Asset managers

Schroders: application stages, tests and practice

For graduates, Schroders names Aon as its online assessments provider and lists a gamified situational judgement test (chatAssess), a deductive-logical thinking test (switchChallenge) and a personality questionnaire (ADEPT-15 Workstyles), then a short competency-based video interview, an assessment centre and a final interview with a member of the senior leadership team. For internships and placements it lists a cognitive assessment (about 20 minutes), a motivation and behavioural questionnaire (about 20 minutes), workplace scenarios with a short recorded video answer (about 30 minutes), and an assessment centre of about 4 to 5 hours with a group activity, a short presentation and an interview.

Routes: Schroders publishes two different UK processes. Graduate programme (UK graduate FAQ): application form, three Aon online assessments, a competency-based video interview, an assessment centre and a final interview with a senior leader. Summer internship and placement year (UK intern and placement FAQ): four stages set out in a table with what is tested and how long each takes. The two-day Spring Insight Programme page gives dates and eligibility only, with no 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 (graduate, internship and placement year)
Official employer
Graduate FAQ: tell Schroders about yourself, your key skills and why you are interested in the role; one application per candidate per region; applications reviewed on a rolling basis. The intern FAQ says one application at a time per candidate per region, and that applications sent by email are not accepted. Opening dates differ between pages: the graduate FAQ says September, the graduate programme page says each August, and the intern FAQ says August or September.
Sources: [1] [2] [3]
Online assessments, graduate programme (three Aon assessments)
Official employer
Three assessments: a gamified situational judgement test (chatAssess), a deductive-logical thinking test (switchChallenge) and a personality questionnaire (ADEPT-15 Workstyles). Schroders calls Aon its online assessments provider. After completing them you get an automated feedback report on your strengths and areas for development, and the recruitment team may take up to three weeks to follow up. Time limits and item counts are not published on the pages read.
Publisher: Aon (named by the employer or an employer-run portal)
Practise: Situational judgement test practice, Game-based assessment practice, Aon-style ability games and scales practice, Deductive reasoning test practice, Logical and inductive reasoning test practice, Personality questionnaire practice
Sources: [1]
Video interview, graduate programme
Official employer
If you pass the online tests you are invited to a short competency-based video interview. Schroders reviews completed video interviews nearer to the assessment centre date and gives hiring managers a shortlist, so you may wait for an outcome. Platform, number of questions and timings are not published on the pages read.
Practise: Video interview practice
Sources: [1]
Assessment centre, graduate programme
Official employer
Graduate assessment centres run between November and February, with at least one week's notice and some flexibility around exams. The FAQ says you meet some Schroders employees there. It does not list the exercises.
Practise: Assessment centre practice
Sources: [1]
Final round interview, graduate programme
Official employer
The last stage is a final interview with a member of the senior leadership team. Length and format are not published on the pages read.
Practise: Daily interview question
Sources: [1]
Stage 1 Cognitive Assessment (internship and placement year)
Official employer
Numerical, critical and diagrammatic reasoning: how you work with numbers, interpret information and spot patterns. No specialist knowledge needed. A short online multiple-choice test of around 20 minutes. Schroders says Stages 1 and 2 are not timed. A feedback report follows each online stage, usually within 24 hours. No vendor is named on the intern FAQ.
Practise: Numerical reasoning test practice, Critical thinking test practice, Logical and inductive reasoning test practice
Sources: [3]
Stage 2 Motivation & Behavioural Assessment (internship and placement year)
Official employer
A short online multiple-choice questionnaire of around 20 minutes on what motivates you, how you like to work and what matters to you, used to see how your strengths align to the role and Schroders' values. Not timed.
Practise: Personality questionnaire practice
Sources: [3]
Stage 3 Workplace Scenarios & Video Intro (internship and placement year)
Official employer
Online workplace scenario questions plus a short recorded video answer, around 30 minutes in total. Schroders says it looks at how you think, communicate and respond to practical workplace scenarios, and that it is not about being polished. Your camera is on for the video part. Contact the team early if you need adjustments from this stage on.
Practise: Situational judgement test practice, Video interview practice
Sources: [3]
Stage 4 Assessment Centre (internship and placement year)
Official employer
A group activity, a short presentation and an interview, around 4 to 5 hours, usually in person at a Schroders office or virtual depending on location. At least one week's notice. Smart business wear is recommended.
Practise: Assessment centre practice, Group exercise practice, Presentation exercise practice, Daily interview question
Sources: [3]

