Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba
The SGSSS Impact Competition 2026 final shortlist is now live for public vote!
Cast your vote

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba

SGSSS Internships

Skills Development Scotland

Internship host: Skills Development Scotland
Part time or Full time: 3 months full-time or 6 months part-time
Location: Monteith House, 11 George Square, Glasgow, G2 1DY / Hybrid

Project Title

Exploring Refugees’ Access to Employability and Careers Information and Advice

Project Details

Evidence shows that refugees face distinct challenges when navigating education, training and employability systems, impacting their progression and employment outcomes. Common barriers include limited awareness of available support services, language difficulties, unfamiliarity with the local skills system, and the need to manage complex personal circumstances while settling into a new environment. These factors often make it harder for refugees to access guidance, information, and opportunities required for successful post-school transitions. 

There is a lack of evidence on where young refugees (secondary school, or left school in last 3 years) and their parents/carers currently access employability and career information and advice. 

Therefore, this research aims to:

  • Understand where young refugees and their parents/carers currently source employability and career information and advice 
  • Explore their awareness and understanding of SDS’ Career Information, Advice and Guidance services (including digital and phone services) 
  • Explore any barriers to accessing career information and advice from SDS 

Your role will include familiarising yourself with relevant evidence related to the education/employment outcomes for refugees, and any evidence of their access to public services (this information will be provided to the intern to review).   You will then design and implement a small piece of qualitative insight work with support from your mentor (details will be agreed with your mentor at the start of your placement). This is likely to include:  

  • Face to face focus group sessions/interviews with young refugees and their parents/carers   
  • Online or in person focus groups session(s)/interviews with SDS career advisers/ refugee support organisations  

The equality team can help with the recruitment of research participants.  

Expected Outputs: Develop practical resources from focus group findings designed to support careers practitioners with everyday practice. For example: 

  • training webinars or short recorded presentations with audio. 
  •  engaging materials including creative visuals, infographics, or webinars that effectively communicate and share knowledge with colleagues. 

The successful candidate will be required to obtain a satisfactory PVG check before the start of the field work. Any expense will be covered.  

Skills Required

Essential  Desirable 
  • SDS is looking for someone who is respectful, curious and thoughtful, values lived experience, works ethically, and is committed to improving outcomes for others. 
 
  • Strong qualitative and/or mixed-methods research skills (design, data collection, analysis 
 
  • Able to work independently and manage their time. 
 
  • Knowledge of refugee integration, migration, education or employability policy/practice 
 
  • Understanding of Scotland’s Skills landscape and in particular the Careers Service. 
 
  • Experience working with interpreters and/or producing accessible materials 
   
  • Able to communicate effectively, and adapt communication styles to different audiences 
 
  • Ability to produce clear, concise written outputs for non-academic audiences 
 

Skills to be Developed

• Academic research management skills
• Communication and writing skills
• Engagement and impact
• Professional management
• Skills in working with others

Timing and Working Hours

3 months full-time or 6 months part-time
Hybrid

Challenge-Led Pathways aligned to this placement

• Health, Wellbeing and Communities
• Social Inequalities

Challenge-led pathways give students the opportunity to develop capacity for interdisciplinary connections within the social sciences and beyond. More information on challenge-led pathways can be found here.

About the Host

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is Scotland’s national skills agency. We support people to develop their careers and skills, working to ensure positive transitions from school into learning, training and employment. Our vision is a fairer, more inclusive Scotland, where everyone, especially those facing disadvantage, can access and succeed within the skills system.  SDS values ethical research, lived experience and practical impact, making this internship an opportunity to influence real‑world policy and practice for people from refugee communities.  Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is central to SDS’s work. As a public body, we embed equality, human rights and lived experience across our services, policy and research. Our current Equality and Diversity Mainstreaming Report explicitly addresses racial equality and the needs of minority ethnic groups, recognising gaps in evidence and the importance of gathering deeper qualitative insight.  This project aligns with SDS commitments to equality, inclusion and improving outcomes for people facing disadvantage.    This also aligns to:  
  • New Scots refugee integration strategy which emphasises the importance of ensuring that refugees can access well-coordinated services tailored to their rights and needs. It also highlights that New Scots should fully understand their rights, responsibilities and entitlements in Scotland, enabling them to pursue independent and fulfilling lives  
  •  The Commission on Race in Apprenticeships recommendations which call for targeted actions to address barriers faced by refugees and to ensure their inclusion within the skills system.
  • The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which stresses the importance of upholding children’s rights, including those of refugee and minority ethnic backgrounds, in accessing education, support and development opportunities 
The successful candidate will work within the SDS Equality Team, comprising of 7 staff members based across Scotland.  The team supports the mainstreaming of equality into SDS service delivery in line with the public sector duties in the Equality Act 2010, and the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (Scotland) Act 2024.  The team provides advice, guidance and support to all parts of the organisations to ensure our services are inclusive.  Our main service areas include the delivery of Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (including our Digital services), delivery of Scottish Apprenticeships, supporting employers to understand their skills needs and grow their businesses, and working with industry and education to support people to develop the skills that Scotland needs now and in the future.   

Contact for Queries

How to Apply

To apply for this internship create an account on SGSSS Apply and start a new Internships application selecting “Skills Development Scotland” from the host options. The deadline for applications is 15 June 2026 at 4pm.

Please contact team@sgsss.ac.uk if you require this information in another format. 

Submit application via SGSSS Apply
Download the Internships Guidance
Download Student Information Document

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Privacy Policy

© 2026 All rights reserved​

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science, proudly funded by