Operational Research Graduate Programme – September 2027 - London

Shape the future through strategy and problem-solving

Programme overview

On the Operational Research Graduate Programme, you’ll help organisations make better decisions on some of their most complex challenges. Working in collaborative, high-performing teams, you’ll apply analytics, modelling and technology to support strategic, tactical and operational decision‑making. As a Shaper of the future, you’ll develop sought-after analytical, consulting and problem‑solving skills while delivering meaningful impact for clients and society.

Core skills for success

• Problem solving — Break down complex operational, tactical and strategic challenges into structured analyses and workable actions.
• Analytical and system thinking — Understanding how people, processes and data interact to identify the drivers of performance and support better decisions.
• Digital, data and AI literacy — Using analytics, modelling and emerging technologies to generate insight and improve decision‑making.
• Collaboration and relationship building – Building trusted relationships with clients and colleagues to solve problems and achieve shared goals.
• Communication and influencing – Presenting complex ideas clearly and helping stakeholders understand analysis, trade‑offs and recommendations.

What you will be doing

• Apply analytics, modelling and decision‑support techniques such as simulation and machine learning to tackle complex business challenges.
• Work alongside clients and teams across EY to shape strategic, tactical and operational decisions.
• Turn data into actionable insights, helping organisations solve challenges such as workforce planning, supply chain optimisation and operational performance.
• Build your analytical and consulting skills through real client projects, coaching and structured development, including practical experience with tools such as SQL, R and Python.
• Learn to select the right tools for the problem at hand, solving solutions using data analytic techniques through to employing advanced Operational Research techniques like simulation and optimisation.

Key programme facts

• Programme length: Two years
• Professional qualification: Skills and training for the future
• Salary: Competitive
• Start date: September 2027

Key Information

• You will need to be working towards an honours degree in Operational Research, Management Science or Mathematics, Operational Research, Science and Economics (MORSE), have a minimum of grade 4/C GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language and Maths, or in your home language if you do not hold English Language GCSE, and three A-levels/Five Highers (or equivalent) to be eligible to apply.
• While we welcome applications from candidates of all academic backgrounds, we are looking to recruit individuals who will succeed at EY in the role and future qualifications. We have completed several studies on academic attainment at A-level (or equivalents), candidate performance in the online assessments in the EY recruitment process, and how that predicts future performance at EY.
• Throughout the recruitment process, we therefore assess your suitability for the EY role you have applied to by considering your scores in the online assessments and your academic attainment at A-level or equivalent. This approach is designed to ensure our joiners are successful in role and, where relevant, in the achievement of their professional qualifications. It is important to EY, and we have a duty of care which we take very seriously, to ensure our joiners are set up for long-term success.
• We are also proud to partner with RARE recruitment, so that your application can be processed in the context of your socio‑economic background. This allows us to give you the maximum credit for your achievements, assessing whether you have overachieved in light of your personal circumstances.

Visa sponsorship

Please see visa sponsorship details below for this programme, for locations: London.

Visa sponsorship is available for this position on a limited basis. EY has a set number of Certificate of Sponsorship applications that can be made each year. If you require sponsorship and this limit has already been reached and/or UK immigration rules are not capable of being met, this will prevent EY from being able to sponsor you and we will not be able to progress your application.

We are able to sponsor this vacancy on the basis that it meets the current Skilled Worker visa New Entrant salary threshold outlined by the UK Government. However, you must be eligible for the New Entrant rate for three years from the start date of your programme.

Each visa application is unique to the individual and there may be other criteria which mean you are not eligible for visa sponsorship. EY will assess your individual circumstances, and we may be required to withdraw your application or offer of employment if EY cannot sponsor your visa.

Please also be aware that the Home Office regularly changes the immigration rules. If that happens, and the changes affect the viability of your application before your start date, we reserve the right to change how we process applications in line with the new regulations. Having a valid right to work status in place in time for the first day of the graduate programme is a mandatory condition of you being able to start work with EY.

Diversity and Inclusion

We’re passionate about giving candidates a fair and consistent recruitment process and are proud of our long‑standing partnership with RARE who help us assess applications using contextual recruitment. We also firmly believe that every candidate should have the opportunity to demonstrate their potential in our selection process which is why we use our skills framework that focuses on your individual skills.

EY recognises that it has clear obligations towards all its people and the community at large to ensure that partners, our people, and job applicants are afforded equal opportunities to enter employment and progress within the organisation. As an employer committed to establishing an inclusive environment free from unlawful discrimination, EY promotes the fair treatment of staff members and job applicants regardless of their sex, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, ethnic or national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, age or pregnancy/maternity status.

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