By Andre Atallah, CEO of EP Advisory
Finance and IDT graduate · London · 2027 intake
Open · closes 15 Dec 2026, or earlierDeadline was set for 15 Dec 2026
Short answer: Apply now. Shell’s UK Finance and IDT graduate ads, both in London, close on 15 December 2026, and Shell may withdraw them earlier.This year’s UK Finance and IDT graduate ads, both in London, have closed. The deadline was set for 15 December 2026. Pick your stream with care, as a second application within 10 months follows the first one’s result. Stage 1 is a Virtual Job Tryout and an On-Demand Interview, about 40 minutes within 7 days. Stage 2 is an online case study and interview with two Shell employees.
Where are you now?
Independent guide. EP Advisory is not affiliated with Shell.
Shell’s Graduate Programme in the UK “lasts at least 3 years”, in two 18-month rotations. The 2027 intake has two streams, both at Shell Centre in London: Finance, and Information & Digital Technology (IDT).
This playbook covers both streams, stage by stage, in Shell’s own words. 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 Shell’s, checked 17 October 2026. Prep times are ours.
1. Apply: closes 15 December 20261. Apply (deadline was set for 15 December 2026)
Apply to one ad, Finance or IDT, on Shell’s job site. Prep 2 to 3 days.
2. Stage 1: about 40 minutes, within 7 days
The Virtual Job Tryout, then straight on to the On-Demand Interview. Prep 2 to 4 days.
3. Stage 2: online, with two Shell employees
A case study session, then an interview with the same two people. Prep about 1 week.
4. Offer: a place found for you
Pass Stage 2 and Shell can offer you a place. Prep 1 day.
Your ticks save on this device.
02/10
The programme at a glance
Two London streams, at least three years, two 18-month rotations. Where Shell is silent, we say so.
15 Dec 2026
Closing date, or earlierDeadline (now closed)
London
Shell Centre, both streams
3+ years
Two 18-month rotations
2:1
Or above, undergraduate degree
Competitive
Salary; no figure published
0 to 3 years
Work experience, says Shell
Finance: March 2027 and September 2027 starts
Degrees “preferably from Econometrics-related disciplines”, such as Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Management and Mathematics. Work includes business partnering, treasury and direct tax.
IDT: September 2027 start
Degrees named include Computer Science, Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, Engineering, Physics, Geoscience and Economics.
Where these facts come from
- The ads. The Finance ad and the IDT ad, both posted 15 September 2026 and open on 17 October 2026. Both give “London – Shell Centre” and two 18-month rotations.
- Length. Shell’s how-to-apply page says it “lasts at least 3 years”. The UK page ends with an “End-of-Programme Assessment”, where “your performance and achievements will be reviewed”.
- Pay. No figure. On 25 September 2026, Shell’s how-to-apply page offered “a competitive starter salary, with performance related pay and allowances”. Compare salaries in the UK.
- Start months. Shell’s global page lists intakes in “February, May, August or November”, which “varies by country”. The UK ads give March 2027 and September 2027 for Finance, and September 2027 for IDT, so go by the ads.
- Experience. Shell’s 2024 video says “anywhere between zero and three years’ work experience”.
- The name IDT. Shell’s UK page files this ad under “Technical”. We use the ad’s own title, Information & Digital Technology (IDT).
03/10
What Shell looks for
Shell scores you on three qualities: Capacity, Achievement and Relationships (CAR). A Shell recruiter says “We’re very consistent in how we assess people using the CAR framework”.
Capacity
“You’ll be able to analyse situations and propose solutions to address problems and develop opportunities.” Show it by: a problem you broke down and the fix you suggested.
Achievement
“You’ll be driven to succeed and adapt by learning and growing from feedback to deliver results.” Show it by: a result you reached after feedback changed your approach.
Relationships
“You’ll thrive working effectively in a diverse team and be able to build mutually beneficial, positive working relationships.” Show it by: a mixed team you helped work well together.
