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Santander UK: application stages, tests and practice

Santander's UK emerging talent guide says the assessment process is an online interview and three short assessment games, followed, if you are successful, by a final assessment experience. Assessments are usually virtual, though some hiring areas assess in person. Santander does not name a test or video vendor on the pages read.

Routes: Graduate programmes (for 2026 the Global Retail and Data & AI programmes) and the 10-week summer internship for penultimate-year students, both covered by Santander's UK emerging talent application guide. Apprenticeships use the same guide but are not covered here. Work experience is managed locally and has no published selection process. Last verified 2026-10-22.

Stages in order

What do the confidence badges mean?

Vendor-published Stated in the test publisher's own document or practice site.
Academic From peer-reviewed research.
Official employer Stated on the employer's own page.
Near-official Near-official: an employer-run practice portal, or a vendor or employer-quoted press release naming the employer.
Candidate-reported Reported by candidates. Treat as likely but unconfirmed.
Third-party From prep sites, press or forums. Not confirmed by the employer or publisher.

Online application
Official employer
Apply online for the scheme. Santander's guide describes the whole process as five steps, explained in an embedded video, but the page text does not list the five steps. In the application form you are asked whether you have a disability and what reasonable adjustments should be made for you.
Sources: [1]
Online interview and three short assessment games
Official employer
Santander's FAQ says: 'Our assessment process consists of an online interview and 3 short assessment games.' It does not say whether the online interview is a live or recorded video interview, the order of the two parts, their length, or what the games measure.
Practise: Game-based assessment practice
Sources: [1]
Final assessment experience
Official employer
If successful you are invited to a final assessment experience. Santander says it plans virtual assessment centres, that some hiring areas may assess in person, and that you can expense up to 100 pounds of travel for an in-person centre. What happens on the day depends on the scheme, and detailed information is sent with the invitation. Santander aims to give feedback to everyone who reaches the interview or assessment centre stages.
Practise: Assessment centre practice
Sources: [1]

Final stage line-up

Official employer

Depends on the scheme. Santander sends detailed information about the day with the invitation. Usually virtual, sometimes in person. Exercise types, number of interviews and timings are not published on the pages read.

Assessment centre practice

Retakes and validity

For graduate programmes and internships you normally wait a minimum of six months before reapplying for the same scheme. You can apply for a different Santander role at any time, and apprenticeships at any time. No rule on retaking the games or the online interview is stated on the pages read.

What we could not verify

The five steps of the process: the guide says there are five and explains them in a video, but the page text does not list them and the video could not be read.
Whether the online interview is a video interview, live or recorded, and its length and number of questions.
Which vendor runs the three assessment games or the online interview. A prep site says HireVue; Santander does not say so on the pages read.
What the three games measure, and how long they take.
Whether the situational judgement, numerical and verbal reasoning tests, the 10 to 15 minute application and the 20 minute telephone call described on Santander's general UK careers tips page (written for all roles) apply to graduate or internship schemes. The emerging talent guide does not mention them.
Exercise types at the final assessment experience. Candidate reports of a group exercise, a presentation and a one-to-one interview were not confirmed by Santander.
A retake rule for the games or the online interview.

Sources

Santander UK careers, Emerging talent: application and onboarding guide Checked 2026-10-22
Santander's own page, read in full. Supports the online interview and three short assessment games, the final assessment experience, virtual or in-person assessment, the 100 pound travel expense, feedback at interview and assessment centre stages, the six month reapplication rule, no sponsorship for internship, graduate and apprenticeship roles, and adjustments questions in the application form. Names no vendor.
Santander UK careers: tips and advice Checked 2026-10-22
Santander's general UK careers tips, written for all roles and not specific to emerging talent. Mentions an application of around 10 to 15 minutes, possible situational judgement, numerical and verbal reasoning tests and a 20 minute telephone conversation with the resourcing team. Not used for stages because it does not refer to graduate or internship schemes. Cited only by the interview bank, for the line that Santander will talk to you about your skills and experience.
Santander UK careers: FAQs Checked 2026-10-22
General UK careers FAQ for all roles. Mentions telephone interviews arranged by a scheduling team and face-to-face interviews or assessment centres. Not used for stages because it does not refer to emerging talent schemes.
Santander UK careers: Graduate programmes Checked 2026-10-22
Lists the 2026 Global Retail and Data & AI graduate programmes (27 months, Milton Keynes, 112 UCAS points) with rolling review. Both shown as now closed. No selection stage detail.
Santander UK careers: Summer internships Checked 2026-10-22
10-week internship in London or Milton Keynes for penultimate-year students, with a route to the 2027 graduate programme. Shown as now closed. No selection stage detail.
Santander UK, 'Santander Emerging Talent Assessment Video' (YouTube, embedded in the guide) Checked 2026-10-22. Page could not be read at the time
The guide says this video explains each step, its timings and how to prepare. Only the title and channel were read (via YouTube's oEmbed data); the video, its description and captions could not be read because YouTube blocked automated access. Not used as evidence.
Banco Santander: Our culture (The Santander Way) Checked 2026-10-22
Banco Santander group page, not a Santander UK page. It says the Group has a common culture that guides everyone, and gives the Simple, Personal and Fair values and the five T.E.A.M.S. behaviours used for the interview bank. Not a selection-process source.

Common questions about Santander UK

What are the stages of the Santander UK application process?

As we could verify, the stages are: Online application, then Online interview and three short assessment games, then Final assessment experience. The page says which of these are stated by Santander UK itself and which are only reported by candidates. Check your own invitation, because processes change every cycle.

What is the final stage of the Santander UK process?

Can I practise for Santander UK here?

Yes. Each stage links to the matching free practice, with real timings, an untimed mode and a learn mode. The practice is independent, uses original questions and is not affiliated with Santander UK or any test publisher.

Independent practice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Santander UK.

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