Placements, internships and volunteering programmes

The ABDNConnect Internship Programme connects organisations with current students and graduates to assist with a defined project or with a range of activities via a paid internship role.  Organisations can choose the length, timing, location and hours to suit your needs.

• How can interns help your organisation?  Students and graduates can help on defined projects for a defined period of time, or can help out more generally across activities within your organisation on an ongoing basis.
• Types of internships:  The location (including virtual), the hours (part-time/full time) and the length of the internship opportunity is entirely flexible to suit the needs of the organisation. During term time, we recommend interns work a maximum of 20 hours per week to balance with their studies.
• How our team can support organisations: We provide structured support for organisations in designing the internship, establishing role requirements in terms of skills, experience and degree background and targeted advertising of the internship opportunity to ensure suitable students/graduates apply.  You will be supported throughout the advertising process and have the option of us collating applications on your behalf.
• Which organisations can get involved?  Organisations of all sizes across all sectors are welcome to suit our diverse and talented student population.  We welcome enquiries from all organisations, including existing employer partners, alumni connected employers, and employers who are new to the University. 
• How are students/graduates supported during their internship? Alongside their internship, students and graduates can work through a pathway of skills planning, development and reflection activities designed to help them maximise the benefit of the internship for themselves and the organisation.
• Is funding available to help towards the costs of providing a paid internship opportunity?  To offer an internship opportunity as part of the ABDNConnect Internship programme, organisations are required to pay interns at living wage.  Funding is available to assist SMEs towards the costs of paying an intern through the Santander Universities Funding scheme. 

The University of Aberdeen has over 15,000 students, from over 130 nationalities studying a rich and diverse range of degree subjects at undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD level.  Our wide range of subjects delivered across 12 Schools gives organisations the opportunity to connect with, and benefit from, a huge variety of students/graduates in terms of level, skills and specialisms.  Organisations have benefited in a range of ways, giving help or a new perspective on specific projects or being able to support flexibly across a range of activities as needed by the organisation.  Here is one story from one of our Santander funded employer partners.

The University of Aberdeen Placement and Internship schemes are great opportunities for businesses of all sizes to access short- or long-term input with the potential for longer term benefits for all. Our 4th year student has been a valuable resource over the summer period.  Terry Stebbings, Director, Proterra Energy Ltd. 

The flexibility of the ABDNConnect Internship programme means that organisations can connect with students and graduates at a time which suits you, for a length of time which suits you and via an opportunity which is shaped to suits the needs of your organisation.  The programme is open all year around with no defined timeframes, although please be aware that funding is limited and may be allocated within a specified timescale.

The University of Aberdeen Careers and Employability team support all students and graduates taking part in the ABDNConnect Internship programme from the start and during their internship.  This ensures interns consider and plan for their internship from the outset, are supported in reviewing and tracking their progress, are able to anticipate and overcome any obstacles and are able to maximise their contribution to the internship throughout.

We would love to hear from alumni who would like to help our current students and recent graduates by connecting them with internship opportunities. 

• Please complete this form if you would like to find out more about the ABDNConnect Internship Programme.
• If you are able to connect us with the right people and department(s) in your organisation to discuss providing internship opportunities, please get in touch so that we can work with you on next steps.
• If you would like to raise awareness of internship opportunities outwith this programme, you can find out more about advertising for free here.

Internship opportunities can be registered as part of the ABDNConnect Internship Programme at any time of year.  If you want to discuss how to get started or have specific questions, you can get in touch. 

