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Transport for London: does its mechanical engineering year in industry sponsor a UK visa?

NoMechanical Engineering Year in Industry

No. Transport for London does not sponsor its mechanical engineering year in industry for international students who need a visa. TfL says successful candidates need the right to work in the UK for the whole scheme and that the role is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.

Sponsors grads?
No
Pay vs threshold
Below the threshold
Opportunity
placement
Pay
£27,029 pro rata, per annum
2027 cycle
Open now (advert dated 20 October 2026), no fixed closing date and the role may close early; assessment centre 3 and 4 December 2026; placement starts 6 September 2027
Confidence
high

Transport for London Mechanical Engineering Year in Industry: at a glance

Transport for London's Mechanical Engineering Year in Industry is a one-year development programme of three to four placement rotations chosen from across the business. An example year includes three-month placements in Station Systems Engineering, Track Engineering, Lifts and Escalators Engineering and Depot Operational Engineering. TfL supports students towards Chartered Engineer status with the IMechE, and at the end of the placement students may be considered for a graduate position through its fast-track process. Source

Duration
1 yearSource
Start date
6 September 2027Source
Who can apply
Penultimate-year students on an IMechE accredited MEng or MSc in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent subject, on track for at least a 2:2, with the right to work in the UK for the duration of the scheme“You’ll need to be in your penultimate year of MEng or MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent subject and on track to receive a minimum of 2:2.”Source
Locations
LondonSource
Starting pay
£27,029 pro rata, per annumSource
Degree requirement
Penultimate year of an IMechE-accredited MEng or MSc in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent, on track for a 2:2“You’ll need to be in your penultimate year of MEng or MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent subject and on track to receive a minimum of 2:2.”Source
Recruitment stages
  1. online application
  2. online assessments
  3. assessment centre
  4. assessment centre on 3 and 4 December 2026, in person in London
“The application process consists of 5 steps, including online assessments which will need to be completed within an allocated time frame.”Source

Every programme and stage at Transport for London

“This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa scheme.”
Transport for London, from its own careers pages
The catch: The assessment centre is early, on 3 and 4 December 2026, so this closes in practice well before the other TfL placements. Offers depend on a medical that can include drug and alcohol screening, eye and hearing tests. TfL asks for the right to work in the UK for the whole scheme from the start date and says it will not sponsor anyone whose permission runs out sooner. The advert does not say whether a Student visa counts, so check with TfL's early careers team before applying if you are on one. The fast-track route into the graduate scheme also needs right to work for the full graduate scheme. TfL allows only one application a year across its graduate, year in industry and summer internship schemes, and withdraws any later ones, so choose the scheme carefully.
Transport for London early careersVerify on gov.ukSee the licence record

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What Transport for London publishes about this programme

Checked against Transport for London's own careers pages on 2026-10-22. Anything not published is worth asking the early careers team before you apply.

  • Visa sponsorship policy: published
  • Application dates: published
  • Programme description: published
  • Duration and start date: published
  • Who can apply: published
  • Pay: published
  • Locations: published
  • Degree requirement: published
  • Recruitment stages: published

More early careers programmes at Transport for London

Sources

Verdict last checked 2026-10-22. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does Transport for London sponsor visas for its mechanical engineering year in industry?

No. Transport for London does not sponsor its mechanical engineering year in industry for international students who need a visa. Transport for London is recruiting penultimate-year MEng or MSc mechanical engineering students for a one-year placement in its Engineering Directorate, made up of three or four rotations across areas such as station systems, track, lifts and escalators and depot engineering. The degree must be accredited by IMechE, with a 2:2 or better expected. Pay is £27,029 pro rata a year, and the role is based in London with hybrid working. The advert, dated 20 October 2026, has no fixed closing date and warns it may close early. The assessment centre is in person in London on 3 and 4 December 2026. TfL says successful candidates need the right to work in the UK for the whole scheme and that the role is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.

What is the Transport for London mechanical engineering year in industry?

Transport for London's Mechanical Engineering Year in Industry is a one-year development programme of three to four placement rotations chosen from across the business. An example year includes three-month placements in Station Systems Engineering, Track Engineering, Lifts and Escalators Engineering and Depot Operational Engineering. TfL supports students towards Chartered Engineer status with the IMechE, and at the end of the placement students may be considered for a graduate position through its fast-track process.

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme sits below the Skilled Worker salary threshold, which is itself a reason sponsorship is not possible.

What is the catch international students miss with Transport for London?

The assessment centre is early, on 3 and 4 December 2026, so this closes in practice well before the other TfL placements. Offers depend on a medical that can include drug and alcohol screening, eye and hearing tests. TfL asks for the right to work in the UK for the whole scheme from the start date and says it will not sponsor anyone whose permission runs out sooner. The advert does not say whether a Student visa counts, so check with TfL's early careers team before applying if you are on one. The fast-track route into the graduate scheme also needs right to work for the full graduate scheme. TfL allows only one application a year across its graduate, year in industry and summer internship schemes, and withdraws any later ones, so choose the scheme carefully.

When do applications open for the Transport for London mechanical engineering year in industry?

Open now (advert dated 20 October 2026), no fixed closing date and the role may close early; assessment centre 3 and 4 December 2026; placement starts 6 September 2027. Checked on 2026-10-22 against Transport for London's own site.

How long is the Transport for London mechanical engineering year in industry?

1 year, according to Transport for London's own careers information.

When does the Transport for London mechanical engineering year in industry start?

6 September 2027, according to Transport for London's own careers information.

Who can apply for the Transport for London mechanical engineering year in industry?

Penultimate-year students on an IMechE accredited MEng or MSc in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent subject, on track for at least a 2:2, with the right to work in the UK for the duration of the scheme, according to Transport for London's own careers information.

Where is the Transport for London mechanical engineering year in industry based?

London, according to Transport for London's own careers information.

What does the Transport for London mechanical engineering year in industry pay?

£27,029 pro rata, per annum, according to Transport for London's own careers information.

What degree do you need for the Transport for London mechanical engineering year in industry?

Penultimate year of an IMechE-accredited MEng or MSc in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent, on track for a 2:2, according to Transport for London's own careers information.

What are the recruitment stages for the Transport for London mechanical engineering year in industry?

online application, online assessments, assessment centre, assessment centre on 3 and 4 December 2026, in person in London, according to Transport for London's own careers information.

How should I confirm Transport for London's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on Transport for London'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.

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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. How we check this data.