What is an Insight Scheme or Spring Week Internship?
If you’re interested in accountancy, investment banking, engineering, finance or law, an insight scheme - or spring week internship - could be exactly what you need to get your foot in the career door.
Insight schemes are mini internships where you can learn more about a company and industry before committing to a full internship or placement. Think of them as a try-before-you-buy scheme.
Keep reading to learn more about these schemes, where to find them and how to apply.
Insight days vs Spring Weeks: What are they?
Insight schemes can be split into insight days and spring week internships. Let’s look at what those are.
Insight Days
Insight Days are an opportunity to experience life at a particular company or industry. Aimed at first and second-year students, they last between one to ten days and take place during the university holidays.
What to expect:
Group projects
Skills and job application workshops
Networking opportunities with graduates and employees
Presentations about the company and their industry
1-2-1 mentoring
Spring Week Internships
Spring Week Internships, or insight weeks, tend to run for one to two weeks during the Easter break. Primarily found in finance and aimed at first or second-year students, they are your golden ticket to a career with one of the world's top banks.
What to expect:
An introduction to the bank and their work
Social and networking events with employees at all levels
Shadowing current graduates or experienced professionals
CV workshops and skills sessions to help you apply
What are the benefits of Insight Schemes?
Many of the UK's biggest and brightest companies offer insight days and spring weeks to scout for future talent. So if you show you've got what it takes, you could be fast-tracked onto one of their internship, placement or graduate programmes.
According to the Institute of Student Employers, there’s an average of 140 applicants for every graduate job, so those with a first-year internship on their CV are much more likely to secure a role in the future.
Other benefits include:
Gaining an understanding of a company's culture and values
Learning how a particular industry operates
Collaborating with others and building professional networks
Building the skills employers want.
Are Insight Schemes paid?
This depends on the scheme's length and the company. You will almost always be paid for insight schemes that last a week or longer.
If you attend an insight day you're unlikely to be paid, but you should at least have your travel costs reimbursed. Lots of employers also provide lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
According to student-written reviews, the average earnings for an insight scheme is over £3,500.
The day included panel discussions to learn about different roles in banking. An insight into the recruitment process. Tips on how to stand out at the different stages and the chance to ask questions and network with our colleagues from different areas of the business. Skills I developed include application technique, networking abilities and understanding commercial awareness of integral Investment Banking culture. Women in Business Insight Day, MUFG
Which companies offer insights and spring weeks?
Here are some of the best employers who offer these magical first-year internships:
How to apply
Applying for an insight scheme is just like applying for an internship, placement or even just a normal job.
You'll begin by filling out an application form, complete with a CV and cover letter, before moving onto a phone, video or face-to-face interview. Schemes lasting more than a few days may also include online tests and assessment centres.
For example, Barclays gets their spring week applicants to tackle realistic business scenarios to assess their strengths, values and cognitive abilities.
When should you start applying for an insight scheme?
Most insight schemes drop between September and March. However, it's not unusual for the best employers to receive thousands of applications, so shortlisting and confirming places happen a lot quicker than normal.
The earlier you apply, the better your chances will be of securing a scheme. Aim to get your applications in before the Christmas holidays so that you have a place before exams and deadlines hit.
Ready to find the perfect insight scheme? Places for spring week internships are given on a first-come, first-served basis, so we strongly suggest getting your application in ASAP to secure yours.
Search for Insights and Spring Week Internships
Register Your Interest - Discovery Insight Day (UK)
at DLA Piper
- Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)
- Nationwide
Register Your Interest - Law, Unlocked Insight Events (UK)
at DLA Piper
- Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)
- Nationwide
Register Your Interest - Latham & Watkins Open Days 2025
- Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)
- London
Register Your Interest - Spring & Summer Vacation Schemes 2026
- Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)
- London
Register for job alerts.
It’s FREE!
Sign up now to save your favourite job listings and view them in your personalised application tracker.
Already have an account? Sign in