Here are some steps to follow to help you and your organisation to get involved:

1. Consider possible opportunities for internships within your organisation.  Think about types of work to be completed, timescales, work mode(s) and the types of skills, degree backgrounds and experience needed.  You are welcome to discuss this with us informally to help shape your ideas (add request a ‘call back’) and we can take you through the remaining steps.
2. Read the full programme guidelines, and get in touch if you have any questions.
3. Financial considerations.  All internship opportunities within this programme are paid at the living wage by the organisation.  Organisations in a position to offer paid internships as part of the programme can submit opportunities at any time.  For Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), including start-up organisations, the Santander Universities Employability Scheme provides funding towards the costs of taking an intern.  Funding is currently available to fully fund internships from a minimum of 70 hours to a maximum of 108 hours in duration, or can be used towards the costs of a longer internship. Please be aware that funding is limited.  For an informal discussion about funding opportunities please get in touch.
4. Develop and submit an internship proposal form.  Once you are ready, you can submit a full internship proposal form online.  We will get in touch to confirm receipt and to discuss next steps to go live with the internship.  Should you have questions about any parts of the form, you can get in touch.
5. Advertising and selecting interns.  Once finalised, we will advertise the internship opportunity to appropriate students and graduates via our CareerConnect website, via social media channels and through targeted advertising as required.  We will support the application process to meet your needs, either highlighting the application method, or collating CV and cover letters to pass on within an agreed timeframe.  We can also advise and support organisations through the interview stage if required. 
6. Getting started.  Once the organisation has selected the intern, final arrangements such as a start date can be arranged between the organisation and the intern.  Once the successful candidate is confirmed, the Careers team will provide the intern with access to the ABDNConnect Internship Programme pathway which the student will be encouraged to start in advance of their internship start date.  Through the pathway, the intern will be asked to complete an Internship Development Plan, conduct a mid-internship review and then complete an end-internship review and an Internship Reflection Report.  Participating organisations are welcome to ask their interns about their pathway progress and the Careers team would be happy to provide more details about the pathway should this be of interest.

Please complete this form if you would like to find out more about the ABDNConnect Internship Programme. The Careers and Employability Service will contact you to discuss possible internship opportunities and how we can support you connecting with our students and graduates.

For all other enquiries about the ABDNConnect Internship Programme, please contact us.

The ABDNCommunity Volunteering Programme connects not-for-profit and charitable organisations with current students to assist with a defined project or range of activities via a voluntary role. Organisations can choose the length, timing, location and hours to suit your needs

• How can volunteers help your organisation? Students can help on defined projects for a defined period of time, or can help out more generally across activities within your organisation on an ongoing basis.
• Types of volunteering opportunities: The location (including virtual), the hours (part-time/full time) and the length of the volunteering opportunity is entirely flexible to suit the needs of the organisation. During term time, we recommend volunteers contribute a maximum of 20 hours per week to balance with their studies.
• How our team can support organisations: We provide structured support for organisations in designing the volunteering role, establishing role requirements in terms of required skills and experience and targeted advertising of the opportunity to ensure suitable students apply. You will be supported throughout the advertising process and have the option of us collating applications on your behalf.
• Which organisations can participate? We welcome enquiries from all charities and not-for-profit organisations who wish to gain access to our diverse and talented student community. We welcome opportunities to connect with regional, national and global organisations.
• How are students supported in their volunteering? Alongside their volunteering, students can work through a pathway of skills planning, development and reflection activities designed to help them maximise the benefit of the opportunity for themselves and the organisation.
• Is funding available? A limited number of bursaries (worth £436 each) are available to volunteers to help towards their expenses and ensure opportunities are open to all students, particularly those who might not have previously considered volunteering as a positive way to develop skills and experience. This bursary can be advertised in association with suitable volunteering opportunities to encourage applications from our diverse student community.

If you are a not-for-profit organisation or charity interested in gaining access to the University of Aberdeen’s international talent pool, read the ABDNCommunity Volunteering Programme guidelines. 

If you wish to find out more about the ABDNCommunity Volunteering Programme before submitting a proposal please complete this form and we will contact you. 

Please complete this form if you would like to find out more about the ABDNCommunity Volunteering Programme. The Careers and Employability Service will contact you to discuss possible opportunities and how we can support you connecting with our students and graduates.

For all other enquiries about the ABDNCommunity Volunteering Programme, please contact us.