Information Commissioner's Office: does its ico sandwich placement scheme, in partnership with manchester metropolitan university sponsor a UK visa?

NoICO Sandwich Placement Scheme, in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University

No. Information Commissioner's Office does not sponsor its ico sandwich placement scheme, in partnership with manchester metropolitan university for international students who need a visa. The ICO's placement year starts in September and runs for 12 months in one of four specialist areas: Legal, split into two six month rotations across litigation and advisory; Digital, Data and Technology, based either in Digital IT or the Data team; Regulatory Policy, inside the Regulatory Policy Projects department; and Regulatory Risk and Innovation, working mainly in the Enterprise department alongside the ICO's AI work. Each area names the degree subjects it takes, so a law placement needs an LLB or business with law and the DDaT placement needs a computing, data or cyber course. Applications are made through Manchester Metropolitan University rather than direct to the ICO. Selection is CV and covering letter, a short online interview and an assessment centre.

Sponsors grads?
No
Pay vs threshold
Not published
Opportunity
placement
Pay
Not disclosed on the early careers page
2027 cycle
Applications Open, for students seeking a year in industry, 23 February 2026. Apply via Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).
Confidence
high
You must have the Right to Work in the UK for the duration of the placement without requiring sponsorship.
Information Commissioner's Office, from its own careers pages
The catch: Applications go through Manchester Metropolitan University, so students at other universities have no published route in.

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Sources

Verdict last checked 2026-09-23.

Common questions

Does Information Commissioner's Office sponsor visas for its ico sandwich placement scheme, in partnership with manchester metropolitan university?

No. Information Commissioner's Office does not sponsor its ico sandwich placement scheme, in partnership with manchester metropolitan university for international students who need a visa. The ICO's placement year starts in September and runs for 12 months in one of four specialist areas: Legal, split into two six month rotations across litigation and advisory; Digital, Data and Technology, based either in Digital IT or the Data team; Regulatory Policy, inside the Regulatory Policy Projects department; and Regulatory Risk and Innovation, working mainly in the Enterprise department alongside the ICO's AI work. Each area names the degree subjects it takes, so a law placement needs an LLB or business with law and the DDaT placement needs a computing, data or cyber course. Applications are made through Manchester Metropolitan University rather than direct to the ICO. Selection is CV and covering letter, a short online interview and an assessment centre.

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme is not published clearly enough to judge against the threshold.

What is the catch international students miss with Information Commissioner's Office?

Applications go through Manchester Metropolitan University, so students at other universities have no published route in.

How should I confirm Information Commissioner's Office's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on Information Commissioner's Office's careers site, ask its early-careers team directly, and check the employer on the gov.uk Register of Licensed Sponsors. Policies and thresholds change, so treat this page as a starting point and confirm for the exact role and cycle.

Other public sector schemes

Before you apply

Scan your CV against UK applicant tracking systems for free, then tailor it to the schemes that can actually sponsor you.

Other public sector schemes we track

Sponsorship data: Home Office register + job ad wording. Not immigration advice, verify on gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.