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Marketing graduate schemes

AuthorDarcy Nathan, editor
Posted on

Looking to start your marketing career? Graduate schemes give you the chance to learn from industry experts, work on real projects, and build a strong foundation for your future in a fast paced, creative field

Why choose a marketing graduate scheme?

A marketing graduate scheme offers far more than a standard entry level job. You'll work on live campaigns, solve real business challenges, and rotate across teams.

Most schemes offer:

  • exposure to senior leaders
  • funded professional qualifications
  • rotations across different marketing functions
  • structured training and mentoring.

By the end of the programme, you'll have a clearer idea of whether you want to specialise in areas such as brand management, digital marketing, public relations (PR), or ecommerce.

These schemes suit graduates who want structured training, varied experience, and a clear development pathway early in their career.

A scheme may be a good fit if you:

  • prefer a structured programme over a single entry level role
  • value mentoring, feedback and formal learning
  • want to explore different specialisms before choosing one.

You may prefer another route if you:

  • already know the area of marketing you want to specialise in
  • prefer more flexibility than a fixed programme provides
  • want to progress quickly within one role rather than rotate.

Alternatives include entry level jobs in marketing or internships.

What are the best marketing graduate schemes in the UK?

Marketing schemes vary by employer and specialism. Rather than ranking them, this list highlights well-established programmes known for strong training and regular graduate recruitment.

Advertising and public relations (PR)

These schemes develop skills in reputation management, media relations, stakeholder engagement and campaign delivery.

Brand, marketing and ecommerce

These roles focus on brand identity, customer insight, campaign delivery and commercial performance.

Digital marketing, SEO and paid media

These programmes are ideal for graduates interested in performance marketing, search engine optimisation (SEO), data, and content.

Search for graduate schemes in marketing, advertising and PR.

What do marketing graduate schemes involve?

Most schemes combine rotations, project work, and formal learning, with six to 12 months spent in each team.

Typical responsibilities include:

  • analysing customer or campaign data
  • presenting insights and recommendations
  • researching audiences, markets or competitors
  • supporting creative briefs and campaign delivery
  • working with agencies, designers and internal teams
  • writing or scheduling social, email or website content.

Some schemes offer tailored pathways. For example, McLaren's scheme allows early rotation across sales, marketing, and aftersales with a strong commercial and data-led focus, while Samsung's programme gives graduates exposure to brand, social, and channel marketing projects.

Many schemes also support long-term development by funding professional qualifications, through the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), including:

For example, L'Oréal's supports graduates to study for the CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing while completing practical project work, helping to accelerate career progression and boost specialist expertise in brand and digital marketing.

Most programmes also build confidence with digital and artificial intelligence (AI) driven tools, such as:

For instance, THG's programme gives graduates hands on experience with automation tools to optimise paid media campaigns, personalise content at scale, and analyse customer data. This ensures graduates develop both technical and strategic skills for modern marketing roles.

What are the entry requirements?

Most marketing graduate schemes require:

  • a 2:1 degree (some accept 2:2 with experience)
  • graduation within the last two to three years
  • strong communication and analytical skills
  • the right to work in the UK.

Some employers take a more flexible approach. For example, Tesco uses contextual recruitment, adjusting academic requirements based on factors such as educational background and personal circumstances.

Lloyds Banking Group have also removed any formal minimum degree classification for its marketing scheme, meaning candidates with a 2:2, or those who may not meet standard entry criteria, can still be considered if they demonstrate strong potential and relevant skills.

Where can I find marketing graduate schemes?

You can search for vacancies on industry-specific job boards, including:

You'll also find schemes on LinkedIn, where you can follow company pages, set job alerts, and network with current employees. Check employer early careers pages, as many open applications months in advance.

Don't overlook social media platforms such as Instagram or TikTok, where companies often promote graduate programmes and early careers opportunities can also give early alerts about openings.

How do I apply?

Most marketing graduate schemes follow a similar multi-stage process. For example, Autotrader and THG both use online applications, tests, assessment centres, and interviews. A typical process includes:

  1. Online application - CV and tailored answers or cover letter
  2. Online psychometric tests - situational judgement, numerical or verbal reasoning
  3. Assessment centres - team tasks, presentations, group interviews
  4. Final interview - often with senior marketers or leaders.

Applications usually open between June and November, earlier than many students expect.

