I was wondering if anyone can help. I am about to apply to do a PhD but in the meantime I am looking for research assistant jobs in the London area in the field of International Relations/Conflict resolution or something similar. It seems to me that there are no jobs unless you have or are completing a PhD. Is this the case or am I looking in the wrong places? I am not in a financial position where I can intern, having lived abroad for the past year interning at a research centre. Should I try and start my PhD as soon as possible, temping in the meantime, or can someone advise me where I can find a paid research job. Thanks!

I think the problem with the market at the mo is that you're getting finishing PhDers/post docs going for jobs where you don't need a PhD, because its so competitive.

You may be better off contacting people directly and asking for RA work, rather than waiting for job adverts to come up.