Graduate development programme

Our two-year graduate development programme is your opportunity, as an enterprising, motivated recent graduate or Master's graduate, to help deliver Wellcome’s mission to improve health.

What we offer 

There are two different, full-time streams in our graduate programme:

General graduate development programme

Our two-year graduate programme enables you to develop core transferable skills and experience different teams across Wellcome – from research and policy to support functions and the Wellcome Collection.

It is your opportunity, as an enterprising, motivated recent graduate (with a Bachelor’s or Master’s), to help deliver Wellcome’s mission to improve health.

We want your experience on our general programme to be varied and fulfilling.

You will have the opportunity to work broadly across Wellcome, gaining all-round experience to better understand each area and how they all work together in support of our strategy, or you may be more specialised.

The general graduate development programme is closed for applications.

Investments programme

As an independent global charity, we fund our grants and other activities from a £37.8 billion investment portfolio.

As a member of Wellcome’s Investments Team, you’ll undertake investment analysis, learn about financial markets, develop your investment judgment, and understand how our long-term philosophy seeks to generate returns to support Wellcome’s mission.

You will have a front-row seat at the team’s weekly Investment Decision Meeting, regularly chaired by our Chief Investment Officer, where all the key portfolio decisions are debated and made. Through this, and through interacting with other members of the team, you will get substantial exposure to financial markets and the various asset classes in which Wellcome invests.

Our programme suits analytical and self-motivated individuals who can think on their feet, enjoy being challenged and are motivated to try new things and contribute their ideas from day one.

Soon after joining the team, you will map out a personal development plan with your manager. This plan will set out your specific training and development goals, to be obtained both through experience and through relevant training from internal and external providers.

Suggested areas of training include, but are not limited to, the below:

  • Investment Management Certificate (IMC) qualification 
  • financial analysis and modelling 
  • public speaking and presentation skills
  • debating and negotiation skills.

Graduates benefit hugely from being a part of the Investments Team weekly meeting from day one, where all the most important decisions about the portfolio are discussed and debated.

There are three things that set the Wellcome investments graduate scheme apart: fascinating projects across a broad range of sectors and asset classes; learning to think in the truly long term; and the fact that all this varied, exciting work is contributing to an incredible mission. That is why I was thrilled to be offered a full-time role.

Ailsa Bridges, Investment Analyst & Former Wellcome GraduateWellcome

Soon after joining you will also be assigned a mentor to help you navigate your career development and make the most out of your time at Wellcome. 

The salary is £40,000 in the first year.

Graduate investments programme key dates

Applications open: 18 September to 29 October 2023

Open evening: 10 October 2023

Video interviews: 14 to 20 November 2023

Assessment centre: 5 December 2023

Final interviews: 19 December 2023

Who can apply 

To apply to the general programme or the investments programme, you must:

  • have an undergraduate or Master's degree (2:2 or above)
  • have graduated between 2022 and 2024
  • be available from 9 September 2024
  • have the right to work in the UK.

We are looking for individuals whose values, beliefs and attitude are aligned to those of Wellcome and are demonstrated in their behaviour.

Adjustments for applicants

No one should face barriers when applying to work at Wellcome. We’re keen to make sure our application process is accessible to everyone. This includes making adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition.

Email Silver Chida, Early Careers Manager, at s.chida@wellcome.org to find out how we can support you.

How to apply 

The general graduate development programme is currently closed. The following outlines how to apply to the graduate investments programme:

Working at Wellcome 

Hear why some of our graduates love working at Wellcome

What the grads say 

Top tips for the application process

The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 

We are proud to be a Times Top 100 Graduate Employer for the 7th year running.

These employer rankings were compiled from interviews with thousands of graduates who left university in 2021.

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