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Finance graduate schemes 2026

AuthorDaniel Higginbotham, senior editor
Posted on
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By joining a finance graduate scheme in 2026, you'll receive training from a leading employer and gain hands-on experience at the forefront of the UK's financial industry

What finance graduate schemes are available?

Most finance graduate schemes last between one and three years. These programmes are typically defined by their area of specialism. The structure is determined by the company's needs and how graduate trainees fit into this.

For instance, you could work in a dedicated finance team within a particular industry or spend time in various departments within a bank or financial institution.

The most common streams include:

  • Accountancy - these schemes usually involve achieving professional qualifications. Discover the full range of accounting courses and explore what it takes to become an accountant.
  • Banking - depending on the nature of the services provided, you could specialise in an area of banking, with commercial banking, investment banking, wealth management and global markets the most popular. Read our 5 tips on getting into investment banking.
  • Finance - as well as more general business finance, you could focus on banking technologies such as data science or analytics.
  • Insurance - run by insurers and brokers, these programmes may allow you to specialise in underwriting, claims or risk management. Get the lowdown on insurance careers.

Research your options to determine what would be expected of you if you applied for a particular graduate scheme, noting its entry requirements, how and when to apply, and your career prospects.

Discover how graduate schemes usually work.

Which companies run finance graduate schemes?

All the major banks and financial institutions run general finance, accountancy, or banking graduate schemes:

Most of these organisations attend graduate recruitment open day events and host videos on their websites to give students an insight into what a career there might be like.

You'll also find them active on social media, where you'll be able to ask questions to those who've already completed the graduate training programme.

Finance specialists are also required across different job sectors, with finance (or business-related with a finance component) graduate schemes run by many leading graduate employers, including:

What are the benefits of a finance graduate programme?

  • Training and career development - you'll gain hands-on experience from the outset. Working in such a fast-paced environment allows you to develop key skills. You may specialise in a particular role or spend time in various positions within a team or division, as you discover what area of the company is the best fit.
  • Professional qualifications - finance programmes are often longer than other streams because you can study towards an industry-approved professional qualification in banking and other financial fields. Explore finance qualifications.
  • Career progression and a top starting salary - with investment banking and financial services jobs among the highest-paid graduate professions, you'll earn a significant wage and be well-positioned for promotions and leadership opportunities. There are often other benefits, such as a welcome bonus.
  • Job security - while there are usually no guarantees you'll be taken on once the programme ends, the firm will have invested heavily in your training, so the chances of being kept on are promising. With many finance roles becoming more analytical, you'll likely get to work with the latest technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and automated systems, which can future-proof your career.
  • Networking and reputation - finance graduate schemes are great for connecting you with a range of professionals inside and outside your organisation. This includes meeting other graduates on similar programmes. The experience will put you in a strong position when it comes to building an impressive CV and applying for future roles.
  • Work abroad - with financial markets operating on a global scale, it's common for graduates to be positioned across Europe or beyond for at least part of their time on the programme.

What will I do on a finance graduate scheme?

Many banks offer a comprehensive experience that allows their graduates to rotate across various departments, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of the diverse needs within the financial services industry.

For instance, Lloyds Banking Group offers a choice of 14 two or three-year graduate programmes in the following business areas:

  • actuarial
  • brand, marketing and experience
  • business and commercial banking
  • consumer lending
  • consumer relationships
  • corporate banking and markets
  • data management
  • data science and AI
  • finance
  • future financial wellbeing
  • human resources
  • occupational psychology
  • risk
  • technology engineering.

The scheme involves rotating across several placements nationwide, with locations including:

  • Birmingham
  • Bristol
  • Chester
  • Edinburgh
  • Halifax
  • Leeds
  • London
  • Manchester.

However, for most streams, you'll be working in a hybrid way, meaning you'll split your time between working from home and going into the office.

Other finance-related schemes involve substantial time spent in various locations throughout Europe or beyond.

For example, Barclays provides intensive training for analyst positions in areas such as investment banking, financial markets, and corporate and consumer banking, with placements based either in the UK or abroad.

Those on the scheme may find themselves working across Europe in:

  • Amsterdam
  • Dubai
  • Frankfurt
  • Madrid
  • Milan
  • Paris
  • Stockholm.

However, there are language requirements for these overseas roles.

HSBC also offers internationally focused banking graduate schemes. Specialisms include:

  • commercial banking
  • digital business services
  • global banking and markets
  • international wealth and premier banking.

Whatever the nature of the business, you'll find that study is often combined with working on the job, so you could gain a finance qualification from a professional body as you engage in work or training.

For instance, the three-year finance graduate programme at EDF Energy involves studying towards a Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) chartered accountant qualification.

