Microsoft Graduate Software Engineer UK: Routes, Interviews

Software roles for students and new graduates · UK

No UK graduate scheme · checked 19 October 2026Other routes into Microsoft UK

Short answer: Microsoft runs no UK graduate software engineering scheme. On 19 October 2026 its UK job board had no graduate software ad. Microsoft posts single roles on its careers site at different times of the year, so set up job alerts. Students apply to intern ads. Graduates apply to early-career roles. Expect an initial interview, then a virtual final day of 1:1s.

Where are you now?

1Getting ready 2First interview 3Final day 4Decision

Independent guide. EP Advisory is not affiliated with Microsoft.

Microsoft hires UK students and new graduates into single software roles, not through a graduate scheme. Students apply to intern ads. Graduates apply to named early-career roles.

This playbook splits the routes by reader, then takes you through Microsoft’s two interview rounds. 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

Microsoft runs no UK graduate software engineering scheme. Its early-careers page lists none. On 19 October 2026 its UK job board had no graduate software ad.

Microsoft’s university internships FAQ says “All roles are posted on our careers site.” It adds: “Job opportunities may be posted at different times throughout the year, so please keep an eye out and you can set up job alerts.”

This cycle so far, from Microsoft’s UK ads

7 Oct 2026

London Software Engineering Intern ad posted

8 Oct 2026

Security Researcher ad, Cheltenham, posted

15 Oct 2026

Applied Science Intern ad, London, posted

19 October 2026

No UK graduate software ad on the board

From Microsoft’s UK job board and its ads, read on 19 October 2026. Microsoft gives no dates for future ads.

Do this now

Set up job alerts on Microsoft’s careers site. Ads go up “at different times throughout the year”, says Microsoft.

Apply within days of an ad going up. Each ad “will be open for a minimum of 5 days”, then stays open until filled.

Get ready now

Six things to finish before your ad goes up. Each comes from Microsoft’s own pages or ads.

A job alert

Search the UK board for intern and early-career roles, then save an alert.

A CV built on the ad’s words

Microsoft says “use those keywords as a framework for writing your resume”.

Two projects you can explain

Microsoft looks for “internships, student groups, hackathons, projects”.

An object-oriented language

The London intern ad asks for “Programming experience in an object-oriented language”.

Data structures and algorithms

The same ad prefers “computer science fundamentals, including data structures and algorithms”.

Your right to work

Microsoft’s UK intern rules say “Candidate must have the right to work in the UK”.

02/10

Two routes in: student or graduate

Your route depends on whether you are still studying. Where Microsoft is silent, we say so.

No scheme

UK graduate software engineering

2 rounds

Initial, then a final day

Virtual

All interviews, says Microsoft

5 days

Shortest time an ad stays open

1 term

Left to study after an internship

90 days

Allow up to this for a decision

Still a student: intern ads

You need “at least one additional quarter/semester of school remaining following the completion of the internship”.

Already graduated: early-career roles

Our reading: these are named roles, often tagged “#EiP” (early in profession) in the ad.

The London Software Engineering Intern ad was posted on 7 October 2026 and said “No longer accepting applications” on 19 October 2026.

For current students, the London Applied Science Intern ad, posted 15 October 2026, asks for someone “Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, Artificial Intelligence or a related field OR currently pursuing a PhD with a relevant project”.

Our reading: graduates should look at early-career roles tagged #EiP. One example is the Security Researcher ad in Cheltenham, posted 8 October 2026. It asks for a “Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science or related field OR equivalent experience”.

Microsoft’s Explore, Discovery and Finance rotation programmes are based in the US, India or Ireland, not the UK. Older “Cambridge” software intern ads were for Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the US. Microsoft publishes no UK graduate or intern software pay.

Where these facts come from

No scheme. Microsoft’s early-careers page lists internships, rotation programmes and other routes. None is a UK graduate software engineering scheme.
Intern rules. From the UK section of Microsoft’s internship eligibility page: “Candidate must be enrolled in a Bachelor’s, Master’s, MBA, or PhD program.”
The ads. The London Software Engineering Intern, London Applied Science Intern and Cheltenham Security Researcher ads, read on 19 October 2026.
In the office. The London Software Engineering Intern ad said “3 days / week in-office”.
Pay. Compare salaries in the UK while Microsoft publishes none for these roles.

Two routes into software roles at Microsoft UK, side by side. Still a student: apply to intern ads one at a time; you need at least one term of study left after the internship; the London intern ad asks for an object-oriented language; you need the right to work in the UK. Already graduated: apply to single early-career roles, often tagged #EiP; meet the degree line in each ad; the skills are whatever each ad lists; the ads ask for the right to work in the UK. For both routes, ads go up at different times of the year, so set up job alerts on Microsoft's careers site. — Microsoft runs no UK graduate software scheme, so your route depends on whether you are still studying. (click to enlarge)

03/10

What Microsoft looks for

Microsoft says “One of the key things we are looking for is passion for technology”. It wants to see it “both in the classroom and outside of the classroom”.

