10 UX Design Graduate Schemes

Jun 21, 2021

If you are a student or graduate who is hoping to launch a career in User Experience (UX) Design, this post is for you! A UX Design graduate scheme could be a great way to launch your career as a UX Designer after finishing university. As you explore this path, don’t forget to consider seeking guidance on how to navigate the process and even engage UX design agencies in London to mentor you along the way.

A UX design graduate scheme is a program designed for recent graduates interested in pursuing a career in user experience (UX) design. The program typically includes a combination of training, mentorship, and hands-on experience working on UX design projects within a company.

Companies that offer UX Design graduate schemes

In this post, we outline 10 companies that offer UX Design graduate schemes and share some expert advice on how to send off successful applications. If you need help with getting a graduate job, check out our coaching services.

1: Deloitte Digital 

Deloitte Digital is an experience consultancy that helps organisations to become more customer-oriented. This is achieved by bringing together experts in technology, strategy and design. 

As a digital UX designer on the graduate programme at Deloitte Digital, you will work in a multi-disciplinary team alongside front-end developers, service designers, strategists and more. 

You will create user personas, user scenarios, customer journey maps, wireframes, prototypes and other UX deliverables. 

To apply for this graduate scheme, you’ll need to demonstrate your commitment to a career in design through your portfolio. 

2: BBC 

BBC offers a 12-month UX Design Trainee Scheme

This traineeship in UX Design will allow you to work with a team of UX Designers on real projects. 

If you are passionate about design and have a portfolio, this could be a good experience for you. 

3: Ocado 

Ocado offers a two-year user experience graduate scheme which is split into four six-month rotations:

  • E-commerce 
  • Engineering 
  • Productivity 
  • Logistics and supply chain 
  • Fulfilment

 4:NHS Digital 

NHS offers a two-year user-centred design graduate scheme. The two-year programme will be based in either London or Leeds. 

The user-entered design business unit is part of the product development directory. 

The User-Centred Design team is divided into design and user research. 

5: UX Connections 

UX Connections offers an entry-level UX Consultant role

UX Connections is a digital design consultancy founded by Chris Sainsbury, a UX Consultant and Professor at New York University. They conduct user research and design beautiful solutions that work for them.

6: Arup 

Arup offers a UX Design graduate scheme

Arup welcomes over 700 graduates every year globally. For their UX Design graduate scheme, they look for graduates with experience in a design discipline such as user experience design, service design or interaction design. 

7: BGL 

BGL offers a digital graduate scheme that is rotational. 

One of the rotations on the programme is UX Design. 

BGL looks for graduates who can demonstrate their innovative problem-solving skills and their genuine interest in all things digital. 

8: Just Eat 

The Technology graduate scheme offered by Just Eat enables grads to gain experience in UX Design as well as other areas such as data science, machine learning, product and more. 

9:PushOn 

PushOn is a full-service e-commerce agency helping clients with a complete range of web development and marketing services. 

They look for keen grads to join them to fill user experience design roles. 

10: IBM

The design team at IBM crafts experiences that will delight users. 

IBM hire: 

  • Design Researchers 
  • Visual Designers 
  • UX Designers 
  • Front-end developers 

It’s worth researching each of these schemes further to determine which one aligns with your interests and career goals. This list is not exhaustive, there are more UX design graduate schemes available in the UK that could be a good fit for you.

Why should you do a UX graduate scheme?

The goals of a UX design graduate scheme are to provide graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to become successful UX designers, as well as to help them build a network of professional contacts and gain practical experience working in the field.

Tips for getting a place on a competitive UX Design graduate scheme 

1. Create an excellent UX Design portfolio 

Putting together a UX Design portfolio can be a daunting task. However, you must invest time into ensuring that your portfolio showcases your skills and demonstrates your attributes. 

Resources to help you to create your UX Design portfolio: 

UX Portfolio Formula by Sarah Doody. The UX Portfolio Formula is designed to help you to create your UX Portfolio in 4 weeks or less. 

That Portfolio Book by Dan Petty. That Portfolio Book is an online, audio and video book that will help you to learn how to create a portfolio.

2. If you didn’t study UX design at university, we may want to consider taking some online courses to build up your knowledge

Professional Diploma in UX Design by the UX Design Institute. The UX Design Institute offers a university-approved qualification. The course teaches students the full UX design process over 6 months. 

Google UX Design certificate, hosted on Coursera. This course is designed to help you to learn the foundations of UX and gain the skills you need to find a job as an entry-level UX designer. 

We hope you’ve found this post outlining some of the best UX Design graduate schemes useful.

If you need some help with your applications or upcoming interviews get in touch with us here at Graduate Coach. 

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