2026 EMPLOYER GUIDES5 min read

Barclays Early Careers Full Guide 2026: Graduate, Internship and Apprenticeship Programmes

Here’s what you’ll uncover in this guide:

1. Barclays Early Careers

What are the Barclays early career programmes?

The Barclays early career programmes are opportunities made available for students and recent graduates to help them gain experience and kickstart their future careers at Barclays.

Read on to find out which Barclays early career opportunity is right for you.

  1. Graduate Programmes
  2. Internship Programmes
  3. Apprenticeship Programmes

Good to Know: Barclays has opportunities for students who are willing to work and study at the same time through its apprenticeship programmes. Read on below as we cover the top apprenticeship programmes offered by Barclays.

Let’s find out what each of these opportunities offers, starting with the Barclays graduate programmes.

Barclays Graduate Programmes

What are the Barclays graduate programmes?

The Barclays graduate programmes are career pathways designed for recent graduates to launch their careers within the bank. These programmes provide exposure to the banking industry and are offered globally.

What are the career opportunities in the Barclays graduate programmes?

The Barclays graduate programmes are divided into two main tracks, which are:

  1. Barclays Explorer Programme: Typically a 2-year rotational graduate scheme with three placements across a chosen business area, combined with tailored training, networking and development.
  2. Barclays Expert Programme: A 1- to 2-year specialist scheme focused on technical disciplines like coding, data and analytics, and quantitative research. It offers training, mentorship, and accelerated development.

If you are interested in the Barclays graduate programme, be aware of the requirements below before you apply.

Barclays Graduate Programme Eligibility Criteria

  • Educational background: A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) is required; some roles may need a relevant subject. No minimum GPA is required.
  • Programme level: Analyst roles are for bachelor’s/master’s graduates. Associate roles are for those with an MBA, master’s, PhD, or equivalent experience.
  • Work rights: You must have the legal right to work in the country you’re applying to; visa sponsorship may be offered.
  • Programme flexibility: Most roles are open to all degrees, except technical roles, which may require specific disciplines.

Good to Know: Barclays graduate recruits gain lifetime access to a global graduate alumni network, continuous learning opportunities, and leadership development support even after completing the 1- to 2-year programme.

Having understood the Barclays graduate programmes and their requirements, let’s move on to another Barclays programme: the Barclays internship programmes.

Barclays Internship Programmes

What are the Barclays internship programmes?

The Barclays internship programmes are short-term opportunities for university students to gain experience across business areas, helping them explore career paths at Barclays and potentially secure a place on a future graduate programme.

What are the available Barclays internship programmes?

Find below some of the available Barclays internship programmes.

  1. Spring Week (Insight Programme): A 1-week experience for penultimate-year students in the UK (mainly London), offering insight into areas like banking, markets, and technology.
  2. Summer Internship: A 9-week programme for penultimate-year students across areas such as banking, Barclaycard, trading, technology, and treasury. This programme is offered in the UK, USA, Singapore, India, and South Africa.
  3. Off-Cycle Internship: A 3- to 6-month placement outside the summer window, available globally in areas like investment banking, markets, corporate banking, or quantitative analytics, across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
  4. Discovery Diversity Programme: A 2-day insight programme for students in the UK (two years from graduation) from underrepresented groups, who may be fast-tracked for summer internships.
  5. Technology-Focused Internships: Specialised 10-week summer roles in technology, cyber security, and development, offered in the UK, India, Singapore and the USA.

Barclays Internship Programmes Eligibility Requirements

  • Education: Enrolled in a university degree (typically in your 1st, 2nd, or penultimate year, depending on the programme) with a 2:1 or equivalent.
  • Right to work: Must be able to work in the country where the internship takes place (visa sponsorship varies by region and role).
  • Interest: Genuine interest in financial services, banking, technology, or your chosen business area.
  • Availability: You must be available during the programme period, whether 1 week (Spring), 9 weeks (Summer), or 3 to 6 months (Off-Cycle).

The Barclays internship programmes are another early career scheme you can apply to, alongside the Barclays apprenticeship programmes.

Barclays Apprenticeship Programme

What is the Barclays apprenticeship programme?

The Barclays apprenticeship programmes offer full-time, paid roles that combine practical work experience with formal qualifications. They are open to school leavers and career changers as a pathway into long-term careers at Barclays without a university degree.

