Do you want an internship with a real employer?
Are you free Monday 13 - Friday 17 April?
Do you study a degree in Social Sciences or Arts and Humanities?
If so, you can apply for the Spring Internship Experience 2026! We have lots of projects - the application form is to match you to the best one, so don't be put off from signing up!
Applications are now open! The deadline is Sunday 8 March.
The Spring Internship Experience is a week-long, campus-based consultancy internship at the University of Sheffield.
Students of any year group in any discipline within Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities can apply.
You will work on a real project set by a real organisation - boosting their work and your own CV and work experience at the same time.
Crucially, you'll work in groups - meaning you all contribute different skills and learn from each other.
This is an incredible opportunity to get an internship this year!
Three reasons to take part:
Boost your employability with real-life work experience with a real-world organisation who are real clients.
Gain valuable work experience alongside other students in a familiar, supportive environment.
Opportunity to make lasting professional connections, both with organisations and your student-colleagues.
What will it be like?
We will use the information you provide in your application form to match you with an employer, a group, and a project. You'll get the project brief and all the information your group need to work on it during the week.
From Monday 13 to Friday 17 April, you'll be on campus in a co-working space. On Monday you'll get the full project brief and meet the organisation to discuss your project!
Every day that week you'll be working with your group to achieve the project goals. Your organisation will offer you help, and...
Your Careers Team will also support you all week. We'll give you the help you need to be a success - keeping your teamwork on track, boosting your professional skills and shaping your confidence. There will also be one or two surprises!
Finally, on Friday 17 April is project outcomes day. You'll meet your organisation to discuss your work, get feedback, and celebrate with a networking lunch.
After completing Spring Internship Experience, you'll have actual, real-world experience of working with a real-employer. You will also be issued with a certificate!
If you have any questions about this programme contact us via socsciencesemployability@sheffield.ac.uk
Here you can find some examples of the real projects that students have worked on before!
Civil Service - understanding solutions for economic inactivity in different geographies
A small group of students completed this project, based on this research question: How might the problems that drive economic inactivity and the possible solutions differ between rural and urban geographies?
Using a variety of sources and data, students were asked to summarise existing evidence and generate some policy recommendations to feed into current policy development. The project required students to:
Understand patterns of economic inactivity and possible reasons for disparity, using existing public data sources for analysis
Summarise a range of approaches to meet the needs of unemployed people in different locations - drawing on UK previous policy but also with the option to take evidence from other countries
Outcomes: a report with recommendations for UK policy, including visual resources which could be used to present the case to policymakers and other stakeholders
Supply Chain business - enhancing brand visibility
This project focused on analysing the current eCommerce logistics market in Sheffield to identify opportunities for the business to enhance its brand visibility and social media engagement. The main objectives were to determine key marketing channels, craft a unique brand voice, and create a foundational strategy for implementation over the next 12 months.
The students evaluated competitors, customer behaviours, and marketing trends to propose a fitting marketing and social strategy.
Outcomes: The project helped to boost brand visibility, attract new clients, and align services with market demands, creating a scalable framework for sustainable growth and a stronger competitive edge.
This small accountancy firm were looking for a new HR platform that could support the team, both from the legal HR requirements but also from a learning and development perspective and to provide all the support employees need to thrive.
Students spent time learning about the business requirements and then researched the market for suitable options. The business provided some suggestions as to platforms, but students explored new alternatives, set up meetings to establish costs and benefits for each system, and made recommendations based on their research.
Outcomes: the research offered the business a major step towards adoption of a new system. The student had an interest in HR careers so the project offered valuable learning about HR functions within a small business.
You can find more examples of former projects here! Projects could also include…
Stakeholder consultation and mapping
Community engagement strategy
Competitor analysis
Process and policy reviews
Grant funding analysis
Digital inclusion strategy
Brand analysis
Communications review
Scoping study
Large-scale data analysis
Community outreach
Regulatory development
Impact measurement
Environmental impact assessment
Project plan
Historical/archive research
Marketing materials
Cultural heritage survey
Property portfolio analysis
User journey mapping
Policy gap analysis
Data visualisation
Map creation
To take part, submit your application via this form.
Applications will close at midnight on Sunday 8th March 2026.
We will use the information you provide to match you with an employer, a group, and a project. We will do our best to match everyone, but this may not be possible if we have lots of students interested in the same areas. This may mean you are offered an opportunity in a different area (which you can choose whether or not to accept).
You will be matched based on the skills the project requires.
We'll provide you with information in about the organisation you will be working with, and a bank of resources to help you (e.g. project planning tools).
We don't guarantee you a specific employer, but we do guarantee you a great project in line with what you tell us in the application form.
Which students will be able to take part?
Any student currently studying an Undergraduate or a Postgraduate degree in Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities can take part. It doesn't matter what degree subject you are studying or what year of study you are in.
Wait, I don't know if that's me!
If your degree is in any of these schools, you can apply!
School of Architecture and Landscape
School of Economics
School of Education
School of English
History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities
School of Geography & Planning
School of Information, Journalism and Communication
School of Languages, Arts and Societies
School of Law
School of Sociology, Politics and International Relations
Management School
What should I talk about in my application?
In your application, make sure to highlight the following skills:
Research
Critical thinking and analysis
Communication
Writing
Problem-solving
Creative thinking
Collaboration
Ethics and sustainability.
In your application, you can talk about your specific degree background. This includes talking about specific topics and tasks you have completed as part of your degree that you think are relevant to taking part in a project. Also tell us about your interests and hobbies, it's all useful information!
What application support is available?
Please contact the Faculty of Social Sciences Employability team for support! We're at socsciencesemployability@sheffield.ac.uk
You can also access guidance on your application by visiting the Cornerstone Hub, The Wave building and speaking to a Hub Assistant. We're open 11am-3pm, Monday-Friday. You can also attend an Expert Drop-In, which run every Monday at 1pm-3pm, and Wednesday 12pm-2pm.
Where is it taking place?
On the University of Sheffield Campus. The exact building you will be based in will be confirmed closer to the date.
Am I able to take part?
Any student currently studying an Undergraduate or a Postgraduate degree in Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities can take part. It doesn't matter what degree subject you are studying or what year of study you are in.
Is this suitable for me?
Whatever your future plans are and what your current experience level is, this is a fantastic opportunity to boost your employability.
I haven't taken part in a project like this, will it be easy to take part?
Don't worry, this has been designed to be accessible. You'll be based on the University of Sheffield campus, working with other students, with support from the Careers team.
How will I be matched with a project?
We will match you with a project based on your application. Therefore, for us to best match you with a project, your application should reflect your previous experience, what you are interested in working on and what you want to get out of the opportunity.
What will my group be like?
You'll be working with other University of Sheffield students from Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences. These students will have different skills and backgrounds, everyone will be able to make a unique contribution, amazing preparation for the workplace, as it’s exactly what it is like.
What will I get out of it?
While this work is unpaid, you will develop your employability skills by taking part in a project and engaging with the buzz sessions that the Careers team will deliver. Once you have completed Spring Internship Experience, you will also receive a certificate.