How Do UK Tech Graduate Interviews Work in 2026 (Coding Screens, AI Tools, Behavioural)?

Key facts

The specifics, before the explanation.

• The ISE (14 October 2026) reported 92 per cent of graduate employers saw candidate misconduct and 66 per cent saw AI misuse in interviews or assessments
• Deloitte UK reinstated in-person graduate interviews from September 2026; other large employers are moving coding rounds to live, proctored formats
• Big graduate tech deadlines cluster in autumn: many 2027 scheme applications close between October and December 2026
• Entry-level tech vacancies in the UK are down sharply on 2022, and employers increasingly ask for a portfolio or internship rather than a degree alone
• Live technical rounds commonly use a shared editor, a systems design discussion or a take-home review, with a 45 to 60 minute slot

What this actually means

Treat the online coding screen as a filter you must pass cleanly, then put most of your preparation into the live rounds, because that is where offers are decided. Practise problems in the language you will be asked to use, time yourself, and talk through your reasoning out loud as you solve them. Employers now watch for candidates who can type a correct answer but cannot explain it, which is the signature of pasted AI output.

On AI tools, read the instructions for each stage and follow them. Some employers forbid them in assessments and have moved to in-person rounds to enforce it. Others, especially product companies, now run a round where you are expected to use an assistant and are assessed on how you prompt, verify and debug its output. If you are unsure, ask; using AI where it is not allowed is treated as misconduct and ends the process.

The behavioural interview matters more than most graduates expect. Prepare examples of debugging something hard, shipping a project with others, disagreeing with a teammate, and learning a new tool fast. Have a side project or internship you can walk through in detail: the stack, a decision you made, what broke, what you would change.

Rehearse both the technical narration and the behavioural answers out loud. The technical rounds are spoken as much as typed, and the candidate who narrates calmly while coding beats one who codes in silence and then struggles to explain.

What to actually do

Rules and figures move. Confirm anything time-sensitive with the official regulator before you rely on it.

• Practise timed coding problems in the language the employer specifies and narrate your thinking out loud as you solve them
• Read the AI tool policy for every stage and follow it; ask the recruiter if it is unclear
• Prepare one project you can explain end to end, including a mistake and how you fixed it
• Rehearse four behavioural answers out loud about debugging, teamwork, disagreement and learning fast
• Apply to the autumn 2027 graduate schemes before their October to December 2026 deadlines rather than waiting for spring

Frequently asked questions

Can I use ChatGPT or Copilot in a coding assessment?

Only if the employer says so explicitly. Many now proctor or run rounds in person, and undisclosed AI use is treated as cheating.

Do I need a computer science degree?

Not for most graduate schemes, but you need evidence you can code: a portfolio, internship or substantial project. Bootcamp and self-taught candidates are hired, with more scrutiny at the technical rounds.

What is the behavioural round looking for?

Ownership, collaboration and how you handle being wrong. Specific examples with real outcomes beat generic statements about being a quick learner.

Sources

Referenced for this guide:

• Institute of Student Employers