Final stage line-up

Official employer

Internship and placement year: a group activity, a short presentation and an interview, around 4 to 5 hours, in person or virtual (intern and placement FAQ). Graduate programme: an assessment centre between November and February followed by a separate final interview with a senior leader; the graduate FAQ does not list the assessment centre exercises.

Assessment centre practice

Retakes and validity

No test retake rule is stated. The graduate FAQ says you are welcome to re-apply the following year. The intern FAQ says penultimate-year students on a three-year course who are unsuccessful are encouraged to apply to a graduate programme the following year.

What we could not verify

Whether Aon also runs the internship and placement assessments (the intern FAQ names no vendor)
Whether the graduate route now uses the same four-stage format as the internship (the two FAQs read differ)
Time limits and item counts for the graduate Aon assessments
Video interview platform, number of questions and timings for either route
Graduate assessment centre exercises and length
Selection process for the Spring Insight Programme
Test retake rules

Sources

Schroders UK, FAQs - Graduate Programme Checked 2026-10-22
Schroders' own UK page. Supports the graduate process: application form, three online assessments with Aon named as provider (chatAssess, switchChallenge, ADEPT-15 Workstyles), competency-based video interview, assessment centre (November to February), final interview with senior leadership, feedback report, one application per region, re-applying the following year, and what Schroders looks for (open-minded, hard-working, intellectually curious; motivation, commercial awareness).
Schroders, Graduate programme (global page) Checked 2026-10-22
Reached via www.schroders.com/en/about-us/careers/graduates/, which redirects here. Says applications open each August, and that Schroders is interested in curiosity, motivation and willingness to learn. No selection stages.
Schroders UK, FAQs - Intern and Placement Year Checked 2026-10-22
Schroders' own UK page. Supports the four-stage internship and placement table (what is tested, format, about 20, 20 and 30 minutes, assessment centre about 4 to 5 hours), Stages 1 and 2 untimed, feedback reports within about 24 hours, at least one week's notice, dress guidance, re-apply guidance, and the example of discussing a recent market trend or industry news story to show commercial awareness. Names no vendor.
Schroders UK, Spring insight programme Checked 2026-10-22
Two-day programme each April for first-year students (second year on a four-year course), with a two-week application window in January. No selection stages described.
Schroders UK, People and culture (Our values) Checked 2026-10-22
Lists the values used for the interview bank: Excellence; Innovation and teamwork; Passion and integrity. Not a selection-process page.
Aon, Prepare your assessment (linked from the graduate FAQ) Checked 2026-10-22. Page could not be read at the time
Linked from the Schroders graduate FAQ. It now redirects to a general Aon talent page with no assessment content, so it was not used as evidence.

Common questions about Schroders

What are the stages of the Schroders application process?

As we could verify, the stages are: Online application (graduate, internship and placement year), then Online assessments, graduate programme (three Aon assessments), then Video interview, graduate programme, then Assessment centre, graduate programme, then Final round interview, graduate programme, then Stage 1 Cognitive Assessment (internship and placement year), then Stage 2 Motivation & Behavioural Assessment (internship and placement year), then Stage 3 Workplace Scenarios & Video Intro (internship and placement year), then Stage 4 Assessment Centre (internship and placement year). The page says which of these are stated by Schroders itself and which are only reported by candidates. Check your own invitation, because processes change every cycle.

Which test publisher does Schroders use?

Aon (named by Schroders or an employer-run portal). Publishers change, so confirm with your invitation.

What is the final stage of the Schroders process?

Can I practise for Schroders 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 Schroders or any test publisher.

Independent practice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Schroders and Aon.

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