CAR is defined on Shell’s how-to-apply page and in its 2024 video. Both ads add: “You thrive by analysing problems, making objective decisions, and coming up with original ideas.” They also want “the drive, and resilience to get things done” and “the credibility to influence others”. The Show it by lines are ours.
04/10Apply
How to apply
Apply now: both ads close on 15 December 2026. No time of day is given.This year’s ads have closed. The deadline was set for 15 December 2026. Shell adds: “We occasionally amend or withdraw Shell jobs and reserve the right to do so at any time, including prior to the advertised closing date.”
1
Pick one ad
Finance or IDT
2
Apply online
On Shell’s job site
3
Ask for support
Adjustments, as each ad explains
4
Stage 1 invite
Then 7 days to finish
The 10-month rule
One Shell graduate application counts for 10 months. A second one follows the first one’s result.
Rejected once? A new application is turned down too, even for a different position, until 10 months have passed.
Shell’s words: “after submitting a Graduate Programme application, any further applications during a 10-month period will be auto-progressed, based on the outcome of the first application”. And “if you have an unsuccessful application and re-apply to a different position in a 10-month period, your application will be automatically regretted” (how-to-apply page). So choose Finance or IDT before you apply.
Eligibility, the form and the AI rule
- Degree. “You must be pursuing or have completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the United Kingdom, graduating in 2027 or within the last three years”.
- Grades. A “2:1 or above in your undergraduate degree”, or equivalent. There are “no specific academic requirements for grades at A-Level or GCSE equivalents”.
- UK page. It adds “You live in the UK;” and “You are required to have graduated prior to your first day at Shell.”
- Streams. The Finance ad says “candidates can express interest in multiple business streams”. Those keenest on Finance “are encouraged to select it as their first preference”.
- Other paths. Shell’s UK page also lists Trading & Supply and Commercial. Neither had a UK graduate ad when we checked on 17 October 2026.Shell has since listed UK graduate ads in these paths, so check its job site.
- The form. It sits behind a sign-in, so its questions are not public. We did not sign in.
- AI. “AI can help organise and refine your CV, resume or application, ensuring clarity and relevance, while the content must remain authentic and represent your own experience” (Shell’s AI page).
Your CV: do and don’t
Do
“Found why weekend shifts were short-staffed and proposed a new rota that cut gaps from six to one”
It shows Capacity: a problem analysed and a solution proposed. Our example.
Don’t
“Team player with strong analytical skills”
A claim with no proof. Shell wants content that represents “your own experience”.
Write each line as a result, then check it against CAR. Our CV achievement examples and the secrets of an impressive CV show how. 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 Shell 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.
Missed the deadline, or not selected? Your options
- Still a student? The Shell Assessed Internship Programme 2027 in London is for penultimate-year students. It runs from 15 June to 4 September 2027.It ran from 15 June to 4 September 2027. The ad gives 31 January 2027 as the deadline, and “Shell recruits on a rolling basis”, so apply earlyIts deadline was set for 31 January 2027, and “Shell recruits on a rolling basis” (internship ad). Shell says “Success in the internship could lead to an offer for the Shell Graduate Programme” (UK internship page).
- A later intake. Our reading: the ads take graduates from “2027 or within the last three years”, so a 2027 graduate can try again in a later year. Shell has not published dates for the next intake.Check Shell’s job site for the next intake’s dates.
- After a rejection. Wait until 10 months have passed, or a new application is automatically regretted.
- Job alerts. Shell’s alerts need a free account on its job site.
- Not routes. Shell’s other 2027 graduate ads are for other countries. Shell does not accept speculative applications.
05/10Stage 1 · Online
Stage 1: the Virtual Job Tryout and On-Demand Interview
Stage 1 has two parts: the Virtual Job Tryout, then the On-Demand Interview. Shell names no test provider, so we describe both in Shell’s words. We show the interview in the Stage 1 colour, as Shell groups the two.
About 40 min
Both parts together
7 days
From the invitation
Three to five
Recorded video questions
The Virtual Job Tryout
“you experience the job through simulations where you tackle challenges, demonstrate your problem-solving skills, share your unique story, and reveal your work approach”.
