Early careers

Frequently asked questions

Here are some of the questions we get asked most frequently.

Not at all, we welcome students from all degree disciplines. It doesn’t matter what degree you’re studying for – in fact most of our programmes accept students from any discipline. But you must have a good academic record and be able to show how you’ve used your initiative and team-working skills before and at school/university.

For any recruitment queries please visit our recruitment queries webpage.

You can read more about our wellbeing support on our working at PwC page.

Yes, our school vists tend to have a networking session or some form of Q&A at the end where you can find out more.

We organises various events throughout the year, including recruitment events, industry conferences, networking events, and training programs. Check our events page or social media channels for updates on upcoming events.

If you are unsure of which career path to choose, please have a look at our careers site to find out more about our different offerings. We also have events which give you an insider into the business areas.

As part of the application form you can select a particular business area preference if roles in this business area are available. Your preference will be taken into account, but can't be guaranteed.

Our entry level roles are for applicants educated to school or college leaver level looking to enter or re-train within the workforce.

Programmes can include professional qualifications, educational pathways or provide specialist training, experience and development to kick start your career.

There is no age requirement/restriction to apply for our entry level programmes roles. Anyone is welcome to apply.

Our full time entry level opportunities require UCAS points, which can be from A-Levels or equivalent. The amount will vary from role to role.

Our degree apprenticeship which falls under our Flying Start programme, is a Level 6 apprenticeship, which is a blend of study at university and work placements at PwC. PwC offers a Business degree apprenticeship at Ulster University Business School. This degree apprenticeship is fully-funded and students come out with a degree, an apprenticeship and normally a permanent job offer.

Our Flying Start Degree Programme, which we offer in Accounting is similar to our degree apprenticeship but doesn’t follow the apprenticeship framework, however they do combine the study at university with paid placements at PwC. The Flying Start degrees are non-funded. Again these are offered at a range of top universities across the country.

An entry level programme at PwC does not involve studying at university. This is a full-time role which will often involve you studying towards a professional qualification alongside your Level 4 or Level 7 apprenticeship. PwC funds your qualification and any resources you need to complete it, and you’ll also receive a full time salary as an employee at PwC. We offer entry level programmes in a different business areas across our UK offices.

No, both routes offer the same opportunities for you to grow as an individual, network with new people and progress to your desired position within the firm.

Initially yes you’ll earn a lower salary, however once you finish your entry level programme you’ll be on a competitive salary for the market. If you're performing well you’ll reach senior positions quicker than graduates, without the university debt.

Those on an entry level programmes are engaged in hands-on projects in client-facing roles. You won’t get stuck doing the photocopying and making the tea, you’re involved in formal projects straight away.

No, each year we welcome a cohort of new students and the average age at PwC is only 33.

Please find the stages of our selection process below:
1. Submit your application
2. Online assessment
3. Video interview
4. Assessment centre

For undergraduates, we offer diversity programmes for first-year students, and summer internships and undergraduate work placements for students in their penultimate year.

We offer summer internships for those in their penultimate year of study.

Women in Business - During this three-day paid programme you’ll get an insight into what a career at PwC could look like. You’ll meet mentors and buddies who’ll represent the variety of opportunities available across PwC. You’ll meet some of our female colleagues to hear about their own personal career journeys, as well as from some of our networks focussed on Inclusion and Diversity.

Black Talent in Business - During this three-day paid programme you’ll get an insight into what a career at PwC could look like, you’ll meet mentors and buddies who’ll represent the variety of opportunities available across PwC. You’ll meet some of our Black colleagues to hear about their own personal career journeys, as well as from some of our networks focussed on Inclusion and Diversity.

Advancing Social Mobility programme - This opportunity is aimed primarily at inspiring and supporting students from a lower socio-economic background seeking an experience in professional services as part of our commitment to improve socio-economic diversity across the organisation. The programme focuses on developing confidence and skills providing an insight into the opportunities available at PwC. Please look at the dedicated webpage for joining criteria and further information.

Summer internships - Build your skills and confidence by working alongside specialists in your chosen business during the summer. You'll get a real taste of life at the heart of PwC, working alongside graduate trainees and experienced professionals on live and interesting client projects. You’ll be doing real work on real clients so be prepared to get stuck in.

Graduate jobs - Be part of the world’s leading professional services network and enjoy the benefits that come with that. We have a wide range of opportunities across five categories.

Please find the stages of our selection process below:
1. Submit your application
2. Online assessment
3. Video interview

Please find the stages of our selection process below:
1. Submit your application
2. Online assessment
3. Video interview
4. Assessment centre

Opportunities will be available to apply to from 1st October. Roles are filled on an ongoing basis.

Graduates can apply to one of our graduate programmes, in one of five job categories:

In Audit, Accounting, Tax and Finance, you could qualify as an Actuary, Audit, Tax or Finance professional.

In Advisory and Consulting, you could help organisations to transform as a consultant or deals advisor.

In Technology and AI, you could design, develop and implement the latest tech.

In Strategy, you could advise and collaborate with clients to set their long-term vision and direction.

In Legal Services, you could build a broad perspective on the business world and develop your legal knowledge.

Most of our graduate programmes require a passed degree but for some roles we may have extra requirments. Please check individual job descriptions for academic requirements.

