By Andre Atallah, CEO of EP Advisory
UK Graduate Programme · engineering, planning and advisory · 2027 intake
Most UK roles close 12 Nov 2026 · may close earlyDeadline was set for 12 Nov 2026Missed it? Your options
Short answer: Apply now. Most Arup UK graduate roles close on 12 November 2026, but any may close early.This year’s Arup UK graduate ads have closed. The deadline on most was set for 12 November 2026. On 17 October 2026, about 150 were open. You apply for a role that fits your degree, with a CV and usually a transcript. Then come three online assessments, a review of your application and a 90-minute virtual interview. Arup does not sponsor visas for these roles.
Where are you now?
Independent guide. EP Advisory is not affiliated with Arup.
Arup is an employee-owned engineering and design consultancy. Its UK graduate roles cover civil, structural and building services engineering, plus planning, energy, digital and advisory work. Most graduates start in September.
This playbook covers every UK graduate role on Arup’s board, grouped by discipline and office. For nearly 10 years, we’ve helped more than 5,000 professionals get hired. Want to know if your CV will pass screening in the UK? Check your CV for free: a score in 30 seconds, then a fix for each problem.
01/10
Your route to an offer
Pick your stage and tick each step when done. Stages and rules are Arup’s, checked on 17 October 2026. Prep times are ours.
1. Apply: most roles close 12 November 20261. Apply (deadline was set for 12 November 2026)
One online application per role, with your CV and transcript ready. Prep 1 to 2 days.
2. Online tests: 3 assessments, then a review
Three online assessments: behaviours, logical reasoning and critical thinking. Prep about 1 week.
Then the recruiter and hiring manager review your CV and answers.
3. Interview: 90 minutes, virtual
A case study and a competency interview with a panel, online. Prep 1 to 2 weeks.
4. Offer and a 1 September 2027 start
A verbal offer first, then written confirmation of your terms. Most ads give a 1 September 2027 start.
Your ticks save on this device.
02/10
The programme at a glance
About 150 UK roles, one shared process and one main closing date. Where Arup is silent, we say so.
12 Nov 2026
Most UK ads close, or earlierDeadline on most ads (now closed)
About 150
UK graduate ads, 17 Oct 2026
18
UK locations Arup recruits in
1 Sep 2027
Start date in most ads
Not published
Salary; Profit Share on top
No
Visa sponsorship in UK ads
Where these facts come from
- Roles and dates. From Arup’s UK graduate board and each ad, read at 23:35 BST on 17 October 2026. 146 ads give 12 November 2026 as the advert closing date. No time of day is given.
- Locations. Arup’s graduate page says “Each year we recruit hundreds of graduates across 18 locations in the UK, and 4 locations in Ireland.”
- Pay. No figure. The ads offer “competitive, fair and equitable pay” and say “Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling permanent members to share in the results of our collective efforts.” Compare salaries in the UK.
- Start. Most ads say you should be able to start on 1 September 2027. A few ads give no start line.
03/10
What Arup looks for
Arup names four core attributes, “aside from your degree”. Plan one real example for each before you write a word.
Changemakers
“A passion for sustainable development and creating a better world is key.” Show it by: a project, module or choice made for that reason.
Innovative minds
“critical thinkers who embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo”. Show it by: a time you questioned a method and improved it.
Growth seekers
“a growth mindset, are curious and always eager to learn”. Show it by: a skill you taught yourself, and what it changed.
Adaptable adventurers
“ready to take on any challenge that comes your way”. Show it by: a plan that changed late, and how you adjusted.
Eligibility and degree rules
- Right to work. “Full working rights in the country of application”.
- Experience. “No more than 12 months of full-time experience in a comparable role”.
- Degree timing. “Recently graduated, or on track to graduate, from your most recent degree, related to your role of choice, before employment starts.”
- Grade. Set per ad. Some ask for a 2:1, and many mention a master’s. One civil ad asks for a “Degree in Civil, Structural, General or Architectural Engineering, or Engineering Science, at 2.1 or above”. Check your ad.
04/10Stage 1 · Apply
How to apply
Apply now: most UK roles close on 12 November 2026. Every ad warns that “this role may be closed ahead of the advertised closing date”.This year’s UK ads have closed. The deadline on most was set for 12 November 2026. Every ad warned that a role may close early.
