By Andre Atallah, CEO of EP Advisory
Engineering and Technology graduate · Derby, Bristol and Solihull · 24 months
Closes Friday 13 November 2026, or earlierDeadline was set for 13 Nov 2026
Short answer: Apply early. Rolls-Royce’s Engineering and Technology graduate ad closes on Friday 13 November 2026 and may close sooner, depending on application volumes.Rolls-Royce’s Engineering and Technology graduate ad has closed for this year. The deadline was set for Friday 13 November 2026. The next window is likely to open in October 2027. You create a profile with no CV, then sit three Aon tests within 4 days. Next come three written questions and an assessment centre, set for November 2026 to December 2026. The ad pays £31,000 plus a £2,000 joining bonus.
Where are you now?
Independent guide. EP Advisory is not affiliated with Rolls-Royce.
Rolls-Royce’s Engineering and Technology Graduate Programme runs for 24 months, with rotations in Derby, Bristol and Solihull. Rolls-Royce does not state the start month for the 2027 intake.
This playbook walks each stage in Rolls-Royce’s own words, from your profile to the offer. 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. Rules and stages are Rolls-Royce’s, checked 18 October 2026. Prep times are ours.
1. Apply by 13 November 20261. Apply (deadline was set for 13 November 2026)
Create a profile and apply. No CV is needed. Prep 1 to 2 days.
2. Online tests: three Aon tests in 4 days
A judgement test, a 6-minute logical reasoning test and a personality test. About 45 minutes in all. Three written questions follow.
3. Assessment centre: Nov 2026 to Dec 2026
An interview, a seven-minute presentation and a technical exercise, in last cycle’s guide. Prep 1 to 2 weeks.
4. Offer: conditional on checks
A conditional offer, then your grades and checks such as security clearance. Rolls-Royce gives feedback either way.
Your ticks save on this device.
02/10
The programme at a glance
A 24-month programme of rotations across Rolls-Royce’s engineering teams. Where Rolls-Royce is silent, we say so.
13 NovClosed
Closing date, or earlierDeadline was set for 13 Nov 2026
£31,000
Starting salary, per the ad
£2,000
Joining bonus, for moving and hybrid work
24 months
Rotational gigs
3 sites
Derby, Bristol and Solihull
33 days
Annual leave, with bank holidays
Engineering and Technology: closes Friday 13 November 2026Engineering and Technology: deadline was set for Friday 13 November 2026
£31,000 plus a £2,000 joining bonus. 24 months in Derby, Bristol or Solihull. For STEM graduates.
Enterprise Skills Accelerator: closes Friday 30 October 2026Enterprise Skills Accelerator: deadline was set for Friday 30 October 2026
Rolls-Royce’s business graduate route. £40,000 plus a £5,000 joining bonus. At least 12 months from October 2027, in Derby, Bristol or London.
The Enterprise Skills Accelerator ad pairs a 6-month gig with a 6-month strategic project and a “fully funded post-graduate certificate”. It says the programme “is not designed to develop engineering or technical skills”. It says its assessment centres run from December 2026.It said its assessment centres would run from December 2026. Both ads were read on 18 October 2026, and either may close early.
Where these facts come from
- Pay. The ad, JR6160583, says “Starting salary: £31,000 + £2,000 joining bonus”, read on 18 October 2026. The bonus is “to support with moving and hybrid working”. Compare salaries in the UK.
- Length and places. “Duration: 24 months”, in Derby, Bristol or Solihull. “Everyone is expected on site, on average, a minimum three days per week.”
- Rotations. Gigs sit in central Engineering, Technology and Safety teams, or in Civil Aerospace, Defence, Defence Nuclear Submarines or Power Systems.
- Training. A “‘Design & Make’ project, tackling a challenge set by business stakeholders”, “hands-on, practical experience in our workshop”, “a dedicated career coach” and “a week’s residential course with Outward Bound”.
- Start. Rolls-Royce does not state the start month for the 2027 intake.
03/10
What Rolls-Royce looks for
Rolls-Royce’s UK careers page lists five traits. The ad adds “A strong passion for the future of technology” and “A willingness to work flexibly and travel between locations”.
