What students say about working at British Airways

What students say about early careers at British Airways

For students considering an early career at British Airways, understanding what the experience is really like is often just as important as the role itself.

Feedback from students across our Emerging Talent programmes continues to highlight the value of hands‑on experience, responsibility and support across placements, internships and graduate roles. This is reflected in the Higherin Top Employer Rankings for 2026, where British Airways is recognised among the UK’s leading employers for early careers.

8th in the Top 35 Undergraduate Employers
22nd in the Top 50 Graduate Employers

These rankings are based entirely on student feedback, offering a useful insight into what it’s like to start a career at British Airways.

What this recognition reflects

Higherin (formerly Rate My Placement) collects feedback directly from students who have completed placements, internships and graduate programmes. The results reflect real experiences across the business, from day‑to‑day work and development opportunities to the support available throughout each programme.

Across our Emerging Talent programmes, students are given the opportunity to contribute to real work, build practical skills and understand how different teams operate within a global airline.

As one graduate recently shared:

“From day one, I’ve felt welcomed and supported by the team, which has made settling in much easier.”

Another described the experience as:

“Very positive, with lots of opportunities and real responsibility.”

And across engineering and business areas, students consistently highlight the breadth of experience available:

“From day one, you are given meaningful work, with opportunities to learn, develop and experience different areas of the business.”

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Why students start their career at British Airways

Our early careers programmes are designed to give students early responsibility, exposure to real business challenges and the opportunity to develop skills that support long‑term careers.

From day one, this can include:

contributing to live business projects
working alongside experienced colleagues
gaining insight into different areas through placements or rotations
developing both technical and professional skills

As one student reflected:

“There are lots of opportunities and room for growth. It’s an exciting industry to be a part of and brings a variety of interesting challenges.”

These experiences offer more than just role‑specific knowledge. They provide insight into how the wider organisation operates and the different career paths available across British Airways.

For those considering an emerging talent career at British Airways, the experience is particularly suited to individuals looking for a hands‑on learning environment, exposure to a large and complex organisation, and opportunities to develop and take on responsibility early within a supportive and collaborative culture.

Taking the time to understand what the experience involves can help you decide whether it’s the right next step. To find out more about current and upcoming programmes, and to stay informed about opportunities, register for job alerts.