1
Pick a role
By discipline and office
2
Check the ad
Degree, grade, start date
3
Get documents ready
CV and academic transcript
4
Answer the form
“some role-specific questions”
Each ad says “Applications are reviewed as they’re received, so we encourage you to apply as early as possible.” Arup’s page adds that some roles “may close as soon as they’re filled”.
Several roles, your documents and the AI rule
- Several roles are now allowed. “While you can apply to multiple roles, we recommend limiting your applications to those that closely align with your degree, skills and interests.” Last cycle’s FAQ said “You can only complete one application during each recruitment period”.
- Your documents. Arup’s page says “your application must include a copy of your CV”. Most ads say “your application must include a copy of your academic transcript”. Have both ready.
- No AI writing tools. “during our application process we would kindly ask you to refrain from using these tools”. Arup wants “to hear from you directly in your responses.”
- Adjustments. Arup’s page asks you to contact its UK early careers team if you need “reasonable adjustments throughout your application”.
The roles: pick by discipline and office
Each role has its own ad, and the ad sets the degree it wants. Filter Arup’s board by Category and Location, then read the ad in full.
| Family | Arup’s main categories (ads) | Offices with most ads |
|---|---|---|
| Civil and infrastructure (52) | Civil Engineering 23, Water Engineering 10, Bridge and Civil Structures 5, Ground Engineering 5, Tunnels 2, plus rail, maritime, mining and hydrogeology | Cardiff 10, Birmingham 6, London 6, Newcastle 6 |
| Building services (30) | Electrical Engineering 17, Mechanical Engineering 8, Public Health 2, plus lighting, controls and lifts | London 4, Newcastle 4, Glasgow 3, Manchester 3, Nottingham 3 |
| Planning, environment and energy (22) | Transport Planning 5, Town Planning 4, Energy Specialist 4, Ecology 3, Environmental Management 2, plus urban design and climate | Birmingham 5, Bristol 4, London 4, Cardiff 3 |
| Digital, risk and advisory (22) | Programme and Project Management 5, BIM 3, plus digital strategy, security, safety risk and financial advisory | London 9, Leeds 3, Manchester 3 |
| Buildings and structures (20) | Structural Engineering 7, Fire Safety 5, Acoustics and Audio-Visual 4, Facades 2, plus materials and numerical analysis | London 3, then Bristol, Leeds, Nottingham and Sheffield 2 each |
Counted from the 146 UK ads with an advert closing date of 12 November 2026, on Arup’s UK graduate board at 23:35 BST on 17 October 2026. The categories are Arup’s. The family names are ours. Offices are each ad’s first listed office, and some ads name a second. Four ads give “United Kingdom” as the place.
Your CV and answers: do and don’t
Do
“Designed a rainwater reuse system for my group project that cut mains water use in the model by 30%”
A result with a number, tied to sustainable development. It speaks to Arup’s Changemakers attribute.
Don’t
“Passionate engineer seeking a role at a leading consultancy”
It fits any firm and shows no result. Arup reads your CV and form answers together.
Put your degree, grade and key modules near the top, since each ad sets its own degree rule. Our CV achievement examples show how to give each line a result, and our guide to writing a strong CV covers layout. Getting ready to apply for jobs in the UK? Check your CV for free: see it the way a recruiter does, then fix each problem.
Save Arup and over 2,000 other UK schemes to one free calendar. See what closes next and what you have applied to.
Track my schemes freeFree account, no card.
Your role closed early, or you missed it? Your options
- Another UK role. 146 ads ran to 12 November 2026 when we checked on 17 October 2026, unless closed early. Arup lets you apply to several roles that fit your degree.The deadline on most UK ads was set for 12 November 2026. Arup’s page says some roles have no fixed deadline, so check its board for any still listed.
- An internship, if you have a year left. On 17 October 2026, Arup listed 108 UK internships: 79 summer and 29 industrial. All close on 12 November 2026.Their deadline was set for 12 November 2026, so check the internships page for the next round. Summer internships run “6-8 weeks” from “June/July 2027”. Arup says “Successful internships often lead to graduate positions” (internships page).
- Apprenticeships. Arup also runs UK apprenticeships. Check that page for dates.