Yes we do. We welcome applications from candidates who can switch from a Student visa but there are restrictions to some of our business areas and office locations so please visit our immigration authorisation page for more information and to see where restrictions apply.

Yes of course, we welcome all students from all backgrounds. What’s important to us is a good academic record and your ability to show us how you’ve used your initiative and team working skills to align with the PwC Professional.

PQ stands for professional qualification, and on some of our graduate programmes you'll study and take exams as part of a professionally governed qualification.

Salary levels at PwC can vary depending on a variety of factors, your grade, your experience and your location. If you have already applied and want further information, please speak with your recruiter.

Please find the stages of our selection process below:
1. Submit your application
2. Online assessment
3. Video interview
4. Assessment centre
5. Business assessment

Roles are filled on an ongoing basis unless otherwise stated on the job description. We may close to new applications if we’ve received a high volume of applications so we therefore recommend applying early. Please take note of the completion deadlines in your invitation email for every application stage, which is usually seven days from receiving the invite.

Yes however we’ll need further information from you so we can consider the impact any extenuating circumstances may have had on your grades. There will be a space for you to add this on the application form.

We may sponsor visas or work permits for eligible candidates, but this would depend on various factors and individual circumstances. Please check the job description of the role you are interested in for the full details. If you have any other questions, use the buttons below to find more information.

You can only submit one application at a time and commitment to your chosen business area is important. If you’re not successful then you can apply again in the following intake year. If you decide to withdraw before taking the online assessment you still need to wait until the next intake year.

When completing your application form, please select the relevant exam type and grade that appear on your exam certificates. Please do not convert your grades to UK equivalents. If you're unable to find your exact exam type / grade combination in the academic achievements dropdown, please select "other" and free-type your exact results. All grades are verified as part of our pre-employment screening process and we take any discrepancies very seriously. If you're unsure how to complete your application form, please contact our student helpline via our recruitment queries webpage.

There is a specific section on the application form where you'll be able to add detail of your extenuating circumstances. Please provide us with the full detail as this will be passed on to our screening team so they can confirm your eligibility for the role.

We aim to get back to you as soon as possible but in some cases it could be up to a month before you hear an outcome. You can always contact us via our recruitment queries webpage if required.

We only accept one application per intake year therefore it’s important you think carefully about which programme interests you the most. If you’d like to be considered for a different opportunity you’ll need to withdraw your application and wait until the following intake year to apply. This could mean your start date would be a year later than your original application.

If you’re invited to sit our online assessment then you’ll have the opportunity to take some practice tests before you start. You can also visit our Employability Hub to help you prepare.

The assessment tools give us extra information on particular areas like reasoning ability or the quality of your team working skills. It's difficult to assess these skills objectively from other parts of the selection procedure. Each assessment focuses on a specific, job-relevant skill. People who have little experience of a particular job may well be very capable of doing that job, and the test gives them the chance to prove it. All candidates for a role complete the same assessment exercises which means we can compare them fairly and objectively. You may also want to refer to our experienced hire careers if you have substantial work experience or qualifications.

We're committed to the fair and ethical use of assessment tools and provide information to help you understand why and how we use them in our recruitment process. We've also prepared a detailed statement of our commitment to all candidates.

Please contact us via our recruitment queries webpage with your candidate reference number explaining your situation and a member of our team will be in contact with you shortly.

You can only submit one application at a time and commitment to your chosen business area is important. If you’re not successful then you can apply again in the next intake year. If you decide to withdraw before taking the online assessment you still need to wait until the next intake year.

At PwC we do consider deferral requests. You’ll need to submit a strong business case which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If you’re considering a deferral, we would encourage you to apply at a later date that aligns with your intended start date.

Part of our onboarding process includes checking your grades and job history, so please make sure everything is correct on your application form. We’re known for accuracy, so carrying out checks like this protects our reputation.

What’s next?

Our culture is all about our people and we want you to feel supported and part of PwC as soon as you join us. You’ll be invited to our onboarding portal where you’ll have lots of things you need to do before your first day. Before your start date, you’ll also be invited to attend a pre-joining event. Here you can meet fellow new joiners and learn more information about the team you’ll be joining and your forthcoming induction. You’ll also be asked to complete your Right to Work checks at the event so you will be all set to join on your first day.

You can expect to hear from us regularly as we prepare you for your career with us.

There are opportunities for you to come and meet us before you join but this would be dependent on the office or business unit. Your local recruiter will be able to provide further details.

You’re restricted to one application at a time with student recruitment.

For these purposes, the definition of an 'application' also includes any roles that you’ve been made an offer for. Therefore if you’ve been offered or you’ve accepted a role, you cannot apply to another vacancy. Please do take the time to check that you're able to make a new application to us now. Our employees act with honesty and integrity so we expect the same from you. If you already work at PwC, please ensure that you have contacted the Student Recruitment team to discuss your application before you proceed. We take any attempts to circumvent this policy very seriously.

We have been made aware of offers of roles at PwC UK being made directly to potential candidates via email. All of our recruitment is managed through our website https://www.pwc.co.uk/careers.html. Any unsolicited offers of roles that don’t originate from applications via this website will not have been sent by PwC and should be ignored.

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