Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba
  • About us
    • Governance
    • Challenge-Led Pathways
    • Units of Assessment (UoAs)
    • Case studies
    • Our Year in Review
    • Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Complaints and Whistleblowing
  • Current Students
    • Events
    • Training
      • Summer School
      • Spring into Methods
    • Training Funds
      • ESRC Training Funds
      • Training Event Funds
      • Challenge Pathways Cohort Fund
    • Internships
    • Mentoring
    • Research Impact Competition
    • Student Handbook
    • Meet Our Students
    • Meet Our Fellows
    • Expenses Policy
  • Prospective Students and Fellows
    • Studentships
      • Overview
      • Supervisor-led Studentship Opportunities
      • Student-led Open Competition 2024/25
      • Eligibility
    • Fellowships
  • Supervisors
    • Supervisor Eligibility
    • Steers Competition 2025/26
    • Open Collaborative Competition 2025/26
    • Skills Development Scotland Collaborative Competition 2025/26
    • Spring into Methods
    • Supervisors’ Resource Library
  • Collaborate with SGSSS
    • Internships
    • Collaborative Studentships
    • Training
    • The RSE Mentoring Scheme
    • Our work with Industry
    • SGSSS Alumni Community
  • Case studies
  • About us
    • Governance
    • Challenge-Led Pathways
    • Units of Assessment (UoAs)
    • Case studies
    • Our Year in Review
    • Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Complaints and Whistleblowing
  • Current Students
    • Events
    • Training
      • Summer School
      • Spring into Methods
    • Training Funds
      • ESRC Training Funds
      • Training Event Funds
      • Challenge Pathways Cohort Fund
    • Internships
    • Mentoring
    • Research Impact Competition
    • Student Handbook
    • Meet Our Students
    • Meet Our Fellows
    • Expenses Policy
  • Prospective Students and Fellows
    • Studentships
      • Overview
      • Supervisor-led Studentship Opportunities
      • Student-led Open Competition 2024/25
      • Eligibility
    • Fellowships
  • Supervisors
    • Supervisor Eligibility
    • Steers Competition 2025/26
    • Open Collaborative Competition 2025/26
    • Skills Development Scotland Collaborative Competition 2025/26
    • Spring into Methods
    • Supervisors’ Resource Library
  • Collaborate with SGSSS
    • Internships
    • Collaborative Studentships
    • Training
    • The RSE Mentoring Scheme
    • Our work with Industry
    • SGSSS Alumni Community
  • Case studies
  • About Us

    Governance

    • Our Funders
    • The Directorate
    • HEI Administrative Leads
    • Supervisory Board
    • Deans of Graduate Studies Network
    • Student Engagement
    • Member Institutions

    Challenge-led Pathways

    • About Challenge Pathways
    • List of Challenge Pathways
    • SGSSS PGR Leads

    Useful Information

    • Case Studies
    • Our Year in Review
    • Contact Us
    • Work With Us
    • Alumni Community
    • Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
    • Complaints and Whistleblowing
  • Current Students

    Training and Opportunities

    • Training Calendar
    • Summer School
    • Spring into Methods
    • Internships
    • Academic Placements
    • Mentoring
    • SGSSS Impact Competition 2025

    Training and Event Funds

    • Research Training Support Grant (RTSG)
    • Overseas Fieldwork (OFW)
    • Overseas Institutional Visits (OIV)
    • Difficult Language Training (DLT)
    • Student-led Training Fund (SLTF)
    • Challenge Pathways Cohort Fund

    Useful Information

    • Student Handbook
    • Expenses Policy
    • Research in Practice
    • Student Wellbeing
    • Student Engagement
    • Meet Our Students
    • Meet Our Fellows
    • PGR Networks
    SGSSS Apply
    SGSSS Portal
  • Prospective Students and Fellows

    Studentships

    • Overview
    • Student-led Open Competition
    • Supervisor-led Studentship Opportunities
    • Eligibility
    • Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

    Fellowships

    • ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship Competition
    • Meet Our Fellows
    SGSSS Apply
  • Supervisors