- Arup’s events. A London office evening on Tuesday 27 October. A Glasgow office evening on Tuesday 3 November. An online session on Monday 9 November. Registration asks for your details.Check for new sessions and an interest register. See Arup’s events page.
- Ireland. On 17 October 2026, Arup listed 41 Ireland graduate ads. The two we checked close on 12 November 2026.The two we checked had a deadline set for 12 November 2026. Arup says “We’re able to consider candidates who require an employment permit to work in Ireland, where the role and offered salary meet the Irish Government’s eligibility criteria” (Ireland board).
- Next year. Arup’s 2025 FAQ said “Our graduate roles open for new applications each September.”
05/10Stage 2 · Online tests
The online tests
Stage 2 is three online assessments. Arup invites candidates “who meet the minimum qualifications”.
3
Behaviours, logical, critical
Not published
Length and pass mark
Quiet room
Arup’s one tip
Arup says you will “complete 3 assessments around your behaviours, logical reasoning, and critical thinking. We recommend you find a nice quiet place, free from distractions so that you can think about your answers.” Arup does not name a test provider, a format or a time limit.
After the tests: the application review
Arup folds a review into this stage. “After successfully passing the pre-screen, your CV will undergo a detailed review by the recruiter and hiring manager.” The hiring teams also read your form answers “to determine who goes through to the final stage of the process”. So your written answers still count after the tests.
How to prepare for each assessment
Behaviours
Answer as you really work. Arup does not describe this assessment. Behaviour tests usually ask how you tend to act at work. Re-read the four attributes first, then answer honestly and consistently.
Logical reasoning
Practise spotting rules in patterns and statements. Arup does not publish its format. Free UK guides cover the common types: deductive, inductive and abstract reasoning. Practise under a timer, then review every miss.
Critical thinking
Separate what a text proves from what it assumes. Arup does not publish its format. Read each question slowly, use only the facts given and leave your own knowledge out.
Older guides describe “a timed numerical and logical reasoning assessment”. That is from Arup’s 2025 brochure. Today’s page names critical thinking instead.
Arup’s asks: do and don’t
Do
- Take the tests somewhere quiet, free from distractions
- Ask for reasonable adjustments early
- Apply only to roles close to your degree
Arup asks you not to
- Use AI writing assistants in your application
- Send a high volume of applications
- Hide incorrect right to work details
From Arup’s graduate page and its FAQs. Arup says many applications “may impact our ability to process each one efficiently”. It may withdraw an offer “if incorrect Right to Work information has been provided”.
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 17 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From the employer
- UK and Ireland graduate programmeArup careers · read step 2 · no account neededArup’s own outline of the 3 online assessments and what comes after them.Free
Read
- Psychometric testsProspects · updated Sep 2026 · no account neededA plain UK guide to personality and reasoning tests, with timings and tips.Free
- Psychometric tests: what graduates need to knowTARGETjobs · updated Mar 2026 · no account neededExplains deductive, inductive and abstract reasoning questions and how to prepare for them.Free
Skip paid “Arup test” packs. Arup does not name its test provider, so these packs are guessing.
Next: build your reasoning speed with our guide to psychometric and logic tests.
06/10Stage 3 · Interview
The 90-minute interview
Stage 3 is one 90-minute virtual interview, with a case study and a panel. Arup’s page lists no assessment centre this cycle.
“Selected candidates will be scheduled for a 90-minute virtual interview. The interview will consist of a case study and competency-based interview with a panel.” Arup does not publish the case topic, the split of time or the panel size.
Why older guides describe a longer process
Arup’s 2025 FAQ described video interviews and then a “competency-based online Assessment Centre”. Today’s page has one 90-minute interview instead. Prepare for today’s format.
How to answer: the panel and the case
Competency questions
Competency questions ask for a real example. The government’s careers service suggests STAR. Arup publishes no answer method.
S
Situation
Where and when, in one line
T
Task
What was yours to do
A
Action
What you did, step by step
R
Result
What changed, with a number
The case study
Arup does not publish a case method. This is our suggested approach for an engineering or planning case.
Clarify
Restate the brief. Ask what the client needs most.
Structure
Split it into cost, time, safety and the people affected.
Weigh
Compare two or three options, including the sustainable one.
Recommend
Pick one. Name its main risk and your next step.
