subjects like English, History, and Geography. These will help you understand how people and governments work.

Doing well in these subjects will help you learn to read, write, and think about big ideas. You will use these skills a lot if you become a policy analyst. Ask your teachers questions and try to do your homework carefully.

Learn about how government works

Find out how rules are made and changed in your local area and the country.

You can read books, watch videos, or ask adults about how the government makes decisions. Try to understand why rules are important and who decides what the rules are.

Get the Right Qualifications

Finish secondary school and do well in exams

Try your best in your GCSEs, especially in subjects like English, Maths, and Humanities.

Good grades in these subjects will help you move on to higher education. You will need to show that you can write clearly and think logically.

Study for A-levels or equivalent

Choose A-levels in subjects like Politics, Economics, or Sociology.

These subjects will help you learn more about society and how decisions are made. They will also prepare you for studying at university.

Go to university to study a related subject

Apply to university to study something like Politics, Public Policy, Economics, or Law.

Most policy analysts have a degree from university. At university you will learn how to research, write reports, and understand complicated topics. It is important to pick a course that matches your interests.

Gain Experience

Get involved in school or local community projects

Take part in activities where you help make decisions, like the school council.

This will help you learn how to listen to people, think about different ideas, and make fair choices. These are skills that policy analysts use every day.

Look for internships or work experience

Try to get work experience with local government, charities, or organisations that make rules.

Some places have special programmes for young people to learn about policy and government. This will help you see what it is like to work as a policy analyst and learn from people who do this job.

🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Policy Analyst. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

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Career Progressions

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Sample Qualifications

A Policy Analyst and a Data analyst-statistician both require strong analytical skills, data interpretation, and the ability to evaluate policy or organisational outcomes. Both roles involve synthesising complex information to support decision-making and policy development.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • a graduate training scheme

University

You'll usually need a degree or postgraduate degree in:

  • statistics
  • mathematics
  • economics
  • operational research
  • psychology

You may be able to apply for jobs if you have a degree in a subject that included statistics as part of your course, for example social science or geography.

Courses that give you the chance to spend a year in industry or get work experience through placements, internships or real business projects may give you an advantage when you are looking for graduate jobs.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

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College

You may be able to start by doing a T level in Digital Business Services. This could give you some of the skills you need to apply for a trainee position with a company.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

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Apprenticeship

You could start in a junior data analysis role through a data technician advanced apprenticeship.

You could go on to complete a data analysis higher apprenticeship or data scientist degree apprenticeship.

If you want to work in health data analysis you could do a medical statistician degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

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Volunteering

You can develop your professional skills and gain real work experience by helping community organisations and charities. For example, with the Royal Statistical Society.

Other Routes

You can apply to join the Government Statistical Service (GSS) as a trainee through the Civil Service Fast Stream programme. You'll need a good degree or postgraduate qualification.

The GSS also directly recruits graduates and people with relevant experience into positions like statistical officer.

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Further information

You can find out more on careers in statistics from the Royal Statistical Society.

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