Getting a graduate job in public services

You can carve out a lifelong career in the public services and there are several ways to get started, from direct entry roles and graduate schemes to internships and apprenticeships

Do I need a public services degree?

A degree isn't always necessary to get a job in public services. Within the sector there are a range of direct-entry jobs available including those in:

administration
the armed forces
Civil Service
police force
the NHS.

However, as a lot of jobs in the public sector are competitive, a degree may help you to stand out in a pool of applicants. For the majority of careers, graduates of all disciplines are accepted. For example, most Civil Service graduate programmes on its Fast Stream accept any undergraduate qualification.

In some instances, though organisations may prefer specific degrees and knowledge. For example:

a degree in accountancy and finance, business, mathematics or economics is preferable for a career as a chartered public finance accountant
qualifications in business and management and law are particularly useful for company secretaries
a degree in politics, legal studies or social administration and social policy may increase your chances of becoming a local government officer
aspiring facilities managers may find an undergraduate qualification in building management, construction, hospitality or surveying beneficial.

Other public service jobs require subject-specific degrees, such as:

NHS nurse or paramedic
police officer
social worker.

For entry into technology-focused careers, it's likely that you'll need to have studied a STEM (science, technology, engineering or maths) subject.

Degrees in social science subjects, such as politics, are particularly sought-after by employers in public services. Degrees in IT, law, business, finance, economics, management or accountancy are also helpful for many administration jobs.

For information on entry requirements and relevant qualifications in the sector, see our public services job profiles.

Do I need a postgraduate degree to enter the sector?

While Masters-level study isn't an essential requirement for many roles in the sector, it deepens your knowledge and understanding of a subject and allows you to make useful industry contacts. Some roles with public services are graduate careers (such as social work, policing) meaning if your first degree is in an unrelated subject you might need to complete a postgraduate qualification to enter the profession. However, if a Masters degree isn't required it could be an unnecessary expense, so do your research and weigh up your options carefully.

You could also consider studying for a Masters of Public Administration (MPA). Most MPA students possess a 2:1 undergraduate qualification and at least one to two years' managerial experience.

That said, the MPA doesn't always reject new graduates. An increasing number of universities offer MPA courses, including:

University of Birmingham
London School of Economics (LSE)
Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)
University of Nottingham
University of Surrey
Teesside University
Ulster University
University College London (UCL)
University of the West of Scotland (UWS)
University of York.

The cost of an MPA varies depending on which institution you attend. At the University of York, the one-year, full-time 2025/2026 programme costs UK students £11,200, while LSE charges students £32,400 per year for its two-year MPA.

What public sector graduate schemes are available?

The public sector is home to a variety of careers, and to secure a place on one of its many competitive graduate schemes, you'll need to be educated to degree level.

The Civil Service is a huge public sector graduate employer. With 17 specialist Civil Service Fast Stream graduate programmes available, each designed to equip candidates with the skills and knowledge to become senior civil servants, there's something for everyone.

Schemes cover the following areas:

commercial
cyber security
digital
diplomatic and development economics
diplomatic and development
finance
government economics
government operational research service
government policy
government social research
government statistical service
human resources
operational delivery
project delivery
property
risk management
science and engineering.

Many accept those with 2:2 and you can apply to up to four schemes. Once on a scheme you'll receive a starting salary of £31,186. Find out more about becoming a Civil Service Fast Streamer.

Other government-focused graduate schemes include:

HM Treasury - on the Graduate Development Programme you'll work as a policy adviser debating and crafting policy with government departments, external organisations and individuals. You'll earn a starting salary of £31,500. To join the scheme you'll need a 2:2 in any degree subject.
Legal Trainee Scheme (LTS) - this two-year scheme (for trainee solicitors and pupil barristers) can be carried out in a number of government departments, such as the Government Legal Department (GLD), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), National Crime Agency (NCA) and Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Salaries vary depending on the department you join but as an example the GLD pays first year trainees £33,281, the NCA £34,537 and HMRC £41,289.
Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme - run by the Local Government Association (LGA), this two-year management programme will place you in key strategic areas across local councils such as social care, housing, human resources, finance or legal departments. You'll need a minimum 2:2 degree. Once on the scheme you'll earn a minimum salary of £31,586.
MI5 - with four streams available you can apply to the Intelligence Officer Development Programme (IODP), Intelligence and Data Analyst Development Programme (I&DADP), Technology Graduate Development Programme (TGDP) or the Business Enablers scheme earning a salary of £33,000.
MI6 - if you want to work for the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), there are MI6 graduate schemes for operational officers, business support officers, technology professionals and language specialists. For more details on MI6 and MI5 schemes, see intelligence services careers for graduates.