The On-Demand Interview
You record your answers. Shell gives “enough time to prepare for each question before being asked to record your responses”.
Save and come back
“You will be given the option to save your progress, though you will have to complete the interview within 7 days”.
Shell’s three tips
“Be prepared”, “Be focused” and “Be yourself”. On focus: “you’ll need to listen and respond appropriately”.
Why three to five questions, and where these facts come from
- Timing. “The Virtual Job Try-out and On-Demand Interview will take approximately 40 minutes” (UK page). Shell’s 2024 video says you “straight away move onto the On-Demand Interview”.
- Three questions. Shell’s UK internship page says “record responses to three questions in the On-Demand Video Interview”.
- Five questions. Shell’s 2025 tips page says “five questions”, with 30 seconds to prepare and 3 minutes to record each. That is Shell’s 2025 wording. The UK graduate page gives no number.
- Older advice. A 2018 Shell video gives a shorter timing for the interview alone. Go by today’s figure: about 40 minutes for both parts.
- Shell’s prep tip. “One tip is to draft ‘model answers’ to all the competency-based questions you can think of.”
The AI rules: allowed and banned
Allowed
- AI to organise and refine your CV
- AI to practise responses before a stage
- AI to structure answers, such as STAR
Banned
- AI during the online assessments
- AI to generate answers in interviews
- Content that is not your own experience
From Shell’s AI page: “Using AI during these assessments would not reflect your own capabilities and is therefore not permitted”.
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.
Watch
- Applying to the Shell Graduate ProgrammeShell on YouTube · Aug 2024 · 3 minShell’s own walk through both stages and the CAR qualities it scores.Free
- On-Demand Video Interview explainedShell on YouTube · 2018, older · 2 minShell’s short animated guide to the recorded interview. Made in 2018, so the timings may have changed.Free
From the employer
- 7 tips to prepare for an online video interviewShell · updated Sep 2025 · no account neededA Shell recruiter’s tips for the recorded interview, from STAR to model answers.Free
Read
- Video interview tipsProspects · updated Mar 2026 · no account neededPlain tips for recorded interviews: set-up, lighting, timing and how to practise.Free
Skip “real question” packs and AI answer tools. Shell publishes no question list, and it bans AI during its assessments.
Next: see how other employers use reasoning and personality tests in our guide to psychometric and logic tests.
06/10Stage 2 · Final assessment
Stage 2: the case study and interview
Stage 2 is an online case study, then an online interview, with the same two Shell employees. Shell sends the case material in advance.
Shell’s UK page: “You will need to read and prepare for this, but don’t worry, all the information you need will be provided to you in advance.” The interview “allows us to get to know you better and for you to get to know us better”. The length of each part and the case topic are not published.
How to answer: two frames
A CAR question: STAR, with you at the centre
Shell’s tips page tells you to use STAR. A Shell recruiter adds: “I’m very interested in what specific actions you, as an individual, took and the impact of those actions”.
S
Situation
Where and when, briefly
T
Task
What was yours to do
A
Action
Say “I”, and “make it clear what you have contributed”
R
Result
The impact, then what you learned
On learning, Shell says: “If there was a reflection or learning opportunity afterwards then that is even better.” See our guides on how to pass a job interview and the toughest interview questions.
The case study: our frame, built on Capacity
Shell publishes no case method. This frame is ours. It aims at Capacity: to “analyse situations and propose solutions”.
1
Read it all
The material comes in advance
2
Find the problem
In one sentence
3
Weigh two options
Using facts from the pack
4
Recommend
Then the risks and next steps
Follow-ups to rehearse
Why that option?What would change your mind?What is the biggest risk?Who needs to agree?
Practise: questions built from CAR
Capacity questions
Shell publishes no interview questions. We built these from its own words. The answers are ours.
Problem
Tell us about a problem you analysed and the solution you proposed.
What they’re testing: “analyse situations and propose solutions to address problems”.
