By Andre Atallah, CEO of EP Advisory
Strategy (Public and Private) Graduate · London · September 2027 start
Applications close Thu 22 OctDeadline was set for 22 Oct 2026Missed it? Your options
Short answer: Apply now. EY-Parthenon’s Strategy graduate programme in London closes on Thursday 22 October 2026, with no closing time given. Finish by Wednesday 21 October to be safe.This year’s Strategy ad, for London, has closed. The deadline was set for Thursday 22 October 2026. Watch EY’s graduate page for next year’s ad. You fill in a form with no CV, then take EY’s online tests. Last year the interviews were two 25-minute cases, then two longer cases and a senior leader interview. Missed it? Other EY-Parthenon programmes were open on 17 October 2026.Missed it? Check which other EY-Parthenon programmes are open.
Applying now?Applying next year?
Fill in the form and the online tests as early as you can. EY gives no closing time. Aim to finish by Wednesday 21 October.This year’s ad has closed. The deadline was set for Thursday 22 October. Watch EY’s graduate page for next year’s ad. How to apply
Missed it?
Other EY-Parthenon graduate programmes were open on 17 October 2026, closing when filled.Check which other EY-Parthenon graduate programmes are still open. You get one EY application every six months. Your options
Where are you now?
Independent guide. EP Advisory is not affiliated with EY or EY-Parthenon.
EY-Parthenon, EY’s strategy and transactions team, hires graduates in London for its Strategy (Public and Private) programme. This guide to the EY-Parthenon Strategy graduate application process uses EY’s own pages for every date and rule.
This playbook covers London, including for international students. For nearly 10 years, we’ve helped more than 5,000 professionals get hired. Want to know if your CV will pass screening in the UK? Check your CV for free: a score in 30 seconds, then a fix for each problem.
01/10
Your route to an offer
Pick your stage and tick each step when done. The interview stages are last year’s, as EY has not published this year’s. Prep times are our suggestions.
1. Application: closes Thursday 22 October 20261. Application: deadline was set for Thursday 22 October 2026
An online form, with no CV or cover letter. EY gives no closing time. Aim to finish the form and the tests by Wednesday 21 October.This year’s ad has closed. The deadline was set for Thursday 22 October. Watch EY’s graduate page for next year’s ad.
2. Online tests: straight after the form
EY’s version of Cappfinity’s tests. Last year: ranking, written and video answers, and a time-recorded numerical test. Prep a few days.
3. First round: two case interviews last year
Last year, two 25-minute cases, back to back. No biographical questions. Prep 3 to 4 weeks.
4. Final round: cases and a senior leader
Last year, two slightly longer cases and a senior leader interview. Prep about 1 week.
Your ticks save on this device.
02/10
The role at a glance
Everything you need to decide, on one screen. If EY has not published something, we say so.
22 Oct 2026
Applications close, no time givenDeadline (now closed)
2 years
Programme length, London only
No CV
An online form only
2 x 25 min
First-round cases last year
Competitive
Salary, no figure published
Limited
Visa sponsorship
Where these facts come from
- Close and programme. EY’s Strategy advert gives Thursday 22 October 2026 as the closing date. Pay is “Competitive”.
- The work. “High-profile strategy and due diligence projects” for “corporate clients and private equity firms”.
- Who can apply. An honours degree in any subject, GCSE grade 4/C in English Language and Maths, and three A-levels or five Highers, or equivalent.
- No CV. “A CV or cover letter is not required” (EY’s FAQs).
- The cases. EY-Parthenon’s 2025-26 page (archived copy).
New for 2026-27
Strategy closes earlier this year.Strategy’s deadline was earlier this year. Last year’s deadline was Thursday 30 October 2025. This year it isit was set for Thursday 22 October.
EY-Parthenon’s own careers page is gone. So the interview stages here are last year’s, from an archived copy.
03/10
What EY-Parthenon looks for
The Strategy advert names five core skills. EY also weighs your A-levels with your online test scores.
Problem solving
Show it by: a problem you broke into parts and solved.
Analytical thinking
Show it by: a time you used data to reach a view.
