Are you an economics undergraduate in your penultimate year on track for a 2:1 or above? Do you want to gain practical professional experience and use your economics skills to make a difference? Join the UK Government for a paid summer placement.
Summer placements last between 6 and 12 weeks and take place over the 2026 summer period. The scheme offers a unique opportunity to gain practical experience working in the Civil Service, applying economics to issues that matter. Placements take place in a variety of UK Government departments across the UK.
You will dive straight into the work that shapes policy. You'll crunch data that informs government direction, compare policy trade-offs, and brief the people making choices that affect millions.
What's in it for you? Work that actually makes a difference, hands-on economics experience in the real world, a supportive and inclusive team, and the flexibility to balance work with your studies.
Information Session
Interested in finding out more about the scheme? Attend our Q&A Session:
* Date: Thursday 9 October 2025
* Time: 16:30 - 17:30
* Place: Virtual, on Microsoft Teams
This will be a chance for you to learn about the Government Economic Service, to hear from those who have recently completed the scheme, to get an overview of the recruitment process, and ask any questions you may have.
Selection Process
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
* Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills:
* Macroeconomics
* Microeconomics
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process.
Timeline
From mid-January 2026 - Candidates informed of interview outcome and successful candidates assigned to a government department.
Requirements
This scheme is only open to students in their penultimate year of undergraduate study (i.e. the year before their final year). You must be on course for a 2:1 or 1st class outcome, as indicated by your results so far.
You must be studying one of the following:
* An undergraduate honours degree in economics
* An undergraduate economics joint honours degree, where economics must comprise at least 50% of the credit value of modules studied and to be studied over the full course of your degree
* An undergraduate Philosophy Politics and Economics (PPE) honours degree where at least 50% of the credit value of modules studied and to be studied over the full course of your degree must be in economics
All candidates must have studied both macroeconomics and microeconomics to qualify.
You must also meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules and have the right to live and work in the UK, without the need for employer sponsorship.
Benefits
If successful, you may be eligible for:
* Learning and development tailored to your role
* An environment with flexible working options
* A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
Successful candidates will be offered a placement subject to meeting entry requirements, references, and security checks.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, please contact gesrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk.
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