Passion
“A passion for powering the future”
Pride
“A pride in the work you do and the contribution you can make”
Problem-solving
“An open-minded, curious, collaborative and creative approach to problem-solving”
Drive
“Driven, adaptable, and motivated to build your desired career and realise your potential, with support from our leaders”
Learning
“A learn and apply approach, regularly bringing new perspectives to your work”
From the UK internships and graduates page, 18 October 2026. The ad lists four behaviours: “we put safety first, do the right thing, keep it simple and make a difference. We’ll expect that of you, too.” Last cycle’s assessment centre guide tied every interview question to one of them. On entry, the ad asks for “A degree in any STEM subject, or joint honours degrees that combine STEM with subjects like business or economics”. It states no degree class.
04/10Stage 1 · Apply
How to apply
Apply early: the ad closes on Friday 13 November 2026, or sooner. It says “We reserve the right to close the job advert early dependent on application volumes.”This year’s ad has closed. The deadline was set for Friday 13 November 2026. The next window is likely to open in October 2027.
1
Create a profile
Name, education, where you live
2
Three online tests
From Aon, within 4 days
3
Entry check
Minimum requirements
4
Written questions
Three, up to 300 words each
From Rolls-Royce’s Application Preparation Guide, September 2026. “You won’t need to submit a CV as part of the application.” After the tests, “you’ll receive confirmation if you’ve moved to the next step”, so “please check spam/junk folders in case it goes there”. Then, “Based upon your whole application we’ll then decide if you are chosen to join us at an assessment centre.”
Entry rules, AI use and the right site
- Degree. Any STEM subject, or STEM joint honours. The FAQ adds that Rolls-Royce takes graduates in “mathematics, physics, other scientific disciplines or joint honours with a STEM subject”.
- AI. “our guidance is to only use AI tools as a foundation or to help you form a first draft. You will need to add your personality”.
- Right site. Apply through Rolls-Royce’s careers site, which lands on its Workday job board. That site is for Rolls-Royce plc, not Rolls-Royce SMR.
- Deferral. “We can’t commit to a delayed start.”
The three written questions
If you pass the tests and the entry check, an email asks three motivation questions. Rolls-Royce wants answers “more than a few sentences, but the maximum you can write for each answer is 300 words.”
“What is it about Rolls-Royce that makes you want to start a career with us?”
The guide suggests products like the Trent 7000 or XWB engines, the nuclear sector or space exploration. It says “make sure you write about what’s personal to you and not just generic topics”.
“Why would you like to join a Rolls-Royce Emerging Talent Programme?”
Link your modules to the projects you could join. The guide also points to current affairs, products, partners, recent news and financial results.
One trend that will change how Rolls-Royce works
Pick “one social, technological, economic or environmental issue or trend” and say why. The guide’s examples are AI, skill shortages and climate change.
The third question may come back at the assessment centre. Last cycle’s guide said you may “recognise this question from the online application form”.
Your written answers: do and don’t
Do
“My final-year project tested blade cooling, so UltraFan’s efficiency goals feel like the next step for me”
One real moment, tied to a named Rolls-Royce project. That is what “personal to you” looks like.
Don’t
“Rolls-Royce is a world-leading company and I am passionate about engineering”
It could fit any firm. Rolls-Royce also says AI can give you a first draft, but “You will need to add your personality”.
Rolls-Royce asks for no CV, but your written answers and interview need the same proof a CV does. Our CV achievement examples show how to give each project or job a result. 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 Rolls-Royce and over 2,000 other UK schemes to one free calendar. See what closes next and what you have applied to.
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Missed it, or not selected? Your options
- Business graduate route. The Enterprise Skills Accelerator closes on Friday 30 October 2026.deadline was set for Friday 30 October 2026. It is not an engineering route.
- Still a student? Five internships were open on 18 October 2026. The deadline for the E&T Summer, E&T Year-Long, Business Summer and Business Year-Long internships iswas set for Friday 13 November 2026. For the Accelerate MBA Internship, it iswas set for 30 October 2026.
- Job alerts. Rolls-Royce’s free Talent Community lets you “be notified of opportunities that match your profile”.
- Next year. Rolls-Royce’s careers page says “Application timelines: October – November”. It said the same last cycle, so the next window is likely to run from Oct 2027 to Nov 2027.
05/10Stage 2 · Online tests
The three online tests
An email invites you to “3 online assessments. You’ll have 4 days to complete these”. Rolls-Royce says they come from Aon. It does not name the exact Aon products.
