Before we dive into the concept of Spring Weeks, it’s important to say: they’re not necessarily for everyone. Due to the low chances of admission, your time might be better spent elsewhere. If you're aiming to work in investment banking, the Big Four, consulting, hedge funds, or another high-finance sector, Spring Weeks will give you a head start - but it’s important to manage your expectations. Consider carefully what you actually gain from a Spring Week compared to the workload required to secure one.

So, what are Spring Weeks? Essentially, they’re “mini” internships that take place in London (they do not exist in the US), usually during the spring of your first or second year of university - depending on whether you're on a 3- or 4-year programme. Some Spring “Weeks” last 1–2 full weeks, while others are just 2–3 days (often called “Insight Days”). The longer Spring Weeks often provide more value, as they sometimes include assessments that allow you to fast-track your summer internship application.

You won’t be doing much actual banking work. Spring Weeks are mostly focused on informative events: listening to speakers, shadowing bankers, and getting to know the firm. However, many Spring Weeks end with an Assessment Day at an Assessment Centre (AC). There, you’ll typically spend a day answering questions, completing mock valuations or case studies, and perhaps delivering a short presentation. This is where the real opportunity lies: if you perform well enough, you could receive an early offer for a Summer Internship the following year.

Anyone can get a Spring Week. But here’s the harsh reality: due to intense competition, you need to be a strong and well-prepared applicant to justify spending 10–100 hours on test prep, cover letters, networking, video interviews, and more.
Before diving in, ask yourself:

• Do I attend a “target university”? If not, do I have significant job experience, a strong network, or anything else to help me stand out? Read more about target universities.
• Do I have stellar expected grades? Most banks expect “Expected First” (UK) or near-perfect grades (rest of Europe).
• Do I have the time? Spring Week applications are time-consuming and carry no guarantee of success. If you’d rather build a startup or work your GPA, that might be a better use of your time.
• Do I fall into a diversity category? Some Spring Weeks specifically aim to increase diversity (e.g. women, non-STEM/Finance/Econ majors, underrepresented ethnic groups). We highly recommend that you look through last year's SW cycle here, in order to get an idea of what is on offer.

If you confidently answer Yes to the first 3 questions, applying may be worthwhile. Otherwise, it might be more productive to focus on your grades, extracurriculars, or other work experience - all of which matter even more when summer internship season begins.

One crucial thing to remember: Spring Weeks are unpredictable. Being a strong candidate helps, but networking and luck also play a big role. For the most competitive Spring Weeks, there may be 10,000+ applicants for around 200 spots - an acceptance rate of about 2–5%. Your odds improve significantly if you’re at a UK target or semi-target university (Oxbridge, LSE, Imperial, UCL, Warwick). About 50% of the spots are filled with students from the UK.
The remaining offers mostly go to the top schools across Europe:

• Italy: Bocconi
• Netherlands: RSM
• Germany: Frankfurt, Mannheim
• France: HEC, INSEAD, Polytechnique
• Switzerland: St. Gallen, ETH Zürich
• Sweden: SSE, Lund, KTH

These are just a few examples and more do exist. The important note is that if you study at a UK uni, you might get away with attending a so-called “semi-target”. This will not be the case for the other European countries.

If you have decided to apply for spring weeks, here is the general pathway.

1. Max out your CV: Polish your CV to highlight what banks look for: strong academics, any prior internships or part-time work, extracurricular involvement (e.g., finance societies), and leadership. Format matters — see M&Is formatting guide.
2. Start test prep early: Psychometric tests are the biggest hurdle. Most applicants are rejected here, so going in unprepared is pointless. We recommend doored as the most affordable and comprehensive prep platform — but there are other providers as well. (More info below.)
3. Prepare for HireVue/phone interviews: If you pass the CV and test stages, you’ll be invited to interviews. These often include behavioral questions and basic finance exercises. Tons of good resources are available online. (More on that below.)

Banks don’t expect you to have amazing experience yet — you’re likely just 19 or 20. That’s why the psychometric tests are their primary filter. Around 90% of applicants are rejected at this stage, often without anyone ever even reading your cover letter. Unless your dad is an MD at the firm, you won’t get through without passing the tests. Performing well here is non-negotiable. The tests vary by firm and include formats like numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, logic, and situational judgment. You’ll need to be familiar with the test provider each bank uses — and ideally practice using real past questions.