Early careers

Launch your career by applying for our graduate scheme, apprenticeship or internship programmes.

If you join us, you’ll gain valuable experience and develop expert knowledge, helping you build the career you want whilst making a real difference for consumers of financial services across the UK. Shape your future, and shape the future of financial services – join the FCA.

Whether your interests lie in Data and Technology, Financial Regulation, Operations, Risk and Compliance or Economics we will support you to grow your expertise in your chosen field.

Our programmes

Find out about our graduate, apprenticeship and summer internship opportunities. If you become a graduate or apprentice, you'll also gain access to our fantastic range of staff benefits[1].

Graduate scheme

Financial markets must be honest, fair and effective so consumers get a fair deal. Our rotational graduate programmes help you build an in-depth knowledge of how we work to ensure markets work well for individuals, for businesses and for the economy as a whole.

With a breadth of programmes that focus on Authorisations to Policy, Supervision to Enforcement, Economics to Data and Technology, each of our streams can help you find and develop your area of expertise.

Applications for our 2025 graduate scheme are now closed.

2026 applications will open in autumn 2025.

Apprenticeships

Our apprenticeships offer you an 18 to 36 month opportunity to take part in key aspects of our day-to-day work, develop new skills and gain an industry leading qualification while you earn. We look for passion and integrity as well as ambition and aptitude in our apprentices.

You don't need to have previous work experience, but you will need to have 5 GCSEs (A to C) and 2 A-Levels. With a variety of programmes to choose from, there’s no telling where your talent can take you.

Applications for our 2025 apprenticeships are open now.

Apply online[2]

Summer internships

Our 10-week Summer Internship Programme gives you valuable insight into the FCA and financial services, and provides you with an opportunity for real responsibility and learning. Internship roles span the Regulatory areas of the business as well as our Data, Technology and Innovation divisions.

Applications for our 2025 summer internships are now closed.

2026 applications will open in autumn 2025.

How to apply

When you apply to one of our programmes, you'll go through the combination of tests and interviews below.

Please note, this is the new application process for all our early careers programmes: graduate, summer intern and apprenticeships programmes.

Applications for apprenticeships don't open until Spring 2025, so watch this space.

Submit application form

During this initial stage, we’ll confirm whether you meet the minimum requirements for our programme.

We’ll ask you to give details of your education and any previous work experience you may have had.

Online tests: Capptivate

If your initial application meets our requirements, we’ll ask you to complete an online strengths-based assessment.

We strongly encourage you to familiarise yourself with the test format, practice and read the instructions carefully when it comes to the real thing.

Our Cappfinity Preparation Hub[3] has more information about the online assessment and practice questions.

Online tests: Simmulate

Next, you’ll be invited to complete an online job simulation and video interview.

This will be a behavioural assessment that includes video assessments and gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your awareness of the FCA and the role the FCA has in financial services.

Assessment centre

This is the final stage of the process. Our assessment centres last half a day and consist of 3 exercises.

Here, you’ll undertake a group exercise, an analysis exercise and a strengths-based interview.

Useful tips

We look for our values in all candidates. You should bear these in mind, especially during Simmulate and at the assessment centre.

When you're asked for examples, try to give ones which relate to you and how you demonstrate them.

Our values represent the culture we aspire to every day, guiding us, building trust and helping us achieve our objectives.

Find out more about our values and core skills (PDF)[4].