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Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba
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      • Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF) Scheme 2021/22
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Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba
Menu
  • About us
    • Governance
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      • Summer School 2022
      • Spring into Methods
      • Business Booster
      • Career Orientated Training
      • Disciplinary Specific Training
      • Methods and Methodologies
        • When Methods Meet
    • Training Funds
      • ESRC Training Funds
      • Training Event Funds
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      • Overview
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      • Mentoring Overview
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      • Student-led Open Competition 2022/23
      • Eligibility
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      • Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF) Scheme 2021/22
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Scottish Government Internship Scheme

Projects starting Autumn 2022

Application Deadline Extended: Friday 26 August at 12pm

In July 2022 we will be launching the call for our Autumn Term internships. Subscribe to our Weekly Digest or follow us on Twitter to be notified when the call is launched.

Apply now

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland and has a range of responsibilities that include: the economy, education, health, justice, rural affairs, housing, environment, equal opportunities, consumer advocacy and advice, transport and taxation.  

Government social science research aims to provide high quality evidence and advice for Ministers and Scottish Government officials to inform policy development, implementation and evaluation. Analysts in government help generate new ideas and open debate, challenge assumptions, beliefs and attitudes, test policy ideas and develop a deeper understanding of issues as they affect Scotland.  

The core functions of researchers in government include:  

  • the interpretation of evidence and the provision of research based advice  
  • engaging with the academic and wider research community to bring expert knowledge into the policy making process  
  • commissioning external research projects  
  • undertaking research such as reviews of the existing evidence base  
  • disseminating research findings and encouraging their wider use  

There are internships available with social research, economist, statistician or mixed teams,  which all tend to work alongside each other in ‘Analytical Services Divisions’ in the Scottish Government.  

The Office of the Chief Researcher (OCR) in the Scottish Government is responsible for central co-ordination of this internship scheme.  

The internships

There are a number of advertised internship projects available, in addition to the ‘pool’ (applicants to the pool are considered for unfilled advertised projects or others which may later arise in any area of the Scottish Government).

It is anticipated that the majority of placements will commence in October/November 2022 and finish in January 2023. Each internship will have a tailored timeline which will be discussed with the host during the application process.

When live, you can browse the projects below, clicking through for full details of each one. Please pay attention to the reference numbers which you will require when making your application. You can also download a PDF of all of the placements and their details.

Internships Q&A

SGSSS will host a Q&A session on Tuesday 19 July, 1pm- 2pm. Registration link to be provided shortly.

Download Scottish Government Guidance
Download the Internship FAQs
Download Placement Details (pdf)
Submit application via SGSSS Apply
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Child Protection and Advocacy

Internship reference: R16-02
Directorate General: Education and Justice
Directorate: Learning
Division/Team: Children and Families Analysis
At the time of advertising, the precise nature of the internship project is yet to be decided, as the evidence base around advocacy in Scotland is relatively limited. The internship project will mainly be a scoping exercise to increase our knowledge on advocacy. We recognise gaps in our knowledge around...
Full Project Details
#childProtection,#childrensrights,advocacy

Children’s Wellbeing Data

Internship reference: R16-05
Directorate General: Education and Justice
Directorate: Learning
Division/Team: Children and Families Analysis
The Core Wellbeing Indicator Set is a first step in an ongoing data improvement journey, with a need for further data development and meaningful wellbeing indicators. A programme of next steps has been agreed to implement the Outcomes Framework and develop the core indicator set.   The internship project will contribute...
Full Project Details
childrensservices,childwellbeing,indicators

Parental Involvement and Engagement in children and young people's education

Internship reference: R16-09
Directorate General: Education and Justice
Directorate: Directorate for Learning
Division/Team: Education Analytical Services
This interesting role focuses on analysis of the Parental Involvement and Engagement Census, undertaken in 2021-22. The census provides evidence for schools, local authorities and Scottish Government to understand and make improvement in parental engagement. The data for 2021-22 covers the period when schools and the education system was impacted...
Full Project Details
#ChildrenandYoungPeople,#ParentalEngagement,Education

Review of evidence related to the proposal to introduce a Local Visitor Levy in Scotland

Internship reference: R16-10
Directorate General: DG Communities
Directorate: Directorate For Local Government And Housing
Division/Team: Local Government And Analytical Services Division
The project would involve supporting development of evidence to update and inform the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment, following on from the previous draft partial BRIA, published in September 2019.  Specific evidence needs are being scoped, but potentially include reviewing determinants of visitor behaviour, determinants of tourism competitiveness, business compliance...
Full Project Details
#localgovernment,#tax,#tourism

Rapid evidence review of what works for Family Support, why, and under what circumstances?

