Inspired by the work of Ernest Boyer and the Boyer Commission, the Scholarship of Engagement for Politics project was an attempt to adapt their demands for research-based undergraduate learning opportunities to the British context through the pedagogy of placement learning. This article explores the project's attempts to make placement learning more socially inclusive through the development of short, research-based and predominantly local placements that are open to all students, including those with family commitments and part-time jobs, and that are fully embedded in the political science curriculum. The project found that such placements enriched students' understanding of politics and both complemented and reinforced their studies on campus. There were also unexpected benefits in terms of enhancing their appreciation of political actors and processes along with their sense of personal efficacy and interest in a range of possible careers in politics. A number of students used their first experiences of politics as stepping stones to further internships and ultimately employment in politics and government. And most students reported that their placement experiences had given them a renewed respect for political activity by opening their eyes to politics at the local level and the nonpartisan work of great value that political actors engage in on a day-to-day basis. (Contains 8 notes and 2 tables.)