Apply for the QoG Institute Internship 2027 at University of Gothenburg in Sweden - 2-3 research & data master's internship positions for Spring 2027.
Applications are officially invited for the prestigious Quality of Government Institute (QoG) Internship 2027 (Spring Term). Hosted by the Department of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg in Gothenburg, Sweden, this internship program offers ambitious Master's students hands-on immersion within one of the world's foremost research institutions dedicated to governance, public integrity, and anti-corruption analysis.
The QoG Institute offers 2 to 3 competitive internship positions for the Spring 2027 academic term across two distinct specialized tracks: General Research Internship (1 - 2 positions) and Data Internship (1 position). Interns work directly alongside world-leading social scientists and data analysts, contributing to high-impact research projects, literature reviews, expert survey datasets, and data wrangling pipelines in an inspiring international environment.
The internship is open to Master's students worldwide whose home university curriculum includes an internship for academic credits. The final application deadline for the Spring 2027 cohort is 31 October 2026.
Quick Facts - Quality of Government Institute (QoG) Internship 2027
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host Institution | The Quality of Government (QoG) Institute, Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg |
| Host Location & Landmark | Gothenburg, Sweden 🇸🇪 (Gothenburg Opera House & Barken Viking Harbor Waterfront) |
| Term / Duration | Spring Semester 2027 (Full-time or credit-aligned semester schedule) |
| Positions Available | 2 - 3 Positions (1 - 2 General Research Interns & 1 Data Intern) |
| Funding Status | Unpaid Academic Credit Internship (Earns official curriculum credits via home university) |
| Target Candidates | Enrolled Master’s students in Political Science, Global Studies, Data Science, Economics, Statistics, or IT |
| Working Language | English (all research, meetings, datasets, and documentation are conducted in English) |
| Core Tracks | General Research Track · Data Wrangling & Data Science Track |
| Application Requirements | Curriculum Vitae (CV) + Cover Letter + English Academic Writing Sample |
| Application Fee | $0 (Free to Apply) |
| Application Deadline | 31 October 2026 (23:59 CET) |
| Official Gateway | gu.se / Official QoG JotForm Portal |
About the Quality of Government (QoG) Institute & University of Gothenburg
Founded in 2004 by political scientists Bo Rothstein and Sören Holmberg at the University of Gothenburg, the Quality of Government (QoG) Institute investigates how reliable, open, and impartial democratic and administrative institutions are built and sustained. The Institute’s comparative datasets - including the renowned QoG Standard Dataset, QoG Expert Survey, and PERCEIVE Dataset - serve as foundational benchmarks for research institutions, international organizations (including the World Bank, OECD, and the European Commission), and policy makers globally.
An internship at the QoG Institute provides unparalleled daily exposure to professional academic scholarship, rigorous quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and high-level departmental research seminars at the University of Gothenburg.
Specialized Internship Tracks for Spring 2027
Applicants may apply for one of two specialized profiles based on their academic interests and technical background:
1. General Research Internship (1 - 2 Positions)
The General Research Internship offers comprehensive day-to-day exposure to academic inquiry and project management:
- Empirical Research Support: Assist faculty researchers with literature reviews, institutional background briefs, policy analysis, and empirical research summaries.
- Academic Seminars: Participate in weekly departmental seminars, guest lectures, and internal research colloquia hosted by the Department of Political Science and the QoG Institute.
- Basic Quantitative Analysis: Support descriptive statistics and initial dataset exploration using R, Stata, or SPSS.
- Institutional Coordination: Assist with workshop preparations, scientific dissemination, and day-to-day administrative activities of the Institute.
2. Data Internship (1 Position)
The Data Internship is tailored for students passionate about data science, reproducible research pipelines, and data quality assurance:
- Python Data Wrangling: Perform automated data ingestion, transformation, and manipulation using Python,
pandas, and relevant scientific libraries. - Cross-National Data Collection: Support data gathering from international statistical agencies, national bureaus, and institutional databases, with special emphasis on local-level and subnational indicators.
- Data Cleaning & Pipeline Validation: Execute established validation workflows to ensure data integrity, consistent variable naming, and longitudinal consistency.
- Codebook & Documentation Updates: Assist in reviewing and updating official codebooks, variable definitions, and citations for annual public data releases.
- Licensing & IP Verification: Systematically audit and verify source licensing agreements, terms of use, and academic attribution.
- Pipeline Optimization: Identify data discrepancies, report processing bottlenecks, and recommend workflow optimizations for QoG datasets.
Eligibility Criteria & Applicant Requirements
To be considered for the Spring 2027 cohort, candidates must meet the following baseline requirements:
- Master's Enrollment: You must be an actively enrolled student in an accredited Master’s degree program that offers the structural opportunity to undertake an internship for academic credits.
- Degree Disciplines: Your Master’s degree must be in Political Science, Global Studies, International Relations, Public Administration, Data Science, Social Sciences, Economics, Statistics, IT, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
- Language Proficiency: Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory. QoG’s working language is entirely English.
- Organizational Skills: Exceptional documentation ability, systematic attention to detail, and a proactive, independent working attitude.
- Data Track Specific Qualifications:
- Basic to intermediate programming proficiency in Python (specifically data wrangling with
pandas). - Familiarity with structured data formats (CSV, Excel, JSON).
- Familiarity with Jupyter Notebooks or VS Code.
- Familiarity with Git/GitHub and Django framework is considered a valuable asset.
- Basic to intermediate programming proficiency in Python (specifically data wrangling with
Internship Status & Financial Notes
Please note that this is an unpaid academic internship designed to confer university course credits through your degree institution. Candidates are encouraged to explore external student mobility funding, such as Erasmus+ Traineeship Grants (for students studying within Europe) or university-specific travel bursaries.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
- Review the official internship descriptions on the University of Gothenburg QoG Opportunities Portal.
- Confirm with your home university’s academic coordinator that an internship can be credited toward your degree requirements for the Spring 2027 term.
- Prepare the following three mandatory application documents in PDF format:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing your academic background and relevant coursework/skills;
- Cover Letter explaining your motivation and clearly specifying whether you are applying for the General Research Internship, the Data Internship, or both;
- English Writing Sample from your ongoing or completed academic studies (e.g., term paper, thesis chapter, or research essay).
- Access the secure online submission gateway at QoG Institute Application JotForm.
- Upload your files and submit before the strict deadline on 31 October 2026 (23:59 CET).
- For formal inquiries, contact the QoG Institute team directly at
infoqog@pol.gu.se.
Official Links & Application Gateway
Apply Now - Official QoG Spring 2027 Application Form
Internship at the QoG Institute - University of Gothenburg Portal
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - QoG Institute Internship 2027
What is the application deadline?
The deadline to submit your application is 31 October 2026 (23:59 CET) for the Spring 2027 semester.
Is the internship paid or funded?
The internship is unpaid. It is intended for enrolled Master's students who will earn formal academic credits toward their degree. European students are frequently eligible for Erasmus+ Traineeship funding through their home universities.
Can international students apply?
Yes. Students of any nationality are eligible to apply, provided they are currently enrolled in an eligible Master's program that awards academic credits for the internship.
How many positions are open?
The Institute will appoint 2 to 3 interns in total: 1 to 2 General Research interns and 1 Data intern.
What should be in the writing sample?
The writing sample should be an academic essay, term paper, seminar paper, or thesis chapter written in English that demonstrates your analytical ability, critical thinking, and academic writing style.
