The Northern Ireland Civil Service has opened recruitment for its 2026-27 student placement scheme, which will offer 12 months of work experience to around 125 aspiring civil servants.
University students who are due to complete the second year of their studies next summer can now apply for a paid placement with a NICS department that will start between late July and early September 2026.
Applications for the scheme, which is now in its sixth year, are split between two paths. A general competition offers approximately 100 placements in areas such as accountancy, project management, communications, science, agriculture, environment, ICT, economics, policy and law. A separate construction and infrastructure competition has around 25 placements to allocate in architecture, engineering, surveying and planning.
Placements come with an annual salary of £25,796, and with 25 days annual leave plus 12 public and privilege holidays. Successful applicants will also recieve support from the NICS Student Network.
Finance minister John O’Dowd said the placement scheme was an opportunity for students to get experience with one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland.
“Placements are available in a wide range of areas offering an excellent opportunity to gain valuable and practical experience in a professional working environment,” he said.
“I would encourage those eligible to apply. Working in the civil service not only enables students to develop their skillset and contribute to the delivery of public services, but also to help improve the lives of our citizens.”
Second-year undergraduate students can apply for the general placement scheme and the specialist construction and infrastructure scheme until midday on 24 October.