Confidence in ambiguity
Show it by: a sound decision you made with little information.
Inclusive collaboration
Show it by: a team result where you brought others in.
Digital fluency
Show it by: a tool or shortcut that saved you time.
Academic record
Show it by: your degree, A-levels or equivalent, and any prizes.
EY’s eight skills, used across its hiring
ProactiveDo the right thingCuriousBuild relationshipsAgilityThink criticallyEmbrace technologyMotivated
From EY’s key skills page.
What EY-Parthenon says, in its own words
- Problem solving. “Use structured thinking and analytical frameworks to break down complex business challenges into clear, actionable insights.”
- Confidence in ambiguity. “Be comfortable making sound decisions with limited information and learning fast.”
- Your background. EY uses contextual recruitment, which weighs your socio-economic background.
04/10Stage 1 · Apply
How to apply
Apply now. EY says to “apply as early as possible”, and gives no closing time. Aim to finish by Wednesday 21 October.This year’s ad has closed. The deadline was set for Thursday 22 October. EY says to “apply as early as possible”, so apply early next year.
1
Pick Strategy
One EY programme per six months
2
Fill in the form
No CV or cover letter
3
Take the tests
Straight after the form
4
Finish in time
Before the close, ideally by 21 Oct
Does EY read forms as they arrive? EY does not say if it reads applications as they arrive. Last year it held them to the close (last year’s page). Apply early anyway.
Where to apply, the rules and EY’s help
- Where to apply. EY’s Strategy application form, with Strategy, London and September 2027 already chosen.
- One at a time. “You can only apply for one programme every six months, so choose carefully.” EY offers no swaps.
- If you are rejected. Wait six months. You can make at most two applications a year.
- Stay active. If your application “has been inactive for 10 days”, EY withdraws it.
- Emails. Hotmail addresses “often reject or block our emails”. Real EY emails end in @ey.com or @uk.ey.com.
- Free webinar. EY’s application bootcamp runsrunsran on Tuesdays at 4:00pm. The next one is on 20 OctoberOne ran on 20 October (events page).
- Questions. Call EY on +44 (0)800 289 208, on weekdays.
Your form answers: do and don’t
Do
“Led a team of four that cut our society’s costs by 20%”
Last year EY’s form asked about problem solving, prizes and leadership. Give each answer a result.
Don’t
“I am a hard-working team player”
A claim with no example tells EY little.
Our CV achievement examples show how to write those lines. Getting ready to apply for jobs in the UK? Check your CV for free: see it the way a recruiter does, then fix each problem.
Save EY-Parthenon and over 2,000 other UK schemes to one free calendar. See what closes next and what you have applied to.
Track my schemes freeFree account, no card.
Missed the deadline? Your options
- Other EY-Parthenon programmes. Several graduate programmes for the 2027 intake were open on 17 October 2026, closing when filled. On 14 October 2026, London had nine, such as Valuation, Economic Advisory and Operations. More were open in other UK citiesSeveral graduate programmes for the 2027 intake were open in October 2026, such as Valuation, Economic Advisory and Operations. Check which are still live (EY’s vacancies).
- The six-month rule. You get one EY application every six months, so pick the closest fit.
- In your penultimate year? When we checked on 14 October 2026, the Strategy summer internship was closed. EY said intern programmes “will open shortly”EY’s intern programmes were open on 14 October 2026. Check the Strategy internship (key skills page).
- Talent community. EY’s closed role cards invite you to join its talent community.
- Next year. EY has not published dates.EY has published next year’s dates, so check its graduate page. Last year’s Strategy deadline was 30 October 2025. This year’s iswas set for 22 October 2026.
- Other firms. See our BCG Associate guide.
05/10Stage 2 · Online tests
EY’s online tests
EY’s tests run on Cappfinity’s platform. EY’s careers pages do not name it. But EY’s prep hub says its systems are “operated on behalf of EY by Cappfinity Limited”.
What EY says for 2026-27
A “Realistic Job Preview” first, on “teamwork and learning capability”. Then a “behavioural skills test”.
