Student Partner Projects

Collaborate with our students to tackle real world challenges.

Our interdisciplinary and challenge-led approach benefits future employability within a wide range of professional sectors and emerging industries.

All of our students graduate with core data skills, knowledge of data ethics, and the ability to interrogate issues of global scope and complexity. We support students to develop a creative and entrepreneurial mindset to problem-solve that is vital for building better futures. 

3 people sitting together in discussion
For businesses and organisations

Interested in getting involved with student partner projects?

We have lots of exciting opportunities to connect our diverse and talented students with a range of professional, sector-specific experience. 

Our MSc Programmes cross disciplinary boundaries to address current social, environmental and economic challenges. 

Work with EFI’s master’s students to help conduct research or provide analysis to solve a problem for your business or organisation. 

We look for projects from a range of different disciplines with focus on data. 

Projects are open to companies, NGOs and government departments.  

Projects are completed on a partnership basis and do not require a financial contribution from you.  

Applications for project proposals are open throughout the year, although please note typically MSc projects take place in the summer with applications due in autumn and winter. 

To find out more, get in touch with Katie Murray, our Engagement Manager

katie.murray@ed.ac.uk

Our sectors in focus

A DJ standing over his decks, red tint over image.

Creative
industries

Financial Services
& FinTech

Public
Services

tourism, Travel
& festivals

“The environment team at CEMVO Scotland were absolutely delighted to be involved in the Students As Change Agents programme. We are always looking for innovative ways of approaching our work to amplify the voices of ethnic minority communities in the fight for climate justice – and the SACHA students had innovation by the bucketload!  It has been a pleasure to be a part of this year’s programme”

Andrew Williams, CEMVO Environmental Projects Coordinator. 
For students

Finding your student partner project

For most programmes you can choose to define your own project, bring a project your employer would like you to address, work on a project set by one of our external partners or align your project to one of our research programmes.

Students gathered around a desk collaborating, both on a laptop and with paper in front of them.

“Throughout my student project experience, I’ve felt incredibly supported both by EFI staff members and representatives of my partner organisation. I think coming into the program with a project partner in mind and how my skillset might serve them was an immense advantage in getting my project off the ground and headed in a clear direction fairly quickly. Overall, using the data-based skills and tools I’ve honed throughout my EFI courses in service of a charity whose work is personally meaningful to me has been the best way to conclude my 1-year postgraduate course!”  

Lucie, MSc Educational Futures 

Project stories

A young person with long brown hair and glasses stands outdoors in sunlight, smiling. Behind them are red-roofed buildings and a blue sky with white clouds. Green tree branches frame the top of the image.

How Edinburgh Futures Institute MSc student Chloe White is helping shape the future of visitor management in Scotland.

A collage of three people smiling at the camera. The first person wears glasses and a white shirt, the second person has curly hair and a red jacket, and the third person has short hair and a black jacket.

Edinburgh Futures Institute postgraduate students share their experience working with Nesta, UK’s innovation agency for social good, as a Futures Projects Partner.

Get in touch to discuss student partner projects

Headshot of Katie Murray

Katie Murray

Engagement Manager

Join us to challenge, create, and make change happen.

#ChallengeCreateChange