The Scottish Internship Graduate Certificate (SIGC)

SIGC aims to equip you with the knowledge, understanding and practical experience necessary to enhance your employability. It is aimed at graduates with all levels of work experience, whether you are looking to launch your career, seeking ways to further develop your career path or gain experience in a new area / sector. 

The modules which comprise the programme are designed to help you to: 

• • Make sense of UK working cultures and practices and your role within the world of work.
• • Be able to undertake career planning to manage your career and to participate successfully in graduate recruitment processes.
• • Undertake a meaningful period of work experience in a relevant field and undertake an original piece of work (project) which is of benefit to both you and the placement provider.
• • Develop and use skills, knowledge and experience in a practical setting.

The programme consists of two credit-bearing modules: 

Module 1: Preparation and Planning (20 credits):
This module, commencing in January, is a 6 week intensive University-based course taken prior to the internship. This module aims to enhance your self-awareness, career management skills and understanding of the world of work and thus prepare you for your internship. You will participate in highly interactive learning sessions where you will explore topics such as project management, team working, commercial awareness, networking and presentation skills. 

Module 2: Internship and Development (40 credits):
This module combines the internship placement with further developmental learning which will help equip you with all the career planning skills you need to search for your next job or opportunity and to manage your career into the future. 

Internship Placement:
Prior to the beginning or the programme, students will be carefully matched to an internship opportunity which relates to their degree and/or compliments their career aspirations. Past internships have included those from the management, IT, engineering, HR and marketing sectors. During their internship, students will undertake a project which is beneficial to their placement host and which also helps them to develop or make full use of their skills, knowledge and experience. Training allowances of a minimum of £200 per month for each month of the placement are attached to all internships, however, some employers may offer more than £200 a month. 

Internship placements will commence at the end of February and last for 6 months. Throughout their internship, students will be given appropriate support from workplace supervisors and university tutors. 

Module content:
The internship experience will be enhanced by continual learning delivered by a mix of online distance learning and on-campus 'call-back' days. Topics covered will include creating a winning CV, succeeding at interviews and making a professional impact. 

Methods of Teaching and Assessment:
Throughout the programme learning and teaching will be based around intensive, face-to-face highly interactive and participatory lectures, seminars and tutorials. Additionally, students will use MyDundee, the University's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to enhance and extend their learning. Assessment is by continual assessment, there are no exams for this programme. 

Module 1 is a full time on-campus module which will largely take the form of interactive seminars and workshops from 10am - 4pm from Monday to Friday. 

Assessment will be via:

• • Online skills assessment (Dundee Graduate Skills Award)
• • Group oral presentations
• • Written report on internship sector

This module will be delivered by a mix of distance learning and on-campus 'call-back' days:

• • 'Call back' days, consisting of full or half day master-classes delivered by Careers Service or external speakers
• • Online learning material
• • Visits by tutors to students on internship placement

Assessment will be via:

• • Reflective written account
• • Placement appraisal (conducted by Tutor with student and supervisor)
• • Job study report
• • Internship placement report
• • Individual oral presentation (delivered in September at end of placement)

Who is eligible to apply for the Scottish Internship Graduate Certificate? 

• • It is open to UK and EU applicants who already have, or expect to have a minimum of an Ordinary Degree.
• • If your first language isnt English, then you need to demonstrate you have a good command of the English Language, with an IELTS score of 6.5 and above.

There are three application deadlines - 31st May, 27th September and 8th November 2012. For an application form and information about course fees click here. 

Number of Places on the course: 10 - 25.

All application should be made via UKPASS. 

There are three application deadlines - 31st May, 27th September and 8th November 2012. 

With the application form, you MUST upload or send under a separate cover the following:

• • An up to date CV, including a CV aim, indicating the sector / internship area you are interested in.
• • A copy of certificates for all Higher Education.

All placements attract a training allowance of a minimum of £200 per month for each month of the placement. 

You may be eligible for additional funds from the Part-time Fee Grant from SAAS. For more information click here.

As the UK employment market becomes ever more competitive, internships provide a vital route to graduate recruitment. SIGC suits graduates with all levels of work experience from those looking to launch their careers to those seeking ways to further develop their career path or alternatively gain experience in a new area / sector. 

Past participants in the programme have benefited from a real advantage in the UK graduate recruitment market by gaining valuable hands on experience within their sector. Many of our graduates have found paid positions with their internship organisations. Others have gone on to prestigious graduate recruitment schemes or found graduate work locally. Some have also chosen to study further or have pursued further internship experience. 

The exact nature of career opportunities will be dependent on previous qualifications, experience and career aspirations of individual students. However, it is expected that SIGC will significantly boost student employability and career prospects in a variety of sectors including finance, Information Technology, Management and Engineering amongst others. Previous internships included projects in Design, Human Resource Management, Information Management, Engineering, Marketing, Events Management, Sales and Social Research. 

The fees for 2012-13 are £1,800 for UK and EU students and £2,700 for International students.