Passion for technology

Show it by: a project you built because you wanted to, not for a grade.

Activity outside class

“internships, student groups, hackathons, projects”. Show it by: one line each on your CV.

An object-oriented language

From the London intern ad. Show it by: a project in a language such as Java, C# or C++.

Computer science fundamentals

“including data structures and algorithms”. Show it by: explaining why you chose each structure.

Problem solving and learning

Interviews “assess how you solve problems and your ability to learn”. Show it by: thinking out loud.

The ad’s own keywords

“use those keywords as a framework for writing your resume”. Show it by: matching your CV to the ad.

From Microsoft’s internships FAQ, its student interviewing page and the London intern ad. Microsoft publishes no grade requirement for these roles.

04/10Stage 1 · Apply

How to apply

There is no fixed deadline. Each ad says it “will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled”.

Set an alert

On Microsoft’s careers site

Pick an ad

Only where you would work

Apply online

No referral needed

Initial interview

If you are selected

Microsoft’s rules for student applications

Referrals. “No, referrals are not required.”
Each year. “All candidates must submit a new application each year.”
Locations. “please only apply to the locations where you would be interested in working”.
Competing offers. “We unfortunately cannot expedite your application review for competing offer deadlines.”
UK interns. “Candidate must be fluent in English.” You also need a term of study left after the internship.

From Microsoft’s internships FAQ and eligibility page. Microsoft does not say how many ads one person may apply to.

Your CV: do and don’t

“Built a C# timetable app at a 24-hour hackathon with two classmates; 40 students used it in the first week”

A project, a team and a result. Microsoft names hackathons and projects as signs of passion.

Don’t

“Passionate about technology and a fast learner”

Anyone can write it. Show the passion with something you built.

Microsoft says to read the job description and “use those keywords as a framework for writing your resume”. Our CV achievement examples show how to give each project 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.

Keep track of every graduate scheme

Save Microsoft and over 2,000 other UK schemes to one free calendar. See what closes next and what you have applied to.

Track my schemes free

Free account, no card.

Other routes into Microsoft UK

Applied Science Intern. On 19 October 2026 the London ad, posted 15 October 2026, was on Microsoft’s UK board. It is for current students with an interest in research or applied AI. Apply early.
The next ad. Microsoft gives no date for the next London software intern ad. Keep your job alert on.
Already graduated? Look at early-career roles tagged #EiP, and read each ad’s degree and right to work lines.
Build a project. Finish a free Microsoft Learn module, so you have something new to talk about.
Next year. “All candidates must submit a new application each year.”

05/10Stage 2 · First interview

The first interview and coding

Microsoft names no online test and no test provider. It says “For some of our openings you may be asked to write code, share a creative portfolio or project, or provide examples of your work in other ways.”

“You’ll have an initial interview and, if selected, a second final interview.” Microsoft aims to “discover your base knowledge in the area of focus, evaluate critical thinking skills, assess how you solve problems and your ability to learn” (student interviewing page). Its FAQ says the first round assesses you “for a functional role at Microsoft, like mechanical engineer or software engineer”.

Virtual

“All our interviews are virtual.”

Role first

The team match comes in the final

No vendor

No named test or provider

Microsoft's five-step method for a coding question, from its 2020 Technical Interview Prep video. Step 1, ask: clarify the question and agree the inputs and outputs before you code. Step 2, plan: start with a simple case and talk through your idea, then a working solution. Step 3, code: use a language you know, with clear names and helper functions. Step 4, test: run your examples line by line. Step 5, talk: discuss the time and space trade-offs. Think out loud, because the interviewers want to see how you think. Microsoft now says all its interviews are virtual. — From Microsoft’s 2020 video. Ignore its old in-person details: Microsoft now says all interviews are virtual. (click to enlarge)

Microsoft’s 2020 coding advice, in its own words

Talk. “think out loud and ask clarifying questions”.
Agree the question. Spend time “agreeing on inputs and outputs” before you write code.
Start simple. “start with a simple case then proceed to a working solution”.
Code. “use a language that you are already comfortable with” and “try to write very clean code using clear variable names and function names”.
Test. “it is okay to have bugs just make sure to catch them early through testing”. Then “talk about the trade-offs of space and time complexity”.
Your CV. “anything on your resume is fair game”.

From Technical Interview Prep, Microsoft’s 2020 video, still on its student interviewing page. Its interview lengths and in-person details are out of date. Microsoft now says all its interviews are virtual.