In addition to a dedicated finance programme that enables you to achieve a professional accountancy qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), the NatWest Group also offers 12 other streams within its core functions remit. These include working in:

  • commercial banking
  • data science
  • digital transformation
  • financial crime
  • financing solutions
  • internal audit
  • NatWest markets
  • RBS International
  • risk
  • wealth businesses.

Other leading employers, including Network Rail, Sky and Virgin Media O2, allow their graduates to study for a professional accounting qualification from the:

  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
  • CIMA
  • Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

What are the entry requirements?

Most leading graduate employers require a minimum of a 2:1. However, Asda, Lloyds Banking Group, Tesco, TUI, and British Airways expect a 2:2 or above.

Recruiters will sometimes specify a certain number of UCAS points or grades at GCSE/A-level - for instance, 120 UCAS points (as well as a 2:1) are required for entry onto the Bank of England's graduate programme, Deloitte also asks for GCSEs in English language and maths at levels 4 and 5 respectively, while Network Rail states that an A-level in maths is desirable rather than essential.

In many cases, the degree can be in any field of study. However, some employers will specify a particular subject or finance-related discipline.

While these schemes are typically training programmes designed for recent students to bridge the gap between study and the world of work, there's no upper age limit on applications.

How and when should I apply?

You'll usually be expected to apply online, with some places filled well before the end of the term. Applications are typically accepted from September or October of the year before the next year's intake, and they often close a month or two later.

However, this isn't always the case. For instance, Asda's three-year finance graduate scheme offers a September start date, with its application window closing mid-November. On the other hand, Sky's finance graduate scheme based in Osterley has a February start date, so the closing date is much sooner (mid-October).

It's therefore important to check the individual programme you're interested in for application start and end dates. Some recruiters encourage you to register for alerts on when they'll start accepting applications, so it pays to be ready from the summer onwards.

To give you an idea of the application process, the Santander graduate programme involves:

  • Online application - you'll need to spend around 10-15 minutes completing a simple form. You can use the information on your CV for reference.
  • Online test - these include a video-based situational judgement test, a personality test, and a gamified numerical challenge.
  • Video interview (pre-recorded) - once you've successfully navigated the tests, you'll record a video explaining why you've selected this scheme and the skills you’d bring to the role.
  • Virtual assessment centre - finally, you'll be invited to a half-day session where you'll undertake three exercises. One of these is a group exercise designed to help attendees get to know each other, followed by a presentation and a one-on-one interview.

For tips on presenting yourself in the best possible light and writing a successful application, see our guide on applying for jobs. You can also read our interview tips.

What skills will I need?

Here are a few examples of what employers are looking for:

  • At EY, you must be an adaptable and analytical team player with strong communication skills to succeed in one of its actuarial pensions or insurance graduate schemes. In addition to being 'numbers-savvy', the company also expects you to be 'in the know', keeping up to date with technical innovations, current affairs, global trends, and market activity.
  • Sky is seeking confident communicators, commercially minded individuals, and team players with analytical skills to join their exciting and dynamic work environment.
  • Tesco is also looking for team players and those interested in a finance career who can apply their skills to specific work challenges in a fast-paced environment.

Discover the attributes required for specific roles at graduate finance jobs.

How much will I be paid?

Here's what a selection of recruiters are offering to finance graduates in 2026:

  • Aviva - £32,500 plus exam-related pay increases for the accountancy scheme.
  • BAE Systems - £34,000 plus a £2,000 welcome payment and optional 20% salary advance.
  • Bank of England - £36,500 (London) and £32,750 (Leeds).
  • Centrica - £34,000 plus a welcome bonus of £3,000.
  • EDF Energy - £35,000 with an annual bonus.
  • Lloyds Banking Group - £42,000-£45,000 for its finance and banking programmes.
  • NatWest Group - £36,000 for most finance-related schemes.
  • Network Rail - £32,000 plus a £2,000 welcome bonus.
  • NHS - £30,277, plus benefits.
  • Santander - £35,000 to £38,000 for its finance and banking programmes.
  • Sky - £35,000.
  • Tesco - £33,000.
  • Virgin Media O2 - £35,000 plus a £2,000 joining bonus.

In 2026, graduates on finance schemes will typically be paid between £30,000 and £45,000, and they often receive a welcome bonus in addition to their base salary.

Will I be offered a job afterwards?

Many employers offer permanent positions with the firm after the programme is completed, but you'll need to check the scheme's finer details.

For example, at Deloitte, graduate training results in a permanent job - whether this is in the same team you've been working in or a different part of the business.

You'll be offered a permanent role afterwards as long as you pass all your exams and achieve a successful performance rating while working for Santander over the two years.

Find out more