Throughout the process, employers are assessing your ability to:

  • analyse information
  • communicate ideas clearly
  • solve problems creatively
  • work with others.

Assessment centres mirror real marketing work. For example, at:

  • Autotrader, graduates may work in teams to design a short campaign, analysing customer data and producing recommendations for a digital marketing activation.
  • Siemens, candidates might simulate a product launch, developing positioning and communication plans before pitching their strategy to senior marketers.
  • THG, exercises involve reviewing paid media and social performance metrics, then presenting insights and optimisation strategies.

These exercises allow candidates to showcase skills that are used throughout the scheme.

What interview questions will I be asked for a marketing graduate scheme?

Interviews are designed to understand how you think, communicate and respond to real situations. You may be asked to reflect on times when you analysed information, worked with others or adapted to challenges.

Common marketing competency-based interview questions include:

  • Describe a time when you used social media to support a marketing campaign.
  • How do you approach creating content for a specific audience?
  • What metrics do you use to measure the success of a marketing campaign?
  • How do you stay up to date with marketing trends?
  • Can you give an example of when you used data to inform your marketing strategy?

Discover how to answer common interview questions.

You may also be asked about your motivation and genuine interest in marketing. For example:

  • Why do you want to work for this brand?
  • What recent marketing campaign caught your attention, and why?

Using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) helps structure clear, confident answers. Preparing examples in advance ensures consistent performance throughout the process.

Explore our strength-based interview tips.

Do I need experience?

Formal marketing work experience isn't usually required, but employers value transferable skills from part time work, freelancing, or volunteering, such as:

  • basic technical awareness (SEO, social media, analytics)
  • communication and storytelling
  • creativity and problem solving
  • data literacy and analytical thinking
  • teamwork and stakeholder management.

Discover the skills all employers look for.

For example, graduates joining Publicis Health Early Careers Programme are often expected to show experience running campaigns or content projects through volunteering or personal projects.

Similarly, Varn value candidates with practical familiarity with SEO, analytics, or social media management.

Several initiatives help underrepresented groups break into the sector, offering hands on experience and industry connections, including:

How much will I be paid?

Marketing graduate scheme salaries in the UK typically range from £25,000 to £35,000, depending on the employer, location, and specialism.

Pay can vary across sectors such as retail, consumer goods, financial services, or tech, with larger global organisations often offering salaries at the higher end of the scale. For instance, Lloyds Banking Group tends to offer higher starting salaries than many other schemes in the sector.

Example salaries for marketing graduate schemes in 2026 include:

Marketing graduate scheme salaries February 2026
Company Salary
Lloyds Banking Group £42,000
L'Oréal £35,000
Mondelēz International £35,000
THG £33,000
Tesco £32,000
Siemens £31,600
Autotrader £26,000 to £28,000

In addition to the base salary, many schemes offer additional benefits that can significantly increase the overall package. Understanding the full benefits package, not just base salary, is important when comparing graduate schemes.

Common perks include:

  • health and wellbeing allowances.
  • performance-related bonuses
  • private healthcare or medical cover
  • retail or lifestyle discounts
  • sign-on bonuses.

For example, Samsung offers graduates a performance bonus twice a year and a £50 monthly health and lifestyle allowance, Tesco provides an annual bonus of up to 10% of salary, and Autotrader includes Bupa healthcare coverage as part of its graduate package.

Am I guaranteed a job at the end?

Some schemes offer a permanent role from the outset. For example, Lloyds Banking Group recruits marketing graduates directly into permanent positions, focusing on long-term development within the organisation.

Other schemes act as a talent pipeline. L'Oréal's scheme, for example, does not guarantee a specific role at the end, but graduates are supported into permanent marketing positions based on performance and business needs.

Discover how to get into digital marketing.

What will my career look like after a marketing graduate scheme?

After completing a scheme, many graduates move into roles such as:

Entry level marketing roles typically pay between £26,000 and £32,000.

For example, a PR officer at Tesco earns around £27,500, while a marketing executive at Siemens earns approximately £32,386.

With experience, salaries increase significantly. A content specialist at Lloyds Banking Group can earn between £43,803 and £48,670, while an ecommerce manager at TikTok can earn around £88,183 per year.

See our marketing, advertising and PR job profiles for more details on salaries and progression.

Find out more

Written by Darcy Nathan, editor

Prospects · February 2026