Untimed
Situational Judgment Exercise
6 min
Logical Reasoning Assessment
Untimed
Personality Assessment
The judgement exercise “assesses decision making”. The reasoning test “assesses complex problem-solving capabilities”. The personality test “assesses your preferred ways of behaving and working”. Rolls-Royce says “it shouldn’t take you more than 45 minutes to complete them” (FAQ, online tests tab).
Rolls-Royce’s tips for the tests
- One sitting. “You should try to complete all the assessments in one sitting.”
- Breaks. “since the other elements of the assessment are untimed, you could take a break during the rest of the assessment if absolutely necessary.”
- Total time. “The overall amount of time you take to complete all the elements of the assessments is not monitored and has no effect on the results.”
- Browser. “Aon Assessment Solutions recommends that you use the latest browser versions”.
- Pop-ups. “Please enable pop-up windows, as the assessment will open in a new window”.
- Adjustments. Rolls-Royce’s FAQ explains how to ask for extra time, with a medical report.
Practice: what helps and what doesn’t
Helps
- The practice run before each test
- The latest browser, with pop-ups allowed
- A quiet hour to finish in one sitting
- Re-reading the four behaviours before the judgement test
Doesn’t help
- Practice tests from other sites, says Rolls-Royce
- Rushing the untimed tests, as total time is not scored
- Pausing in the six-minute reasoning test
- Answering the personality test as someone else
Rolls-Royce’s FAQ says: “Before you start the assessments, you’ll have the opportunity to familiarise yourself on how to complete them. There is no advantage to be gained by practicing using other assessments available on the internet.” For how reasoning tests work in general, see our tips on how to succeed on a psychometric test.
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 18 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From the employer
- Application Preparation GuideRolls-Royce · PDF · Sept 2026 · no account neededRolls-Royce’s own guide to the steps, the 4-day test window and the three written questions.Free
From the test provider
- Prepare for your online assessmentAon · no account neededRolls-Royce’s tests come from Aon. This is Aon’s own walk-through, with practice tasks for each test type.Free
Read
- Psychometric testsProspects · July 2025 · no account neededA plain guide to judgement, reasoning and personality tests, the three types Rolls-Royce uses.Free
Skip paid “Rolls-Royce test” packs. Rolls-Royce says practising with other tests gives no advantage, and you get a practice run before the real tests.
Next: see how other employers use reasoning and personality tests in our guide to psychometric and logic tests.
06/10Stage 3 · Assessment centre
The assessment centre and Rolls-Royce’s interview questions
The ad sets assessment centres for November 2026 to December 2026. The detail below is from Rolls-Royce’s 2025 assessment centre guide. The 2026 guide may differ.
Last cycle, graduates were told to “Attend a VIRTUAL Assessment Centre”, described as “a half-day session”. It began with an interview “about you and the things that interest you”, then your presentation, then “a technical exercise where you’ll respond to a case study we give you” (Rolls-Royce’s 2025 assessment centre guide). Assessors rated each behaviour “on a scale of 1–6”.
The presentation: Rolls-Royce’s brief
“Please prepare a seven-minute presentation on a technical subject of your choice.” Imagine “a senior colleague from another academic discipline” is listening.
Explain it
“a complex, technical concept to a non-specialist audience in an engaging way”
Link it
“why you think this topic could be particularly relevant to Rolls-Royce”
Reflect
“what you learned and what skills you developed”
Answer
“a short Q&A session at the end”
Follow-ups to rehearse
Why this topic?Where could Rolls-Royce use it?What was hardest to learn?What would you do next?
Topic ideas in the guide include “sustainable aviation fuels or nuclear energy” and “coding or AI ethics”. It warns: “This shouldn’t just be a summary of a theoretical module of your course.” Its tip: “Make sure you practice giving your presentation out loud.”
The technical exercise
“we won’t give you exact details of the technical exercise you’ll complete until the day”. The guide says it shows “how you approach a task and how you might work with others”.
Problem solving
“Analyses and interprets from multiple sources to arrive at conclusions”
Communication
“Communicates ideas using simple language to ensure common understanding”
Ask
“you can ask Assessors to remind you of the behaviour or skill they’re looking for in each exercise”
How to answer: behaviours and STAR
Each interview question in the 2025 guide maps to one of the four behaviours. Answer “a time when” questions with STAR: situation, task, action and result.
S
Situation
Where and when
T
Task
What you had to do
A
Action
What you did, not the team
R
Result
What changed, with a number
The guide’s tips: “Take time to think about questions before you answer them” and “Bring your questions too”. For a video call, “Test your tech in advance”, find a quiet place and “Look into the camera”. See also our guides on how to pass a job interview and the toughest interview questions.
