Internships 

When can you apply?

Applications for our Summer Internship Programme open on 19 January 2026. Want to stay in the loop on future opportunities? Head over to our social media channels for the latest updates, an inside look at life at Scottish Water, and to hear directly from our previous interns about their experiences.

You’ll find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok.

What will you need?

You’ll be in the penultimate year of university, or maybe about to do a Masters. Either way, you’ll be on course for at least a 2:2 degree. And it goes without saying that you will be available for the full placement time: 12 weeks.

You’ll also need to live within commuting distance of one of our main office hubs, e.g., Edinburgh, Stepps, Dundee, Inverness. In terms of essential requirements? That’s it.

What is the programme like?

At Scottish Water, our Summer Internship Programme empowers you to gain hands-on experience, tackle real challenges, and contribute to shaping Scotland’s future. This isn’t just a summer job - it’s an opportunity to make a real impact. 

As part of our team, you’ll play a key role in delivering essential services and infrastructure that help Scotland flourish every day.

As an intern, you'll support key business areas on innovative projects to deliver an excellent service to our customers. Programme specialisms change each year, depending on business need.

In 2026, we're recruiting in these areas:

• Biodiversity
• Chemistry
• Construction & Engineering Project Management
• Data Science
• Environmental Sustainability & Net Zero
• Legal
• Microbiology
• Procurement & Supply Chain
• Risk Analysis
• Scientific Analysis & Logistics
• Water Sampling

All our new interns will start together at the beginning of June for 12-weeks, finishing at the end of August. You’ll learn more about the organisation, meet our leaders, visit some of our operational sites, make friends and have lots of fun.

What will the application process involve?

Step 1: Online application

It couldn't be easier to apply:

• Pick the internships that best suit your skills and interests – you might want to apply to more than one
• Apply through our careers page before the closing date – midnight on Sunday 8 February

But here's the thing: We get thousands of applications for our internships each year. What makes the best candidates stand out?  

• CVs that tell us more than what grades you earned over the years. Show us what you’ve learned. What you love. What your aspirations are.  
• Cover letters that tell us why you’re interested in Scottish Water (and the internship you're applying to).
• People who use their application to demonstrate that they are Bold, Responsible, Inspiring and Caring. 

Step 2: Face-to-face interview

Our recruitment and hiring teams will review your application and let you know as soon as possible whether you have been selected to this second and final stage. Final face-to-face interviews will happen during February and March - where you can give us a good grilling too.