Picture yourself walking into a Big Four office: open-plan floors filled with long banks of desks, glass meeting rooms where teams are discussing client work, and screens showing spreadsheets, dashboards, or presentation slides. Through work experience at PwC, Deloitte, EY or KPMG, you’ll see how high-stakes decisions get made and build instant credibility.

The Big Four are four of the world’s most recognised professional services firms, trusted by major organisations for audit, tax and business advice.

In this article, we’ll break down what the firms don’t spell out clearly: competitiveness, strategy, and positioning, so you can apply with intent.

No fluff, no guesswork, just a clear game plan to help you move from curious to credible.

What “Work Experience” Actually Means at the Big Four

Work experience at the Big Four often gets mixed up with apprenticeships or internships, but they’re not the same thing, and the difference matters when you’re planning your next step.

In the next sections, we’ll break down the difference between insight jobs, formal work experience, and degree apprenticeships, so you know exactly what to look for.

Insight Jobs Vs Formal Work Experience Vs Degree Apprenticeships

TypeWhat it isTypical lengthWho it’s forWhat you actually doWhat it’s used for
Insight opportunitiesShort “taster” programmes designed to give you a feel for the firm and its teams. Often branded as insight days, insight weeks, or virtual insight.One day to one week (sometimes a few short virtual sessions)Usually Year 12 to Year 13, sometimes school leaversShadowing, workshops, case activities, talks with people in audit, tax, consulting, dealsCareer exploration, confidence, CV proof of interest, early access to networks
Formal Work ExperienceA structured placement where you get a clearer view of day-to-day work, sometimes within a specific business area.A few days to two weeks (occasionally longer)Often 16–18, sometimes wider depending on the firmTeam shadowing plus small tasks, office routines, basic commercial problem-solving, reflectionStronger evidence for applications, clearer direction, better interview examples
Degree ApprenticeshipsA paid job plus a degree, where you work at the firm while studying part-time with a university partner.3–6 years (varies by programme)School leavers (typically 18+ at start, after A-levels or equivalent)Real client work over time, professional exams, rotations, learning alongside your roleA long-term route into the firm, a degree without traditional full-time uni costs, progression towards graduate-level roles

Who can apply at 16–18 in the UK?

At 16–18, most Big Four opportunities are designed for Year 12 and Year 13, but eligibility is more about readiness than a perfect profile.

Across the Big Four, the most common baseline is a pass in GCSE English and Maths (often set at Grade 4/C minimum), with some programmes asking for stronger grades in those two subjects (for example, Grade 5/B). 

For school-leaver and degree apprenticeship routes, you’ll also often see UCAS tariff expectations in the low hundreds, with many programmes clustering around roughly 100–120 UCAS points, depending on the firm and pathway.

Once you know the baseline grades, the real advantage comes from the skills behind them. Maths and analytical subjects matter because they train you to work accurately with data, spot patterns quickly, and explain your thinking clearly. 

That’s exactly what firms test through numerical reasoning, scenario questions, and case-style tasks, even at the work experience level.

PwC Work Experience Explained Properly

PricewaterhouseCoopers or PwC is one of the most recognised names in the Big Four, known for working with major businesses on audits, tax, deals, and complex business problems. That reputation is exactly why its work experience opportunities feel so competitive.

In the next sections, we’ll walk through what PwC offers, how the process works, what they’re really assessing, and the practical ways you can position yourself to stand out in your application for their work experience programmes.

What PwC work experience actually includes

On PwC’s entry-level page, the programmes aimed at high school students are:

For older students, the following options are available:

  • PwC Summer Internship (summer scheme): A paid summer placement for undergraduates where you work in a business area, build experience fast, and may be considered for a graduate offer.
  • Flying Start (degree route): A work-and-study pathway where you combine university learning with paid work placements at PwC, building experience alongside your degree.

How competitive is PwC work experience?

PwC programmes are competitive because the firm is one of the most recognised names in professional services. That reputation attracts ambitious students looking for early exposure, CV credibility, and experience inside a company trusted by major businesses worldwide. eFinancialCareers reports that PwC received over 100,000 UK student applications in a year, with 2,045 applicants securing early careers roles and a further 2,050 getting onto PwC work experience programmes.

For high school students, that competition is especially clear in New World. New Skills and the PwC Virtual Insight Programme, where the process is relatively accessible but places still remain limited. Here’s the typical application process you’ll go through for each programme.

