padgrad is a free career platform for graduates. It matches jobs to your degree, generates AI-powered CV checks and cover letters, and sends daily personalised job digests matched to your field of study.

Yes. You get 10 free credits on sign-up to use on AI CV checks and cover letters. All other tools — job matching, budgeting, application tracking, rejection logging — are free with no credit card required.

How does the AI CV Checker work?

Upload your CV and paste a job description. The AI analyses your CV against the role requirements, gives you an ATS compatibility score out of 100, and tells you exactly what keywords and formatting changes to make — helping you pass automated screening systems used by graduate recruiters.

How many jobs should I apply for as a graduate?

Graduates typically need to send between 20 and 50 applications to land a role, with top graduate schemes receiving an average of 58 applications per vacancy. Focus on quality over quantity — tailor each CV and cover letter to the role rather than spamming the same application everywhere.

How long does it take to get a graduate job?

Most graduates take between 3 and 6 months to land their first graduate role, though it varies by sector. Consulting, tech, and investment banking tend to have faster hiring cycles. Larger graduate schemes can take 4-6 months from application to offer.

What is the average graduate salary for 2026?

Graduate salaries vary widely by country, sector and region. Investment banking, law and tech tend to pay the highest, while public sector and charity roles typically start lower. Salaries in major cities usually sit above the national average — check local salary guides for figures relevant to your market.

How do I write a graduate CV with no work experience?

Focus on transferable skills from your degree — research projects, group assignments, presentations, and coursework. Include volunteering, society memberships, part-time jobs, and any placements or internships. Use Padgrad's CV Builder to structure your CV for ATS systems, then run it through the AI CV Checker to see how it scores.

How are jobs matched to my degree on padgrad?

We scrape thousands of graduate jobs daily and match them to over 300 specific degree fields. Whether you studied Biology, Law, Engineering, Psychology, or History — we only show you roles that fit your subject area and send them straight to your daily digest.

Do graduate schemes pay well?

Graduate schemes typically pay a competitive starting salary, with some industries paying significantly more. Law firms and investment banks often pay the most. Most schemes also offer benefits like bonuses, pension contributions, and professional qualification sponsorship — check each employer's offer for the specifics.

How many applications does it take to get a graduate job?

Research shows top employers receive an average of 58 applications per graduate vacancy. Most successful graduates send 20-40 tailored applications before receiving an offer. Track every application using Padgrad's Application Tracker to spot which types of roles you progress furthest in.

Can I apply for graduate jobs before I graduate?

Yes — most large graduate schemes open applications 6-12 months before the role starts, so you should apply in your final year. Smaller companies and direct-entry roles tend to hire closer to the start date. Padgrad's daily job digest includes both graduate schemes and entry-level roles you can apply for straight away.

What should a graduate CV include?

A strong graduate CV should include: your degree with predicted or achieved grade, relevant modules and dissertation topic, transferable skills (research, teamwork, communication), part-time work or volunteering, technical skills and software proficiency, and a personal profile. Most recruiters spend under 10 seconds scanning a CV — use Padgrad's AI CV Checker to make sure yours passes the six-second test.

Compare graduate bank accounts UK 2026 side by side. See the biggest interest-free overdrafts, who can apply and how to switch banks. Pick your account today.

Graduate Bank Accounts UK 2026: Best Overdrafts Compared

TL;DR

A graduate account keeps your overdraft interest-free for 1 to 3 years after uni.
NatWest and RBS offer the biggest limit at up to £3,250 in year one.
TSB and Barclays accept any recent graduate, even without their student account.
Your account becomes a standard current account when the free term ends.

Leaving uni means a new job hunt and new costs. Your student account does not have to end there. Most banks turn it into a graduate bank account UK students use to clear their overdraft without paying interest. This guide compares the best graduate bank accounts UK 2026 has to offer. It shows the limits, the rules, and the traps, so you can pick before your first payday.

What Is a Graduate Bank Account UK?