Show a strong answer
- Name the problem and why it mattered.
- Show how you found the cause, with facts.
- Give your solution and what happened next.
Decision
Describe a decision you made on the facts, not on a hunch.
What they’re testing: “making objective decisions”.
Show a strong answer
- Say what data you gathered and what it showed.
- Name the option you rejected, and why.
- Close with the result.
Idea
When did you come up with an original idea?
What they’re testing: “coming up with original ideas”.
Show a strong answer
- Say what was done before and why it fell short.
- Explain your idea in one sentence.
- Show who used it and what changed.
Opportunity
Tell us about an opportunity you spotted and acted on.
What they’re testing: to “develop opportunities”.
Show a strong answer
- Say what others had missed.
- Show the first step you took yourself.
- Give the gain, with a number if you can.
Achievement questions
Shell publishes no interview questions. We built these from its own words. The answers are ours.
Goal
Tell us about a hard goal you reached.
What they’re testing: being “driven to succeed”.
Show a strong answer
- Say why the goal was hard for you.
- Show the steps you kept up over time.
- Give the result and what it took.
Feedback
Describe feedback that changed how you work.
What they’re testing: “learning and growing from feedback to deliver results”.
Show a strong answer
- Quote the feedback plainly.
- Say what you changed straight after.
- Show the better result it led to.
Setback
When did something go wrong, and what did you do next?
What they’re testing: “the drive, and resilience to get things done”.
Show a strong answer
- Own your part in what went wrong.
- Show how you recovered.
- Say what you do differently now.
Change
Tell us about a time plans changed at short notice.
What they’re testing: being driven to “succeed and adapt”.
Show a strong answer
- Say what changed and the deadline you faced.
- Show how you re-planned.
- Give the outcome.
Relationships questions
Shell publishes no interview questions. We built these from its own words. The answers are ours.
Team
Tell us about working in a team of very different people.
What they’re testing: “working effectively in a diverse team”.
Show a strong answer
- Say how the people differed.
- Show what you did to bring views together.
- Give what the team achieved.
Influence
Describe a time you persuaded someone to change their mind.
What they’re testing: “the credibility to influence others”.
Show a strong answer
- Say what they thought at first, and why.
- Show the evidence you used.
- Give the decision and how you kept good terms.
Trust
How did you build a working relationship that helped both sides?
What they’re testing: “mutually beneficial, positive working relationships”.
Show a strong answer
- Say who it was and what each side needed.
- Show what you gave first.
- Give what both sides gained.
Flex
When did you take on a different role to help your team?
What they’re testing: “the flexibility to work well as part of a team”.
Show a strong answer
- Say what the team lacked.
- Show the role you stepped into.
- Give how it helped the team finish.
Your story bank: a worksheet to print or copy
Two STAR stories for each CAR quality. Shell’s tip: “Write down instances where you explored new opportunities, resolved difficult situations, and successfully worked with others.”
| Quality | Story 1 | Story 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | ||
| Achievement | ||
| Relationships |
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
- Details on the programme and how to applyShell · updated Sep 2026 · no account neededShell’s own page on each stage, the CAR qualities and the 10-month reapply rule.Free
- 4 ways to stand out as a candidateShell · updated Sep 2025 · no account neededShell explains the CAR qualities its interviewers look for, with examples.Free
Read
- The STAR methodNational Careers Service · no account neededShell’s tips page tells you to use STAR. This free government page shows how to build each answer.Free
- Interview tests and exercisesProspects · updated Sep 2026 · no account neededHow case study exercises work and how to prepare for one, which fits Shell’s Stage 2.Free
07/10Offer
Your offer and placement
Pass Stage 2 and Shell can offer you a place. Shell’s UK page: “Following the successful completion of Stage 2, you can be offered a spot in the Shell Graduate Programme.”
Your placement
“Depending on availability of roles, of coaches, and of your skills we will find a suitable place for you within our company.”
Two rotations
Both ads describe two 18-month rotations. The UK page speaks of “your three years in the programme”.