Your moves

Solve one short coding question a day, out loud, in your strongest language.
Before you code, say the inputs and outputs back to the interviewer.
Finish by testing your examples and naming the time and space cost.

Go further: the best outside help

Our own picks, checked on 19 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.

From the employer

Microsoft Learn for studentsMicrosoft Learn · free account to track progressMicrosoft’s own free modules. Finish one and you have a project to talk about.Free

Learn and practise

CS50x: Introduction to Computer ScienceHarvard OpenCourseWare · free account to submit workThe data structures and algorithms basics that Microsoft’s intern ads ask for.Free
Exercism coding practiceExercism · free account to submitShort coding exercises with human feedback. Practise clean code and tests.Free

Skip paid “Microsoft OA” question banks. Microsoft names no online test, so bought packs only guess.

Next: other employers do set online tests, so see our guide to psychometric and logic tests.

06/10Stage 3 · Final day

The final interview day

The final round is a Virtual Interview Day of “1:1 meetings with Microsoft employees”. Microsoft says “A break is incorporated between interviews”.

Two kinds of question

“Prepare for multiple types of questions, both behavioral and functional/technical, focused on your experience and skills that could translate to the role”.

Matched to a team

Your interview feedback and the interests you share, such as location, decide which team you are matched with.

Details come with the invite

“Interview preparation and details are communicated to candidates when they are invited to interviews”.

Your strengths

“We aim to discover your strengths to pair you with the right team.”

From Microsoft’s student interviewing page and internships FAQ. Microsoft publishes no interview lengths and no number of interviews.

Microsoft's process for UK students and new graduates, in five steps. Step 1: find an ad, using job alerts on Microsoft's careers site. Step 2: apply to it online, one ad at a time, with no referral needed. Step 3: a virtual initial interview that screens you for a role, such as software engineer. Step 4: a virtual final interview day of 1:1 meetings with behavioural and technical questions and a break between them. Step 5: a decision, which Microsoft asks you to allow up to 90 days for. Microsoft names no online test, but some openings ask you to write code in the interview. — Microsoft’s two interview rounds, from its student interviewing page. It publishes no interview lengths. (click to enlarge)

How to answer: STAR for both kinds of question

Microsoft’s 2020 video uses STAR for behavioural answers. It also maps STAR onto a coding question. At the end, it says to “prepare one to two thoughtful questions”.

Situation

Code: clarify the question

Task

Code: start with a simple case

Action

Code: write clean code

Result

Code: test and discuss trade-offs

Follow-ups to rehearse

Why that data structure?How would you test it?What would you change?What did you learn?

See also our guides on how to pass a job interview and the toughest interview questions.

Practise: questions for the final day

Behavioural questions

Our own practice questions, built on what Microsoft says it looks for. Microsoft publishes no question list.

Passion

Tell me about something you built outside your course.

What they’re testing: “passion for technology, both in the classroom and outside of the classroom”.

Show a strong answer

Why you started it, in one line.
One hard problem and how you solved it.
Who used it, or what you would add next.

Learning

Tell me about a time you had to learn a new tool quickly.

What they’re testing: “your ability to learn”.

Show a strong answer

The deadline and what you did not know.
How you learned it: docs, tests, asking someone.
What you shipped, and what you would do faster now.

Teamwork

Tell me about a time your team disagreed on how to build something.

What they’re testing: how you work with others, from a project or student group.

Show a strong answer

The two options, stated fairly.
How the team decided, and your part in it.
The result, and what you learned.

Why Microsoft

Why Microsoft, and why this role?

What they’re testing: that your skills “could translate to the role”.

Show a strong answer

One Microsoft product or team you know well, and why.
One line from the ad that matches your experience.
What you want to learn in your first year.

Technical questions

Card 1 is the mock question from Microsoft’s 2020 video. Cards 2 to 4 are our own.

Coding, 2020 mock

“given a string write an algorithm that will determine if it is a palindrome”

What they’re testing: the method: clarify, start simple, code, test, then discuss trade-offs.

Show a strong answer

Ask first: do spaces, punctuation and capitals count?
Use two pointers, one at each end, moving inwards.
Test an empty string, one letter, and odd and even lengths.
It takes O(n) time and O(1) extra space.

Your CV

Walk me through the hardest part of a project on your CV.

What they’re testing: Microsoft’s 2020 video says “anything on your resume is fair game”.

Show a strong answer

Draw the design in a few words: parts and data flow.
Name the hard part and two options you weighed.
Say what you would change with more time.

Testing

How would you test the code you just wrote?

What they’re testing: that you “catch them early through testing”, as the 2020 video says of bugs.

