The UK Government, through the Government Economic Service (GES), offers university students an opportunity to gain practical experience in government economics through two student placement routes: the GES Summer Placement Scheme and the GES Sandwich Student Placement Scheme.

Both opportunities are designed for students in the penultimate year of an undergraduate degree who are interested in applying economics to real-world public policy challenges. The placements provide exposure to the work of government economists, allowing successful candidates to develop professional skills while contributing to work that supports government decision-making.

HM Treasury confirms that the Government Economic Service operates two centrally managed student work-experience schemes: a 6–12-week summer placement and a 12-month sandwich placement.

These opportunities can be particularly valuable for students who are considering a future career in economics, public policy, government analysis or the wider Civil Service.

1. HM Treasury Government Economic Service Summer Placement Scheme

The Government Economic Service Summer Placement Scheme is a paid short-term opportunity for eligible economics undergraduates who want to gain practical experience during the summer.

The scheme is intended for students who are considering a future career in the Government Economic Service after completing their studies.

According to the current GOV.UK information, the 2026 Summer Placement Scheme is open for applications from 1 October 2026 to 16 October 2026.

What is the Summer Placement Scheme?

The summer scheme allows successful students to spend 6 to 12 weeks working within the UK Civil Service during the summer period.

Rather than learning economics exclusively through lectures, textbooks and examinations, participants have the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to practical issues facing government.

Students may work in government departments across the United Kingdom, with the exact locations and opportunities varying according to the participating departments and vacancies available during each recruitment round.

The experience can provide an important bridge between university study and a professional career in economics.

What can students gain from the summer placement?

A placement with the Government Economic Service can help students develop an understanding of how economics contributes to public policy.

Participants can gain experience in areas such as:

• Applying economic theory to real-world policy questions
• Understanding how government departments use economic evidence
• Conducting economic analysis
• Supporting policy development
• Preparing analysis and briefings
• Working with experienced economists
• Understanding the Civil Service working environment
• Developing professional communication skills
• Building analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Learning how economic evidence can influence government decisions

The experience is particularly useful for students who want to understand how economics works beyond the university classroom.

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2. HM Treasury Sandwich Student Placement Scheme

The second opportunity is the Government Economic Service Sandwich Student Placement Scheme.

Unlike the summer scheme, which lasts between six and twelve weeks, the sandwich placement provides an opportunity to spend approximately one year working in government before returning to university to complete an undergraduate degree.

The scheme is specifically aimed at economics undergraduates in their penultimate year.

Students spend the placement period working alongside experienced government economists and policy professionals before returning to their university studies.

A year of practical government experience

The sandwich scheme offers students a substantially longer period of professional experience than the summer programme.

During the placement, students can experience what it is like to work as part of a government economic team and contribute to policy-related work.

The opportunity is designed to connect academic economics with real government decision-making.

Students can potentially work on issues that have implications for public policy and society, while developing an understanding of how economic analysis is used within government.

The GES describes its sandwich scheme as an opportunity for students to spend a year working in a government department, learning about the role of economics in government and making a contribution to society.

Click HERE for more information

3. How the Two Opportunities Compare

Although both schemes are part of the Government Economic Service, they are designed around different placement lengths.

HM Treasury describes both routes as student work-experience schemes operated through the Government Economic Service.

4. Who Should Consider Applying?

These opportunities are particularly relevant to students who are interested in combining economics with public service.

They may appeal to students interested in:

• Economics
• Public policy
• Government
• Public finance
• Economic development
• Fiscal policy
• Monetary and macroeconomic issues
• Government decision-making
• Evidence-based policy
• Public administration
• Economic research
• Civil Service careers

For students considering a career as a government economist, the schemes can provide an opportunity to understand the profession before graduation.

The Government Economic Service also offers other routes into government economics, including graduate-level opportunities such as the Assistant Economist Scheme and Government Economic Service Fast Stream.

5. Summer Placement Eligibility Requirements

The Summer Placement Scheme has specific academic requirements.

According to the current GOV.UK guidance, applicants must be in the penultimate year of undergraduate study. This means that after completing the placement, the student must have one further year of university study remaining before completing their undergraduate degree.

Applicants must also be on track to achieve at least a 2:1 or First Class degree, based on their results so far.

Importantly, the economics requirement is specific.

Applicants must be studying one of the following:

1. An undergraduate degree in Economics, either BA or BSc;
2. An undergraduate joint degree containing Economics, where Economics represents at least 50% of the credit value of the modules studied and to be studied throughout the degree; or
3. An undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) honours degree where Economics represents at least 50% of the relevant credit value.

Applicants must also have studied both microeconomics and macroeconomics.

Candidates must additionally satisfy the relevant UK immigration requirements and the Civil Service Nationality Rules. The Government Economic Service states that it does not provide visa sponsorship for these schemes.

6. Sandwich Placement Eligibility

The Sandwich Student Placement is also aimed at students in their penultimate year of undergraduate study.

The purpose of the placement is for students to spend a year working in government and then return to university to complete their degree.

This means applicants should not be students who are already completing their final year.

The GES describes its student schemes as routes specifically designed for students in their penultimate year of study.

As with the Summer Scheme, applicants must meet the applicable immigration and Civil Service nationality requirements, and the GES does not provide sponsorship for these schemes. Because eligibility conditions can differ between recruitment rounds and individual schemes, applicants should carefully review the official requirements before submitting an application.

7. Where Can Successful Students Work?

The opportunities are not necessarily restricted to HM Treasury itself.

The Government Economic Service supports economic work across different UK government departments. Civil Service information identifies organisations and departments where GES economists can work, including HM Treasury, HM Revenue & Customs, the Office for National Statistics, the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice.

The exact department and location available to a student can vary from one recruitment year to another.

