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Sandwich Student Placement Scheme

Sandwich Student Placement Scheme

The Government Economic Service Sandwich Student Placement Scheme will be open for applications from 2 October 2025 (midday) - 19 October 2025 (23.59pm).

Are you an economics undergraduate in your penultimate year who wants to see the theory you have learned come to life? Join the UK Government for a paid student placement that connects your skills to meaningful change.

Spend a year collaborating with experienced economists in a government department before returning to complete your studies. You'll be doing work that shapes real policies, supporting decisions that will touch millions of lives, and preparing briefings that reach the highest levels of government. Your insights and understanding will genuinely matter.

If you successfully complete the placement, you'll get an early-access interview for a permanent graduate role. Most of our placement students choose to return because they've experienced the difference they can make. This isn't just work experience, it's your pathway to becoming the economist you want to be.

Learn more about the Government Economic Service, our recruitment schemes, and the benefits of working as a government economist here.

About the Scheme

This isn't just work experience—it's a chance to see how economic theory transforms into practical solutions for society's most pressing issues. We offer:

Meaningful work where you can directly improve people's lives, from addressing inequality to building sustainable growth. You'll gain hands-on professional experience working on the economic issues that matter most – climate change, levelling up, healthcare funding, and social mobility.

An early-access interview for a permanent graduate role which will enable you to focus on developing your skills and knowledge, reassured that your future is supported.

An inclusive workplace that celebrates different perspectives and backgrounds, with flexible working arrangements that fit around your life.

Join a supportive community of economists who are shaping Britain's future together.

How much will I earn?

Salaries vary according to government department and location. These are the minimum salaries offered for this scheme: London min: £26,235 / National min: £22,699. Please see the job descriptions for full details.

Where will I work?

For our 2026 scheme, we have graduate roles available across the UK. Locations vary by government department. This year we have roles available in Birmingham; Bootle; Bristol; Buxton; Darlington; Edinburgh; Glasgow; Leeds; London; Manchester; Newcastle; Newport; Sheffield; Titchfield; Treforest; and Wolverhampton. Please see the job descriptions for full details.

What departments are recruiting?

This year roles are available in: Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Ministry of Defence (MOD), Office For Budget Responsibility (OBR), Office for National Statistics (ONS), Scottish Government (SG). Please see the job descriptions for full details.

Eligibility

This scheme is only open to students in their penultimate year of undergraduate study (i.e., 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 (BA or BSc).
An undergraduate economics joint honours degree, where economics must comprise at least 50% of the credit value of the modules studied and to be studied over the full course of your degree (typically 3 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 4 years in Scotland).
An undergraduate Philosophy Politics and Economics (PPE) honours degree where at least 50% of the credit value of the modules studied and to be studied over the full course of your degree must be in economics.

Please note: All candidates must have studied both microeconomics and macroeconomics to qualify.

You will also need to demonstrate that you meet the relevant immigration requirements and that you are eligible under the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Please note:

1. 'Penultimate' means that you have one more year at university to complete your undergraduate degree after this placement. You will not be eligible if you are due to graduate in the Summer, but plan to continue your studies with a post undergraduate degree, such as a Masters.

2. If you wish to apply for GES Assistant Economist Graduate Scheme or the GES Fast Stream after you have completed your degree, please review the relevant schemes’ eligibility criteria to ensure that you achieve the necessary modules / qualifications.

Application process

The recruitment process involves the following steps:

Online application
Numerical test
Sift
Interview
Offer

Here is some information on each of the 5 stages:

1. Online application

The application form will ask you to give your personal details, including details about your degree and your modules. It might be useful to have these on hand to copy and paste. When we sift the applications to decide which candidates to consider for interview, we will look at your degree modules to check that you meet the eligibility criteria.

In the application form, you will also be asked questions regarding the Civil Service Behaviours, which are as follows:

Communicating and Influencing
Working together

When we sift the applications to decide which candidates to consider for interview, we will review the section on behaviours, so do try and think of examples which best demonstrate these. There is guidance to help you understand how to answer behaviour questions so please do use it to help you!

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance (opens in new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

2. Numerical test

The numerical test is the only online test you will need to complete. You will need access to a laptop/desktop computer. There are practice questions available to help you. Please do use these.

Please note: The test deadline is the same as the application deadline. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to log onto the platform and complete the test. Don’t leave it to the last minute. You don’t want to miss the deadline if you encounter last minute technical difficulties!

After the application deadline date, a pass mark for the online test will be set. You will then receive your result via email.

3. Sift

If you meet the pass mark that has been set for the online test, your application will be sent for sifting.

