UX Designer Graduate

Jisc; Greater London, Bristol, Manchester, Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading digital agency in the UK is seeking a UX Designer Graduate as part of its 2026 Graduate Scheme. This program offers hands-on experience, mentorship, and the chance to build vital skills in a collaborative environment. Candidates should possess a relevant degree with at least a 2:2 classification, alongside a genuine passion for UX design. The role features a hybrid working model, allowing work from home alongside hub office time, and provides numerous opportunities for career growth and advancement. The selected candidate can expect a salary of £29,500 plus excellent benefits.

Benefits

31 days annual leave

Flexible work pattern

Health care cash plan

Professional mentorship

Access to community networks

Qualifications

• Inquisitive mind with a can-do attitude.
• Foundational understanding of UX design and processes.
• Hands-on experience in collaborative project work.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to user research to understand behaviors and needs.
• Create wireframes, prototypes, and user flows.
• Support design systems and ensure effective communication.

Skills

UX principles

Design processes

Communication

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Education

Relevant degree with minimum 2:2

Job description

Jisc Graduate Scheme 2026

Graduating soon? Apply today and start building your digital future!

If you have an inquisitive mind and a can‑do attitude, our graduate scheme is your gateway to a thriving digital career. It's designed for anyone wanting to pursue a path forward in the digital world, offering hands‑on experience, expert mentorship, and the chance to build future‑ready skills in a fast‑paced, innovative environment.

We are looking for people who are or are expecting, a BSc, BA, Master's or equivalent degree with a minimum 2:2 classification in a relevant field such as UX Design, HCI, Interaction Design, Visual or Product Design, Digital Product Design, Web Design (with a UX focus), Service Design, or a related discipline with a strong user‑centred focus.

Please note the closing date for this role is: Sunday 25th January 2026

Role: UX Designer Graduate

Salary: £29,500 per annum plus excellent bespoke benefits

Working week: Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm

Hours: 35 hours per week

Duration: 15th September 2026 – 28th July 2028

Working location / style: Hybrid / Flexible - A blend of working from home and your nominated hub office. We have hubs located in London, Bristol, Manchester and Oxford.

About Jisc

Jisc is the UK’s digital, data and technology agency for tertiary education, research and innovation, uniquely positioned to lead and support the sector in building a better digital future for students, communities and society.

At Jisc, we’re proud to foster a supportive and inclusive environment where every voice is valued. Our September 2026 Graduate programme offers exciting opportunities to grow and thrive in the digital sector, with hands‑on experience across various specialisms, three unique business placements, and rotations within your chosen track to explore different aspects of our organisation.

We live by our guiding principles and welcome applicants who share our values and are driven by our mission to improve lives through digital transformation.

• Customer First: Take ownership, communicate effectively, and focus on quality solutions that deliver on our promises.
• Never Stand Still: Look ahead, welcome new ideas, and drive continuous improvement.
• Make an Impact: Be confident, stay curious, and deliver meaningful, sustainable value for our customers.
• Always Inclusive: Collaborate openly, embrace diversity, and create space for every voice to be heard.

Your future team:

The team is part of a wider product and technology function and is split across two areas: the Central UX team and the OpenAthens UX team. Both are made up of passionate designers who collaborate with product managers, developers, and stakeholders to deliver user‑centred experiences. Whether embedded in product teams or working as consultants, they focus on improving UX practice, ways of working, and ensuring our products meet evolving user needs.

A Day in the life of UX Designer Graduate:

As a UX Graduate Designer, your day is shaped by curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Throughout your two‑year journey, you’ll rotate through four different teams, each offering fresh perspectives and challenges across a range of products and projects, with plenty of opportunities to work alongside developers, product managers, researchers and designers.

A typical day involves contributing to user research to understand behaviours, needs, and pain points. Tasks may include creating wireframes, prototypes, and user flows to explore and communicate design ideas. There’s hands‑on involvement in usability testing and analysing findings to inform design decisions. Work also includes supporting design systems and pattern libraries and clearly communicating design rationale to stakeholders.

The role offers continuous learning through real‑world projects, mentoring, and structured development in UX best practices, and through the combination of this programme and your rotations across the business, you’ll build the skills that accelerate your growth.

Who we’re looking for:

We’re looking for creative minds with a genuine passion for UX design and a deep commitment to user‑centred thinking. You’ll bring a foundational understanding of UX principles and design processes, along with some hands‑on experience, whether academic or project‑based, collaborating in cross‑functional teams. Strong communication and teamwork skills are essential, as is a sharp analytical mindset and a problem‑solving approach.

You’ll have a keen eye for detail, a drive for delivering high‑quality work, and a growth mindset that fuels your eagerness to learn. We value individuals who are keen to grow their visual awareness, UX skills, and technical aptitude to help design accessible, user‑centred solutions that meet goals and deliver an exceptional user experience. Most importantly, you’ll be motivated by empathy, striving to improve user experiences through thoughtful, inclusive, and impactful design.

Discover the amazing benefits we provide! Here’s what you can look forward to:

• Hands‑On Experience – Work on real projects.
• Mentorship and Support – One‑on‑one support from experienced professionals.
• Career Growth – Opportunities for advancement.
• Community – Join networks like Youth Network, LGBTQ+, Neurodiversity, Women’s Network, and more.
• 31 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) that includes three closure days over Christmas
• Flexible work pattern, which can adapt to suit your schedules and personal commitments
• Buy up to an additional 5 days leave during the flexible benefits window
• A range of wellbeing lifestyle benefits including company paid health care cash plan, mental health first aiders and support
• Allocated allowance of up to £250 to equip your home office
• Financial well‑being support including access to preferential loan and savings plans, mortgage advice, will‑writing tools and support and resources to help you make the most of your money
• A wide range of discounts and cashback from retailers and big‑name high‑street stores
• Support your volunteering with up to 3 days volunteer leave
• Claim back the cost of a Young Person’s Railcard each year, saving 1/3 on rail travel

Entry requirements:

• You have the right to live and work in the UK for the entire duration of the scheme.
• Not in full‑time education (you can of course be in education when you apply but must have completed your studies by the time the graduate scheme starts).
• You should have already graduated or be on track to graduate before Sept 2026 with a minimum 2:2 in a relevant discipline.
• Please ensure these are visible on your CV, or you may risk your application being declined.

Sponsorship

Please note that this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. This decision is based on current Home Office eligibility criteria, which require specific conditions to be met in terms of job type, salary level, and other factors. As such, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.

Supporting you with your online application

We’re committed to an inclusive recruitment process that removes barriers and empowers you to showcase your talent. If you have a disability, long‑term health condition, neurodivergent condition, or need reasonable adjustments for any other reason, there will be an opportunity to indicate this on your application.

We know that everyone’s needs are unique, so please get in touch if there’s anything we can do to support you throughout the recruitment process.

Once we receive your application, it will be reviewed against the criteria outlined for the role.

You will receive an email confirming whether you’ve been shortlisted or not selected to progress further.

• If shortlisted, a member of the Jisc Talent Acquisition team will contact you to arrange an initial conversation.
• Following this, you will be invited to submit a short video response to a selection of scenario‑based questions, giving us an opportunity to learn more about you.
• Candidates who progress will be invited to an online interview with the hiring team.
• We aim to complete all interviews by the end of April 2025 and will contact you afterwards regarding any offers of employment.

We look forward to receiving your application and wish you the very best of luck!