Government Economic Service Sandwich Student Placement Scheme
This scheme is open to students in their penultimate year of undergraduate study and who are on track for a 2:1 or 1st class degree.
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Details
The Government Economic Service Sandwich Student Placement Scheme is open for applications from 1 October 2026 - 16 October 2026.
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.
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 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.
Where will I work?
Opportunities are available in a range of government departments across the UK. Locations vary according to government department and differ from year-to-year. Please see the job descriptions which are included on the application page during the application window.
What will I get paid?
Salary varies according to government department and differs from year-to-year. Please see the job descriptions which are included on the application page during the application window for salary details.
Eligibility Requirements
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.
We do not offer sponsorships for our schemes.
Please note:
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.
Contact point for applicants
GESR Recruitment Team: GESRRecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk
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Equal Opportunities
The Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities employer. Candidates with disabilities (as defined in the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act) can choose to declare on their application form that they require adjustments at interview, for which we can make a range of provisions. Please contact us should you have any questions regarding this – we would be happy to help.
We are interested in your skills and aptitudes. We have no preferences for particular backgrounds or universities. We want to reflect the diversity of the country we serve.
Complaints procedure
For details on our complaints procedure, please click here
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