    Supervisor-led Competitions

    • ESRC Steers Competition
    • Open Collaborative Competition
    • SDS Collaborative Competition
    • Supervisor Eligiblity
    SGSSS Apply

    Training Funds

    • Advanced Training Fund
    • Spring into Methods

    Other

    • Resource Library
    • Supervisor Recognition
  • Partners

    Opportunities

    • Collaborate with SGSSS
    • Internships
    • SGSSS Mentoring Programme
    • Collaborative Studentships
Read all about what SGSSS has been up to in our 2024/25 Year in Review!
Click here

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba
  • About us
    • Governance
    • Challenge-Led Pathways
    • Units of Assessment (UoAs)
    • Case studies
    • Our Year in Review
    • Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Complaints and Whistleblowing
  • Current Students
    • Events
    • Training
      • Summer School
      • Spring into Methods
    • Training Funds
      • ESRC Training Funds
      • Training Event Funds
      • Challenge Pathways Cohort Fund
    • Internships
    • Mentoring
    • Research Impact Competition
    • Student Handbook
    • Meet Our Students
    • Meet Our Fellows
    • Expenses Policy
  • Prospective Students and Fellows
    • Studentships
      • Overview
      • Supervisor-led Studentship Opportunities
      • Student-led Open Competition 2024/25
      • Eligibility
    • Fellowships
  • Supervisors
    • Supervisor Eligibility
    • Steers Competition 2025/26
    • Open Collaborative Competition 2025/26
    • Skills Development Scotland Collaborative Competition 2025/26
    • Spring into Methods
    • Supervisors’ Resource Library
  • Collaborate with SGSSS
    • Internships
    • Collaborative Studentships
    • Training
    • The RSE Mentoring Scheme
    • Our work with Industry
    • SGSSS Alumni Community
  • Case studies

Internships

The Scottish Graduate School of Social Science internships scheme connects talented social science researchers with organisations across Scotland and the UK.

By hosting an SGSSS intern, your organisation can benefit from:

  • A committed and enthusiastic new team member, increasing capacity for your organisation
  • Access to specialist and advanced knowledge and skills, such as data analysis, research, and methodological evaluation
  • Access to new ideas, insights and perspectives for your organisation
  • Access to the SGSSS network across 16 universities in Scotland

The scheme is designed to support links between research, society, and the economy, while also enabling researchers to gain experience in non-academic organisations, build their sector knowledge, and hone their transferable skills. 

I've found the SGSSS internship experience to be incredibly valuable. An excellent opportunity for hosts to work with PhD students with excellent analytical skills and fresh perspectives

Recent Internship Host

You can see more information from hosts’ experiences and examples of recent projects on our case studies page.

If you would like to find out more, please see our FAQs below or contact us on team@sgsss.ac.uk.

How long is an internship?

SGSSS internships enable organisations to access a talented researcher for 3 months (full-time) or 6 months (part-time). The student delivers a specific piece of work designed by the host organisation to meet their business objectives. The model is designed to be flexible, allowing partners to tailor the placement to their specific needs.

How does the scheme work?

SGSSS works with hosts to develop an internship project proposal based on a need within your organisation. SGSSS covers the advertising, recruitment, and the host can decide which applicant to take. PhD students take a break from their studies to undertake an internship and are paid a stipend and expenses by SGSSS.

How much does it cost?

The current cost to host a PhD student for an internship is £6,100. Internships are paid opportunities for students, making the scheme sustainable for students and SGSSS. The funding structure means that internships represent excellent value for hosts who receive a highly skilled resource for much less. 

How do I join the SGSSS internship programme?

If you have a business need that would suit an internship project, get in touch for more information or to request an internship proposal form. Please contact team@sgsss.ac.uk.

Timeline for 2025-26
Autumn Term Host proposal deadlineSGSSS PhD intern recruitmentInternships start Internships end
16 June 2025July 2025October 2025December 2025

Summer Term

Host proposal deadlineSGSSS PhD intern recruitmentInternships start Internships end
23rd January 2026February 2026May 2026July 2026

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