Policy Officer (Europe)

Uniglobalcareers; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Universities UK International in London leads policy work on European developments affecting UK universities, policy insight, international students and mobility. The Policy Officer role requires analysing European policy, engaging with policymakers, and turning insights into practical support for members.

The role focuses on Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe developments, collaborating with stakeholders and producing impactful research, briefings and events for UK universities.

Qualifications

• Ability to provide high quality analysis, information, advice and guidance on European developments.
• Knowledge of developments affecting UK-EU relations, including Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe.
• Ability to identify opportunities and challenges for the higher education sector.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with universities and sector stakeholders.
• Ability to engage with policymakers, government officials and influential stakeholders.
• Strong collaborative working skills across policy areas and teams.
• Ability to contribute to research, publications, events and stakeholder engagement activity.
• Understanding of international higher education policy issues, including research and innovation, international students and mobility, and Transnational Education.

Responsibilities

• Act as Universities UK International’s principal policy expert for the European region.
• Provide high quality analysis on developments across Europe.
• Identify opportunities and challenges for the UK higher education sector.
• Build and maintain relationships with universities and sector stakeholders.
• Engage regularly with policymakers, government officials and influential stakeholders.
• Collaborate across Universities UK International’s core policy areas.
• Ensure European developments are reflected in wider international policy work.
• Support representation of UK universities’ interests in EU discussions.
• Contribute to research, publications, events and stakeholder engagement activities.

Skills

European policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Policy drafting & briefing

Cross-team collaboration

Public policy communication

Job description

United Kingdom — International Student Market

654K inbound students (2024) +0%

1. India 169K

2. China 152K

4. United States 36K

5. Pakistan 31K

14 international branch campuses in United Kingdom

OVERVIEW The Policy Officer (Europe) role sits within Universities UK International’s Policy and Global Engagement (PaGE) team in London, England. The team leads international policy work across areas including global research and innovation, international students and mobility, and Transnational Education (TNE), while also supporting global engagement with key stakeholders around the world. This position serves as the organisation’s principal policy expert for the European region during an important period in UK-EU relations, including developments connected to Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe. The role focuses on providing analysis, advice, stakeholder engagement, and policy insight to support the interests and priorities of UK universities.

Key responsibilities

• Act as Universities UK International’s principal policy expert for the European region.
• Provide high quality analysis, information, advice and guidance on developments across Europe.
• Identify opportunities and challenges for the UK higher education sector.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with universities and other sector stakeholders.
• Engage regularly with policymakers, government officials and influential stakeholders across the UK, the EU and individual European countries.
• Work collaboratively across Universities UK International’s core policy areas.
• Ensure that European developments are reflected in the organisation’s wider international policy work.
• Support effective representation of the interests and priorities of UK universities.
• Contribute to research, publications, events and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Help turn policy insight into practical value for members.
• Collaborate with colleagues in the Partnerships and External Affairs team to support impactful research, insights, publications and events.

Requirements

• Ability to provide high quality analysis, information, advice and guidance on European developments.
• Knowledge of developments affecting UK-EU relations, including Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe.
• Ability to identify opportunities and challenges for the higher education sector.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with universities and sector stakeholders.
• Ability to engage with policymakers, government officials and influential stakeholders.
• Strong collaborative working skills across policy areas and teams.
• Ability to contribute to research, publications, events and stakeholder engagement activity.
• Understanding of international higher education policy issues, including research and innovation, international students and mobility, and Transnational Education. WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS This role supports the UK higher education sector at a significant moment in European and international policy development. Effective analysis and stakeholder engagement can help universities respond to changing opportunities connected to research collaboration, student mobility, and international partnerships. The position also plays an important part in ensuring that the perspectives of UK universities are represented in discussions involving policymakers and stakeholders across Europe. Strong policy coordination and communication can help institutions navigate complex international developments more effectively.

Bonus: Application advice

• Demonstrate clear knowledge of current UK-EU higher education developments and explain how they affect universities.
• Highlight examples of policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, or relationship management from previous roles.
• Show evidence of working across teams or departments to deliver policy, research, or engagement outcomes.
• Emphasise experience communicating with senior stakeholders, government representatives, or sector partners.
• Include examples of producing briefings, reports, publications, or