Arup

Programmes and entry

• Level 6 degree apprenticeships (civil, building services mechanical/electrical, other disciplines by office) (Level 6) · Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Birmingham, Whitehaven, Winchester, York
• Lower-level apprenticeships (Level 3 etc.) (Level 3+)

Varies per vacancy. Search summaries of Arup adverts: A-level Maths plus a science/technology subject, or 112 UCAS points including 64 from two A-levels or BTEC equivalents, or DMM BTEC; some Level 6 roles BBB including Maths and a physical science. Full-time permanent role with 6-month probation and day-release study. source

Opens November each year · Start in September. One application per cycle. Arup asks applicants not to use AI writing assistants in the application. source

Online assessment: Unconfirmed (Sova/HireVue per prep site)

• Numerical reasoning: Timed multiple choice · 15 items · Item count from a commercial source for Arup generally.
• Logical reasoning: Timed pattern-based multiple choice · 15 items · Commercial source.
• Personality: Statements rated on a 5-point scale · Commercial source says about 40 sets of statements.

Short, timed reasoning (around 15 items each) plus a work-style questionnaire. Write original look-alikes with engineering-flavoured data (loads, flows, costs) and abstract sequences.

Single report source

Assessment centre

Online AC with interview and case study; graduate ACs also include an individual technical exercise and a group exercise (construction-themed decision tasks, e.g. choosing projects to fund). For apprentices Arup lists only interview, case study, apprentice meet and office tour.

Official source source

Final interview

Competency-based, includes values/situational questions, questions from your CV and application, industry trends and the case study. Arup says final interview carries more weight for graduates.

Single report source

Values they assess against

Quality of work · Total architecture · Humane organisation · Straight and honourable dealings · Social usefulness · Reasonable prosperity

Questions candidates report

• Online assessment centre: Give an example of when you were a leader in a group project. Several candidate reports source
• Online assessment centre: Describe a time you worked in a group and things did not go the way you wanted. What did you do? Several candidate reports source
• Online assessment centre: Tell us about a time you had trouble with a teammate on a project and how you resolved it. Several candidate reports source
• Online assessment centre: Describe how you would explain a technical process to a non-technical person. Several candidate reports source
• Online assessment centre: Think of a building on your campus that could be more sustainable. What would you do to improve it? Single report source
• Online assessment centre: Why did you choose to apply to Arup and why should we hire you? / What is your favourite building or Arup project and why? Several candidate reports source

Advice for this firm

• Read Sir Ove Arup's Key Speech (required reading at Arup) and link one story to each value.
• Pick a favourite Arup project and be able to say what design decision made it work.
• For the 30-minute case study, say assumptions aloud, state the context (loads, users, sustainability) and ask clarifying questions.
• Arup applications open in November: prepare the motivational answers in October and write them yourself, without AI.
• Know your CV: candidates were asked about early work experience.

Not verified

• Question bank is from a graduate-focused TargetJobs piece (1 Aug 2024); no apprenticeship-specific questions verified.
• OA provider, item counts and timings are unconfirmed commercial claims. A prep site's pre-recorded video interview is not in Arup's apprenticeship process, so excluded.
• Arup's degree-apprenticeship entry requirements not read from live adverts (closed).
• Glassdoor and Student Room Arup pages unreadable.