Enrolment open: Working with Communities: Participatory Research for Policy Change

Whether you're planning your next research project, trying to figure out how to engage communities more meaningfully, or finding that collaboration is harder in practice than it looks on paper — this one's for you.

We're opening enrolment for Working with Communities: Participatory Research for Policy Change, a nine-week online course running from 14 July to 15 September 2026.

Ready to enrol? Click here to join. 

What the course covers

Over nine weeks, you'll work through the building blocks of participatory research and how to connect it to real policy change -from identifying and mapping communities and stakeholders, to navigating the ethics of participatory approaches, to exploring creative methods like arts-based inquiry. You'll also look at practical questions like how to engage policymakers and where to find funding for your work.

How it works

The course is online and designed to fit around your life. Live Zoom sessions are optional (recordings are available if you can't make them) and the final week is a dedicated catch-up week so you're not left behind if things get busy. Most learners find that around 3–4 hours a week is enough to keep up with the activities.

If your internet connection is unreliable, the course materials are designed to be as low-bandwidth as possible, with optional videos rather than required ones. 

As well as the course content itself, you'll have access to discussion forums and networking opportunities to share ideas with fellow researchers. There's also the chance to practise a mini-study, develop your own policy engagement strategy, and identify funding for it - practical outputs you can take forward into your actual work.

Learners who complete the activities receive a certificate of completion.

What other learners say

100% learners who have completed this course say they would recommend it to a colleague or friend.

One learner put it this way:

"This course is not just relevant — it's necessary for anyone committed to research that truly serves people."

Enrolment is open now. Secure your place here.