Scottish Internship Graduate Certificate

Why study for the Scottish Internship Graduate Certificate (SIGC) at Dundee?

The SIGC aims to equip you with the knowledge, understanding and practical experience necessary to enhance your employability.

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.

Who should apply for this course?

This programme is aimed at graduates seeking to enhance their work experience.

• New graduates with little or no work experience seeking to gain entry to graduate employment
• Early-career graduates seeking to further develop your career
• Experienced graduates seeking experience to gain entry to a new area / sector.

Please note the eligibility requirements for international students in the 'Entry Requirements' section.

Related courses

• Global Internship Graduate Certificate

Teaching & Assessment

This programme is delivered by teaching staff in the Careers Service

The start date is January each year, and the course lasts for 8 months. There are 10-25 places available each year.

Careers

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 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 pursue further study or have sought 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.

Previous internships included projects in Management, IT and Computer Games, Engineering, HR, Environmental, Marketing, Life Science, Design, Social Research, Events Management and Culture.

Entry Requirements

All applicants should have, or expect to gain by the beginning of the programme, a minimum of an ordinary degree or equivalent from a recognised institution.

All International applicants should have, or expect to have the right to remain and work in the UK (e.g. Post Study Work Visa) by the November prior to the start of the progamme. If you already have a Post Study Work Visa, please ensure that it is valid for the duration of the progamme.

Unfortunately, due to government restrictions on International students undertaking internship placements this programme is NOT open to international student visa holders.

If you have any questions, please contact a member of the SIGC team at cs-sigc@dundee.ac.uk

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. 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.  

Fees and Funding

Academic Year	Home/EU	Overseas
2012-13	£1,800	£2,700
2013-14	£1,900	£2,800
2014-15	£2,000	£3,000

Training allowances of a minimum of £371 per month for each month of the placement are attached to all internships; however, some employers may offer more.

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

Living Costs

• Dundee is ranked as one of the most affordable places for students to live in the UK, and the cost of living is around 15% cheaper than the UK average.
• Increasing numbers of students are successfully undertaking part-time work to supplement their income. You can get advice from our Careers Service, both about job opportunities and how to find a suitable study/work/life balance. EU and international students are also allowed to work up to 20 hours per week.
• As a student in Scotland, you have free access to the National Health Service. Visits to doctors and hospitals, as well as prescriptions, sight tests and dental checkups, are available free of charge.

How to Apply

All application should be made via UKPASS.

There are three application deadlines:

• 30th May 2013
• 26th September 2013
• 7th November 2013

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.
• If you are an international candidate; a proof of your eligibility to work in the UK (e.g. copy or scan of your visa)
• If English is not your first language; certificates for English Language tests/qualifications

Timeline for Applicants
Date	Event	Details
	Applications open	Apply online via UKPASS
Thursday 30th May 2013	Closing Date (1st Round)
June 2013 onwards		If you apply by the first round closing date and are successful, your interview will take place from June onwards. If successful at this stage, a conditional offer for a place on the programme will be made.
Thursday 26th September 2013	Closing Date (2nd Round)
June - October 2013	Interviews with Careers Service	2nd round interviews will be ongoing throughout the summer. If successful at this stage, a conditional offer for a place on the programme will be made.
Thursday 7th November 2012	Closing Date (3rd Round)
November 2013 onwards	Interviews with Careers Service	Final interviews will take place from November 2013. If successful at this stage, a conditional offer for a place on the programme will be made.
By end of December 2013	Interviews with Placement Providers	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 December. If no suitable/desirable placements are found, your application will be terminated at this point.
December 2013	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 13th January 2014	SIGC Begins!	The programme will start with an induction, followed by Module 1: Preparation and Planning. Placements will begin on Monday 24th February 2014 and run until Friday 22nd August 2014. The Programme will end with a final day of assessment and de-brief on Wednesday 3rd September 2014. Please note, if you wish to attend your graduation ceremony, this will take place in November 2014.