What Strategy had last year
“A selection of rank order, written and recorded video answers”, and “a time-recorded Numeric Reasoning Test”.
Step through the tests
Behavioural questions: rank, scale, pick and write
Read the welcome page
A welcome page explains the assessment and gives a few tips. Press Continue to start. Employers set their own version, so yours may differ.
Rank the responses
A short work scenario comes with four possible actions. Drag them into order, from the one you would most likely take to the least likely.
Move the slider
Some questions ask where you sit between two views. Drag the handle along the scale, and a box above it shows what you picked.
Pick the best response
A scenario comes with four responses. Pick the one you think is most appropriate, then save and go on.
Write your answer
Some questions ask for a written answer. These can be timed, and a counter shows how many characters you have left.
These screens follow Cappfinity’s practice player, not a live EY screen. So real screens may look a little different.
Your moves
- Answer as you would really act. EY checks if your values “align with ours”.
- For written answers, plan two or three points first.
Numerical reasoning: time-recorded last year
Read the instructions
The test opens with instructions. In the practice version the clock counts the time you take rather than counting down, and speed counts towards your score. Employers set their own version, so yours may differ.
Rank the options
Work out the answer from a table, then drag the options into order. A Time Taken clock runs at the top.
Type the answer
Some questions have no options. Work out the figure from the chart and type it into the answer box.
Your moves
- Find the one row or bar the question needs first.
- Your time may count. Work quickly, but check each answer.
Prep sites report 12 to 15 questions in about 20 minutes. EY does not confirm this.
Video answers: described in words
Last year Strategy had recorded video answers, and EY said “you’ll get a practice round”. On Cappfinity you record a test clip first. Assessed answers cannot be re-recorded, and you get time to prepare before each one. Prep sites report two minutes to prepare and two to record. EY does not confirm this.
Your moves
- Check your webcam and mic in a quiet, well-lit room.
- Dress smart casual, as EY advised last year.
Our own simplified drawings of Cappfinity’s practice screens, not screenshots. EY sets its own version, so your screens may differ. We do not draw the pattern or rules format.
The rules: allowed and banned
Allowed
- Pen and paper
- A calculator, for numbers
- A PC or laptop, not a phone
Banned
- Help from anyone or any AI tool
- Sharing test content
- Anyone else’s materials
EY’s rules say do every test “without any assistance”. EY names no AI rule, so use none. The calculator advice is Cappfinity’s, not EY’s.
Time limits, adjustments and re-sits
- Time. EY’s FAQs say “The assessment will have a time limit”. Your invite says which parts are timed.
- Adjustments. Ask before you start. EY can usually add up to 25% extra time. It “won’t be able to let you re-sit” if you ask afterwards.
- Re-sits. EY may ask you to re-sit a test. If it suspects help, it can reject you.
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 14 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From EY
- What EY’s online tests could involveEY Careers FAQs · 2026-27 · no account neededEY’s six question formats, time limits and fair-play rules.Free
- EY’s application bootcamp webinarEY Careers · Tuesdays, 4:00pm · free sign-upEY recruiters share tips and take questions. The next one is on 20 October.One ran on 20 October.Free
Practise
- Cappfinity’s guide to each question typeCappfinity, EY’s test provider · no account neededHow ranking, scale and pick-one questions work.Free
- Try Cappfinity’s numerical demoCappfinity · 3 questions · no account neededRank, pick and type-the-answer questions on the vendor’s own screens.Free
- More Capp-style numerical practiceAssessmentDay · no account neededMore questions in the same styles.Free
Skip anyone selling real EY questions or offering help during the tests. EY’s rules say you work alone and share nothing.
Next: build speed on tables and charts with our guide to psychometric and logic tests.
06/10Stage 3 · Interviews
EY-Parthenon case interviews
Last year both rounds were built on case interviews. EY has not published the 2026-27 format, so treat this as a guide.
First roundLast year
Two 25-minute cases · Back to back · No biographical questions
Final roundLast year
Two longer cases · A senior leader · Your mentor
EY-Parthenon said last year: “you will be matched with a mentor from the business”, who shares “a preparation pack … which includes some example case studies” (last year’s page).
