Spring Week Application Deadlines 2027

Spring weeks (also called "insight programmes" or "spring vacation schemes" in law) are intensive 3-7 day or 2-4 week programmes designed to give university students insight into a career in a specific sector. They run during university holiday periods: primarily Easter holidays (March-April 2027), Christmas holidays (December 2026-January 2027), and occasionally summer (July-August 2026). Applications open 4-6 weeks before the programme runs. Finance spring weeks typically run in March-April and open in December 2026-January 2027. Consulting and law spring weeks typically run in April-May and open in February-March 2027.

Spring weeks serve a dual purpose: they provide genuine insight into the industry, and they function as a recruitment vehicle. Most firms explicitly state that spring week participants have a faster-track route to summer internships and graduate roles. Conversion rates are exceptionally high: 40-60% of consulting spring week participants receive summer analyst offers; 30-50% of law spring week participants receive training contract offers; 20-30% of Big 4 spring week participants convert to summer internship/graduate offers. For this reason, spring weeks are strategic entry points for candidates.

The application process for spring weeks is typically simpler than for summer internships. Most programmes follow a three-stage process: application form (CV, cover letter, motivation), online assessment (situational judgement test or psychometric test), and interview (competency-based or motivational). The timeline is faster: from application to final decision is typically 3-4 weeks. Spring week programmes move faster because they run on a tighter calendar.

Spring weeks are the strategic entry point for candidates who haven't yet secured summer internships. A successful spring week gives you experience, firm knowledge, and often a referral advantage when applying for summer programmes in the same firm. Many firms explicitly fast-track spring week participants to summer applications. Additionally, spring weeks are less competitive than summer internships because fewer candidates apply (university scheduling constraints mean not all students can attend). A spring week offer is therefore a valuable stepping stone to a summer internship or training contract.