Follow-ups to rehearse
What exactly was your part?What would you change now?Who disagreed, and why?What did it cost or save?
See also our guides on how to pass a job interview and the toughest interview questions.
Practise: questions built from Arup’s words
Attribute questions
Arup publishes no interview questions. We turned its four core attributes into practice questions. The wording is ours.
Changemakers
Tell us about a time you made something more sustainable.
What they’re testing: “A passion for sustainable development and creating a better world”.
Show a strong answer
- Pick a real change you drove, at university, work or home.
- Give the before and after, with a number if you have one.
- Close on what it taught you about trade-offs.
Innovative minds
Describe a time you challenged the usual way of doing something.
What they’re testing: critical thinkers who “challenge the status quo”.
Show a strong answer
- Explain the old method and why you doubted it.
- Show how you tested your idea before pushing it.
- Say what changed, and how you brought others with you.
Growth seekers
What is the hardest thing you have taught yourself?
What they’re testing: a growth mindset and being “eager to learn”.
Show a strong answer
- Name the skill and why you needed it.
- Show your method: sources, practice and feedback.
- End with how you used it on a real task.
Adaptable adventurers
Tell us about a time your plan changed at short notice.
What they’re testing: being “ready to take on any challenge”.
Show a strong answer
- Set the scene fast: what changed, and when.
- Spend most of the time on how you re-planned.
- Give the outcome and what you would repeat.
Motivation questions
Built from Arup’s graduate page, its ads and Ove Arup’s Key Speech. The wording is ours.
Why Arup
Why do you want to join Arup?
What they’re testing: whether you know what makes Arup different.
Show a strong answer
- Use one fact: Arup is employee-owned and shares profit with members.
- Link it to one idea from Ove Arup’s Key Speech.
- Add one Arup project you studied, and why it stuck.
Your role
Why this role and this team?
What they’re testing: that you read the ad, not just the brand.
Show a strong answer
- Quote one task from your ad that you want to do.
- Match it to a module, project or job you have done.
- Say what you want to learn in your first year.
Your office
Why this office?
What they’re testing: that you will settle and stay.
Show a strong answer
- Give a practical reason and a work reason.
- Name the kind of projects that office does, from the ad.
Your future
Where do you want to be in five years?
What they’re testing: ambition that fits Arup’s training.
Show a strong answer
- Mention chartership with your institution, if it fits your field.
- Arup says anyone who wants to get chartered gets “a dedicated mentor”.
- Keep it about skills and impact, not job titles.
Discipline questions
Competency questions often reach into your field. These are our own, based on what the ads ask for.
Your project
Walk us through the technical project you are proudest of.
What they’re testing: depth in the degree your role asks for.
Show a strong answer
- Say the problem in one line, then your part in it.
- Explain one key decision and the numbers behind it.
- End with what you would change now.
Explaining
Explain a technical idea from your degree to someone outside your field.
What they’re testing: whether clients and other teams could follow you.
Show a strong answer
- Start with why it matters to the listener.
- Use one everyday comparison.
- Check understanding before you add detail.
Teamwork
Tell us about working with people from another discipline.
What they’re testing: fit with Arup’s multidisciplinary teams.
Show a strong answer
- Name the other discipline and the clash of needs.
- Show how you learned their constraints.
- Give the shared result.
Judgement
Tell us about a mistake you caught, in your work or someone else’s.
What they’re testing: care and honesty on safety-critical work.
Show a strong answer
- Say how you spotted it and who you told.
- Show the fix and the check you added after.
Your story bank: a worksheet to print or copy
Two STAR stories for each line. Use each story once at most.
| Theme | Story 1 | Story 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Changemakers | ||
| Innovative minds | ||
| Growth seekers | ||
| Adaptable adventurers | ||
| Your technical project | ||
| Working across disciplines |
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 17 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From the employer
- The interview stageArup careers · read step 4 · no account neededArup’s own description of the 90-minute virtual interview: a case study and a panel.Free
- Ove Arup’s Key SpeechArup · 1970 speech · no account neededThe founder’s speech on the firm’s aims. Read it before you answer why Arup.Free
Read
- The STAR methodNational Careers Service · no account neededA free government guide to structuring competency answers.Free
- Competency-based interviewsProspects · updated Sep 2026 · no account neededCommon competency questions and how to answer them.Free
07/10Stage 4 · Offer
The offer and your start
Pass the interview and you get a verbal offer, then written terms. The interview is Arup’s last selection stage.
