McLaren Graduate Scheme 2027: Dates, Stages and How to Apply
Closed McLaren Racing’s 2027 graduate and internship rounds have closed.
Checked on 28 October 2026. McLaren’s own 2027 adverts are no longer on its careers site, so the 2027 dates below are Reported (from copies of the official adverts), not Official. No 2028 dates have been announced.
McLaren Racing, the Woking-based Formula 1 team, recruits engineers through a two-year Engineering Graduate Programme and a 13-month Engineering Internship. According to reports of its official adverts, the 2027 graduate round closed on 7 October 2026 and the internship round on 16 September 2026. This guide covers the dates, who can apply, how selection works and what to do while the next round is not open.
When does the McLaren graduate scheme close?
McLaren Racing opens its engineering early-careers rounds in late summer and closes them in autumn. For 2027 entry, reports of the official adverts give the dates below. For comparison, the 2025 official adverts closed on 1 October (internship) and 15 October (graduate), so expect a similar September to October window for the next round. See other deadlines in our graduate scheme deadlines calendar and the graduate scheme hub.
| Programme | Applications closed | Assessment | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Internship 2027 | 16 September 2026 | Assessment days 14 to 16 October 2026 | Reported (advert copy) |
| Engineering Graduate Programme 2027 | 7 October 2026 | Assessment day 12 November 2026 | Reported (advert copy) |
| 2028 round | Not announced | Not announced | Not published |
Evidence labels: Official = employer page; Reported = third party or search listing; Not published = no figure found.
McLaren graduate scheme at a glance
| Item | Detail | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | McLaren Racing, Woking (McLaren Technology Centre) | Official (2025 advert) |
| Graduate programme | Engineering Graduate Programme, two years, September 2027 start | Reported |
| Internship | Engineering Internship, 13 months, July 2027 start | Reported |
| Rotations | Aerodynamics, Design, Racing and Performance | Official (2025 advert) |
| Degree needed | Minimum 2:1 in Engineering, Mathematics or a scientific discipline | Reported for 2027; Official for 2025 |
| Salary | No figure published | Not published |
| Benefits | Private healthcare, car schemes, life insurance and pension contributions | Official (2025 advert) |
| Status today | Closed; no open graduate or internship advert on the official vacancies board | Official (vacancies board) |
Evidence labels: Official = employer page; Reported = third party or search listing; Not published = no figure found.
McLaren graduate programmes and routes
Engineering Graduate Programme. A two-year rotational programme in Woking with placements across Aerodynamics, Design, Racing and Performance. The role can include support at race weekends. Dates and eligibility for 2027 come from reports of the advert; the structure is confirmed on the official 2025 advert.
Engineering Internship. A placement-year role for students on a degree with a placement year, working towards a 2:1. The 2027 intake is reported as 13 months starting in July 2027, in Aerodynamics, Design, Performance and Racing. See the 2025 official advert for the format.
Apprenticeships. McLaren Racing has advertised apprenticeships such as the 24-month Composite Technician apprenticeship (2025 start, Woking and Sheffield, with training delivered with the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre). It is not a 2027 vacancy, and we found no open 2027 McLaren apprenticeship.
McLaren Automotive. Search listings (Reported, titles only) show 2027 Engineering, Commercial, Finance and Manufacturing graduate schemes and an Engineering Industrial Placement on Gradcracker. We could not read the McLaren Automotive pages, so check McLaren’s early careers page for current dates. McLaren Construction is a different company and is not covered here.
Who can apply for the McLaren graduate scheme
For the Racing graduate programme the reported 2027 requirement is a degree in Engineering, Mathematics or a scientific discipline with a minimum 2:1 or equivalent. For the internship you must be completing a placement year as part of such a degree, working towards a 2:1, and able to start in July 2027. Motorsport experience is welcome but, according to the advert copy, not essential. The apprenticeship advert asks for five GCSEs at grade 5 or above including Maths, English and Science. We found no official statement about right to work for these roles, so check the live advert.
What a McLaren graduate says
“a two-year rotational scheme which is unique to each individual”
Isabella Shepard, Graduate Engineer at McLaren Formula 1 Team, The Engineer
That is one engineer’s account, published by a third party; the page carries no visible date, so treat it as background rather than current terms.
McLaren graduate scheme application process
Official 2025 adverts describe three steps: an online application, a second round of assessment sent by email, and a one-day assessment at the McLaren Technology Centre, for which candidates are told the week before. For the 2027 round, Edtech Innovation Hub reports a CV upload with a short questionnaire, personal review of applications that meet the requirements, a possible introductory chat with the Talent team or a role-specific assessment, and scenario and practical-task interviews. The same report says McLaren does not use AI to make hiring decisions. Treat the 2027 process as Reported until McLaren publishes the next advert.
Step 1: application
Online form with CV and a short questionnaire (reported for 2027).
Step 2: second-round assessment
Sent by email after the first review (official 2025 advert). Prepare with our logical reasoning test guide and online tests guide.
Step 3: assessment day
One day at the McLaren Technology Centre, with scenario and practical tasks (official 2025 advert; reported for 2027). Our assessment centre guide covers the format.
How to prepare while the McLaren graduate scheme is closed
The next engineering round is not announced, so use the gap. Our advice: build evidence of hands-on engineering work such as a Formula Student or university motorsport project, a data-analysis or simulation project, or a placement year. Check the McLaren Racing vacancies board regularly. On 28 October 2026 it listed early-career style roles such as Trainee Race Logistics Coordinator and Junior Aerodynamics Design Engineer in Woking (Official). For other motorsport employers see Formula Careers.
McLaren graduate scheme salary and benefits
No official page we could open states a graduate or internship salary, so we do not publish a figure. The 2025 graduate advert lists private healthcare, car schemes, life insurance and generous pension contributions. Use our paycheck calculator once you have an offer to see take-home pay.
McLaren graduate scheme compared with other schemes
If you want engineering and technology graduate schemes with open or recent rounds, compare Shell and bp, British Airways and Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and National Grid. All current schemes are in our graduate schemes hub.
McLaren graduate scheme FAQ
When does the McLaren graduate scheme close?
The 2027 McLaren Racing Engineering Graduate Programme closed on 7 October 2026 and the Engineering Internship on 16 September 2026, according to reports of the official adverts. The 2028 dates are not announced.
What degree do I need for McLaren?
A minimum 2:1 or equivalent in Engineering, Mathematics or a scientific discipline for the 2027 Racing graduate programme (reported). The 2025 official advert asked for the same.
How long is the McLaren graduate programme?
Two years, starting in September 2027 (reported), with rotations across Aerodynamics, Design, Racing and Performance.
How much does the McLaren graduate scheme pay?
McLaren does not publish a salary on the pages we could read, so we do not give a figure.
Where do McLaren graduates work?
At the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking (official 2025 advert).
Does McLaren use AI to select graduates?
Edtech Innovation Hub reports McLaren saying it does not use AI to make hiring decisions. This is reported, not an official policy page.
Can I apply for an apprenticeship at McLaren?
McLaren Racing has advertised apprenticeships, but we found no open 2027 apprenticeship. Check the official vacancies board and Find an Apprenticeship.
