Universities | Entrepreneurial Scotland

The Saltire Scholar Programme aims to inspire students to achieve their professional potential by investing in young talent from across Scotland.

Founded by the GlobalScot network in 2007, The Saltire Scholar Intern Programme was created to find, fuel and spark the next generation of leaders for Scotland. We collaborate with Scotland’s Universities to create opportunities for the development of their students, enabling them to unlock their leadership and entrepreneurial potential, working toward creating societal and economic impact in Scotland and around the world. This is achieved by:

Life changing experience:

The Saltire Scholar Internship Programme offers internships of the highest quality with outstanding companies globally; from Silicon Valley to Tokyo as well as locally here in the UK. We partner with large firms, such as Barclays, Network Rail and Azzurri and Scale-Ups like Ooni, AquaScot and Intelligent Growth Solutions.

Financial Support:

Each of Scotland’s Universities contributes financially to the Saltire Scholar Programme by providing funding that supports their students to undertake their internship. Each student who becomes a Saltire Scholar has their high-quality internship experience part-funded by their university.

Leveraging contribution:

For every £1 contributed to the Programme by a Scottish university, the ES Foundation generates £5 towards these transformative experiences.

Widening access:

We work with the Employability Teams across Scotland’s universities to maximise opportunities for those who have the talent but may not have the networks to open doors for them. In 2021, 53% of interns had at least one widening access marker.

Diversity & STEM opportunities:

In 2021, 63% of our intern pool identified as female, 46% are doing a STEM based degree subject

Ambassadors for Scotland’s Universities and Scotland:

Saltire Scholars, with our encouragement, are positioned as ambassadors for Scotland and exemplars of the quality of student coming from a University in Scotland.

of Host Companies said their Scholars performance exceeded expectations

of Host Companies described the talent coming through Scotland’s universities as “excellent”

of Scholars reported a positive change to their Professional network

of Scholars stated that their confidence increased because of their internship

of Scholars found the Programme’s Learning resources useful

of Scholars said the Commercial Significance of their Internship Projects was important to them

"Access to the highest quality international and local internships is more vital than ever.

Offering world class internships to Scotland’s students creates a positive, hopeful future. This is particularly important at a time when students are feeling disadvantaged and deprived of future opportunity.

This is even more acute for those from a widening access background. We commit to work closely together with Scotland's universities for the benefit of their students, building on 15 years of partnership.

It has been impressive to watch the University’s commitment to deliver a high-quality student learning experience during the pandemic, innovating in real time.

Likewise, we too are committed to students’ learning experience and to continuing our extraordinarily effective partnership".

Colin Robertson, CBE

Chairperson, Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation

Partnering with the Saltire Scholar Programme is hugely beneficial for UWS. Our students get the opportunity to experience life-changing work experience at world-leading organisations that they may not otherwise get the chance to experience. But it’s not just about the placements, we see students develop their leadership potential, build career-enhancing professional networks, and most important of all, become more confident individuals.

Stephen Watt

University of the West of Scotland Careers Service.

Saltire Scholar internships provide a unique opportunity for students to do an internship in the UK or abroad. We are pleased to be part of the process because it encourages students to get an experience in their penultimate year and think ahead before graduation.

Juan Garcia

Employability & Development Adviser, Queen Margaret University Careers Service.

GSA is delighted to partner with the Saltire Scholar Programme. The programme offers fantastic opportunities for GSA students to apply their creative practice skills and knowledge within paid summer placements and contribute to genuine commercial projects. Our students benefit from the support offered by the Saltire team, enable them to confidently contribute to the Host organisation’s culture while building professional experience, networks and confidence for their future careers.

Lesley Black

Glasgow School of Art Careers Service.

At Heriot Watt we have worked with Entrepreneurial Scotland to support our students with some fabulous experiences in Industry both home and abroad. Developing workplace experience is invaluable and the Saltire Programme that our students participate in has offered the chance to explore and challenge themselves beyond the usual work experience opportunities, providing an added dimension; promoting drive, tenacity, resilience, and an entrepreneurial attitude, showcasing Higher Education talent in Scotland

Kristi Buchanan

Employer Engagement Manager, Careers and Graduate Futures Service, Heriot Watt University

Over the years of partnering with the Saltire Programme, many of our students at the University of Glasgow have gained important work experience abroad which has greatly benefited their career prospects. At Glasgow, we look forward to continuing this alliance to support our students global aspirations as world changers.

Lesley Taylor

Head of Employer Engagement, University of Glasgow.