This is our own independent research from public sources. The employer hasn't reviewed, paid for or approved it.
Key figures
- Salary from day one on the Flying Start Business Management degree apprenticeship in Belfast
- £28,900
- Source: PwC UK (opens in a new tab)
- Minimum for the consulting programme and the Business Management degree, plus GCSE English and maths at 4
- 112 UCAS points
- Source: PwC UK (opens in a new tab)
- Minimum for the tax entry level programme, plus GCSE English and maths at 4
- 96 UCAS points
- Source: PwC UK (opens in a new tab)
- Length of the Level 4 Junior Management Consulting apprenticeship
- 2 years
- Source: PwC UK (opens in a new tab)
Overview
PwC works in audit, tax, consulting and managed services for businesses and public bodies. If you don’t want to go to university first, its entry level programmes let you start straight from school or college as a full-time employee. PwC pays for all your training.
Entry level programmes
There are three, each in a different part of the business:
| Programme | What you study | Entry requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Operate | Accounting Technician qualification (Accounting Technicians Ireland) | 112 UCAS points; GCSE English and maths at 4 |
| Tax | Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) | 96 UCAS points; GCSE English and maths at 4 |
They run in offices including Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, the East Midlands, Leeds, London and Manchester. You’ll spend at least three days a week in the office or with clients.
Flying Start Business Management (Belfast)
This is a four-year degree apprenticeship in Belfast. You work full time in PwC’s Operate business and study in eight-week blocks at Ulster University Business School for a BSc (Hons) Leading on Customer Operations. It pays £28,900 a year from day one and your tuition fees are covered. You need 112 UCAS points from up to three A levels, taken in the same sitting.
Flying Start Accounting is different
PwC also runs Flying Start Accounting degrees at Newcastle, Manchester, Reading and Queen Mary University of London. These are university courses you apply for through UCAS, with a paid term at PwC each year. PwC says they don’t follow the apprenticeship framework, so they’re not apprenticeships, even though they share the Flying Start name.
How to apply
You apply on PwC’s website, then do online tests, a recorded video interview and a virtual assessment centre. The Business Management route ends with an interview with a senior leader.
What they do
PwC is a professional services firm working in audit, tax, consulting and managed services for businesses and public sector organisations.
Apprenticeships at PwC UK
-
Consulting entry level programme
Advisory and consulting
You work on client projects while completing a Level 4 Junior Management Consulting apprenticeship from CIMA (the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants).
-
Tax entry level programme
Tax
You work across PwC's core tax specialisms while studying for the Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) qualification, with the option of the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification later.
-
Operate entry level programme
Finance managed services
You start in the Finance Managed Solutions team, working on accounts payable, accounts receivable and general ledger, while studying for the Accounting Technician qualification from Accounting Technicians Ireland.
-
Flying Start Business Management degree apprenticeship
Operate (managed services), Belfast
A full-time role in Belfast, with study in eight-week blocks at Ulster University Business School for a BSc (Hons) Leading on Customer Operations. Tuition fees are fully funded. It runs as a Higher Level Apprenticeship in Northern Ireland.
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Career areas
PwC UK entry requirements
- Consulting and Operate entry level programmes
- 112 UCAS points from up to three full A levels (or equivalent), plus GCSE English Language and maths at grade 4 or above.
- Tax entry level programme
- 96 UCAS points from up to three full A levels (or equivalent), plus GCSE English Language and maths at grade 4 or above.
- Flying Start Business Management
- 112 UCAS points from up to three full A levels (excluding General Studies), plus GCSE English Language and maths at grade C or 4. PwC says exams must be taken in the same sitting, with resits only accepted in the same academic year. You also need to meet Northern Ireland's Higher Level Apprenticeship rules.
Who can apply
- There's no age limit for entry level programmes, but they're aimed at school and college leavers and career changers, not people with or studying for a degree.
- Any job offer depends on you having and keeping the right to work and live in the UK.
Our tips for PwC UK
- Don't mix up the two Flying Start routes. The Accounting degree is a university course with paid placements, applied for through UCAS, and PwC says it doesn't follow the apprenticeship framework. The Business Management route in Belfast is an apprenticeship.
- PwC's assessments are online tests, a recorded video interview and a virtual assessment centre. Practise answering questions about how you approach school work or a part-time job.
- Entry level programmes run in Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, the East Midlands, Leeds, London and Manchester, with at least three days a week in the office or at clients.
- Check the exam rules for Flying Start Business Management carefully. Grades from resits in a later year don't count.
Summary
- PwC's entry level programmes are full-time jobs for school and college leavers, with a professional qualification or apprenticeship and all training paid for.
- The consulting programme is a two-year Level 4 apprenticeship. Tax and Operate trainees study for technician qualifications.
- Its Flying Start Business Management degree apprenticeship in Belfast pays £28,900 from day one and takes four years.
- Most routes need 112 UCAS points (96 for tax) plus GCSE English and maths at grade 4.
Questions about PwC UK apprenticeships
Does PwC do apprenticeships?
Yes. Its consulting entry level programme is a two-year Level 4 apprenticeship, and its Flying Start Business Management programme in Belfast is a four-year degree apprenticeship. Tax and Operate trainees study for professional technician qualifications instead.
How much do PwC apprentices get paid?
The Flying Start Business Management degree apprenticeship pays £28,900 a year from day one, with tuition fees covered. PwC doesn't publish starting pay for its other entry level programmes.
What UCAS points do you need for PwC?
112 UCAS points from up to three A levels for the consulting, Operate and Business Management routes, and 96 for the tax programme. You also need GCSE English Language and maths at grade 4.
Where are PwC's school leaver programmes based?
PwC lists Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, the East Midlands, Leeds, London and Manchester for its entry level programmes. You spend at least three days a week in the office or with clients. The Flying Start Business Management degree apprenticeship is in Belfast.
Is PwC Flying Start an apprenticeship?
Only the Business Management route in Belfast is. The Flying Start Accounting degrees are university courses with paid work placements, applied for through UCAS, and PwC says they don't follow the apprenticeship framework. Our apprenticeship vs university guide explains the difference.
Do you need a degree to work at PwC?
No. PwC's entry level programmes are designed for people without a degree, and it says entry level and graduate joiners get the same chances to progress.
Which other accountancy firms offer apprenticeships?
Deloitte and KPMG both run school leaver apprenticeships. Compare them in our finance and professional services table.
Sources and review
Last reviewed . Details can change after this date, so check the official source before you rely on them.