How to answer
A case
Five habits built on the skills in EY-Parthenon’s advert:
1
Clarify the goal
Ask what the client needs to decide.
2
Build a tree
The advert names “hypothesis trees”.
3
Size and test
Do the maths aloud, step by step.
4
Decide with gaps
Make a sound call with limited data.
5
Recommend
Lead with the answer, then risks and next steps.
25 minutes goes fast. Practise with a timer, and save two minutes for your recommendation.
The senior leader interview
Last year EY said this interview would “explore your experiences, achievements, and perspectives”. Build each true story in four parts:
The moment
Where and when, in one line.
Your aim
What you set out to do, and why it was hard.
What you did
Your own steps, not the team’s.
What changed
The result, with a number if you can.
Follow-ups to rehearse
Why EY-Parthenon?What exactly was your role?What would you do differently?What do you want to ask me?
See our guide on how to pass a job interview, then rehearse the toughest interview questions.
Practise: one question at a time
Our own practice prompts. Card 4 is from EY’s form guidance last year. EY publishes no Strategy interview questions.
Due diligence
A private equity firm wants to buy a UK gym chain. How would you structure the problem?
What they’re testing: a clear plan for a buy decision.
Show a strong answer
- Ask what return the firm wants. Then split it into the market, the company, and the price and risks.
Sizing
The chain has 50 sites. Each has 2,000 members paying £30 a month. What is its yearly revenue?
What they’re testing: accurate sums, said out loud.
Show a strong answer
- 100,000 members at £30 is £3 million a month, so £36 million a year.
Public sector
A public body wants more people to use its online services. How would you approach it?
What they’re testing: structure for the public side of the programme.
Show a strong answer
- Split it into reach, sign-up and repeat use. Then find the weakest step.
Problem solving
“Where in your academic or extra curriculars have you engaged with problem solving?”
EY’s application guidance, 2025-26
Show a strong answer
- Pick one problem. Give your own steps and the result.
Why EY
Why EY-Parthenon, and why Strategy?
What they’re testing: real research into the business and its work.
Show a strong answer
- Two reasons tied to EY-Parthenon’s work, each linked to something you have done.
Your story bank: a worksheet to print or copy
Two stories per row. One story can cover two rows.
| What EY-Parthenon asks for | Story 1 | Story 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Problem solving | ||
| Analytical thinking | ||
| Confidence in ambiguity | ||
| Inclusive collaboration | ||
| Digital fluency | ||
| Why EY-Parthenon |
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 14 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From EY
- The eight skills EY looks forEY Careers · no account neededPlan a story for each before the senior leader interview.Free
- EY-Parthenon’s interview steps, last year’s pageEY-Parthenon · Oct 2025 copy · web archiveEY’s own account of both case rounds and its form questions.Free
- EY’s 2025 written exercise practiceEY practice pack · 2025 · PDF, no account neededA fictional client’s data and a short written view. EY wants “your insights”, not just numbers.Free
Watch
- A private equity case in EY-Parthenon styleManagement Consulted on YouTube · May 2025 · 22 minA due diligence case, with feedback at the end.Free
Practise
- Bain’s free practice case: Coffee Shop Co.Bain & Company · no account neededA full case to work alone, with model answers.Free
07/10Stage 4 · Final round
Final round and offers
Last year the final round had two cases and a senior leader interview.
Two longer cases
EY said “two further slightly longer case interviews”.
A senior leader
An interview on your “experiences, achievements, and perspectives”.
Offers
Last year “the recruiting team reconvenes to extend offers”. EY gives no dates.
Feedback and other roles
- Feedback. Last year, people turned down at either round could ask for “tailored feedback from one of their interviewers”.
- If roles fill. EY may offer to “divert your application to another role and/or location”.
- Hearing back. EY publishes no timeframe. Watch your inbox and junk folder.