If you'd like to work in a local authority as a social worker, you can join a fast-track graduate scheme such as:

Frontline
Think Ahead
the governments Step Up to Social Work initiative.

See social work courses to learn more.

The NHS runs the Graduate Management Training Scheme. To start with your salary will be £29,225 with the opportunity to increase this to £31,473 after 12 months. The programme is available in six specialisms:

Finance
General Management
Health Analytics
Health Informatics
Human Resources
Policy and Strategy.

The Bank of England runs a graduate development programme, and the National Audit Office (NAO) has its Chartered Accountancy Training Scheme.

To find out more about the different entry routes for police officers, including graduate schemes and apprenticeships, see joining the police.

What skills do public sector employers want?

You'll need to show:

adaptability and flexibility
an interest in world affairs
commitment to improve society or your local community
communication and interpersonal skills
creativity
knowledge of the latest office technology
the ability to work independently and meet deadlines
strong organisational, planning and leadership skills
teamwork
the ability to interpret complex data
time management skills, including the ability to prioritise and make decisions.

To learn more, read about the top skills for a successful career in public services.

Where can I find public services work experience?

The public services sector is diverse, and with a variety of careers on offer, it's worth taking advantage of work experience, volunteering or internship opportunities. As well as helping you to identify where your interests lie, opportunities such as these also provide an insight into what to expect from a full-time role.

Civil Service departments offer structured work experience in the form of summer internships and 12-month sandwich placements. Examples of Civil Service internships include the six to eight week Summer Internship Programme which aims to give undergraduate students an insight into working for the Civil Service, the GES Summer Scheme for economics students, GCHQ summer placements for STEM students, and FCDO work experience for those interested in an international relations career. The Civil Service also runs an 18-month Care Leavers Internship Scheme for those aged between 18-30 entitled to a care leavers package.
Charity organisations also serve the sector, with Movement to Work supporting public sector employers in providing work placements combining employability skills training with gaining valuable on-the-job experience.
The National Health Service (NHS) offers work experience at a local level.
Many local authorities, such as Rochdale Borough Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council also provide students with the chance to get involved with the delivery of public services.
The Institute for Government (IfG) runs year-long, paid, graduate internships for those looking to start a career in policy research or communications.
The Bank of England has internship programmes for undergraduate, penultimate year and postgraduate students.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) offers a ten-week summer programme in addition to other early careers programmes.
The European Commission (EC) offers five-month Blue Book traineeships in areas including law, human resources (HR) and environmental policy. Any degree is accepted, but you must have a strong knowledge of English, French or German, plus a second European Union (EU) language. A limited number of places are available to non-EU nationals, including those from the UK.

To find work placements and internships, search for public services and administration work experience.

Can I do a public services apprenticeship?

If university isn't for you, a selection of public service and administration apprenticeships are on offer.

If you've already completed your A-levels or an equivalent qualification, you could consider a degree apprenticeship. You'll gain a Bachelors or Masters-level qualification while earning a wage. Organisations offering degree apprenticeships in the public sector include:

Bank of England - runs a 36-month Degree Apprenticeship Development Programme across several streams including data science, digital and technology, professional economist and financial services professional. Leading to a full-time position on completion, on the London scheme you'll be on a salary of £27,000 and in Leeds £24,250.
MI5 - offers a three-year software engineer degree apprenticeship and an 18-month infrastructure engineering apprenticeship.

The GES Degree Apprenticeship Programme (GES-DAP) - in partnership with the University of Kent, the four-year programme provides the opportunity to become an expert in economics and work in a range of central government departments across the UK.
Home Office - runs a variety of apprenticeships across all levels. Degree programmes include those in leadership and management and human resources. Other apprenticeships include those in project management, operational delivery, business administration, customer service, finance and policy.
Civil Service - offers degree apprenticeships at both Bachelors and Masters level. Schemes cover counter fraud, customer service, cyber security, digital, finance, legal, operational delivery and science and engineering.

What about public sector recruitment agencies?

To help you find a job in public services you could sign up with a recruitment agency. Popular choices include:

Jobs with local authorities are advertised on local government jobsites. You could also explore public health careers and search for vacancies at:

To find graduate jobs in this sector, search for graduate jobs in public services and administration.

Find out more

Get an overview of the UK's public services sector.
Take a look at graduate public sector jobs.
Explore other relevant careers in law enforcement and security.