New World. New Skills application process

  • Choose your location: Choose the PwC office you want to apply to, and make sure it is the closest location to you before starting the application form.
  • Submit your application: Fill in your personal details, confirm you meet the eligibility requirements, and answer the application form carefully so every section is complete, clear, and accurate.
  • Complete the online assessment: Complete the online assessment, which may include numerical reasoning, inductive reasoning, and behaviour-based questions designed to test how you think and respond under workplace pressure.

PwC Virtual Insight Programme application process

  • Submit your application: Create or log into your PwC account, then complete the online form with your personal details, school or college stage, predicted grades, and any preferences PwC asks for.

What PwC is really looking for

PwC is looking for evidence you can think commercially, communicate clearly, and take initiative without being asked twice.

  • Commercial awareness: Your ability to connect what’s happening in the world to business decisions. It shows up when you can explain why a firm might care about interest rates, consumer spending, AI, regulation, or ESG, and what that could change for clients.
  • Communication skills: Clarity, not confidence. PwC wants people who can explain ideas simply, listen properly, and structure answers so they make sense under time pressure.
  • Initiative: Proof you don’t wait to be picked. It can be as simple as starting a small project, organising a club event, getting a weekend job, or teaching yourself a skill and showing results.

Communication comes up again and again as a core differentiator. Many candidates have strong grades, but far fewer can explain ideas clearly, present structured arguments, and adapt their message depending on the audience. Immerse Education’s TED Summer School, delivered in partnership with TED-Ed, is designed to develop exactly those skills by helping students practise shaping ideas, structuring talks, and communicating with confidence in front of others.

How to stand out in a PwC application

To stand out, you want to sound clear, prepared, and specific, not generic.

Here’s how you can stand out.

  • Pick one business area and build a “why” in three lines. Choose a direction (audit, tax, consulting, deals) and explain it simply: what you’re curious about, which work matches that, and why PwC makes sense. If you list everything, it reads like you haven’t decided yet.
  • Mirror PwC’s language, but keep it human. If the programme talks about collaboration, inclusion, or technology, reflect those themes in your examples. Use your own words and your own story, because copied phrasing is easy to spot.
  • Prepare a bank of six stories before you apply. Have two teamwork, two leadership, one problem-solving, and one resilience example ready. For each one, write a single “proof line”: what you did, how you did it, and what changed, so you can answer quickly in forms and video interviews.
  • Practise timed answers out loud. Structure beats confidence every time. Aim for 60–90 seconds: make your point, give proof, then reflect on what you learned or would do next time.
  • Treat online tests like a skill, not a hurdle. Short daily practice helps more than a late-night cram because it builds speed and accuracy together. Focus on getting questions right first, then gradually improve time.
  • Demonstrate leadership without forcing it. Leadership at this level is showing you can notice a gap, act, and bring others with you. Pick examples where you organised people, made a decision, handled disagreement, or improved an outcome, then finish with the result.

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Deloitte Work Experience Strategy

With around 460,000 people worldwide across more than 150 countries and territories, Deloitte’s scale is part of why it’s seen as a top-tier Big Four name, trusted by major organisations for complex, high-impact work. 

In the next sections, we’ll break down what Deloitte offers for school students, how the work experience application process works, and how Deloitte’s culture differs from PwC so you can tailor your approach.

What Deloitte offers for school students

Here are the different programmes Deloitte offers for high school students:

  • ASPIRE (multi-day programme): A few days in London, Manchester, or virtually for Year 12 students (or Year 13 in Northern Ireland / S5 in Scotland), designed to help you explore your talents and career options in professional services.
  • Explore Work (virtual, on-demand): A self-paced virtual programme for school students (Years 9–11 in England/Wales, with equivalents in NI and Scotland) where you complete modules and simulated tasks to explore Deloitte career pathways.
  • Career Shapers Year 12: Inspiring Black Talent (virtual): A three-day virtual programme for Year 12 (or equivalents) with interactive activities, skills-building, and insight into Deloitte pathways, particularly for students considering apprenticeships.
  • Career Shapers Finance Year 12: Inspiring Women (virtual): A three-day virtual programme for Year 12 (or equivalents) focused on finance, with insight into Deloitte’s Audit & Assurance or Tax teams and the apprenticeship route. 
  • Career Shapers (virtual insight): Deloitte positions Career Shapers as a practical, engaging insight experience for Year 12 students to explore professional services and build skills through interactive activities.
  • ASPIRE (work insight-style experience): ASPIRE is framed as an immersive, multi-day opportunity to experience Deloitte and explore future pathways. 
  • BrightStart Apprenticeship (apprenticeship): A paid alternative to university where you “earn while you learn”, gain real-world experience from day one, and work towards qualifications while starting a permanent role.

