850 Students Progress to 2025 Saltire Scholars Candidate Pool

After 1,463 applications, 850 students from universities across Scotland have successfully entered the 2025 Saltire Scholars Candidate Pool, granting them access to apply for summer internships with host companies around the world.

850 students were selected as part of a rigorous recruitment process which saw them participate in three workshops at our assessment centres. These workshops included a group interview, group activity and a presentation. These workshops were designed to test hopeful candidates on their communication skills, teamwork, leadership potential, creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, passion, confidence, planning and preparedness, all of which are desired attributes and skills that shape a potential Saltire Scholar.

Head of the Saltire Scholars Programme, Kelly Glass, discusses our assessment centre process:

The Saltire Scholars Programme hosted a total of 37 assessment centres this year, with 30 held in person across Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Paisley, and 7 conducted virtually. This process was made possible through the dedication of 148 volunteer assessors and 74 student Brand Ambassadors, who collectively contributed over 500 hours of time. We are grateful for our volunteers for their commitment and to our University and Ecosystem Partners for generously providing venue space, enabling our assessment centres to take place.

This year, the Candidate Pool features students from 16 of Scotland’s universities, covering a wide variety of degree subjects and disciplines from Engineering and Life Sciences, to Business, Finance and Marketing.

Access our 2025 Candidate Pool

If your business seeking to access high-quality, pre-vetted students, now is the perfect time to get involved with the Saltire Scholars Programme. Organisations are invited to register their interest in hosting a Saltire Scholar Intern for Summer 2025.

As a host with the programme, your organisation will gain exclusive access to our 2025 Candidate Pool, featuring Scotland’s brightest and most ambitious students from a diverse range of degree backgrounds and disciplines. Companies will have the opportunity to advertise their internship role(s) directly to this talent pool, with our dedicated team carefully matching you with the top 3-5 candidates to interview personally.

Hosting a Saltire Scholar is a simple, efficient and cost-effective way to bring fresh perspectives, innovation and meaningful results to your business.