BT Graduate Scheme 2026: How to Apply, Salary & Deadlines

“…to network, be bold and put calls in people’s diaries.” — Charlotte Moir, who joined BT’s Project Management Graduate Scheme in September 2020, on how she found roles she enjoyed (BT Group, The insider’s view). This is one person’s account of an earlier programme, not a guide to what your own experience will be.

Weighing BT against Sky? See our Sky vs BT graduate scheme comparison.

The BT graduate scheme is a two-year programme at BT Group, the company behind BT, EE, Plusnet and Openreach. BT’s graduate pages list two tracks: Software Engineering, and Transformation & Delivery. The 2026 adverts we could read closed between February and April 2026 (start date reported as 7 September 2026), and BT has not published a 2027 opening date on the pages we could read. “Official” below means BT’s own pages or documents. “Reported” means a third-party copy of a BT advert, which can lag behind BT’s own wording. You can submit only one application, and BT does not ask for a CV, so pick your track before you apply.

At a glance: tracks, pay and eligibility

When does the BT graduate scheme open?

BT has not published an opening date for the 2027 intake on the pages we could read. We also could not confirm that BT has a 2027 “register your interest” form: the early careers page and both track pages show no such form and no closing dates.

The 2026 cycle is the only guide. BT’s January 2026 candidate pack says roles for a September 2026 start would appear from January 2026, that applications could close once enough candidates applied, and that assessment events would run from April to June 2026. Advert copies report closing dates of 22 February (Business Explorer, AI Champion, Bristol), 10 April (the same programme, Glasgow), 17 March (Software Engineering, Belfast) and 22 March 2026 (EE Delivery Professional, London). One advert from the previous cycle fits the same timing: a Bristol Software Engineering advert was listed on 20 January 2025 and closed on 19 February 2025. That points to a window of roughly January to April, a pattern and not a published date. Check jobs.bt.com from December, and read when to apply for graduate jobs.

BT graduate scheme tracks and programme structure

Software Engineering. The Software Engineering page lists two two-year roles. The Software Engineering Graduate in Belfast joins the Consumer Digital team to build the platforms behind Broadband, TV and Mobile. The Security Compliance Professional in London reviews compliance and security reports across the digital portfolio and escalates risks. The Belfast advert copy describes a programme designed to develop you into a software engineer, followed by a permanent role in BT Group (reported).

Transformation & Delivery. The Transformation & Delivery page lists the Business Explorer, AI Champion Graduate programme in Glasgow (BT Business, two years). You rotate through areas such as Transformation, Data Insights, Commercial and Customer Experience. The advert copy adds a Level 3 Data and AI accredited pathway covering generative AI in practice, responsible AI and change management (reported).

Direction of travel. Nicola Luke, BT’s Senior Manager for Next Generation Strategy and Programmes, told Reed (published 6 October 2026) that the intake starting in September 2026 focused on data, AI, machine learning and the wider digital space, alongside project management roles. That is one manager’s view of hiring priorities, not a promise about 2027 roles.

Some roles rotate and some keep you in one area. BT’s pack says programmes typically include three 8-month placements, depending on the programme, and that graduates are free to apply to any role in BT after the programme.

Who can apply

• Degree. BT’s pack asks for a 2:2 or higher, and says some roles require a STEM degree while many do not. The Belfast Software Engineering advert reports a 2:2 in a technology-related degree such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, IT, Engineering or data-focused subjects. The business-track adverts report “on target for or achieved a 2.2 in any subject”. See our guide to graduate jobs you can still get with a 2:2.
• Skills. For some technical programmes the pack lists Java, Python or TypeScript, DevOps tools such as Git and Terraform, basic MySQL and public cloud. Read each advert for its own list.
• Right to work and sponsorship. Adverts report that BT cannot accept applicants on a student or graduate visa, or those needing sponsorship during the scheme, and that it offers no sponsorship for any early careers programme. You must hold full UK right to work for the whole scheme. This wording comes from advert copies, so confirm it on the live advert.
• Residency. The AI Champion advert reports three years’ ordinary residence in the UK or EEA before the start, because of its Level 3 qualification (reported).
• Security clearance. Some roles need clearance (BPSS, SC or DV); the live advert states which applies.

BT graduate scheme application process: every stage

BT describes the process on its Software Engineering and Transformation & Delivery pages and in the candidate pack.