Deloitte application process breakdown

Here are the steps you will go through:

Career Shapers and ASPIRE

  • Choose the right programme: Pick the Career Shapers or ASPIRE option that matches your year group, location, and any specific route Deloitte is offering.
  • Complete the online application form: Answer questions about who you are, your education, and your experience, and have your qualification details ready before you begin.
  • Submit the form in one sitting: Deloitte advises applicants to complete the form in one go, so use a personal email and check everything carefully before submitting.

Explore Work

  • Sign up for the programme: Register for Explore Work through Deloitte’s early careers site and make sure you choose the programme that matches your school stage.
  • Complete it in your own time: Work through the online modules at your own pace, using the programme to explore Deloitte, workplace skills, and possible career paths.

How Deloitte differs from PwC culturally

Both Deloitte and PwC are part of the Big Four, and while their work experience programmes both give insight into audit, tax, deals and consulting, they tend to feel different in what they spotlight day to day.

Deloitte often presents itself as more consulting-led, with a bigger pull towards transformation work, while PwC’s messaging leans more towards trust, assurance, and solving complex problems at scale.

Aside from that, here are a few clear ways they often differ:

  • Innovation focus: Deloitte tends to foreground innovation through transformation-led work, especially where new ways of working and delivery models are central. PwC often frames innovation through trust-building and problem-solving, then brings in tech to accelerate impact.
  • Tech and consulting emphasis: Deloitte’s brand and early careers messaging often feels more weighted towards consulting, technology, and large change programmes. PwC is strong in consulting too, but it’s typically positioned alongside a heavier “assurance and trust” centre of gravity.

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EY Work Experience and Early Careers

Formed in 1989, Ernst & Young, or EY has long supported organisations with assurance, tax, consulting and deals, and it’s built a reputation on trust, judgement, and working at global scale. With a clear emphasis on integrity, teaming and inclusiveness, it’s no surprise you might want work experience here.

In the next sections, we’ll map the main EY pathways for school students, explain how the application process works, and show exactly what EY tends to prioritise so you can shape your application with confidence.

EY work experience pathways

Here are the different programmes Ernst & Young (EY) offers for high school students.

EY Application Process

The two main EY work experience routes for high school students follow different processes, so here’s a clear breakdown of how Career Starters and Smart Futures each work.

Career Starters

  • Choose your programme: Take a look at EY’s Career Starters page and choose the specific programme that matches your interests, location, and eligibility before starting your application.
  • Submit your application: Complete EY’s online application form with your personal details, education information, and any eligibility details EY asks for.
  • Complete the online assessments: If your application progresses, you may be asked to complete online assessments, which can include rank-order, written, recorded video, and sometimes timed numerical reasoning tasks.
  • Check your email and complete each stage on time: EY will send your next steps by email, so make sure you keep track of deadlines and complete each stage within the time given.

Smart Futures

  • Check the Smart Futures page: Review the different programme dates, locations, and application status first, so you can see which opportunities are open and which one fits you best.
  • Submit your application: Complete the online Smart Futures application form with your personal details, education information, and any background details the programme asks for.
  • Complete a short telephone interview: If your application is shortlisted, you’ll be invited to a short phone interview to talk through your interest in the programme and your next steps.
  • Check your email and respond on time: Keep an eye on your inbox for updates, because Smart Futures will contact you about interviews, deadlines, and outcomes by email.

What EY prioritises in candidates

EY looks for applicants who can work well with others, stay calm when things change, and make decisions with integrity, especially when the “right” answer is not obvious.

Here’s what EY looks for in applicants:

  • Thinking and learning: Curiosity, learning agility, and adaptability, especially when tasks change or information is incomplete.
  • Working with people: Collaboration and relationship building, including listening well and communicating clearly.
  • Drive and character: Integrity, motivation, and resilience, especially when things do not go to plan.
  • Self-management: Staying organised, meeting deadlines, and taking ownership without being chased.
  • Judgement: Making sensible decisions, knowing when to ask for help, and handling information responsibly.

