The Graduate Policy Programme is HM Treasury’s entry route for graduates into policy work at the UK’s economics and finance ministry. Recruits join as Policy Advisers on permanent contracts.
Over three years, graduates complete two placements, briefing Ministers and developing policy alongside structured training. They are based in London or Darlington, with at least 60% of time in the office. After about two years they may sit an assessment for promotion to SEO.
Benefits & funding
- Starting salary £39,130 (London) or £36,130 (Darlington), plus any staff pay awards.
- Permanent Civil Service contract after a six-month probation.
- 25 days’ annual leave (30 after five years) plus public holidays; defined-benefit pension with 28.97% employer contributions.
- Structured training; a promotion assessment to SEO after about two years (promotion not guaranteed).
Eligibility
- An undergraduate degree at 2:2 or above, held or expected, in any subject; a Master’s does not make up for a lower grade. No limit on years since graduating.
- British or EEA nationals only (Civil Service Nationality Rules).
- The right to work in the UK without employer sponsorship; Tier 4 (Student) visa holders are not accepted.
- Normally at least three of the last five years lived in the UK, for security clearance; offers depend on clearance.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
UK · Austria · Belgium · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czechia · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany
+ 19 more
Greece · Hungary · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Netherlands · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Iceland · Liechtenstein · Norway
Residence required
UK
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Choose London or Darlington and submit one online application by 12 noon, 5 November 2026; one application per year, and the location cannot be changed later.
- 2Take the online psychometric test (personality, verbal and numerical reasoning); AI must not be used in any assessment.
- 3Answer two written questions online.
- 4Attend the virtual assessment centre: a policy conversation, a written exercise and an interview.
Program timeline
Applications open
October 2026
Application deadline
5 November 2026, 12 noon
Virtual assessment centres
January–February 2027
Within a week of centres ending
Outcomes
Programme starts
September 2027