When things happen: Strategy, 2026-27
Now to 22 Oct 2026
Applications open: apply and take the tests
Until the close
Applications were open, with the tests
20 Oct 2026, 4:00pm
Last bootcamp webinar before the close
22 Oct 2026
Applications close, no time given
22 Oct 2026
Applications were due
Not published
First and final case rounds
Not published
First and final case rounds
September 2027
Programme starts in London
08/10
Visa sponsorship
Our reading: EY sponsors this London programme on a limited basis. Graduate visa time counts towards GOV.UK’s four-year cap on the new entrant rate EY needs. If you have held a Graduate visa, ask EY before you apply.
EY’s Strategy advert says “Visa sponsorship is available for this position on a limited basis.” You “must be eligible for the New Entrant rate for three years from the start date of your programme”. EY’s FAQs add: “For some roles this means we cannot accept applicants who have previously been on a graduate visa.”
The Graduate visa, right to work and EY’s cut-off
- Graduate visa. It lasts “2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026” and “18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027” (GOV.UK).
- Students. Finish your degree “by 31 August”, with a CAS end date before 31 August.
- Right-to-work deadlines. EY’s FAQs list cut-off dates. Ask EY which one applies to you.
Need sponsorship? See our guides to UK companies that sponsor visas and staying in the UK after studying. This is general information, so check GOV.UK.
09/10
Key takeaways
Before your next step
- Apply now. Strategy closes on Thursday 22 October 2026, with no time given.This year’s Strategy ad has closed. The deadline was set for Thursday 22 October 2026. Watch EY’s graduate page for next year’s ad.
- You fill in a form, with no CV. Then you take EY’s online tests. Finish both by 21 October.
- You get one EY application every six months, so choose Strategy on purpose.
- EY’s tests run on Cappfinity. Practise ranking, written, video and numerical questions.
- Last year both interview rounds were cases, and the final round added a senior leader.
- Missed it? Other EY-Parthenon programmes were open on 17 October 2026, closing when filled.Missed it? Check which other EY-Parthenon programmes are still open.
When a scheme gives a close date, we email you a few days before it closes. Save EY-Parthenon once and the reminder is set.
Set my reminders freeFree account, no card.
10/10
Frequently asked questions
How does the EY-Parthenon Strategy graduate application process work?
You fill in EY’s online form, with no CV or cover letter. Then you take EY’s online tests. Last year these had ranking, written and video answers, plus a time-recorded numerical test. Last year’s interviews were two 25-minute cases, then two longer cases and a senior leader interview.
When does the EY-Parthenon Strategy graduate programme close?
Applications close on Thursday 22 October 2026. EY gives no closing time. Aim to finish the form and the tests by Wednesday 21 October.This year’s applications have closed. The deadline was set for Thursday 22 October 2026. Watch EY’s graduate page for next year’s ad. EY does not say if it reads applications as they arrive. Last year it held them to the close.
Which online tests does EY use?
EY’s tests run on Cappfinity’s platform. For 2026-27, EY names a Realistic Job Preview and a behavioural skills test. Last year Strategy also had a time-recorded numerical test. EY sets its own version, so its screens may differ from the practice ones.
What are the EY-Parthenon Strategy interviews like?
Last year the first round was two 25-minute case interviews, back to back, with no biographical questions. The final round had two slightly longer cases and an interview with a senior leader. EY has not published the 2026-27 format.
Can I apply to Strategy and another EY programme?
Not at the same time. EY lets you apply for one programme every six months. If you are rejected, you wait six months to apply again. You can make at most two applications a year.
Does EY sponsor visas for the Strategy programme?
Yes, on a limited basis. You must qualify for the Skilled Worker new entrant rate for three years from the programme start. EY says some roles cannot take people who have held a Graduate visa, so ask EY before you apply.
I missed the EY-Parthenon Strategy deadline. What now?
Other EY-Parthenon graduate programmes for the 2027 intake were open on 17 October 2026, closing when filled.Other EY-Parthenon graduate programmes for the 2027 intake were open in October 2026. Check which are still live. When we checked on 14 October 2026, the Strategy summer internship was closed. EY said intern programmes would open shortly.EY’s intern programmes were open on 14 October 2026, so check the Strategy internship. You can also join EY’s talent community.
