About the Insights Programme

We want all our students to have the opportunity to achieve their full potential when they graduate, but the transition to a professional career isn’t always easy especially for those students whose family, financial or personal circumstances may prevent them from accessing the opportunities to fully explore and prepare for future careers during their studies.

Thanks to the alumni volunteers who give their time and the generous funding of alumni donors, in partnership with the University, the Insights Programme helps students benefit from unique opportunities to explore different careers.

Insights is a central component of the University’s Widening Participation strategy. Through connecting with Edinburgh alumni and hearing about their experiences, students can sample a range of different sectors in Scotland or overseas and develop the personal and professional skills needed to prepare for their career journey. 

Who is it for?

The Insights Programme is designed to develop students’ confidence and skills for the workplace, so it’s specifically for students who have reached university through non-traditional routes or who come from families, schools or communities where university is not a typical destination. This means students who meet the University’s Widening Participation criteria.

As for alumni hosts, we’re looking for a wide range of hosts, to showcase the diversity of career opportunities available. Whether you are a self-employed freelancer or working at a global corporation, you can get involved.

Students - find out more about whether Insights is right for you

Alumni - find out more about how you can be involved

How does it work?

Students are placed into small groups and given the opportunity to connect online and in-person with Edinburgh alumni. From early career graduates to those in senior roles, alumni  share their career stories, advice, and insights about what it is like to work in their sector.

Students take part in a series of events and activities involving alumni working in a cross-section of sectors, who are either based in Scotland or in one of our host cities around the world. 

Experts in the University’s Careers Service will help prepare students for their interactions with alumni through a development programme including skills workshops. There is no financial cost for students taking part.

Find out what students will do during the programme

Connecting students and alumni across the globe

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Insights students have the chance to learn more about career opportunities from global alumni based in a range of cities across the world including in:

• North America
• Europe
• South East Asia
• Scotland and the rest of the UK

Previous Insights experiences

Students have enjoyed some amazing experiences, thanks to our alumni volunteers, including:

• Learning more about tech start-ups in Edinburgh
• Experiencing the corporate world in New York
• Touring the EU Parliament and speaking with the alumni who work there
• Learning about curiosity from a panel of global alumni from a range of sectors including marketing, finance, government, aerospace and broadcasting

Find out more about other people's experiences of Insights