1. Online application. About 20 minutes. You enter your qualifications and upload right-to-work and qualification documents, so have them ready. There is no CV or cover letter, so CV formatting matters less here than clear written answers. You can request reasonable adjustments at this point.
2. Untimed online assessment. Five scenario-based and experience-based text questions and one recorded video question. BT gives you 5 days and expects about 30 minutes. The pack asks for 50 to 150 words per answer (maximum 500), says answers are scored on spelling and grammar, and gives the video a 90-second limit with up to 5 attempts.
3. Screening call. A short call with a recruiter to confirm your right to work and the qualifications for the programme you chose.
4. Assessment event. Held at the location you applied to, lasting 3 to 4 hours. BT’s track pages say it is likely to include a group discussion and a competency-based interview, plus a technical test for some roles (the pack says you start with one of the two, then do the second). BT says there is no presentation to prepare.
5. Decision and feedback. BT aims to tell you within 2 weeks of the final stage and says all applicants get feedback at that point.

BT’s graduates page shows a different five-step flow (a 50-minute cognitive and behavioural test, then a telephone interview). We follow the track pages and the January 2026 pack.

How to prepare for the BT assessment event

Group discussion. The pack describes four in a group (elsewhere it says “3 or 4 other candidates”), each with an assessor in the background. You get individual preparation time with a brief, then 35 minutes to agree a set of recommendations on how BT can use AI responsibly. Everyone has different materials, so you must share information. BT says assessors look for teamwork, leadership and problem-solving, aligned with its five behaviours: Ambition, Customer, Accountability, Straight Talking and Teamwork. It advises against dominating, interrupting or staying silent.

Interview. 40 minutes, five motivational and competency-based questions. Expect “what attracts you to BT”, a time you learned something quickly and a time you stayed resilient under pressure. BT recommends the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Written answers. BT’s pack says the text assessment checks for copied answers and can detect output from tools such as ChatGPT. Use your own examples from study, part-time jobs or volunteering.

Practise. Use our graduate assessment centre guide and the assessment centre survival guide, and rehearse a two-minute answer for each of BT’s five behaviours.

Salary and benefits

Salary. BT’s pack lists £35,500 for technical roles and £32,500 for business roles (official). The Belfast Software Engineering advert reports £35,500, and the Bristol Software Engineering advert from the 2025 cycle also gave £35,500. Two business-track adverts for September 2026 report £33,500, which is £1,000 above the pack figure, so treat business-track pay as £32,500 to £33,500 until BT publishes the 2027 figure. BT has not published a 2027 salary on the pages we could read. Use our paycheck calculator for take-home pay and our software developer salary guide for context.

Benefits (official). BT’s rewards page lists a pension with a 10% BT contribution and a 5% minimum employee contribution, 4 times pay in life cover, 25 days’ annual leave and top-up family leave (18 weeks’ full pay, then 8 weeks at half pay, then up to 26 weeks at the statutory rate). It also lists up to two weeks of paid carers’ leave, a free 24/7 online GP, discounted colleague products including EE broadband and phone contracts, and three paid volunteering days. BT says availability can vary by part of the group and role. Office-based colleagues are expected in the workplace at least three days a week.

Placements and apprenticeships

BT’s pack describes 10-week summer placements and 11-month industrial placements for penultimate-year students on course for a 2:2, at £24,500 pro rata. Apprenticeships run from Level 2 to Level 6, from £21,620 to £23,810.

BT vs other tech and telecom graduate schemes

The BT graduate scheme is a 24-month programme with on-site assessment events, no CV and no visa sponsorship reported. Compare employers on the same four points: stages and whether they are online or on site, sponsorship, whether the employer publishes the salary, and when the window opens.

• Airbus graduate scheme: aerospace rather than telecoms. Our BT vs Airbus graduate scheme comparison sets pay, stages and timing side by side.
• Siemens graduate scheme: an industrial and rail technology employer.
• IBM graduate scheme, Microsoft graduate scheme and Google graduate scheme: large technology companies with their own early careers routes.
• Amazon graduate scheme and Capgemini (our look at an average Capgemini week): technology and consulting alternatives.

Browse every programme on the Graduate Scheme hub.

FAQ

Next steps

1. Choose your track: you get one application.
2. Gather right-to-work and qualification documents now.
3. Check jobs.bt.com early careers from December and apply early, since BT may close early.
4. Practise STAR examples against BT’s five behaviours.
5. Compare other routes on the Graduate Scheme hub and confirm every date on BT’s own pages.