Flying Start degree programmes

On our Accounting Flying Start programme, you’ll gain experience as part of one of our Audit teams.

This will give you a unique perspective on the business world. Every organisation is measured on its financial performance, whether it’s a tech giant, a high-street brand, a football club, a charity, or a local council. That performance data, and the insight you gain from it, tells the story of how an organisation is delivering on its goals.

By helping our clients to collect, manage and interpret financial data accurately, we help them make the right decisions to operate effectively and navigate a rapidly changing future. 

As an auditor, you’ll bring expertise and independent rigour to the process of verifying this critical data. You’ll also help to ensure that clients have the digital systems and processes in place to deliver this information accurately and effectively.

To do our work, we need to understand how a client’s business functions. So our people get an incredible grounding in all kinds of industries and sectors. You’ll work directly with clients, experiencing everything from the warehouse to the boardroom. You’ll see the way that the CEOs and CFOs at our clients work. And you’ll learn how different organisations do business. 

The Accounting Flying Start programme is much like a normal three-year degree course but with one clear difference. In each academic year, you’ll spend one of the terms on a full-time work placement with PwC. This means you’ll still have each summer off to enjoy. 

The programme will put you on track to qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. In fact, by the end of your course, you will have completed 85% of your ICAEW exams. 

The vast majority of finalists on the programme receive a job offer from PwC after graduation. You’ll then join the final year of our graduate programme, which means you’ll have the opportunity to become a fully qualified ICAEW Chartered Accountant, with the salary to match, just over a year after graduation.

You’ll receive a competitive pro-rata salary for the terms you spend on work placement with us. We’ll also provide accommodation, if necessary, while you’re on placement at our offices. Some of our partner universities offer reduced tuition fees for your degree, many of your learning materials will be provided free of charge and we’ll pay your ICAEW registration fee.  

The Flying Start financial bursary looks to support students with the day-to-day costs of university life. At PwC, the development and wellbeing of our people is paramount and we’re delighted to be able to award a bursary to support our students to be the best they can be. If you meet the eligibility criteria, and join one of our Flying Start Accounting programmes in autumn 2026, you could be awarded a £10,000 bursary, split across the four years of the degree.

The bursary offers a unique opportunity for ten individuals to receive support in their educational journey. The criteria for the bursary is set out below which you can review to determine your own eligibility. You need to meet all five of the points as follows:

• ‘Home Funding’ status, which means you’re living in the UK or Republic of Ireland, or an EU national with settled status in the UK​
• Applied to study on the Flying Start undergraduate degree programme (and subsequently successfully start on the programme)​
• Have a household income of <£35,000 per annum as assessed by Student Finance (this will be assessed once you are accepted onto the degree programme and apply to Student Finance)​
• Demonstrate a commitment to a career in Audit at PwC during the assessment process​
• Attended a non-fee paying school (unless you received a bursary or scholarship to attend in which case we’ll review on a case-by-case basis)​

Further details of how to apply for the bursary will be provided during the application process.

You apply for the Flying Start degree via UCAS. You can apply for multiple Flying Start programmes but each application to each university will count as one of your UCAS options.

Our Accounting Flying Start programme can be studied at: 

• Newcastle University (NN14)
• University of Manchester (N403)
• University of Nottingham (N410)
• University of Reading (NN41)
• Queen Mary University of London (N403)

As each university is unique, they all have their own admissions policy to consider applications. For the specific admissions requirements, please visit the relevant university pages.

On our Business Management Flying Start programme, you'll step into a full-time role within our Operate business in Belfast. You'll also engage in structured study sessions with Ulster University Business School, organised in eight-week learning blocks. This approach lets you blend academic insights with practical business experience, setting a strong foundation for your future.

Operate is the delivery engine of our Managed Services offering, working with clients to improve processes, transform operations and manage whole business functions. So you’ll work with the latest technology, like Gen AI, and a broad range of high-profile clients across all kinds of industries. As you grow with us, you’ll learn to manage projects that streamline operations, reduce costs, improve efficiency and deliver real-world results. 

Operational delivery is often the toughest challenge facing our clients. Every large organisation has vital functions like Finance or Human Resources that help them run smoothly. Within those functions there are numerous complex processes to deliver. At Operate, we help clients find the right people, technology and solutions to deliver them brilliantly, so that they can focus on their core business.

The Business Management Flying Start programme lasts four years. Throughout that time, you’ll be studying for a BSc Hons Leading on Customer Operations at Ulster University Business School. You’ll also be gaining real-life experience, knowledge and skills to thrive in our business.

You’ll be supported by PwC and the university throughout the programme and beyond, with a Career Coach, a buddy, an Academic Studies Advisor and of course your fellow Flying Start peers. You'll also be provided with in-office training and time to work on your own personal development each week you are not at university. Once you’ve qualified, you’ll be ready to build an exciting career path and explore all the potential that our rapidly growing global business offers.

As a full-time apprentice, we’ll offer you a competitive financial package:

• You’ll be paid a highly competitive salary of £27,800 per annum from day one. 
• Your tuition fees are fully funded for the degree programme. 
• You can select the benefits that matter to you from our flexible benefits package.

Our Business Management Flying Start programme can be studied at: 

• Ulster University 

You’ll need to have at least a 112 UCAS tariff (excluding General Studies) from up to three full A-Levels (or equivalent), and a Grade C or 4 or above in GCSE (or equivalent) English Language and Mathematics.

Your exams must have been taken in the same sitting and resits are accepted only where modules or papers have been retaken in the same academic year. If you have any extenuating circumstances related to your exam marks or the sequencing of your exams, please declare this on your application and this will be considered as we review your application.

To receive the funding for the apprenticeship you'll also need to meet the requirements of the Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA) within Northern Ireland. More information can be found here.

Apply here