KPMG vs EY graduate scheme — on paper these look like two interchangeable Big Four routes, but they run on almost opposite entry philosophies. KPMG still asks for a 2:1 degree as standard. EY dropped minimum UCAS points and degree classification back in 2016 and hasn’t brought them back. Same tier of firm, same Big Four prestige — very different doors in.
The single biggest difference: degree requirements
This is the first thing to check before you commit hours to either application.
KPMG typically expects a 2:1 degree or equivalent, in any discipline. If your grades fall a little short, KPMG explicitly says to apply anyway — its contextual recruitment process can give a positive uplift based on socio-economic background or extenuating circumstances, but the 2:1 remains the standard bar.
EY doesn’t have a minimum UCAS points or degree classification requirement at all. It assesses candidates through its Strengths Framework — evaluating individual strengths rather than pure academic results. If your academic record is uneven, EY is the more realistic application of the two.
Salary and pay
Neither firm publishes one blanket national figure, but the gap here is wide enough to matter.
| KPMG | EY | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical starting salary | £28,000–£38,000 (varies by service line and office — London £35,000–£38,000, regional £30,000–£33,000, Audit/Tax £28,000–£33,000) | £42,352/year average in London |
| Degree requirement | 2:1 or equivalent, contextual flexibility available | None — Strengths Framework only |
| 2026 intake status | Open, rolling | Open for 2027 applications |
Run either offer through Debut’s Paycheck Calculator to see what it actually looks like after tax.
Programme structure and service lines
KPMG organises its graduate intake into four service lines: Audit, Consulting, Tax & Law, and Technology & Engineering.
EY runs four integrated service lines too: Assurance, Consulting, Tax, and EY-Parthenon Strategy and Transactions — each with its own separate application track, so the assessments and interview content differ depending on which line you apply to.
Application process: how they actually differ
KPMG’s process runs four stages: Explore and Apply (a non-assessed job-preview quiz, then an application form) → Online Assessments (an untimed ~20-minute skills assessment plus a timed 36-minute cognitive reasoning test, both on the SHL platform) → Video Interview (six pre-recorded questions asked by KPMG’s AI avatar “Leah” — but your answers are reviewed and scored by a real recruiter, not AI) → Launch Pad, an in-person half-day assessment event. Successful candidates typically get an offer within 2 working days of Launch Pad.
EY’s process also runs four stages: Application Form (you can only hold one live EY application within a 3–6 month window) → Online Assessments (rank-order and written tasks, recorded video answers, plus a timed Numerical Reasoning Test) → EY Experience Day (in-person, or virtual for Summer Internships — group activities, webcam required) → Final Interview, a conversation with a senior team member about your strengths and motivation.
The practical difference: KPMG’s video stage is asynchronous and scored afterwards by a human; EY’s final stage is a live interview. If you do better thinking on your feet than recording answers alone, that’s worth factoring into which process you prioritise.
See KPMG’s own application process breakdown and EY’s how-to-apply page for full official details.
Locations
KPMG operates from 16 UK offices, including London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, East Anglia, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Nottingham, Reading and Southampton — so most routes aren’t London-only.
EY’s graduate roles run well beyond London too: Manchester (a 700-strong team), Glasgow (300+ people, one of EY’s largest Scotland offices), Leeds, Belfast, and further regional offices, each with slightly different service-line availability by city.
Deadlines
This is where timing actually forces a decision. KPMG’s standard deadline typically falls around late April for the following September intake, with an earlier June-ish cutoff for candidates needing visa sponsorship — but Launch Pad slots fill on a rolling basis well before that, so applying early matters more than the published date. EY’s 2027 applications are open now, and roles close once filled, so apply early. Practically: if you want a Big Four offer this cycle, KPMG is the one still taking applications.
Benefits comparison
KPMG: Flextra, a flexible benefits scheme letting you pick from a health cash plan, travel/critical illness/dental/personal accident insurance, a workplace ISA and a cycle-to-work scheme, on top of core pension and life insurance — plus BeWell, a confidential employee assistance programme, and an early Friday finish (“Jump Start”) during summer months.
EY: private healthcare, discounted gym memberships, a range of health insurances, and matched pension contributions up to 6%.
KPMG’s benefits package is the more structured and detailed of the two on paper — EY’s is solid but described in less depth publicly.
KPMG vs EY graduate scheme: which one should you apply to?
If your degree classification isn’t a clean 2:1 — or you want to be judged on strengths rather than a grade threshold — EY’s Strengths Framework is built for exactly that, when its next cycle opens. If you want a live application right now, a set 2:1 bar you already clear, and a more detailed benefits package, KPMG is the one actually open for 2026.
There’s nothing stopping you from applying to both once EY reopens — they don’t share an applicant pool. Just remember KPMG only allows one live application in its system at a time, so pick your service line carefully before submitting.
For the full breakdown of every other Big Four and Magic Circle scheme, see the Graduate Scheme hub, or compare against PwC and Deloitte if you’re weighing up more than two options.
Both KPMG and EY are taking applications this cycle, so you can apply to both.
