These three terms get used loosely, but they represent three distinct, sequential stages — understanding the difference matters because they have different eligibility, timing, and purpose.
Spring weeks
Short (usually one week) programmes run by banks in spring, aimed specifically at first-year university students. They're the real entry point into the industry — strong performance on a spring week often leads directly to a summer internship offer the following year, skipping a chunk of the usual competitive process. Applications typically open in autumn of first year and fill quickly.
Summer internships
Longer (typically 8–10 weeks), paid, and open to penultimate-year students. This is the single most important stage in the whole pipeline — the large majority of full-time graduate offers come from converting a summer internship, not from applying cold in final year. Expect real work, a buddy/mentor, and a formal review at the end that determines whether you get a graduate offer.
Graduate schemes
The full-time entry point after university, for those who didn't convert an internship or are applying directly in their final year. Structured onboarding, rotational placements in some firms, and a defined training programme (often including studying toward a professional qualification alongside the job).
How they connect
Spring week → summer internship → graduate offer is the smoothest path, but it's not the only one. Plenty of successful applicants join later stages directly — non-target universities and non-linear paths are common, they just require more proactive networking and slightly higher self-directed effort to compensate for the missing internal referral.
Practical timing advice
- Year 1 of university: apply broadly to spring weeks in autumn term
- Year 2: apply broadly to summer internships, ideally at multiple firms in parallel
- Final year: apply directly to graduate schemes if you didn't convert an internship — deadlines open early, so apply as soon as they're live rather than waiting