2026 EMPLOYER GUIDES4 min read

Santander Early Careers Application Guide 2026

Here’s what we will discuss in this guide: 

  1. Santander Early Career Programmes 
  2. Santander Graduate Recruitment Process
  3. Santander Recruitment Process FAQs

Let’s check out what opportunities you can apply to at Santander below! 

1. Santander Early Careers

What are Santander’s early career programmes?

Santander’s early career programmes provide routes for students, recent graduates, or early‑career entrants to start working at the bank, learning on the job, and building foundational skills. The three Santander early career opportunities are:

  1. Santander HQ Graduate Programme
  2. Santander HQ Summer Internship Programme
  3. Santander Apprenticeship

Let’s start our discussion of Santander’s early careers with the Santander HQ graduate programme.

Santander HQ Graduate Programme

What is the Santander HQ Graduate Programme?

The Santander HQ graduate programme is a 12-month placement designed for recent graduates to develop their skills and gain hands-on experience in a real banking environment. You will work on projects that make a tangible impact on Santander’s customers and broader society while collaborating with teams across the bank. 

Which Santander departments offer the HQ graduate programme?

The  Santander HQ graduate programme provides experience across a range of functions, including:

TechnologyInvestment BankingAudit
CybersecurityHuman ResourcesMarketing

Who can apply for the SantanderHQ Graduate Programme?

Candidates should have achieved a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, specialist certificate, intermediate or higher education diploma, or vocational training qualification within the last three years.

Now that we’ve covered Santander graduate programmes, let’s take a look at the Santander summer internship programme.

Santander HQ Summer Internship Programme

What is the Santander HQ summer internship programme?

The Santander HQ Summer internship programme is aimed at current students, typically in their penultimate year or first year of their master’s degree, who want to gain practical experience in banking and finance. Interns work on real projects within Santander’s central operations (HQ), learning directly from experienced professionals while getting a first-hand view of corporate banking.

Which Santander departments offer HQ summer internship programmes?

The Santander HQ summer internship programmes are available in the following departments:

CybersecurityAuditingWealth Management
LegalMarketingCorporate & Investment Banking

Who can apply for theSantander HQ summer internship programme?

Candidates must be enrolled in a relevant degree programme and able to commit to the full internship period. 

Now that we’ve covered Santander HQ summer internship programmes, let’s move on to the last early careers opportunity, Santander apprenticeships.

Santander Apprenticeship

What are Santander apprenticeships?

Santander apprenticeships are fully paid, work-based programmes designed for people at any career stage, whether you’re finishing school, changing careers, or looking to earn while you learn. These programmes last between 12 months and 4 years, depending on the apprenticeship level.

Which Santander departments offer apprenticeships?

Santander apprenticeships are available in the following departments:

  • Technology
  • Data
  • Economic Crime
  • Customer Services
  • Commercial Banking

Who can apply for Santander apprenticeships?

Santander apprenticeships are open to individuals at different stages of their career journey, whether you’re finishing school, exploring a new career direction, or looking to earn while developing your skills.

Want to pass the Santander assessment tests on your first try?

Prepare for the Santander recruitment process with us. Practise the suitable assessments for each stage today!

Practice Situational Judgement Tests

Practice Situational Judgement Tests

Practice Numerical Reasoning Tests

Practice Numerical Reasoning Tests

Practice Verbal Reasoning Tests

Practice Verbal Reasoning Tests

Practice Game-based Assessments

Practice Game-based Assessments

Practice Video Interviews

Practice Video Interviews

Prepare for your Assessment Centre

Prepare for your Assessment Centre

Practice for your Santander online aptitude tests with all our assessments above as part of our Go Premium practice package.

Having broken down the Santander early-career programmes, let’s now check out the different stages involved in the Santander recruitment process.

2. Santander Recruitment Process

What is the Santander recruitment process?

The Santander recruitment process changes depending on the job role you have applied to. However, some stages remain common across all Santander job roles. 

When you apply to an early careers role at Santander, you can expect some or all of the following stages:  

  1. Santander Online Application
  2. Santander Situational Judgement Test
  3. Santander Numerical Reasoning Test
  4. Santander Verbal Reasoning Test
  5. Santander Game Assessment
  6. Santander Video Interview
  7. Santander Assessment Centre

That’s a wrap on all the incredible early career opportunities at Santander! We can’t wait to see where your journey takes you. Best of luck with your application!

3. Santander Early Careers FAQs

1 How long do Santander early career programmes last?

The Santander HQ Graduate Programme lasts 12 months, the HQ Summer Internship typically lasts 20 months, and Apprenticeships range from 12 months to 4 years.

2 Can Santander’s early career programmes lead to full-time roles?

Yes, many graduates, interns, and apprentices progress into permanent roles at Santander based on performance and business needs.

3 Which departments at Santander can I work in?

Opportunities at Santander span multiple areas, including technology, data, cybersecurity, economic crime, marketing, HR, and customer services.

4 Are there assessments for Santander’s early career roles?

Yes, candidates who apply to Santander may need to complete online assessments such as verbal and numerical reasoning, situational judgement, or game assessment, depending on the programme.

Prepare for your Santander hiring process with our expert-made aptitude tests used by over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.

Practise with peace of mind, backed by a 100% money-back guarantee if you don’t pass your job tests.

This article was last updated on 20 March 2026. All information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication, based on publicly available sources. For the most up-to-date details, please verify directly with the employer.

Start preparing for Santander Tests

and other leading companies