The Summer Scheme guidance specifically states that opportunities are available in a range of government departments across the UK and that locations vary according to the department and year.

This means successful students may gain exposure to economic issues within different areas of government rather than working exclusively on one type of economic policy.

Click HERE for more information

8. Why This Experience Matters

One of the strongest features of these programmes is the opportunity to move from academic economics to practical economics.

At university, students may study economic models, theories, statistics, microeconomics and macroeconomics. A government placement provides an opportunity to see how this knowledge can be applied to real policy questions.

For example, economic analysis can help governments think about:

• Public spending
• Taxation
• Economic growth
• Employment
• Government programmes
• Public services
• Investment
• Business and economic development
• The impact of policy decisions on households and businesses

Working within government can therefore help students understand the relationship between economic evidence, political priorities and public policy.

9. Professional Development

A placement can also help students develop skills that are valuable beyond economics.

These may include:

Analytical skills

Students can develop their ability to analyse information, interpret evidence and approach complex problems systematically.

Communication skills

Government economists need to communicate technical economic information clearly to policymakers and other audiences.

Policy understanding

Students can learn how evidence is incorporated into the policy-making process.

Teamwork

Working within a government department gives students experience collaborating with economists, civil servants, policy professionals and other specialists.

Professional experience

The placement provides experience within the Civil Service, helping students understand professional standards, organisational structures and government working environments.

Career exploration

The experience can also help students decide whether government economics is the right career path for them.

10. A Potential Pathway into a Government Economics Career

For students who want to become government economists, these programmes can form part of a broader career pathway.

The Government Economic Service operates several recruitment routes covering different stages of a person’s career. These include student schemes, graduate opportunities and other routes into the economics profession.

A student could therefore use a placement to gain practical experience and then explore graduate opportunities within the Government Economic Service after completing their degree.

The GES also has a Fast Stream and Assistant Economist Scheme for graduates.

11. Application Deadline

Summer Placement Scheme

For the 2026 Government Economic Service Summer Placement Scheme, applications are open from:

1 October 2026 to 16 October 2026.

Therefore, prospective applicants should ensure that they complete their application before 16 October 2026.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR SUMMER PLACEMENT SCHEME

Sandwich Student Placement Scheme

The information provided for the Sandwich Student Placement Scheme does not state a specific application deadline.

The GES describes the Sandwich Scheme as an annual student recruitment route that opens in the autumn.

 CLICH HERE TO APPLY FOR THE SANDWICH STUDENT PLACEMENT SCHEME

Applicants should therefore check the official GES recruitment page for the current recruitment timetable and closing date before applying.

12. Important Information for International Students

International applicants should pay particular attention to the nationality and immigration requirements.

Although the schemes are advertised internationally and may be of interest to students studying outside the UK, eligibility is not determined simply by being an undergraduate student.

Candidates must meet the relevant Civil Service Nationality Rules and immigration requirements. The GES explicitly states that it does not offer visa sponsorship for these schemes.

Therefore, students who do not already have the necessary right to work in the UK should carefully examine the nationality and immigration requirements before investing time in an application.

 

13. Why Students Should Consider the Opportunity

The HM Treasury/Government Economic Service student schemes offer a combination of paid professional experience, exposure to government and practical application of economics.

For an eligible economics student, the opportunity can provide:

• Real-world government experience
• Paid employment during the placement
• Exposure to experienced economists
• Experience applying economics to policy
• Professional networking
• Development of analytical and communication skills
• Understanding of Civil Service careers
• Exposure to government departments
• An opportunity to explore a long-term career in public-sector economics

The longer sandwich placement can be particularly valuable for students seeking substantial professional experience before graduating, while the summer scheme provides a shorter route for students who want to gain government experience without taking an entire year away from their studies.

14. Conclusion

The HM Treasury Government Economic Service Summer Placement Scheme and Sandwich Student Placement Scheme provide opportunities for eligible undergraduate economics students to experience how economics is applied within the UK Government.

The Summer Placement Scheme offers a paid 6–12-week experience during the summer, while the Sandwich Student Placement Scheme provides an opportunity to spend approximately one year working in government before returning to university.

Both schemes are designed to help students move beyond theoretical learning and understand how economic analysis contributes to real-world government decisions.

For the 2026 Summer Scheme, applications are open from 1 October to 16 October 2026, making the deadline particularly important for eligible students who wish to apply this year.

Students interested in a future career in government economics, public policy or the Civil Service should examine the eligibility criteria carefully and use the official Government Economic Service recruitment information when preparing their applications.

Who Can Apply?

Summer Placement Scheme

The primary eligible applicants are:

• Undergraduate students in their penultimate year.
• Students on track for a 2:1 or First Class degree.
• Students studying Economics, an Economics joint degree with Economics comprising at least 50% of credits, or qualifying PPE degrees with Economics comprising at least 50%.
• Applicants must have studied both microeconomics and macroeconomics.
• Applicants must satisfy the relevant UK immigration and Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Sandwich Student Placement Scheme

The scheme is aimed at:

• Undergraduate students in their penultimate year.
• Students who will return to university after the placement to complete their degree.
• Economics undergraduates meeting the specific GES requirements.
• Applicants who satisfy the relevant UK immigration and Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Official Application Information

For more information on the government service summer scheme, click HERE

For more information on HM Treasury recruitment, click HERE

Nationality / Countries / Continent

There is no simple “open to all countries” rule for these schemes. Eligibility is governed by the UK Civil Service Nationality Rules and immigration requirements. The GES states that it does not provide visa sponsorship for these student schemes.

Therefore, applicants from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas or other regions should not assume that nationality alone makes them eligible. They must establish that they have the required nationality/immigration status and right to work under the applicable UK rules.

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