If you’re interested in a career in development, charities or not for profits you may find that there are fewer structured graduate schemes and internships than in other areas. That means there are lots of different entry routes- which can make the sector a bit daunting to navigate! Read on to find out more…
What actually is a graduate scheme?
Only about 11% of the graduate UK population join a graduate scheme.
A graduate scheme is a structured programme designed for graduates who are new to a particular career area. Usually lasting between one and five years, with two years being perhaps the most popular. Common features of a graduate scheme that you start with a cohort of other recent entrants and receive some training. Some lead to a qualification; some involve rotating around different areas of the organisation, giving you an insight into the different work available. You can find out more by watching our video, “Is a Graduate Scheme right for me?”
Graduate Schemes are common entry routes in some sectors and some of your friends and peers may be applying to a lot of them, but overall only about 11% of the graduate UK population join a graduate scheme, meaning that the vast majority get into work in other ways. This is particularly true of people targeting careers in charities and non-profits!
When is a graduate scheme not a graduate scheme?
It’s becoming more common for charities to run an entry level scream which doesn’t specify that you need a degree. Organisations do this to try and increase the diversity of people working for them, and in recognition of the fact that some entrants to the job market won’t have been to university for a variety of reasons. The point is, that you can still apply for these roles as a recent graduate – as long as you don’t have significant work experience in the charity sector. They are designed for anyone at an early career stage! Some of them used to be graduate schemes and some have always been more open.
There are some more traditional graduate schemes, which do require a degree. We’ve included both in this list.
None of these offer visa sponsorship at the time of writing and most require a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service- i.e. criminal records) check:
| Organisation | Quick overview | Typically open for applications |
| Charityworks | A 12 month contract where you’re placed with a partner charity. Traditionally a graduate scheme- it’s now open to everyone. They have a fast-track option for people from global Majority backgrounds and the associated Project 2027 is for applicants who identify as working class | Year round |
| Wellcome Trust Graduate programmes | Health focused charitable foundation; Offers a two-year general graduate programme, and a two year investment programme; open to UG and Masters students | Sept-Dec |
| Into University Graduate Scheme | Educational charity focused on encouraging university applications
Offers two year programme; requests 2:2 in any subject and previous experience of working with children or young people; |
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| UpReach Future Charity Leaders Programme | Social Mobility charity; Offers 18 month programme in some years; requires a degree in any subject or equivalent experience, explicitly welcomes career changers as well as recent graduates | Sept-Oct |
| City Year | Educational equality focused charity; Offers one year programme, for 18-27 year olds, paid a stipend of £115-125 per week, uniform provided and travel expenses covered, rather than a salary | Ongoing until placements filled for an August start |
| Blue Marine Foundation | This ran for the first time last year, keep it on your watch list to see if it runs again; graduate scheme requesting “high 2:1” in any subject and strong commitment to “the ocean or other environmental cause” | |
| Cancer Research UK Emerging Talent Scheme | This has run in the past but is currently being reviewed, check back for updates | – |
If not a graduate scheme, then what?
If you read the job description and feel like you could do most of the job with a bit of practise and someone to show you how to get started, it’s well worth applying for that role!
If you’d like to hear some different examples 11of how people get started in the charity sector, watch our YouTube playlist “Pathways into Charities and Development”
Sector-specific vacancy sites like Charityjobs.co.uk have filters for entry level jobs, which can be reassuring, but even if an employer hasn’t identified a position as being suitable for recent graduates, you should apply for things that look interesting, that you think you could do. Common early entry roles are in fundraising, marketing and project management. Don’t limit yourself just to those, if you read the job description and feel like you could do most of the job with a bit of practise and someone to show you how to get started, it’s well worth applying for that role!
The majority of charities in the UK are ‘small charities’ (with a turnover of less than £1million a year) that you may not have heard of. Use a directory like www.charitychoice.co.uk to find out different organisations who might be hiring- or apply to them speculatively.
If you’re interested in graduate schemes in other areas, we have a directory of Public Sector Graduate Schemes and Commercial Graduate Schemes on https://www.careers.cam.ac.uk/graduate-digital-publications