The offer
“a verbal offer, followed by written confirmation of their employment terms”.
Your start
Most ads say 1 September 2027. Arup adds “In the UK, another start date through the year is possible”, case by case.
Pay and Profit Share
No figure is published. Your written terms will show it.
Chartership
Anyone interested in getting chartered “will have a dedicated mentor to guide them through their journey”.
Right to work
Arup “reserves the right to withdraw a candidate offer if incorrect Right to Work information has been provided.”
From Arup’s graduate page and its UK ads, 17 October 2026. Interview dates and decision times are not published. Last cycle, Arup’s brochure said virtual assessments ran “between November and March”, but that was a different process.
Key dates: 2027 intake
Sep 2026
Applications opened
17 Oct 2026
About 150 UK graduate roles were open
27 Oct to 9 Nov 2026
Arup events in London, Glasgow and online
12 Nov 2026
Most UK ads close, unless closed early
12 Nov 2026
Applications on most UK ads were due by this date
Not published
Interviews and offers
Not published
Interviews and offers
1 Sep 2027
Start date in most ads
08/10
Visa sponsorship
Arup does not sponsor visas for its UK graduate roles. The ads ask for the right to work in the UK permanently.
All but one UK ad we read on 17 October 2026 say “we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Therefore, you must ensure that you are eligible to work permanently in the UK without our sponsorship.”
Our reading: the Graduate visa
- Our reading. A Graduate visa is time-limited. So it may not meet Arup’s “permanently” rule. If you would rely on one, ask Arup before you apply.
- How long it lasts. GOV.UK says “2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026” and “18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027” (GOV.UK).
Need sponsorship? See our guides to UK companies that sponsor visas and staying in the UK after studying. This is general information, so check GOV.UK.
09/10
Key takeaways
Before you apply
- Most Arup UK graduate roles close on 12 November 2026, but any may close early, so apply now.This year’s UK ads have closed. The deadline on most was set for 12 November 2026.
- You can apply to several roles, but Arup asks you to keep to ones close to your degree.
- Have your CV and academic transcript ready, and write your answers without AI tools.
- The online stage is three assessments: behaviours, logical reasoning and critical thinking.
- The final stage is one 90-minute virtual interview, with a case study and a competency panel.
- Arup does not sponsor visas for these roles, and asks for permanent UK work rights.
When a scheme gives a close date, we email you a few days before it closes. Save Arup once and the reminder is set.
Set my reminders freeFree account, no card.
10/10
Frequently asked questions
When does the Arup graduate programme close?
Most Arup UK graduate ads close on 12 November 2026. Each ad says the role may be closed ahead of the advertised closing date, so apply early.This year’s Arup UK graduate ads have closed. The deadline on most was set for 12 November 2026. Arup’s page says some roles have no fixed deadline, so check its board. On 17 October 2026, about 150 UK graduate roles were open.
Can I apply for more than one Arup graduate role?
Yes. Arup now allows applications to several roles. It asks you to keep to roles that closely align with your degree, skills and interests. Last cycle allowed only one application.
What documents do I need for an Arup graduate application?
Arup’s graduate page asks for a copy of your CV. Most UK ads also ask for a copy of your academic transcript. Have both ready before you start the form.
What are the Arup online assessments?
Arup invites eligible candidates to complete 3 assessments around behaviours, logical reasoning and critical thinking. It does not name a test provider or publish timings. It recommends a quiet place free from distractions.
What is the Arup graduate interview?
A 90-minute virtual interview with a case study and a competency-based interview with a panel. Arup’s page lists no assessment centre this cycle. Passing leads to a verbal offer, then written terms.
How much does the Arup graduate programme pay?
Arup does not publish a salary in its UK graduate ads. It offers competitive, fair and equitable pay, plus Profit Share for permanent members. Checked 17 October 2026.
Does Arup sponsor visas for UK graduate roles?
No. The UK graduate ads say Arup is unable to offer visa sponsorship and that you must be eligible to work permanently in the UK. If you would rely on a Graduate visa, ask Arup before you apply.
