PwC Graduate Scheme 2027

PwC Graduate Scheme is one of the most in-demand routes into audit, consulting, tax and technology careers at one of the UK’s Big Four professional services firms. PwC UK received 60,000 applications for just 2,000 entry-level roles in its most recent intake, a 35% year-on-year jump. Applications for the 2027 programmes opened on 17 September, and all five graduate categories are open and reviewed on a rolling basis. If you’re weighing it up against other Big Four employers, see how it compares to Deloitte, KPMG or EY, or browse all open graduate roles on our jobs board.

PwC’s UK Senior Partner has a similar read on the new intake — he says today’s graduates are showing up more driven, not less.

PwC graduate scheme at a glance

When does the PwC graduate scheme open?

PwC opened its 2027 graduate applications on 17 September 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and individual categories can close early, so apply soon after a role opens rather than waiting for a deadline. Compare every employer in our graduate scheme opening dates table.

How to apply

PwC’s assessment and selection process runs through these stages, and at the start of your application you get access to resources on what to expect at each one:

Once applications open, they are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications have a real advantage and popular categories can close once places fill. PwC allows one application at a time: it only considers one application for its 2027 programmes, and if you are unsuccessful or withdraw, you need to wait and reapply for programmes starting in 2028. This includes any role you were offered, withdrew from or were unsuccessful in.

Browse current openings and apply on PwC’s official graduate careers site, or read PwC’s own assessment and selection process page.

For a full breakdown of the assessment centre and the stages around it, read our PwC assessment centre guide.

What PwC looks for: the PwC Professional behaviours

PwC assesses candidates against its PwC Professional framework, which has two dimensions. Trusted Leadership covers three behaviours: inspire (people want to work with you), empower (you coach and work side by side with others) and evolve (you grow and guide the future). Distinctive Outcomes covers champion (a commitment to quality, integrity and inclusive behaviour), build (a business mindset) and deliver (collaborating to deliver quality client experiences).

You can show these through examples from university, part-time work, volunteering or societies, and you don’t need work experience. Read PwC’s own page on the behaviours it looks for before you start.

How to prepare for PwC’s assessments

Salary and eligibility

PwC doesn’t publish one fixed graduate salary — pay depends on grade, business area and office location. Reported Big Four starting salaries for 2026 UK graduate intakes typically range from around £30,000–£33,000 outside London up to £35,000+ in London, broadly consistent with market data for PwC specifically (PwC itself directs candidates to speak to their recruiter for exact figures).

To be eligible, you’ll typically need:

• A pass in your degree. PwC does not require a 2:1 for most programmes, unlike some other Big Four employers (see Deloitte’s 2:1 requirement for comparison). Some roles have extra academic requirements, so read the job description.
• Any degree discipline: many programmes weigh skills, strengths and motivation over subject, though some require a specific background.
• No prior work experience required, and you can still apply if you graduated a few years ago.
• Only one application at a time.

If you need a work permit, PwC welcomes applicants who are eligible to switch from a Student visa, but restrictions may apply for some business areas and offices. Check PwC’s immigration authorisation page before applying.

Not sure what your offer looks like after tax? Run it through Debut’s Paycheck Calculator.

PwC Graduate Scheme programme structure

PwC groups its graduate opportunities into five categories:

• Audit, Accounting, Tax and Finance — qualify and practise as an Actuary, Accountant, Tax or Finance professional
• Advisory and Consulting — help organisations transform as a consultant or deals advisor
• Legal Services — build a broad perspective on the business world while developing legal knowledge
• Strategy — advise and collaborate with clients to set their long-term vision and direction
• Technology and AI — design, develop, test, evaluate or implement the latest tech

You can only apply to one category per intake year, so it’s worth exploring all five before deciding. Many programmes include a funded professional qualification (like ACA, ACCA or CTA) alongside on-the-job learning, plus a structured pathway with Talent Coaches and buddy support.

Locations

PwC operates from 19 offices across the UK, including its London headquarters plus regional hubs in the North (Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Bradford), Midlands (Birmingham, East Midlands, Milton Keynes), South East (Cambridge, Reading, Southampton, Watford), Wales (Cardiff), Scotland (Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow), Northern Ireland (Belfast) and West (Bristol). Check PwC’s office finder for your nearest location and which business areas recruit there.

How PwC compares

Weighing PwC against other Big Four and professional-services employers? Compare salary, degree requirements and structure: Deloitte, EY, Accenture, McKinsey or J.P. Morgan, or consider public-sector leadership with the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, or browse the full list.

Benefits

PwC’s benefits are built around five areas: health and wellbeing (private medical cover, 24/7 virtual GP, AXA wellbeing app), financial (pension with matched funding, season ticket loan, financial wellbeing hub), lifestyle (gym discounts, enhanced parental leave, cycle-to-work scheme), protection (life assurance, income protection) and recognition (formal peer/team recognition schemes, employee referral bonuses). Parental leave is notably generous — up to 22 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption, available to all employees from day one regardless of grade or location.

Application deadlines

Graduate applications for the 2027 programmes opened on 17 September, and undergraduate and entry-level programmes followed on 30 September. Roles are reviewed on a rolling basis: there is no single fixed deadline, but PwC may close a category early once it has received a high volume of applications, so applying promptly matters more than waiting for a cutoff. Assessment centres typically run November to April, with job matching between December and May.

Also see the Aviva graduate scheme guide, a permanent-contract alternative in financial services.

PwC scores 3 out of 5 in our Graduate Scheme Transparency Index, which ranks 29 UK employers on pay, closing dates, stages, grades and intake status.

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