Candidates who are successful at this sift stage will be considered for interview at any of the participating departments. Interviews usually take place virtually, but this will be confirmed by the interviewing department.

Unfortunately, due to application volumes, candidates who are unsuccessful at the sift stage will not be given any feedback or comments.

4. Interview

If successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to book an online interview. In the interview, you will be assessed on micro and macroeconomics, in addition to the Civil Service Behaviour of Making Effective Decisions, through competency style questions. There is guidance and advice available to help you know what to expect and to help you prepare.

You will be asked at this stage to provide a reference from your university economics tutor, confirming your suitability for an economics placement.

The outcome of the interview will be communicated to you via the recruitment portal notification system.

5. Placement Offer

Successful candidates will be allocated to a government department. Allocations will be made in merit order based on interview scores. We will try to place you into one of your top three location preferences, however due to large numbers of applications this is not always possible.

Please note – should you select Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) as one of your preferred departments and be assigned to them, you will be invited by FCDO to attend an additional interview. Should you not pass this interview, you may be assigned to another department.

Occasionally, a department might withdraw from the scheme before placements are offered or there could be more successful candidates than available placements. In such cases, applicants are placed on a reserve list. The reserve list is open for 6 months.

Pre-appointment checks

If you are offered a role, you will be sent an email with the contact details of the government department you have been placed with. Your department will then be in touch directly to begin pre-appointment checks, including security clearance. You cannot start your placement until your security checks are completed.

Some departments – but not all – require candidates to have lived in the UK for 3 to 5 years and to have spent a period no longer than 3 months or more at any given time outside of the UK to obtain security clearance.

You should address any questions regarding your role and contract to the department you have been allocated to in the first instance.

Candidate online Q&A session

Candidate virtual Q&A session

We will be holding a joint Q&A session for the Sandwich Placement and Summer Placement schemes. This will be a chance for you to learn about the Government Economic Service, to hear from those who have recently completed the schemes, to get an overview of the recruitment process, and ask any questions you may have.

Date: Thursday 9 October 2025

Time: 16:30 – 17:30

Joining link: Join the meeting here

Recruitment timetable

The expected timetable for this scheme is outlined below. Please note that dates for sifting, interviews and offers are subject to change.

Online applications open | 02 October – 19 October 2025 (23:59pm)

Numerical test | Complete before 12pm on 19 October 2025

Sift | 03 November – 30 November 2025

Interviews | From 01 December 2025

Offer | By 16 January 2026

Frequently asked questions

Q: Can I do the job part time? 

A: Your contract of employment will be with your government department, so you would need to negotiate this with them directly. 

Q: How often would I need to be in the office? 

A: The expectation across the Civil Service is that civil servants will be in the office at least 60% of the time. This can vary by team and government department. People with a caring responsibility for someone with a long-term health condition or disability may apply for a carer's passport if they are not able to attend the office. 

Q: Do you offer sponsorship? 

A: To be eligible for this scheme, you need to meet the nationality requirements and have the right to work in the UK. We do not offer sponsorship. 

Q: Is there an age limit for your schemes? 

A: No, there is no age limit. 

Q: Is security clearance required? 

A: Yes. If successful you must hold, or be willing to obtain, security clearance to CTC/SC/DV level. Certain departments require a 3-year footprint in the UK. Read more information about the vetting process. More information can be found in the departmental job descriptions. 

Q: Can I retake the test? 

You can only take the test once during the application period. You will be able to take it again during next year’s application window.  

Q: Can I get feedback on my application? 

Due to the volume of applications, we are only able to offer feedback on applications for candidates who reach the interview stage of the recruitment process.

Q: Will I be offered a permanent role after I graduate? 

If you successfully complete your sandwich placement, you may also be invited to apply for a permanent role as an Assistant Economist in government. In this case, you will be invited to sit an Economic Assessment Centre (EAC) towards the end of your placement. This invitation is based on your suitability and performance during your placement and your right to work in the UK Civil Service.

Further information

Contact point for applicants

GESR Recruitment Team: gesrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Please note that the GESR Recruitment Team work Monday-Friday 9am – 5pm. Therefore, technical support will not be available outside of these hours, including those leading up to the application deadline.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Complaints procedure

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment based on fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact HMT by email at: gesrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Contract Terms and Applications

Contracts are open to accommodate working pattern needs and can be on a full or part-time basis as set by the relevant departments. All civil servants are appointed on merit through fair and open competition. The selection process will consider your attitude, capability, talent and willingness to learn. If appointed you will be expected to carry out your role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity, and impartiality.

If you have any questions about this scheme or our recruitment processes, please contact the GESR Recruitment Team on gesrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk or follow us on social media.

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