Finance Graduate Schemes UK 2027: Banks, Insurers, Regulators and Accountancy Firms
Finance graduate schemes in the UK are not one list but six different routes: retail and commercial banks, investment banks, asset managers, regulators and the central bank, insurers, and accountancy firms. Each employer runs its own programme with its own closing date, so the best first step is to choose a route, then check the status of every scheme in it. This guide groups the schemes we have already researched and links to each full guide, so you can compare them side by side and see what is open now.
Quick answer
As of the dates on our guides, the Financial Conduct Authority is open until 29 Nov 2026 (it may close earlier), J.P. Morgan’s UK programmes closed on 1 Nov and Deutsche Bank’s last UK window closed on 18 Oct. The Bank of England has not opened its 2027 round. HSBC, Schroders, UBS and Goldman Sachs recruit on programme-by-programme or rolling timelines, so confirm on the employer’s page before you apply. Browse everything in the graduate scheme hub or the deadlines calendar.
The six routes into finance graduate schemes in the UK
The routes differ in what you do day to day, how selection works and what you study alongside the job. Retail and commercial banking (HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, Santander, Nationwide) puts you close to customers and products. Investment banking and markets (J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, UBS, Deutsche Bank) is deal and trading work with early deadlines and rolling adverts. Asset management (BlackRock, Schroders) is about investing and research. Regulators and the central bank (Bank of England, FCA) is policy and supervision. Insurance and risk (Aviva, Aon) covers data, pricing and risk. Accountancy (PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, EY, Grant Thornton, RSM) combines work with a professional qualification.
Which finance graduate scheme route fits you
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Finance graduate schemes UK: all schemes at a glance
Statuses below come from our individual guides, each checked against the employer’s own pages on the date shown in that guide. They change quickly, so treat this as a map and confirm the live deadline on the official site.
| Route | Employer | What our guide says | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail and commercial banking | HSBC | Separate programmes, each with its own closing date. Four UK programmes were listed open on 9 Oct, closing 18 Oct to 15 Nov; confirm on HSBC before applying. | Check dates |
| Retail and commercial banking | Barclays | Programme guide and graduate Q and A; confirm current dates on Barclays’ own careers site. | See guide |
| Retail and commercial banking | Lloyds Banking Group | Intern diary and guide; the assessment centre is covered in our Lloyds assessment centre guide. | See guide |
| Retail and commercial banking | NatWest | A set of programmes rather than one scheme; our page lists engineering, finance and wealth routes. | See guide |
| Retail and commercial banking | Santander UK | 27-month programme based in Milton Keynes; starting salary £38,000 on the 2026 intake. | See guide |
| Retail and commercial banking | Nationwide | Six Skills Development Programme areas, all with a September 2027 start. | See guide |
| Investment banking and markets | J.P. Morgan | Several UK full-time programmes closed on 1 Nov 2026. | Closed |
| Investment banking and markets | Goldman Sachs | New Analyst Programme with a summer 2027 start; no single closing date. | Rolling |
| Investment banking and markets | UBS | UK and EMEA adverts typically open from August and run for an initial four weeks; the graduate talent programme lasts 18 to 24 months. | Rolling |
| Investment banking and markets | Deutsche Bank | All UK 2027 windows closed; the last closed on 18 Oct 2026. | Closed |
| Asset management | BlackRock | Analyst programme; offices and dates are on our guide. | See guide |
| Asset management | Schroders | Recruits on a rolling basis from around August or September; confirm open roles on the official page. | Rolling |
| Regulators and central bank | Bank of England | 2027 round not open yet; the Bank says it will update its programme pages in autumn 2026. | Not open yet |
| Regulators and central bank | Financial Conduct Authority | Open. Stated deadline is midnight on 29 Nov 2026, but vacancies can close earlier. | Open |
| Insurance and risk | Aviva | Pathway-based programme, including Data and Analytics; see our guide for the current round. | See guide |
| Insurance and risk | Aon | Risk and professional services graduate programme; see our guide. | See guide |
| Accountancy | PwC | Audit, tax and advisory; also see the PwC assessment centre guide. | See guide |
| Accountancy | KPMG | Audit, tax and advisory; also see the KPMG assessment centre guide. | See guide |
| Accountancy | Deloitte | Audit, tax and consulting; also see the Deloitte assessment centre guide. | See guide |
| Accountancy | EY | Audit, tax and advisory; also see the EY Experience Day guide. | See guide |
| Accountancy | Grant Thornton | Three-year programme with funded qualifications; no closing date published. | No date |
| Accountancy | RSM | Audit, tax and advisory; see our guide. | See guide |
When do finance graduate schemes open and close
There is no single opening date. From our guides: UBS adverts in the UK and EMEA typically start opening in August and run for an initial four weeks; Schroders recruits on a rolling basis from around August or September; Deutsche Bank’s last UK 2027 window closed on 18 October; several J.P. Morgan UK programmes closed on 1 November; the FCA lists a midnight deadline on 29 November, though it may close vacancies earlier; and the Bank of England says it will update its 2027 pages in autumn 2026. The practical rule is to apply early in the autumn cycle and to track closing dates in our deadlines calendar.
Professional qualifications on finance graduate schemes
Accountancy graduate programmes usually run alongside a professional qualification. ICAEW, the body behind the ACA, says the qualification usually takes three to five years, depending on the route and the employer (see ICAEW’s Discover the ACA page). Grant Thornton, for example, describes a three-year programme with funded qualifications and flexible entry on degree subject, as covered in our Grant Thornton guide. For management accounting, AICPA and CIMA explain the CGMA route on its CGMA designation page. Employers differ on which qualification they fund, so check the scheme page rather than assuming.
How to prepare for finance graduate scheme applications
Most finance schemes use the same selection ladder: an online application, aptitude tests, a video interview and an assessment centre. Practise with our guides to verbal reasoning, logical reasoning, the Watson Glaser test, situational judgement tests and the psychometric tests overview. Then rehearse with the video interview guide, the assessment centre guide and the e-tray exercise guide. For bank-specific preparation, see our HSBC vs J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs vs J.P. Morgan and Barclays vs HSBC comparisons.
Finance graduate scheme application checklist
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Finance graduate schemes UK: frequently asked questions
What are the main finance graduate schemes in the UK?
Our guides cover six routes: retail and commercial banks such as HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, Santander and Nationwide; investment banks such as J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, UBS and Deutsche Bank; asset managers BlackRock and Schroders; the Bank of England and the FCA; insurers Aviva and Aon; and accountancy firms including PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, EY, Grant Thornton and RSM.
Which finance graduate schemes are open now?
On our guides, the FCA is open until midnight on 29 November 2026 and may close earlier. J.P. Morgan’s UK programmes closed on 1 November and Deutsche Bank’s last UK window closed on 18 October. The Bank of England has not yet opened its 2027 round. HSBC, Schroders, UBS and Goldman Sachs run programme-by-programme or rolling timelines, so confirm on their sites.
Do I need a finance degree to apply?
Not always. Grant Thornton, for example, accepts any degree subject according to our guide, and an HSBC analyst quoted on HSBC’s site describes starting with no finance knowledge. Entry requirements differ by employer, so read the eligibility section of each scheme page.
When should I apply for a finance graduate scheme?
As early as possible in the autumn cycle. Several schemes recruit on a rolling basis and can close early, and some UK windows have already closed for 2027.
How long does the ACA take?
ICAEW says the ACA usually takes three to five years, depending on the route and the employer.
What tests do finance employers use?
Typically verbal and logical reasoning, situational judgement and psychometric tests, followed by a video interview and an assessment centre. See the guides linked in the preparation section above.
