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Edinburgh
3.0 (4.0 scale)
One semester
17.5 U.S. semester credit hours
Fall semester (Sept-Dec)
Spring semester (Jan-April)
April 15 for fall; October 15 for spring
Jenny Piland

Internship

With the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, the University of Edinburgh created an internship and coursework combination designed to expose students to issues in Scottish politics. Students may choose one of two fifteen-week sessions, during which they participate in the development of Scottish political life and learn about the history and culture of Scottish society.

The first five weeks of the internship include intensive courses and weekly orientation sessions that familiarize students with their internship duties and explain research possibilities. After completing the coursework and orientation, students are placed with an MSP (a Member of Scottish Parliament).

Under the MSP’s direction, you will pursue independent research and participate in political activity. You will have study space in the MSP’s office and maintain an academic base in the university’s Unit for the Study of Government in Scotland. Members of the department will assist students with their research projects.

Although the Parliamentary Internship program is organized by the University of Edinburgh, participants will not enroll in classes at Edinburgh other than the set curriculum of the internship program. The intensive nature of the courses is designed specifically for internship participants only.

Housing

Parliamentary Internship participants will live together in housing near the Scottish Parliament. The housing includes common areas and kitchens where students may prepare their own meals.

Courses

The program is divided into two sections. For the first five weeks, you will enroll in three courses: Scottish Government and Politics, Introduction to British Politics, and Scotland: Society and Culture. These are regular courses taught in the Faculty of Social Sciences by University of Edinburgh faculty members. Taught intensively, the classes contain the same content as the full-term equivalent course, similar to summer courses taught in the U.S. The coursework is designed to give you a background in British politics and the Scottish Parliament.