Scottish Internship Graduate Certificate

Snapshot

Overview

The Scottish Internship Graduate Certificate (SIGC) is an eight month long course incorporating a six month internship with career planning and degree related modules.

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

• UK and EU applicants who already have, or expect to have a minimum of an Ordinary Degree.
• International applicants who already have their Tier One, Post Study Work Visa. This visa needs to be valid until the end of the course, which is the 31st of May 2012.
• If your first language isn't English, then you need to demonstrate you have a good command of the English Language, with an IELTS score of 6.5 and above.
• You do not need to be a recent graduate to apply. We actively encourage applications from those who are returning to work or looking for a career change.

Aims of the Programme

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.

Programme Content

The programme consists of three credit-bearing modules:

• Preparation and Planning (15 credits)
  This module, commencing in October, is a one month intensive University-based course taken prior to the internship. This module aims to enhance your self-awareness and prepare you for your internship. Sessions include project management, team working and presentation skills. Knowledge of Scottish employers and recruitment will be further enhanced by a cultural and employer visit programme. Learning and teaching will be based around intensive, highly interactive face-to-face lectures, seminars and tutorials.
• Internship (30 credits)
  Internship placements will commence in November. Students will be carefully matched to an internship opportunity which relates to their degree and/or compliments their career aspirations. Internships last year included those from the management, IT, engineering 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 are 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. Throughout their internship, students will be given appropriate support from workplace supervisors and university tutors. This module will be delivered by a mix of distance learning and on-campus 'call-back' days.
• Analysis and Career Planning (15 credits)
  In May, students will undertake a Placement Reflection and Sector Analysis project, essentially a reflective account of their internship experience and related sector analysis. Areas covered include professional CV building, mock interviews and supported job searching.
  
  

Methods of Teaching and Assessment

Throughout the course learning and teaching will be based around intensive, face-to-face highly interactive and participatory lectures, seminars and tutorials. Additionally, students will use PDP (Personal Development Planning) to foster career management and action planning skills.

Module 1 - Preparation and Planning

Learning and teaching will be based around intensive, face-to-face highly interactive and participatory lectures, seminars and tutorials. Each week comprises:

• 4 days seminar/workshop delivered by Careers Service and partners
• Group tutorials
• One day Employer/Cultural visits

Module 2 - Internship Placement

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 masterclass delivered by Careers Service or external speakers
• Fortnightly Virtual Tutorials (online discussions)
• Visits by tutors to students on placement

Assessment will be via:

• Weekly Reflective Log
• Placement Assessment (conducted by Tutor with student and supervisor)
• Senior Manager Job Study
• Graduate Job Study
• Virtual Tutorial

Module 3 - Analysis and Career Planning

Learning and teaching will be based around intensive, face-to-face highly interactive and participatory lectures, seminars and tutorials. The module will include:

• 4 days seminar/workshop delivered by Careers Service and partners
• Group tutorials
• One day supported Graduate Job Search
  

Number of Places: 10 - 25

Entry Requirements

All UK and EU applicants should have, or expect to have, an ordinary degree, or equivalent.

All International applicants should have, or expect to have a Post Study Work Visa by the summer prior to the start of the course. If you already have a Post Study Work Visa, please ensure that it is valid for the duration of the course. If you have any questions, please contact a member of the SIGC team at cs-sigc@dundee.ac.uk

With the application form, you should enclose or upload an up to date CV, including a CV aim, indicating the sector / internship area you are interested in.

English Language Requirement: IELTS of 6.5 (or equivalent), if your first language is not English. Please check our Language Requirements page for details of equivalent grades from other test providers, and information about the University of Dundee English Language courses.

There are two application deadlines - 31st March 2011 and 28th July 2011.

Application Process

Timeline for Applicants
Date	Event	Details
January 2011	Applications open	Apply online via UKPASS
Thursday 31st March 2011	Closing Date (1st Round)
April 2011 onwards	Interviews with Careers Service	If you apply by the first round closing date and are successful, your interview will take place from April onwards. If successful at this stage, a conditional offer for a place on the programme will be made.
Thursday 28th July 2011	Closing Date (2nd Round)
August 2011 onwards	Interviews with Careers Service	Interviews will take place from August onwards. If successful at this stage, a conditional offer for a place on the programme will be made.
By end of September 2011	Interviews with Placement Providers: by end of September 2011	All candidates who have been successful at the Careers Service Interview stage will be invited to meet with suitable placement providers for interviews/selection during September. If no suitable/desirable placements are found, your application will be terminated at this point.
September 2011	Acceptance and Confirmation	If you are successful in your interview with a placement provider and are offered a placement by them, you will be issued with an unconditional offer for the programme and should respond as soon as possible to confirm your place.
Monday 3rd October 2011	SIGC Begins!	The programme will start with an induction, followed by the Planning and Preparation module. Placements will begin on Monday 31st October 2011. The third module, Analysis and Reflection, will begin on Monday 16th May 2012, finishing on Friday 27th May 2012. Please note, if you wish to attend your graduation ceremony, this will take place in November 2012.

Funding

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 Individual Learning Account (ILA). For more information visit www.ilascotland.org.uk/

Please note, this programme is not eligible for SAAS funding.

Career Opportunities

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.

It is anticipated that the internship will give students a real advantage in terms of being noticed by Scottish / UK graduate employers. Through the programme, international students specifically will enhance their employment prospects in the UK and abroad by gaining valuable hands on experience within a Scottish business whilst developing a real insight into the UK business climate and culture.

The exact nature of career opportunities will be dependent on previous qualifications and experience 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.

Contact

Course Contact	Admissions Contact
Careers Service University of Dundee Nethergate Dundee DD1 4HN Scotland Telephone: 01382 384 017 (from the UK) Telephone: +44 1382 384 017 (from outside the UK) Fax: 01382 384 116 (from the UK) Fax: +44 1382 384 116 (from outside the UK) Email:cs-sigc@dundee.ac.uk	Postgraduate Admissions Admissions and Student Recruitment University of Dundee Nethergate Dundee DD1 4HN Scotland Telephone: 01382 384 384 (from the UK) Telephone: +44 1382 384 384 (from outside the UK) Fax: 01382 385 500 (from the UK) Fax: +44 1382 385 500 (from outside the UK) Email: postgrad-admissions@dundee.ac.uk