Financial Services · Spring Weeks (First-Year Insight Programmes)
Investment Banks Spring Weeks (First-Year Insight Programmes)
Quick answer
Spring weeks are 3–5 day insight programmes at investment banks (Goldman, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Citi and others) for first-year students — and the true start of the banking pipeline: strong spring week performance fast-tracks you into summer internship assessment. Applications open in autumn of first year and are heavily oversubscribed.
About the Investment Banks Spring Weeks (First-Year Insight Programmes)
Spring weeks look like work experience but function as pre-selection: banks use them to identify summer interns two years before graduation. Attending one (or several) is the single biggest advantage in banking recruitment.
Eligibility & entry requirements
The application & selection process
| Stage | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Online application | CV, motivation questions — opens in early autumn of first year. |
| Online tests / video interview | Aptitude tests and a recorded interview at most banks. |
| Spring week | 3–5 days of talks, shadowing and exercises — with assessment throughout. |
| Fast-track | Strong performers are fast-tracked into summer internship interviews. |
Likely Investment Banks interview questions
- 1Why investment banking?
- 2Why this bank specifically?
- 3Tell me about a time you worked in a team.
- 4What financial news have you followed recently?
- 5What divisions interest you and why?
How to get the internship (and convert it)
- Apply to many banks (8–12) — acceptance rates are tiny.
- Apply in October of first year; don't wait.
- Learn the basic divisions (IBD, S&T, research) before applying.
- During the week: ask sharp questions, be reliable, follow up.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until second year (too late).
- Applying to only 2–3 banks.
- Not knowing what division you're asking for.
- Treating the week as a tour, not an assessment.
Application deadlines
Applications open September–October of first year and close by roughly December–January — the earliest deadline cycle in graduate recruitment.
Pay & benefits
Spring weeks are usually paid or expensed; their real value is the fast-track to summer internships.
Frequently asked questions
What is a spring week?
A 3–5 day insight programme at an investment bank for first-year students — effectively pre-selection for summer internships and the start of the banking pipeline.
How many spring weeks should I apply to?
8–12. Acceptance rates are very low, and holding several offers compounds your internship odds.
When do spring week applications open?
September–October of your first year at university — the earliest deadlines in graduate recruitment.
Preparing for the Investment Banks Spring Weeks (First-Year Insight Programmes)?
Upload your CV and paste the job description. CareerFast instantly builds your interview readiness score, a company briefing, predicted questions, tailored STAR answers, a mock interview and a downloadable PDF — free to start, no card needed.
Keep preparing
Go deeper on this employer
Other internships