KPMG Work Experience and Insight Routes

Last but certainly not least, there’s Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG). With over 276,000 people across 138 countries and territories, it’s known for operating at serious global scale, and for pushing tech-forward work through KPMG Clara, its cloud-based audit platform with AI-powered analytics built in.

In the next sections, we’ll break down KPMG’s work experience options for school students, how the application is like, and what they tend to assess so you can prepare properly. 

KPMG early careers overview

Here’s the different work experience programme KPMG offers for high school students who are still in school.

Discovery Work Experience

Here are the different steps in KPMG’s Discovery Work Experience application process.

  • Check the Discovery Work Experience page: Review the programme details, eligibility criteria, and vacancy status before you apply, including whether you meet KPMG’s Access Accountancy requirements.
  • Choose your vacancy and apply online: Search for the available Discovery Work Experience vacancies, then complete the online application form with your personal and academic details.
  • Complete the virtual application stage: Discovery Work Experience uses a one-stage virtual application process designed to assess your potential in a straightforward, accessible way.
  • Request adjustments if needed: Support adjustments can be arranged during the application process, including extra time where appropriate.

KPMG assessment insights

KPMG’s assessments are built to mirror real workplace decisions, so it’s less about “perfect answers” and more about how you think, prioritise, and justify your choices.

Here are some assessments you should prepare for:

  • Scenario-based testing: Expect judgement-style questions where you choose or rank responses to realistic situations, plus working style prompts that test how you collaborate and handle pressure. 
  • Commercial reasoning: You’ll be tested on whether your decisions make business sense, like weighing risk, spotting what matters most, and choosing actions that protect quality and client trust.

Comparing PwC, Deloitte, EY and KPMG

Comparison areaPwCDeloitteEYKPMG
How competitive is this organisation?Approx. 4.1% overall in the cited year (2,045 early careers roles + 2,050 work experience places from 100,000+ UK student applications). Not disclosed (still competitive, and varies by programme and year). Approx. 2.6% overall in 2023 (1,800 accepted from 70,000 UK applicants, covering graduates, school leavers, and interns). Not disclosed (still competitive, and varies by programme and year). 
Culture differencesPurpose-led around building trust and solving big problems, which shows up in how it talks about quality and judgement.Anchored to “making an impact that matters”, with a strong transformation and delivery vibe in how it presents itself.Strong purpose narrative: “Building a better working world”, plus a clear emphasis on teamwork and values.Values-led identity is very explicit: Integrity, Excellence, Courage, Together, For Better.
Audit vs consulting vs advisory exposureStrong audit roots, plus broad advisory and deals exposure depending on programme.Consulting and transformation are very prominent in messaging, alongside audit and tax.Broad mix across assurance, consulting, tax and transactions, often explained through pathways.Strong audit and advisory identity, with growing emphasis on tech-enabled ways of working.
Which firm suits which type of student?PwC work experience works best if you like structure, clear progression, and building credibility through quality and communication.If you enjoy problem-solving under pressure, fast-moving change projects, and where innovation meets technology, this one will suit you.
You’ll feel at home if you’re people-led, motivated by purpose, and like working with different perspectives in the room.This is a strong fit when you want hands-on learning, a clear set of values to work by, and you naturally default to doing the right thing.
Biggest “edge” you can signal as a candidateCommercial awareness plus strong communication, with specific examples and reflection.Curiosity about innovation, tech, and transformation, with structured problem-solving examples.Adaptability, learning agility, and integrity, shown through real situations and outcomes.Sound judgement, resilience, and practical teamwork, backed by clear, honest examples.

How to Prepare Before Applying

While these four companies prioritise slightly different traits, you can still prepare in a repeatable way that works across every Big Four process – meaning you can get a headstart before you commit to any big decisions.

Let’s turn that into a simple checklist you can start this week.

Step 1: Building commercial awareness

Reading financial news daily builds commercial awareness by showing what’s changing in the economy and which businesses feel it first. As you follow one story all week, note how it affects consumer demand, costs, or confidence.

That’s where understanding the stock market helps: track one company, watch how its share price reacts to the news or earnings, then explain the move in one clear sentence.

