Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) has announced that it is expecting the total number of applicants for 20 internship places at museums across the country to reach four-figures.

The internship programme is designed to offer graduates the opportunity to learn and work at one of 20 museums and galleries throughout Scotland and has reported "huge demand". According to MGS, 10,000 application packs have been downloaded from its website and a total of 900 email submissions were received on the 3 June deadline alone.

MGS chief executive officer Joanne Orr said: "This is our first foray into the area of internships and although we knew they would be popular we did not anticipate interest on this scale. "The fact that our interns receive a £15,000 bursary and that preference is being given to people from lower socio-economic backgrounds will have been attractive factors for many."

The internship programme was created with the help of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund's Skills for the Future scheme. Positions available include collections trainee at City of Edinburgh Council Museums and Galleries and learning intern at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.