Arup Graduate Scheme 2027: How to Apply, Stages and Deadlines

“I’ve felt supported since I started with Arup.”

Andrew Steele, Advisory Services Graduate at Arup, in his Gradcracker profile (one person’s account, published by Arup)

The Arup graduate scheme is the engineering and consulting firm’s UK and Ireland graduate programme, with roles across structural, civil, building services, advisory and project management teams. Arup says it recruits over 300 graduate members a year across 16 UK offices, and roles open each autumn with deadlines set per role. For other engineering employers, compare Network Rail, Siemens, Airbus and Rolls-Royce, or browse the full Graduate Scheme hub.

Arup graduate scheme at a glance

Arup’s own graduate page still carries an “Applications open: September 2024” banner, so check the dates on each live role rather than on that banner.

Which roles and teams does the Arup graduate scheme cover?

Arup does not run one fixed rotation. You apply for a specific role in one of its business areas, and the roles are matched to degree subjects. Arup says it takes graduates from a broad range of degrees and lists the preferred degree on each advert. One current example is the Graduate Project Manager role in Leeds and Manchester, open to project management and quantity surveying graduates, working on programme and project management, business cases, risk and procurement advice for transport, energy, water and public-sector clients.

Because Arup lists many roles at once, search the live jobs page by your discipline instead of waiting for a single “scheme” to open.

Who can apply to the Arup graduate scheme?

Arup’s own eligibility rules for graduate opportunities are:

• Full working rights in the country of application.
• No more than 12 months of full-time experience in a comparable role.
• Recently graduated, or on track to graduate, from your most recent degree, related to your role of choice, before employment starts.

Arup also names four attributes: changemakers (a passion for sustainable development), innovative minds, growth seekers and adaptable adventurers. Not published: a minimum degree grade on the current page. An older Arup FAQ for a past intake asked for a 2:1, so treat any grade requirement as unconfirmed and read the advert for your role. The example listing above says Arup cannot offer visa sponsorship for that role.

Graduates without a 2:1 may still want to read our guide to graduate jobs you can still get with a 2:2.

Arup graduate application process: stage by stage

Arup lists five stages on its graduate programme page:

Arup’s FAQ adds a recruiter review and video interviews before shortlisting, and says it aims to tell you the assessment centre outcome within two weeks. The FAQ describes the assessment centre as a virtual meeting with the hiring team, an individual written or technical exercise, a case study presentation and a competency-based interview. Stages can vary by role, and the example listing mentions psychometric testing, a case study and an interview. Not published: how long the whole process takes.

Arup asks applicants not to use AI writing assistants in the application, because it wants to hear your own answers.

Arup graduate scheme deadlines 2027

Arup processes applications as it receives them and advises applying as soon as possible. Its adverts warn that a role may close before the advertised closing date if applications are high. The one deadline we could confirm is 12 November 2026 for the Graduate Project Manager role (Leeds and Manchester, September 2027 start). Other roles carry their own dates, so check the advert and set a job alert on Arup’s careers site. Not published: a single UK-wide closing date.

Arup graduate salary and benefits

Arup does not publish a graduate salary figure: the example listing says “Competitive + benefits”. Benefits named in the listing for permanent members include profit share, private medical insurance, life assurance, accident insurance, income protection and a flexible benefits fund. Arup is owned in trust on behalf of its members. To see a salary after tax once you have an offer, use our Paycheck Calculator.

Where do Arup graduates work?

Arup lists 16 UK locations: Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Birmingham, Southampton, Winchester and York. Each office is multidisciplinary, but not every role is open in every city. The Republic of Ireland has its own graduate roles page.

How to prepare for the Arup graduate application

Pick the one role that fits your degree, since Arup allows one application per recruitment period. Practise timed numerical and logical reasoning in a quiet place, and prepare for a case study presentation and a competency interview using our graduate assessment centre guide and tips for surviving an assessment centre. Write your own answers, make your CV readable with our ATS-friendly resume guide, and tie your examples to sustainable development, which Arup names as its first attribute.

Also see our guides to the Shell graduate scheme and the Network Rail graduate scheme, and the full graduate scheme opening dates table.

Also see our guides to the TfL graduate scheme and the BAE Systems graduate scheme, and the full graduate scheme opening dates table.