What are the available Barclays apprenticeship programmes?

Barclays’ apprenticeship programmes are available in multiple countries, with the UK hosting the most structured programmes. Here are some of these apprenticeship programmes:

  1. Foundation Apprenticeships: 2-year programmes for school leavers with GCSEs, leading to the equivalent of two A-Levels. Apprentices work full-time from day one and transition directly into roles at Barclays.
  2. Higher (Degree-Level) Apprenticeships: 3- to 4-year programmes for those with A-Levels or equivalent qualifications, offering a salary and workplace training while studying toward degree-level qualifications.
  3. Degree Apprenticeships & Specialist Tracks: Provide full-time employment, tuition-funded qualifications (up to master’s level), mentor support, and development.

Barclays Apprenticeships Eligibility Criteria

  • Foundation: 5 GCSEs (9-5) including Maths & English.
  • Higher: 3 A-Levels (BBB/BCC), right to work in the UK.
  • Degree/Specialist: Same as Higher, plus motivation for a specific career track.

Good to Know: Barclays apprenticeship programmes are offered in the UK. However, they may be offered in other locations, but this varies by year and business demand, and may not follow the same format as UK apprenticeships.

2. Barclays Early Careers Application Process

What other Barclays online tests might I face?

Alongside the Barclays personality test, you may also be required to complete:

  1. Barclays Online Application
  2. Barclays Numerical Reasoning Test
  3. Barclays Verbal Reasoning Test
  4. Barclays Logical Reasoning Test
  5. Barclays Values and Mindset Assessment
  6. Barclays Personality Assessment
  7. Barclays Video Interview
  8. Barclays Assessment Centre

If you’re applying for a more technical role, such as the Explorer Developer programme, Barclays may also invite you to complete an additional assessment to test your coding skills and computer science fundamentals.

Good to Know:

Barclays’ online assessments are typically delivered via SHL or Cappfinity, and are usually blended into two combined stages known as Business Insight Stage 1 and Business Insight Stage 2.

Discover all stages of the Barclays recruitment process here!

Want to pass each stage of the Barclays early careers application process?

Practice the relevant assessments for each stage with us today!

Practice Numerical Reasoning Tests

Practice Numerical Reasoning Tests

Practice Verbal Reasoning Tests

Practice Verbal Reasoning Tests

Practice Logical Reasoning Tests

Practice Logical Reasoning Tests

Practice Situational Judgement Tests

Practice Situational Judgement Tests

Practice Work Personality Questionnaire

Practice Work Personality Questionnaire

Practice Video Interviews

Practice Video Interviews

Prepare for your Assessment Centre

Prepare for your Assessment Centre

Before you start your Barclays application, check out the FAQs below for more information about Barclays early career programmes.

3. Barclays Early Careers FAQs

1 When does Barclays open applications for graduate roles and internships?

From my research, Barclays recruits for graduate roles and internships on a rolling basis throughout the year, with the highest volume of openings typically appearing in autumn.

2 Do Barclays internships lead to full-time job offers?

From my research, strong performers on Barclays’ Spring Week and Summer Internship programmes can be fast-tracked or offered a place on a future graduate programme. Barclays uses its internships as a key pipeline for graduate talent.

3 Are Barclays early careers programmes available outside the UK?

Yes, Barclays offers early careers opportunities across multiple countries including the USA, Singapore, India, and South Africa, among others. Check the Barclays careers portal and filter by location to find opportunities in your country.

4 What degree do I need to apply for Barclays graduate roles?

Most Barclays graduate roles are open to all degree disciplines, though technical roles within the Expert Programme may require a relevant subject such as computer science, data, or quantitative research.

5 How competitive are Barclays early careers roles?

Barclays early careers roles are highly competitive, particularly within investment banking and technology tracks. A strong academic record, relevant experience, and thorough preparation for each stage are essential.

6 Is the Barclays early careers application process the same as for professional roles?

The early careers process largely mirrors the standard Barclays recruitment process, including online assessments, a video interview, and an assessment centre. Always review the specific programme page for requirements before applying.

Prepare for the Barclays early careers recruitment process with our expert-designed practice tests, the only aptitude practice test experts providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.

Practice with peace of mind with a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.

This article was last updated on 10 July 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 Barclays assessments

and other leading companies