Step 2: Developing analytical thinking

Maths matters because Big Four work often starts with numbers: percentages, trends, risk, and accuracy under time pressure. Economics matters because it explains the “why” behind the numbers, like inflation, interest rates, and consumer behaviour. 

Together, they help you spot patterns, explain decisions clearly, and perform better in numerical tests and case tasks.

Step 3: Communication and presentation skills

Clarity matters in interviews because it reveals how you think under pressure. When your answer has a simple structure, you sound credible, focused, and easier to trust.

If you want to level that up quickly, Immerse Education’s TED Summer School, in partnership with TED, is built to help you find your voice and communicate ideas with real impact. 

Over two intensive weeks, you develop one idea from spark to stage, guided by TED-trained tutors, and finish by delivering your own TED-style talk, professionally filmed.

If You Don’t Get Big Four Work Experience

Rejection is common, as you can see from the acceptance rates in the table above, and that competition squeezes out plenty of capable applicants. It’s rarely personal, and it’s almost never permanent.

What matters is momentum. If you keep building proof, sharpen your examples, and reapply with a clearer story, you’ll still be in the running for insight jobs, apprenticeships, and later graduate roles.

Here are some alternative pathways you can consider if you’re one of the many who doesn’t get a Big Four place first time.

Alternative pathways

  • Mid-tier firms: Grant Thornton, BDO, RSM.
  • Boutique advisory firms (UK): Teneo, FTI Consulting, AlixPartners.
  • Investment banking work experience: This can work as a strong alternative if you’re leaning towards markets, deals, and fast-paced commercial thinking, and it still signals serious ambition.

Degree Apprenticeships vs University Route

Degree apprenticeships and the university route are often compared because they can lead to the same end goal, but the day-to-day experience is completely different. Should you earn while you learn, or focus on academic life first and build experience through internships?

Here’s a clear comparison between the two.

Comparison areaDegree apprenticeshipsUniversity route
What it isYou work at the firm while studying part-time for a degree.You study full-time at university, then apply for internships and graduate roles.
Who it suitsYou want structure, early responsibility, and learning by doing.You want academic depth, flexibility, and time to explore interests.
Day-to-dayJob tasks, training, and study deadlines running in parallel.Lectures, seminars, societies, and self-led projects, with work experience in holidays.
Cost and payEarn a salary and typically avoid tuition fee debt for the degree.Pay tuition fees and living costs, usually funded through loans or support.
ProsEarn and gain experience early; build a strong routine; learn directly from real teams; graduate with a clearer sense of direction.More time for academic exploration; broader subject choice; more freedom for societies and projects; easier to sample different careers.
ConsLess flexibility and free time; balancing work and study can be intense; switching paths may be harder once you commit.Costs can be higher; experience depends on you securing internships; the jump into work can feel sharper after graduation.

FAQs

Is PwC work experience paid?

It depends. Some PwC school programmes are paid (for example, New World. New Skills.), while others may not be.

Is Deloitte work experience competitive?

Yes. Places are limited and programmes are popular, so strong preparation and clear examples matter.

How do I get EY work experience in Year 12?

Apply early, meet eligibility, and use evidence-led examples showing curiosity, teamwork, and resilience.

Does KPMG offer work experience for school students?

Yes. KPMG offers virtual work experience options for school students, plus additional routes for older applicants.

Are Big Four insight jobs worth it?

Yes, if you use them well. They build credibility, clarify fit, and give strong examples for future applications.

Long-Term Career Strategy

Big Four work experience can help you access graduate jobs if you treat it as proof, not a badge. Capture what you did, what you learned, and one measurable outcome, then turn it into two or three clear CV lines you can reuse.

Build a CV narrative early by choosing a direction you genuinely enjoy and stacking small evidence over time: a project, a leadership moment, and a commercial insight, plus a short reflection on what you’d improve.

Finally, keep doors open by linking your story to wider finance routes too, including Investment banking work experience, so your momentum continues even if Big Four timing does not work out first time.

Conclusion

Work experience at PwC, Deloitte, EY, or KPMG are worth it when you apply with a plan, not panic.

The strongest applicants stay focused: they build proof, practise assessments, and learn how each firm screens.

If you don’t get in the first time, it’s normal, and it’s not career-ending, it’s feedback you can use.

Ready to keep moving? Explore our Career Exploration blogs for practical guides, alternative pathways, and clear next steps you can act on this week, so you stay confident, focused, and in control.