Practise: Rolls-Royce’s published questions
Motivation and self-management questions
Questions from Rolls-Royce’s 2025 assessment centre guide, for graduates. The behaviour each maps to is Rolls-Royce’s. The tips are ours.
Make a difference
“Tell me a bit about yourself and your interests.”
Our tip
- Two minutes, not your life story. Pick one interest that leads to engineering, then one thing you have built or fixed.
Make a difference
“What are you personally hoping to gain from this early career programme?”
Our tip
- Name parts of the programme, such as the rotations, the Design and Make project or the career coach. Say what each would teach you.
Make a difference
Tell us about one trend that will change the way Rolls-Royce works, and why.
Our tip
- This repeats the third written question. Bring the same trend, with one new fact since you wrote it.
Make a difference
“Can you talk me through a time where you needed to manage multiple projects or deadlines at once?”
Our tip
- Show how you ranked the tasks, what you dropped or delegated, and that every deadline was met.
Make a difference
“you’ll need to provide recommendations or ideas but may have limited time for researching/planning. How do you feel about that and what would you do to make sure you still delivered results?”
Our tip
- Say what you would check first, what you would assume, and when you would ask for help.
Learning, teamwork and safety questions
Questions from Rolls-Royce’s 2025 assessment centre guide, for graduates. The behaviour each maps to is Rolls-Royce’s. The tips are ours.
Do the right thing
“Please share an example of something you have done recently to learn something new or develop yourself.”
Our tip
- Pick something from the last year. Say how you learned it and where you have used it since.
Do the right thing
“there will be lots to learn to build your understanding of our business areas and how we operate. How do you feel about that and what will you do to make sure you learn what you need to?”
Our tip
- Give a plan: who you would ask, what you would read and how you would check you understood.
Do the right thing
“Tell me about a time when you’ve sought the views or perspectives of others, to help you make a decision.”
Our tip
- Show whose views you asked for, what changed your mind and what you decided.
Do the right thing
“What will you do to build new relationships and become an important member of the team?”
Our tip
- The guide opens this with “together, we’re stronger”. Give two or three first steps for a new rotation.
Put safety first
Tell me about a time you supported someone who was struggling with a task or process that was new to them.
Our tip
- Our wording of the guide’s question. Show how you noticed, how you helped without taking over, and what they could then do alone.
Put safety first
“Imagine you observed someone displaying negative attitudes/actions/behaviours towards others or established Rolls-Royce processes or procedures. What would you do in response?”
Our tip
- Say you would act, not ignore it. Explain who you would speak to and how you would follow the process.
Your story bank: a worksheet to print or copy
Two STAR stories for each of Rolls-Royce’s four behaviours.
| Behaviour | Story 1 | Story 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Put safety first | ||
| Do the right thing | ||
| Keep it simple | ||
| Make a difference |
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 18 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From the employer
- UK internships and graduatesRolls-Royce · no account neededThe live page links Rolls-Royce’s 2026 assessment centre guide. Open it for this year’s questions and presentation brief.Free
Read
- Interview tests and exercisesProspects · June 2025 · no account neededHow to plan a short presentation and handle a case-study task, the two exercises at Rolls-Royce’s centre.Free
- Competency-based interviewsProspects · June 2025 · no account neededRolls-Royce asks “tell me about a time” questions tied to its behaviours. This guide explains the format.Free
- The STAR methodNational Careers Service · no account neededA free government guide to shaping answers to “a time when” questions.Free
07/10Stage 4 · Offer
Your offer and what comes next
Step 4 on Rolls-Royce’s careers page is the offer. It says “Have you been successful? We will be in touch to let you know.”
Conditional
Offers depend on your grades and on checks “like security clearance”.
Security clearance for Defence
Defence work needs “a Security Check clearance”. Rolls-Royce “will support the application for Security Clearance if you do not currently already have this in place.”
Feedback
“We’ll always give you feedback following your final interview or assessment centre.”
Travel costs
“Your financial status shouldn’t be a reason not to progress your application or assessment, and we’ll always help in any way we can.”
Moving
“In the UK, we offer information and guidance on local accommodation.”
From the FAQ on Rolls-Royce’s UK internships and graduates page and the ad, 18 October 2026. Rolls-Royce does not publish when offers go out or the start month.