Internship reference: R16-17
Directorate General: Education and Justice
Directorate: Learning
Division/Team: Education Analytical Services Division, Children and Families Analysis Unit
This placement offers an appealing opportunity to support the development of the wider evidence base for a fast-paced policy area within the Programme for Government (2021-2022) and inform its evaluation. An intern would develop an evidence review on family support by agreeing their research approach, identify relevant literature, and completing...
Full Project Details
#childrensoutcomes,#evidenceReview,#familysupport

Constitutional Futures, Democracy, and Transparency

Internship reference: R16-25
Directorate General: DG Constitution and External Affairs
Directorate: Directorate for Organisational Readiness
Division/Team: Constitution, International and Migration Analysis
This internship represents a flexible approach to support the work of the Constitution, International and Migration Analysis team, the precise nature of the work will be dependent on the requirements of the team at the time of the internship and will factor in the particular interests of the successful intern....
Full Project Details
#democraticparticipation,#freedomofinformation,#opengovernment,#scotlandsfuture,#transparency

A review of evidence and international comparisons to understand what works in children & family support

Internship reference: R16-24
Directorate General: Health and Social Care
Directorate: Health and Social Care Analysis
Division/Team: Substance use
The national Whole Family Approach (WFA) Working Group was established in 2020, with the support of the Scottish Government, to review current practice in relation to families affected by alcohol and drug use. The Working Group published a set principles in the form of a framework to apply to all...
Full Project Details
#ChildrenandYoungPeople,#drugs,#substanceuse,#wholefamilyapproach

Digitalisation of the immigration system: an investigation into the impact of digital-only immigration status and potential mitigations

Internship reference: R16-23
Directorate General: DG Strategy and External Affairs
Directorate: External Affairs Directorate
Division/Team: Citizens’ Rights
This internship offers the opportunity to undertake research and provide analytical input to support policy development in the immigration space. This internship will support the Citizens’ Rights team in their work to deliver on the PfG commitment  to press the UK government to provide physical proof of status for EU...
Full Project Details
#digital,#EU,#immigration

A rapid review on drug treatment in primary care

Internship reference: R16-21
Directorate General: Health and Social Care
Directorate: Health and Social Care Analysis
Division/Team: Substance use
Primary care is healthcare provided in the community by health professionals accessed directly and by self-referral. Primary care includes community care by a wide range of professionals including GPs, nurses, health visitors and pharmacists. People seeking support and treatment for problematic substance use often access primary care as a point...
Full Project Details
#drugs,#primarycare,#substanceuse

Supporting the engagement over the Alcohol Marketing consultation

Internship reference: R16-31
Directorate General: Health and Social Care
Directorate: Covid Public Health
Division/Team: Health and Social Care Analysis / Population Health Analysis
This project will involve supporting the Scottish Government’s consultation on alcohol marketing. The project will involve designing and conducting stakeholder engagement sessions/focus groups to provide more depth and understanding around the potential proposals as part of the alcohol marketing consultation. In particular, there may be opportunity to design appropriate sessions/focus...
Full Project Details
#alcohol,#marketing,#PopulationHealth

How Scotland Can Thrive in a Digital World - Developing the Evidence Base

Internship reference: R16-29
Directorate General: Corporate
Directorate: Directorate for Digital
Division/Team: Digital Connectivity Policy
There are a number of projects the intern could be involved in depending on their skills and experience: 1) Conducting reviews of existing evidence to identify and fill evidence gaps, and to inform future research. Topics could include: •            Digital infrastructure and impacts on emissions •            Relationships between improved connectivity...
Full Project Details
#broadband,#connectivity,#digital

Enhancing the Evidence Base on Health and Social Care Providers as Anchor Institutions

