How to become a politician or work in government

Find out how to get started in a career in politics in the UK including becoming a member of parliament or local councillor.

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Information is correct as at January 2025. Before deciding whether to pursue a career, you're advised to contact your careers service for the most up-to-date guidance.

How do you become a politician?

Roles in politics include: 

• Members of Parliament in England (must be elected)
• local councillors (must be elected)
• political assistants
• researchers
• civil servants.

Already a Sussex student? See our politics sector guide. 

Politicians are active in politics, especially in party politics. On a national level, they seek to be elected to represent the views of constituents in the House of Commons (known as members of parliament), and can vote on laws and Government decisions.

At a local level, they aim to be elected as councillors, attend council meetings and vote on decisions for their local area. 

The UK has devolved governments which transfer varying levels of power from the UK Parliament to the UK's nations. This gives a greater level of self-government to the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), the Northern Ireland Assembly and the London Assembly.

Qualifications required

There are no set qualifications to become a politician.

To prove you have knowledge and experience in politics, you might want to study an undergraduate degree in Politics.

Some people go on to further study including related Masters courses and PhD degrees.  

You may also need to be 18 or over and either a British citizen, a citizen of the Commonwealth or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland. 

If you haven't studied a degree yet, and you're considering one, you may want to browse our related subject areas at Sussex: 

• politics
• law
• international development
• international relations
• history
• economics
• business and management.

Skills required 

You may need to: 

• be accurate, logical and methodical
• have good attention to detail
• have good communication, public speaking and persuasion skills
• be passionate about your beliefs and ideas 
• have good problem-solving skills.

See the electoral commission's advice about becoming a member of parliament.

See the Government's advice about becoming a councillor. 

Getting started in politics

If you want to become a national or local politician, the following steps may help you: 

1. Join a political party

   You should decide on the party you want to represent, or think about becoming an independent. You may want to select a party that reflects your beliefs and values, so you feel you can passionately represent it. 

2. Become familiar with local and national issues

   You should have an understanding of the issues affecting people in your area, what the council is doing about them, and how your political party stands in relation to these decisions. You can do this by attending local council meetings or reading your local newspaper. You should also be aware of national issues, and how Government is responding to them. 

3. Get officially nominated

   To be elected as a councillor or member of parliament, you need to be nominated. To be nominated as a councillor, two people need to sign your nomination papers. They must be eligible to vote in the ward you are standing. You also need to give written consent for your nomination. You must submit your documents on the 19th working day before election day. Prospective MPs need 10 people from the constituency to sign your nomination papers and must also pay a deposit.

4. Get on the campaign trail

   Members of parliament

   If you're chosen by your party, you officially become a candidate for a member of parliament on the day that the UK parliament is dissolved.

   Local councillors

   Candidancy differs between councils, and so you should check the process with your local council.
   
   Whichever path you choose to take, you need to raise your profile locally. You can do this by talking to your local newspaper, getting involved with community groups and canvassing.

5. Next steps

   Members of parliament

   If you are elected as a member of parliament you will take the parliamentary oath or make an affirmation to the monarch. This takes place at the start of the new parliament.
   
   Find out more about the next steps as a member of parliament.

   Local councillors

   If you are elected as a local councillor, you will have to sign the council's code of conduct. You may also be invited to an induction programme so you can learn about the council and be given training throughout your term of office.
   
   Find out more about the next steps as a local councillor.

How to get experience in politics

You may want to get experience by joining the politics society while you are at University. You may also be able to join a student-led political party while you are studying. 

If you already know the party you'd like to represent, you could also pay to become a member and get involved in campaigns. 

• attend local council meetings
• apply for work experience with a member of parliament or at the Houses of Parliament
• apply for work experience at your local council.  

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Other roles in politics

• How do you become a political assistant

  Political staffers support an elected politician (member of parliament) by carrying out administrative tasks. This includes responding to questions submitted by constituents or the media, looking after the politician's diary, writing press releases and organising surgeries with constituents.

  There are no set qualifications for the role, but it may help you if you have a degree in politics, economics, law, or history. Some people also choose to study a Masters course or PhD degree.    

  It is also a good idea to get work experience and be up-to-date with local and national issues. 

  The careers website Prospects has some good advice for becoming a political assistant.

• How do you become a political or social researcher

  Political researchers provide information to aid their elected politician (member of parliament). They mainly research issues that affect their employer and their employers constituents. The role also includes monitoring press releases, news reports and websites and keeping up-to-date with government policy.

  You could also become a social researcher. Social researchers work for a variety of organisations including councils and the Government. Using quantitive and qualitive research skills they gather data on a particular topic of interest to their client, and report their findings back in reports.

  There are no set qualifications for these roles, but it may help you if you have a degree in politics, business and management, law, or international relations. Some people also choose to study a Masters course or PhD degree.     

  Find out more about becoming a social researcher from careers site Prospects.

• How do you become a civil servant

  Civil servants are politically impartial and independent of government. They help deliver public services and support the Government to implement policies. There are a range of areas you can work in as a civil servant including education, health and defence.  

  There are a range of different routes to becoming a civil servant.

  Some of these include: 

  • taking a related degree in the area you want to work in and apply directly for a civil service job
  • going on a two-year apprenticeship programme
  • going on a graduate scheme
  • taking part in The Civil Service Fast Stream.

  For more information on joining the civil service see the Government's career site.

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