Government Economic Service Summer Placement Scheme 2027
About the Job
Job Summary
Are you an economics undergraduate in your penultimate year on track for a 2:1 or above? Do you want to gain practical professional experience and use your economics skills to make a difference? Join the UK Government for a paid summer placement.
The Government Economic Service (GES) offers summer placements lasting between 6 and 12 weeks over the 2027 summer period. The scheme offers a unique opportunity to gain practical experience working in the Civil Service, applying economics to issues that matter.
Job Description
These summer placements take place in a variety of UK Government departments across the UK. You will dive straight into the work that shapes policy. You'll crunch data that informs government direction, compare policy trade-offs, and brief the people making choices that affect millions.
What's in it for you? Work that actually makes a difference, hands-on economics experience in the real world, a supportive and inclusive team, and the flexibility to balance work with your studies.
Here are the job descriptions from the departments participating in this year's GES Summer Scheme. They give you an insight into the work of the department, and the role of economists within that department.
Interested in finding out more about the scheme?
- More information about the scheme, the participating departments, and the recruitment process is available when you click to apply.
- You can also attend our Q&A Session on Tuesday 6 October 2026 at 16:30 – 17:30 virtually on Microsoft Teams.
- This session will provide a chance for you to learn about the Government Economic Service, hear from recent participants, get an overview of the recruitment process, and ask questions.
Person Specification
This scheme is only open to students in their penultimate year of undergraduate study.
- 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
- An undergraduate economics joint honours degree, where economics must comprise at least 50% of the credit value of 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 modules studied and to be studied over the full course of your degree must be in economics.
- You must have studied both macroeconomics and microeconomics to be eligible.
Nationality Requirements
Applicants must also:
- Meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules: be a UK or Irish citizen, a citizen of a Commonwealth country, or a European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) citizen eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme.
- Have the right to live and work in the UK, without the need for employer sponsorship.
- If a holder of a student visa - be allowed under the conditions of the visa to undertake a full-time paid summer placement in the UK without a work permit.
If successful, you may be required to undergo security vetting. You must therefore hold, or be willing to obtain, security clearance to CTC/SC/DV level depending on the department you are allocated to.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
Things You Need to Know
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your experience.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, and Technical skills.
The selection process comprises the following stages:
- Stage 1: Complete the online application form
- Stage 2: Sit an online numerical test. Note that your application and online test must be completed before applications close at 12pm on Friday 16 October 2026
- Stage 3: If you pass the online numerical test your application will be sent for sifting. Assessors will review your degree eligibility and score the behaviour questions.
- Stage 4: If you pass the sift stage you will be invited to an online interview. Further information on what to expect at the interview will be sent at a later stage to candidates invited to attend.
- Stage 5: Candidates who are successful at the interview will be assigned to a government department. While we try to assign candidates to one of their location preferences, this is not always possible.
Assignment to a department is not a formal offer as this depends on the availability of suitable positions and the successful completion of all pre-appointment checks, including security vetting.
Recruitment Timeline
This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change.
- 1 October 2026 – Applications open with application form and online numerical test to be completed
- 16 October 2026 at 12pm - Scheme closes (NB: test and application form must be completed by this deadline)
- w/c 19 October 2026 – the recruitment team will set the pass mark for the online test and successful candidates will be progressed to sift.
- w/c 2 November 2026 – applications are sifted to decide who will be invited to the interview stage.
- 30 November – 16 December 2026 – Interviews are held, virtually.
- Mid-January 2027 – Candidates informed of interview outcome and successful candidates assigned to a government department.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.
Nationality Requirements
This job is broadly open to certain nationalities, including UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, and nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK, among others.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining, and investing in talent wherever it is found.
Sectors
Locations
Sectors
Locations
About the Job
Job Summary
Are you an economics undergraduate in your penultimate year on track for a 2:1 or above? Do you want to gain practical professional experience and use your economics skills to make a difference? Join the UK Government for a paid summer placement.
The Government Economic Service (GES) offers summer placements lasting between 6 and 12 weeks over the 2027 summer period. The scheme offers a unique opportunity to gain practical experience working in the Civil Service, applying economics to issues that matter.
Job Description
These summer placements take place in a variety of UK Government departments across the UK. You will dive straight into the work that shapes policy. You'll crunch data that informs government direction, compare policy trade-offs, and brief the people making choices that affect millions.
What's in it for you? Work that actually makes a difference, hands-on economics experience in the real world, a supportive and inclusive team, and the flexibility to balance work with your studies.
Here are the job descriptions from the departments participating in this year's GES Summer Scheme. They give you an insight into the work of the department, and the role of economists within that department.
Interested in finding out more about the scheme?
- More information about the scheme, the participating departments, and the recruitment process is available when you click to apply.
- You can also attend our Q&A Session on Tuesday 6 October 2026 at 16:30 – 17:30 virtually on Microsoft Teams.
- This session will provide a chance for you to learn about the Government Economic Service, hear from recent participants, get an overview of the recruitment process, and ask questions.
Person Specification
This scheme is only open to students in their penultimate year of undergraduate study.
- 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
- An undergraduate economics joint honours degree, where economics must comprise at least 50% of the credit value of 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 modules studied and to be studied over the full course of your degree must be in economics.
- You must have studied both macroeconomics and microeconomics to be eligible.
Nationality Requirements
Applicants must also:
- Meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules: be a UK or Irish citizen, a citizen of a Commonwealth country, or a European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) citizen eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme.
- Have the right to live and work in the UK, without the need for employer sponsorship.
- If a holder of a student visa - be allowed under the conditions of the visa to undertake a full-time paid summer placement in the UK without a work permit.
If successful, you may be required to undergo security vetting. You must therefore hold, or be willing to obtain, security clearance to CTC/SC/DV level depending on the department you are allocated to.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
Things You Need to Know
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your experience.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, and Technical skills.
The selection process comprises the following stages:
- Stage 1: Complete the online application form
- Stage 2: Sit an online numerical test. Note that your application and online test must be completed before applications close at 12pm on Friday 16 October 2026
- Stage 3: If you pass the online numerical test your application will be sent for sifting. Assessors will review your degree eligibility and score the behaviour questions.
- Stage 4: If you pass the sift stage you will be invited to an online interview. Further information on what to expect at the interview will be sent at a later stage to candidates invited to attend.
- Stage 5: Candidates who are successful at the interview will be assigned to a government department. While we try to assign candidates to one of their location preferences, this is not always possible.
Assignment to a department is not a formal offer as this depends on the availability of suitable positions and the successful completion of all pre-appointment checks, including security vetting.
Recruitment Timeline
This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change.
- 1 October 2026 – Applications open with application form and online numerical test to be completed
- 16 October 2026 at 12pm - Scheme closes (NB: test and application form must be completed by this deadline)
- w/c 19 October 2026 – the recruitment team will set the pass mark for the online test and successful candidates will be progressed to sift.
- w/c 2 November 2026 – applications are sifted to decide who will be invited to the interview stage.
- 30 November – 16 December 2026 – Interviews are held, virtually.
- Mid-January 2027 – Candidates informed of interview outcome and successful candidates assigned to a government department.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.
Nationality Requirements
This job is broadly open to certain nationalities, including UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, and nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK, among others.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining, and investing in talent wherever it is found.
