Scottish Parliament

For over 15 years, BYU has partnered with the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to provide several unpaid internships per semester. From their first day on the job, interns work closely with their assigned Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) and one or two other staffers. Parliamentary interns conduct focused research on pressing issues, conduct constituency service, interact with voters, and draft speeches, newspaper articles, and correspondence. On evenings and weekends, students explore Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland, participate in the local ward, and, time and money allowing, travel in Europe. Interns emerge from the experience with a compelling, evidence-based narrative about the professional value of their internship, opening doors to graduate school or future employment.

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Courses

UK visa laws require international student interns to have full-time status, which means participants must register for 12 hours of coursework through BYU. Students are required to take POLI 399R or ENGL 399R (a 3-credit minimum) during their internship experience. The remainder of the credits often come from the equivalent internship class from the student’s major or minor. Students may not take any other courses on this program, including BYU Online courses, without approval by the program director and ISP.

Cost

$ Tuition

Includes Latter-day Saint, undergraduate full tuition (increased cost for grads and non–Latter-day Saint students), visa application and processing fees, and international health insurance.

Does not include airfare, food, housing, and other living expenses. With these additional costs, students generally spend approximately $7,000 total (before scholarships, stipends, and other forms of financial aid are applied).

Married students wishing to bring an accompanying spouse should consult with ISP about BYU and UK requirements for international health insurance, visas, and so forth.

Funding Sources

Many parliamentary interns cover a large portion of their costs through funding from BYU and external sources.

University scholarships, Pell Grants, and Federal Insured Student Loans may be applied to program costs. Students with a major housed in the Family, Home, and Social Sciences or in the College of Humanities are eligible for needs-based funding ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Other students frequently receive similar amounts through their home departments or colleges.

Those completing the ISP Program Discount section of the program application and filing a current FAFSA form at BYU’s Financial Aid Office (A-41 ASB) will also be considered for a need-based internship scholarship.

Students may also pursue private grants and scholarships, including those listed online at kennedy.byu.edu/scholarships.

Preparation

Accepted students must earn a B or better in the 1 credit hour POLI 297R or HCOLL 396R (Internship Preparation) class during the second block of the Fall or Winter semester prior to their internship.

International study programs are physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing and you must be in good health to participate. These programs often take place in international locations that do not have the same level of safety and services in terms of transportation, living conditions, residential accommodations, food, public behavior, and policing that you may be used to on campus. If you have further questions or concerns on this, please see our travel policy.

Students must meet all country- and program-specific COVID and health requirements for travel.

Housing

Housing is solely the responsibility of each intern. For housing leads, students should consult previous interns, the program facilitator and faculty coordinator, and websites specializing in short-term Edinburgh rentals.

Travel

Students are responsible for purchasing their own airfare to and from the program sites. Airline reservations must be made through BYU Travel. Students should contact a BYU Travel agent.

BYU Travel
280 HRCB
(801) 422-6293
travel@byu.edu

Application Process

Students must be 18 years of age or older.

Application Requirements: application letter, CV, and written responses to application questions. Applicants ready with solid drafts will then meet with Dr. Danny Damron, the program director, to finalize and submit their application. Students should complete an official ISP application (which includes a non-refundable $35 processing fee) only after receiving an internship offer.

Selection criteria and process: Since openings are limited, BYU will only sponsor applications from those demonstrating a commitment to the internship as a high stakes professional development experience. After a student has been nominated by BYU and officially applied, final decisions are made by our contacts in Scotland. Students should not purchase plane tickets or make other arrangements before receiving a formal offer from Scotland. Once accepted, student should work closely with ISP to arrange housing, academic credits, and a UK visa.

Students will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance into the program. The first payment is due upon acceptance; please refer to the Payment Information Page.

Deadline for Winter 2025: 13 October 2024
Deadline for Fall 2025: 1 April 2025

Those who only hear about this program after these deadlines are still encouraged to contact Dr. Damron, as the Parliament may consider late applications from particularly strong candidates.

Program Adjustments

International Study Programs (ISP) reserves the right to cancel this program, revise its offerings, or make any adjustments to the preliminary cost.

If it becomes necessary for ISP to cancel a program, all program payments made to BYU ISP will be refunded to the student’s BYU Financial account.

ISP is the only office authorized to cancel any of its programs.

Faculty

Danny Damron, the Assistant Dean for Experiential Education & Professional Development in the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences, will work closely with all interns once they arrive in Scotland.

945 KMBL
(801) 356-1833
danny_damron@byu.edu

No BYU faculty member or employee will be on site to supervise interns.

Contact Us

International Study Programs
101 HRCB
(801) 422-3686
isp@byu.edu

ISP Student Handbook

To see the student handbook, click here.

Payment Schedule

To see the payment schedule, click here.

Scottish Parliament

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FAQ

More Information

Courses

Cost

Funding Sources

Preparation

Housing

Travel

Application Process

Program Adjustments

Faculty

Contact Us

ISP Student Handbook

Payment Schedule