Details
1107725
University of Edinburgh
01/06/2026
3 Months
21-35 hours per week, worked between Monday-Friday (9-5)
Not Applicable
Pay
£13.55
£2.45
Description
Role
The University of Edinburgh’s Information Services Group (ISG) are hiring an undergraduate student to work this summer as a Digital Heritage & Open Knowledge Intern. The key purpose of this role is to increase open-access knowledge by contributing articles to Wikipedia, and adding data to Wikimedia projects (e.g., Wikidata). The intern will research and document stories from the University’s nursing and medical archives, playing a key role in celebrating two major milestones: the 70th anniversary of the University’s Nursing Studies programme and the 300th anniversary of Edinburgh Medical School.
Within this role, you will gain practical experience in researching and documenting stories, creating Wikipedia articles, and working with Wikidata. You will join the Open Education Resources (OER) team who provide support for staff and students to use and create OERs and open knowledge in their learning and teaching practice. You will be working with the University’s Wikimedian in Residence. The University of Edinburgh’s Wikimedia residency facilitates a sustainable relationship between the University and Wikimedia UK to the mutual benefit of both communities through improved open knowledge exchange. To find out more read the Wikimedian in Residence blog.
You can expect to start work on the 1st June 2026 and work until the 21st August 2026. You will work between a minimum of 21 to a maximum of 35 hours per week (Monday to Friday) in a hybrid working pattern split between working from home (commutable distance from Edinburgh), and in Forrest Hill. You will be required to attend the office a minimum of two days per week. Your preference on working hours within the above range can be discussed during the interview stage. You will be paid £13.55 per hour, plus £2.45 per hour holiday pay. Payment is one month in arrears, meaning your first payment date (should this position start when expected) will be 28th July 2026.
For more information on what to expect as an ISG Summer Intern and to hear from previous interns, please see our 2026 Summer Internships Webpage.
Duties and responsibilities
- Researching and documenting stories, by creating/enhancing Wikipedia articles, from the University’s nursing and medical archives, focusing on narratives of celebration, remembrance, and impact such as the Nursing Studies programme (1955-2025) and the pioneering women medical graduates (1877-1914);
- Contributing content to Wikipedia and Wikimedia sister projects (Wikimedia Commons, Wikisource, etc.);
- Investigating Wikipedia’s evolving policy on AI-generated content and AI tool usage;
- Working with Wikidata to create and enhance structured, linked open data related to nursing and medical history and other research projects;
- Developing engaging data visualisations showcasing 70 years of Nursing studies and 300 years of Edinburgh Medical School.
Skills and experience
Essential criteria:
- A current University of Edinburgh undergraduate student (you must be a matriculated student for the duration of your employment). Internships are open to all undergraduate students, except those in their final year of study;
- Based in the UK for the duration of the work, within commutable distance of Edinburgh, and able to work on campus (we cannot accommodate individuals working overseas due to tax and legal implications), and able to attend a Right to Work Check in person if needed;
- Demonstrable experience using Wikipedia, or a proven interest in open knowledge;
- Evidence of excellent written communication skills for creating accessible, engaging content;
- Self-motivated with the ability to manage own time and prioritise tasks;
- A proven interest in bringing hidden histories to light;
- Demonstrable experience with data visualisation tools.
Desirable criteria:
- Previous experience editing Wikipedia or contributing to Wikimedia projects (e.g., Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata);
- A proven knowledge of generative AI tools and their applications in research/education;
- A proven interest in medical and/or digital humanities, nursing/medical history, or women’s history in medicine, and archival research.
Location
Hybrid, split between working from home and in 5 Forrest Hill (EH1 2QL).
Benefits
- The full range of benefits as a Summer Intern is available on our 2026 Summer Internships Webpage;
- Being part of a welcoming community of over 50 ISG Summer Interns with opportunities to network, whilst working in a supportive and nurturing environment with a strong emphasis on work/life balance;
- Training and development opportunities, run by experts across a range of fields;
- Opportunity to participate in the prestigious Edinburgh Award for Work Experience.
Additional information
To apply for this role, please upload a CV and covering letter as Word documents that are under 4mb, saved with ".doc" at the end, these should clearly state how you meet the criteria for the role. To have the best chance of being offered an interview, we encourage you to view our two-page Application Guidance and attend one of our short, online internship overview sessions, bookable via the University System (you must use your UoE student login).
We ask that you carefully consider which internships best suit your interests, skills, and career goals, and apply for a maximum of 3 ISG internships. To view all our internships on offer this summer, please see our Unitemps Adverts page.
Interviews for this internship are expected to be held on the 23rd and 24th March 2026, and will be in person/online.
The closing date for this advert is 23:59 on Sunday, 1st March. If you encounter any issues when applying, please e-mail unitemps@ed.ac.uk well in advance of the deadline, as we will only respond within office hours (9-5, Monday to Friday). Applications received after 23:59pm on 1st March will not be considered.