Support for PGR student internships
The PGR Opportunities Hub is keen to support the development of paid internships for our postgraduate research (PGR) students. If staff are interested in developing internships they should contact the College Employability Officer.
Internships provide valuable work experience for our PGR students and opportunities to develop their skills and attributes in line with the Researcher Development Framework. Internships can either be research-focused (eg. Research Assistantships) or project focused.
The Hub supports internship development through PGR Opportunities Hub Funded internships (these internships cannot be research-focused) or School/Subject Funded Internships (these can be research or non-research focused). In addition, staff may also be able to apply to host paid SGSSS internships within their area (these can be research focused or non-research focused). More details on these three types of internships are provided below:
PGR Opportunities Hub funded internships
The PGR Opportunities Hub internship scheme has been designed to provide relevant workplace experience for postgraduate research students. These internships are designed to develop students' broader transferable skills as encompassed within the Researcher Development Framework's Domains B and D. These internships cannot be research-focused.
Previous internships have involved PGR students working on project such as:
- Support for online learning
- Responses to the challenges of COVID 19
- Public engagement or outreach
- Business engagement, enterprise and knowledge exchange
- Employability initiatives
- Developing future research leaders
Applications for internship projects are welcomed from both academic staff and professional services staff across the College. Successful applicants will receive an internship grant of up to £1000 to support approximately 70 hours of a postgraduate research student's time.
Internships are supported and advertised by the College HR Team and the University's Student Opportunities Hub. Internships are open to applications from postgraduate research students from any School within the College of Social Sciences and from any year of study.
Calls for applications to academic and professional services staff across the College of Social Sciences are normally made in May or early June each year. To apply, or for more information, please contact the College Employability Officer and use the PGR Opportunities Hub - Internship Application Form.
School or Subject funded internships
The PGR Opportunities Hub can also support and advertise internships funded by the School or Subject area, or tied to a specific research project. All internships are supported by our College HR team and advertised by the University's Internship Hub and should be open to applications from all College of Social Sciences research students. These roles may vary in scope and duration although typically, full time PhD students are not expected to work more than 6 hours per week. Grading of roles is determined by HR on a case-by-case basis, dependent on the job scope and description.
SGSSS Research in practice placements
The SGSSS Research in Practice scheme requires that all ESRC funded students undertake a 3-6 month placement as part of their studentship. The placement can be undertaken in a non-academic or academic setting. SGSSS’ vision for Research in Practice is to equip Scottish Social Science students to be the next generation of research leaders.
As part of this scheme, placements can be hosted in academic institutions within research centres, research teams or professional services teams.
These 3-6 month placements are funded through the ESRC studentship.
To find out more and apply to host a Research in Practice placement please see the SGSSS Placement webpages or contact the College Employability Officer.
Internship process
The internship process from role conception and development of job description to shortlisting and interviews takes approximately 6 weeks and is administrated by the College HR team and the Student Opportunities Hub. The typical process is laid out below:
- Internship proposer/staff member contacts College HR with internship proposal
- College HR supports development of job description (examples available) and post approval
- College HR passes approved role to Student Opportunities Hub for recruitment and selection
- Student Opportunities Hub creates advert, adds role to vacancies system and returns to Internship proposer and PGR Opportunities Hub for local advertising. Internship proposer/staff member supports advertising in their own local area.
- Student Opportunities Hub shortlists and provides feedback to candidates
- Internship proposer selects candidates to interview. Interviews arranged by the Student Opportunities Hub
- Student Opportunities Hub passes successful candidate details to College HR and contract is awarded
For more information on any aspect of creating a PGR student internship, please contact the College Employability Officer.
