Working with academic researchers
Ofcom works with academics in various ways, giving us opportunities to exchange ideas and helping us fulfil our role as an evidence-based regulator.
If you are an academic, a funding body or an educational institution, this page sets out some of the potential ways you can work with us.
Supporting proposals and projects
Ofcom might support a research project that aligns with our areas of interest. In most cases we would not provide funding but we might:
- write a letter of support;
- write a letter of evidence of impact;
- sit on the advisory committee; or
- host postgraduate or PhD students, or later career academics.
Working groups and panels
We have several working groups and panels to support the delivery of our work. We review the membership of these groups regularly so that their expertise fits with our objectives. We will publicise opportunities to join these groups on this page as they become available.
Events and conferences
We hold a broad programme of events throughout the year, from large conferences to smaller panel discussions and roundtables. Ofcom colleagues also share our research findings at other events. If you would like to discuss conference opportunities, please contact us at the email address below.
PhD studentships and postgraduate internships
We host postgraduate internships and co-sponsor PhD studentships from time to time to focus on different aspects of Ofcom’s work. We arrange these with the relevant institution, not the individual student.
Secondments
Occasionally we can make arrangements for later career academics to take up secondments at Ofcom for a limited time, or for Ofcom colleagues to take up secondments at academic institutions.
Open data
Ofcom follows open data principles. We make the data we collect and create available to academics and the wider general public wherever possible.
Ofcom cannot commit to sharing any data with researchers that isn't already publicly available.
Online safety research agenda
On 15 April 2024 we published our first research agenda for online safety. If you think you can support our work in any of our areas of interest, please get in touch (contact details below) or complete our expression of interest form.
Contact us
To discuss a research project or opportunity with Ofcom, please email us at academic.engagement@ofcom.org.uk