The end of the programme
An “End-of-Programme Assessment”, where “your performance and achievements will be reviewed”.
Before day one
“You are required to have graduated prior to your first day at Shell”, with a 2:1 or above. Shell publishes no other offer conditions.
From Shell’s UK page and the two ads, 17 October 2026. Shell does not publish when you hear back after Stage 2.
Key dates: 2027 intake, UK
15 Sep 2026
Finance and IDT ads posted
17 Oct 2026
Both ads were open when we checked
17 Oct 2026
Both ads were open when we checked
15 Dec 2026
Both ads close, unless withdrawn earlierApplications were due by this date
31 Jan 2027
Assessed Internship applications closeAssessed Internship applications were due
Mar 2027
First Finance intake startsFirst Finance intake started
Sep 2027
Finance and IDT intake startsFinance and IDT intake started
08/10
Visa sponsorship
Shell’s UK graduate pages and ads say nothing on visa sponsorship or right to work. They set eligibility rules, not visa rules.
The ads ask for a degree “in the United Kingdom”. Shell’s UK page says “You live in the UK;”. Both are eligibility lines.
Our reading: Shell says nothing on sponsorship. The programme “lasts at least 3 years”, in Shell’s words. A Graduate visa applied for from 1 January 2027 lasts 18 months. So if you would need a visa, ask Shell before you apply.
The Graduate visa, from GOV.UK
- 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).
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
- Both UK ads close on 15 December 2026, and Shell may withdraw them earlier, so apply now.This year’s UK ads have closed. The deadline was set for 15 December 2026.
- Choose Finance or IDT with care: a second application within 10 months follows the first one’s result.
- You need a UK degree, graduating in 2027 or within the last three years, and a 2:1 or above.
- Stage 1 is the Virtual Job Tryout and On-Demand Interview, about 40 minutes within 7 days.
- Stage 2 is an online case study and interview with the same two Shell employees.
- Shell assesses candidates on Capacity, Achievement and Relationships, so prepare two stories for each.
When a scheme gives a close date, we email you a few days before it closes. Save Shell once and the reminder is set.
Set my reminders freeFree account, no card.
10/10
Frequently asked questions
When does the Shell Graduate Programme 2027 close?
Shell’s UK Finance and IDT ads give 15 December 2026 as the closing date. No time of day is given. Shell says it may withdraw ads before the advertised closing date, so apply early. Both ads were open on 17 October 2026.This year’s UK Finance and IDT ads have closed. The deadline was set for 15 December 2026. Check Shell’s job site for the next intake.
Can I apply to more than one Shell graduate stream?
Shell’s Finance ad says candidates can express interest in multiple business streams. But a second Graduate Programme application within 10 months follows the first one’s result. If the first is unsuccessful, the second is automatically regretted. So pick your stream with care.
What is the Shell Virtual Job Tryout?
It is the first part of Stage 1. Shell describes simulations where you tackle challenges, show your problem-solving skills and reveal your work approach. Then you move on to the On-Demand Interview. Both parts take about 40 minutes in total.
How many questions are in the Shell On-Demand Interview?
Shell’s pages differ. The UK internship page says three questions and Shell’s 2025 tips page says five, so expect three to five. You get time to prepare before each answer, and 7 days from the invitation to finish.
What happens at the Shell final assessment?
Stage 2 is online. You do a case study session with two Shell employees, then an interview with the same two. Shell sends all the case information in advance, so you can read and prepare. Shell assesses Capacity, Achievement and Relationships.
What are the entry requirements for the Shell Graduate Programme?
You need a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from the UK, graduating in 2027 or within the last three years, and a 2:1 or above in your undergraduate degree, or equivalent. Shell sets no A-level or GCSE grade rules. Its UK page also says you live in the UK.
Does Shell sponsor visas for its UK graduate programme?
Shell’s UK graduate pages and ads say nothing about visa sponsorship. Our reading: the programme lasts at least three years, and a Graduate visa applied for from 1 January 2027 lasts 18 months. If you would need a visa, ask Shell before you apply.
