Northern Ireland Civil Service offers 110 student placements with £25,796 salary
Pictured with Finance Minister John O’Dowd are Ulster University students Erin Bradley (Second from Left) and Sean McClure, (Second from Right), along with Department for Infrastructure Permanent Secretary Emer Morelli.
Tuesday 13 October 2026
University students across Northern Ireland are being offered the opportunity to earn £25,796 while gaining valuable workplace experience, with approximately 110 paid placements available through the Northern Ireland Civil Service for the 2027/28 academic year.
Applications are now open for the Student Placement Scheme, which offers undergraduates the chance to work across government departments in roles ranging from engineering and architecture to communications, finance, science and technology.
The competition closes at noon on Friday 23 October 2026, giving eligible students less than two weeks to submit their applications.
Around 110 paid opportunities across government
The scheme includes two separate recruitment competitions covering a broad range of academic disciplines and career interests.
Approximately 90 placements will be available through a general competition, with opportunities in areas including:
• Policy and law
• Accountancy
• Communications and marketing
• Forestry and environment
• Science
• Information and communications technology (ICT)
A further 20 placements are being offered through a separate Construction and Infrastructure competition, covering disciplines such as architecture, engineering, surveying and planning.
Successful applicants will receive an annual salary of £25,796, alongside an employee benefits package and access to peer support through the Civil Service Student Network.
Who can apply
The competition is open to undergraduate students who meet the scheme's academic and placement requirements.
Applicants must:
• Be currently studying towards an undergraduate degree.
• Have successfully completed their second-year examinations by the end of the 2026/27 academic year.
• Have the opportunity to undertake a placement lasting up to 51 weeks during the 2027/28 academic year.
Placements are scheduled to begin between July and September 2027, allowing students to gain professional experience as part of their university studies.
Students share their placement experiences
Erin Bradley, who is currently undertaking a placement with the Architecture Team in Construction and Procurement Delivery at the Department of Finance, encouraged students to consider applying.
“There’s such a wide range of opportunities available across lots of subject areas, and you can gain valuable experience that’s relevant to your studies and future careers.
“One of the most valuable aspects of my placement within CPD is the variety of the work. My day-to-day responsibilities include assisting with design work, preparing drawings, attending meetings, and understanding how public sector construction projects are managed.”
Her experience highlights the opportunity for students to take part in practical projects and gain an understanding of how their chosen profession operates within government.
Business Studies student Sean McClure is completing his placement in human resources at the Department for Infrastructure, where his role supports the Resourcing Team in managing information relating to approximately 1,300 staff.
Reflecting on his experience, Sean said:
“It’s been great seeing how Resourcing, People and Culture work within a large organisation. I’ve enjoyed learning from the team and taking on responsibilities that have helped build my confidence and develop skills.”
Minister highlights career development opportunities
Finance Minister John O’Dowd launched the recruitment competition, highlighting the range of experience available to students across the Civil Service.
“I am pleased to launch this competition that offers such a diverse range of placement opportunities in the Civil Service to talented students. It is an excellent opportunity for them to gain valuable, hands-on experience in a professional working environment.
“The Civil Service is one of the largest employers here and the work happening across our departments impacts almost every aspect of societal life.
“Working in the Civil Service not only gives students the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skillset, but also to join the effort to improve the lives of our citizens.”
How to apply before the October deadline
Students interested in applying can find details of the available placement categories, eligibility requirements and application process on the Northern Ireland Civil Service recruitment website.
• Application website: www.nicsrecruitment.co.uk/student-placements/
• Closing date: Friday 23 October 2026
• Closing time: 12 noon
• Placement start period: July to September 2027
• Annual salary: £25,796
• Placement duration: Up to 51 weeks
With opportunities spanning professional, technical and administrative disciplines, the scheme offers eligible students a paid route into public-sector experience before completing their degrees.
Those considering an application will need to review the relevant competition requirements and submit their application before the noon deadline on 23 October.