Internship reference: R16-26
Directorate General: Health and Social Care
Directorate: Population Health
Division/Team: Health Improvement Division, Health Inequalities Unit
This internship would support the Anchors workstream of the Place and Wellbeing Programme, which aims to support Scotland’s health and social care providers work with local partners to do what they can to build wealth in their communities and reduce some of the drivers of health inequalities. While the specific...
Full Project Details
#communities,#Healthinequalities,#HumanGeography

National Care Service - Reporting and monitoring

Internship reference: R16-36
Directorate General: Health and Social Care
Directorate: Social Care and National Care Service Development
Division/Team: National Care Service
This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in a major public service reform. The internship will contribute to the analysis supporting the development of the National Care Service (NCS). The specific project will be adapted, based on the skills and experience of the intern and current projects being taken...
Full Project Details
#NationalCareService,#NCS,#socialcare

Leadership and care home outcomes

Internship reference: R16-34
Directorate General: Health and Care
Directorate: Social Care and National Care Service Development
Division/Team: Adult Social Care Assurance and Oversight
The project would examine the various care home training programmes for managers and care home performance. The individual can design method (s) which they think most appropriate but may wish to consider correlation analysis. We would provide the data set which in the most part is from published data sources...
Full Project Details
#improvingoutcomesincarehomes,#leadership,#socialcare,#trainingandeducationinsocialcare

Understanding the Personal Assistant Workforce in Scotland

Internship reference: R16-33
Directorate General: Health and Social Care
Directorate: Social Care & National Care Service Development
Division/Team: Adult Social Care Workforce & Fair Work
This internship will be based within the Personal Assistant (PA) policy team, which sits within Adult Social Care Workforce & Fair Work Division. The policy team works closely with a range of stakeholders, including PAs and PA employers and representative organisations, to improve conditions and support the development of the...
Full Project Details
#independentliving,#mixedmethods,#personalassistants,#selfdirectedsupport,#socialcare

A program of work of the effectiveness of remotely delivered Alcohol Brief Interventions (ABIs)

Internship reference: R16-20
Directorate General: Health and Social Care
Directorate: Health and Social Care Analysis
Division/Team: Substance use
A program of work is ongoing around a review of alcohol brief intervention delivery in Scotland. Alcohol Brief Interventions (ABIs) are traditionally delivered exclusively in person as body language cues have been seen to be an important part of the intervention. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery of...
Full Project Details
#ABI,#alcohol,#behaviourchange,#briefinterventions,#COVID19,#healthimprovement,#healthinterventions,#Publichealth

Evaluating Scotland’s Severance Policy

Internship reference: R16-19
Directorate General: DG Scottish Exchequer
Directorate: Budget and Public Spending Directorate
Division/Team: Budget Pay and Pensions Divisions / Public Sector Pay and Severance Policy team
The internship provides an opportunity for a student to work within a collaborative and supportive team and to gain valuable experience undertaking an evaluation study in a complex and sometimes high-profile, contentious area, using quantitative and qualitative research skills. They will contribute to a report which will be acted upon...
Full Project Details
#evaluation,#governance,#stakeholders

Learning from the Pandemic: Covid-19 Learning and Evaluation Oversight Group

Internship reference: R16-12
Directorate General: Communities
Directorate: Directorate for Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice
Division/Team: Office of the Chief Social Policy Advisor
This internship will involve working as part of the Secretariat team supporting the Covid 19 Learning and Evaluation Group. The group, made up of senior leaders from within the Scottish Government and a range of policy and evaluation experts will meet roughly every two to three months. The Groups work...
Full Project Details
#COVID,#evaluation,#learning

Show me the money: Scottish public spending

Internship reference: R16-13
Directorate General: Scottish Exchequer
Directorate: Budget and Public Spending
Division/Team: Public Spending Division
The internship is based at the heart of the Scottish Government, and will be hosted in the Directorate for Public Spending and Budget within the Public Spending Team.  This is a multi-disciplinary policy/analytical team, including policy advisers, finance, economics and research professionals.   This is a fast moving part of government,...
Full Project Details
#dataviz,#publicspending,#scottishbudget
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