Key dates: 2026/27 season
28 Sep 2026
Enterprise Skills Accelerator ad posted
5 Oct 2026
Engineering and Technology graduate ad posted
18 Oct 2026
Both ads were open when we checked
30 Oct 2026
Enterprise Skills Accelerator closesEnterprise Skills Accelerator applications were due
13 Nov 2026
Engineering and Technology ad closes, or earlier
13 Nov 2026
Engineering and Technology applications were due
Nov 2026 to Dec 2026
Assessment centres
Nov 2026 to Dec 2026
Assessment centres
2027
Graduates start; Rolls-Royce does not state the month
08/10
Visa sponsorship
Our reading: sponsorship is case by case and not promised, and Defence roles are closed to most non-UK applicants. Ask Rolls-Royce about your role before you apply.
Rolls-Royce’s FAQ says non-UK applicants “will be assessed against the eligibility criteria for the Skilled Worker Visa and if you are successful, then we will support your visa application”. It adds: “Rolls-Royce Plc cannot offer any guarantee that such an application will be successful.”
The ad says: “Due to the nature of work the business conducts and the protection of certain assets we can only progress applications from individuals who are a UK national or, in MoD approved cases, a dual national.” This covers the Defence business areas.
The Graduate visa and right to work
- Graduate visa. It lasts “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). The programme runs 24 months.
- Right to work. Rolls-Royce’s FAQ says “we’re unable to employ anyone who does not have the legal right to live and work in the UK.” See how to prove your right to work.
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
- The ad closes on Friday 13 November 2026 and may close early, so apply early.This year’s ad has closed. The deadline was set for Friday 13 November 2026.
- You create a profile with no CV, then sit three Aon tests within 4 days.
- Only the logical reasoning test is timed, at six minutes. The whole set takes about 45 minutes.
- Three written questions of up to 300 words follow. Make each one personal to you.
- Last cycle’s assessment centre had an interview, a seven-minute technical presentation and a case-study exercise.
- The ad pays £31,000 plus a £2,000 joining bonus, for 24 months in Derby, Bristol or Solihull.
When a scheme gives a close date, we email you a few days before it closes. Save Rolls-Royce once and the reminder is set.
Set my reminders freeFree account, no card.
10/10
Frequently asked questions
When does the Rolls-Royce graduate programme close?
The Engineering and Technology Graduate Programme ad closes on Friday 13 November 2026. Rolls-Royce may close it early, depending on application volumes, so apply early.This year’s Engineering and Technology Graduate Programme ad has closed. The deadline was set for Friday 13 November 2026. The next window is likely to open in October 2027. Assessment centres run from November 2026 to December 2026.Assessment centres ran from November 2026 to December 2026.
How much does the Rolls-Royce graduate programme pay?
The ad gives a starting salary of £31,000 plus a £2,000 joining bonus, to support with moving and hybrid working. You also get 33 days’ annual leave, including bank holidays. Checked 18 October 2026.
What are the Rolls-Royce online tests?
Three tests from Aon: an untimed situational judgement exercise, a six-minute logical reasoning test and an untimed personality test. Rolls-Royce says they should take no more than 45 minutes in all. You have 4 days to finish them.
Do I need an engineering degree for the Rolls-Royce graduate programme?
No. The ad asks for a degree in any STEM subject, or joint honours that combine STEM with subjects like business or economics. Rolls-Royce does not state a degree class. You do not need a CV to apply.
What happens at the Rolls-Royce assessment centre?
Last cycle, graduates had a virtual half-day: an interview with questions Rolls-Royce publishes, a seven-minute presentation on a technical subject of your choice, and a technical exercise on a case study. The 2026 guide may differ.
Does Rolls-Royce sponsor visas for graduates?
Our reading: sponsorship is case by case and not promised. Rolls-Royce says non-UK applicants are assessed for a Skilled Worker visa, with no guarantee. Defence work is open only to UK nationals or Ministry of Defence approved dual nationals. Ask Rolls-Royce about your role before you apply.
Does Rolls-Royce have a business graduate programme?
Yes. The Enterprise Skills Accelerator is Rolls-Royce’s business graduate route. It pays £40,000 plus a £5,000 joining bonus and startsstarted in October 2027. The ad closes on Friday 30 October 2026.This year’s ad has closed. The deadline was set for Friday 30 October 2026. It is not designed to develop engineering skills.