Show a strong answer

Normal cases first, then edge cases.
Empty input, one item, very large input.
Walk one example through your code line by line.

Trade-offs

Can you make your solution faster, or use less memory?

What they’re testing: “the trade-offs of space and time complexity”.

Show a strong answer

State the current time and space cost.
Name what limits it.
Offer one change and what it costs you.

Your story bank: a worksheet to print or copy

Two STAR stories for each theme Microsoft names.

Theme	Story 1	Story 2
Passion for technology
A hackathon, internship or student group
Learning something fast
Solving a hard problem
Working in a team
A bug you found and fixed

Go further: the best outside help

Our own picks, checked on 19 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.

From the employer

Student interviewing tipsMicrosoft Careers · no account neededMicrosoft’s own steps: a first interview, then a virtual final day of 1:1s.Free
University internships FAQMicrosoft Careers · no account neededMicrosoft’s answers on timing, alerts, referrals and what it looks for.Free

Watch

Technical Interview PrepWorking at Microsoft on YouTube · Jan 2020 · 10 minHow to work a coding question out loud. Microsoft now says all interviews are virtual, so ignore its old in-person details.Free

Read

The STAR methodNational Careers Service · no account neededA UK government guide to STAR answers for the behavioural questions.Free

Skip paid packs of “real Microsoft questions”. Microsoft publishes no question list, so they only guess.

07/10Stage 4 · Decision

Your decision and offer

Microsoft asks you to “allow up to 90 days to receive a decision on your application”. It “cannot expedite your application review for competing offer deadlines”.

Your timeline

“Your recruiter can help you understand the specific timeline of when you can expect to hear back regarding the hiring decision.”

Relocation

Microsoft’s global FAQ says “Yes, Microsoft provides relocation services.”

Aspire, after you join

“a one-year-plus learning and development journey for new full-time employees” who meet its rules.

Offer conditions

Microsoft publishes none for these roles, beyond the right to work in the ads.

From Microsoft’s internships FAQ, interviewing page and recent graduates page. Microsoft’s UK benefits page lists benefits for UK employees. It does not say which apply to interns.

08/10

Visa sponsorship

Microsoft’s UK pages ask for the right to work in the UK. Its UK intern rules say “Candidate must have the right to work in the UK”.

The London Applied Science Intern ad says “You must be legally authorised to work in the United Kingdom to be eligible for this role. (Legally authorised = has citizenship or has been granted a valid visa or work permit)”. The Cheltenham Security Researcher ad says “You must be legally authorised to work in the UK to be eligible for this role”. Microsoft’s global FAQ, written for all countries, says “Yes, Microsoft provides visa sponsorship.”

Our reading: plan on having your own right to work. If you need sponsorship, ask Microsoft before you apply.

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).
Right to work. 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

Microsoft runs no UK graduate software engineering scheme, so watch for single roles.
Set up job alerts, as ads go up at different times of the year.
Students need at least one term of study left after the internship.
Graduates should look at early-career roles, often tagged #EiP.
Microsoft names no online test, but some interviews ask you to write code.
Expect an initial interview, then a virtual final day of 1:1s, and allow up to 90 days for a decision.

Never miss a deadline

When a scheme gives a close date, we email you a few days before it closes. Save Microsoft once and the reminder is set.

Set my reminders free

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10/10

Frequently asked questions

Does Microsoft have a graduate software engineering scheme in the UK?

No. Microsoft runs no UK graduate software engineering scheme, and its early-careers page lists none. On 19 October 2026 its UK job board had no graduate software ad. New graduates apply to single roles on Microsoft’s careers site.

When do Microsoft UK student and graduate roles open?

Microsoft gives no date. It says job opportunities may be posted at different times throughout the year, and that you can set up job alerts. Each ad stays open for at least 5 days.

Can I apply for a Microsoft UK internship after I graduate?

No. Microsoft’s UK rules say you must have at least one more term or semester of study left after the internship. New graduates apply to early-career roles instead.

Does Microsoft have an online coding test?

Microsoft names no online test and no test provider. It says some openings may ask you to write code as part of the interview process.

What are the Microsoft interview stages for students and graduates?

An initial interview, then, if you are selected, a final virtual interview day of 1:1 meetings. Microsoft says all its interviews are virtual, with behavioural and functional or technical questions.

How long does Microsoft take to make a decision?

Microsoft asks you to allow up to 90 days for a decision on your application. It says it cannot speed up a review for a competing offer deadline.

Does Microsoft sponsor visas for UK student and graduate roles?

Microsoft’s UK internship rules and early-career ads ask for the right to work in the UK. Its global FAQ says it provides visa sponsorship. Our reading: plan on having your own right to work, and ask Microsoft before you apply if you need sponsorship.