A graduate bank account UK students can get is a special current account for people who just finished uni. It keeps your student overdraft interest-free for 1 to 3 years. The clock starts on the day you graduate, not the day you open the account. Wait a year, and you may get a smaller limit. That is why it pays to sort your account early, while you still look for your first role.

Best Graduate Bank Accounts UK 2026 Compared

The table below shows the top accounts. Figures were checked against bank sites in July 2026, via Save the Student and unisorted.co.uk. Limits are "up to" amounts, so your credit file decides the final number.

Bank	Interest-free overdraft (year one)	Who can apply	After the term
NatWest / RBS	Up to £3,250 in year one.	NatWest or RBS student account holders.	Becomes a NatWest Select account.
HSBC	Up to £3,000 in year one.	Graduates who finished in the last two years.	Becomes a standard HSBC account.
Nationwide	Up to £3,000, fee-free all the way.	FlexStudent account holders.	Becomes a FlexAccount or FlexDirect.
Lloyds	Up to £2,000 in year one.	Lloyds student account holders.	Becomes a Lloyds Classic account.
TSB	Up to £2,000, flat for three years.	Any graduate from the last three years.	Becomes a standard TSB account.
Barclays	Advertised limit, check the site.	Any recent graduate or Level 7 apprentice.	Becomes a standard Barclays account.

MoneySavingExpert notes that most graduate accounts need you to have banked with that firm as a student. TSB and Barclays are the main routes for everyone else. If you held a different student account, start your shortlist there.

How the Overdraft Shrinks Each Year

Most limits taper down over time. NatWest gives up to £3,250 free in year one. In year two, only the first £2,250 is interest-free. In year three, that slice drops to £1,250. HSBC moves from £3,000 to £2,000, then to a standard account. TSB is the odd one out, because it keeps its £2,000 limit flat for all three years.

Going over your free limit is costly. Interest sits around 39.9% EAR at most banks, per unisorted.co.uk. Nationwide and TSB simply block you from exceeding the limit. That removes the risk of surprise charges.

How to Choose the Right Account

Work through this list in order.

Can you apply? Most banks only take their own student account holders.
Which limit is biggest? More free headroom means more time to repay.
Does it taper? Flat limits like TSB are easier to plan around.
Can you exceed it? If yes, one slip can trigger interest at 39.9% EAR.
What does it become? Check the standard account you will land in.

Perks should be tie-breakers, not deal-breakers. NatWest throws in a tastecard for restaurant deals. Santander offers cashback boost options. Nationwide keeps card use fee-free abroad. Treat them as extras, not reasons to accept a weaker overdraft.

Before you apply, check your credit file. An "up to" limit is not guaranteed. Banks set the number from your history. A clean file usually means a higher figure.

How to Switch Banks as a Graduate

Switching is free and takes seven working days via the Current Account Switch Service (CASS). Your salary, direct debits, and payments move over for you. Many banks also pay a switch bonus for new customers. You can switch after graduation, not just at it. Just remember that waiting means a smaller year-one limit, because the taper counts from your graduation date.

Five Money Rules for Your Graduate Account

Treat the free overdraft as a debt with a deadline.
Budget so you clear it before the term ends. Our graduate budget guide for a first salary can help.
Never go over your arranged limit. The charges stack up fast.
Skip bank loans unless you truly need them. Some firms offer up to £10,000, but repayments start almost at once. Get free advice from StepChange Debt Charity first.
Know your real take-home pay. Use our UK take-home pay calculator guide before you commit to spending.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do graduate accounts charge interest?

No, not within the free limit. Borrow past it, and you pay around 39.9% EAR at most banks.

Can I switch to any bank?

TSB and Barclays accept any recent graduate. Other banks usually need you to have held their student account first.

What happens after the graduate term?

Your account becomes a standard current account. Any overdraft left then starts charging interest.

Do I need a good credit score?

Limits are "up to" and depend on your credit file. A stronger file usually means a bigger limit.

Start Your Career on Strong Ground

Your bank account is one piece of a solid start. The other piece is finding the right job at the right salary. Padgrad matches your degree and skills to live graduate salary data UK and real vacancies, and checks your CV for free. Create your profile today and see roles that fit you.

By Ori