By Andre Atallah, CEO of EP Advisory
Associate, Generalist · London · 2026-27
Applications close 25 Oct 2026, 23:55 GMTDeadline was set for 25 Oct 2026Missed it? Your options
Short answer: Apply now. L.E.K.’s London Associate (Generalist) ad closes on Sunday 25 October 2026 at 23:55 GMT.This year’s L.E.K. London Associate (Generalist) deadline was set for Sunday 25 October 2026 at 23:55 GMT. You should be working at a 2:1 or above, in any subject. No cover letter is needed. Selected applicants take online assessments. Then come several rounds of case and background interviews. You can apply to only one L.E.K. office worldwide each year.
Applying now?Applied already?
Pick your one office and your track. Submit by 23:55 GMT on Sunday 25 October.This year’s deadline was set for 23:55 GMT on Sunday 25 October. Get ready for the online tests. How to apply
Missed it?
In your penultimate year? The London Summer Associate 2027 closes on 3 January 2027.The London Summer Associate 2027 deadline was set for 3 January 2027. Or watch for next year’s ad, likely to close in late October 2027. Your options
Where are you now?
Independent guide. EP Advisory is not affiliated with L.E.K. Consulting.
L.E.K. Consulting has more than 2,200 professionals worldwide, its London ad says. Its London Associate role is open now.This year’s London Associate ad is now closed. L.E.K. publishes the main stages but few details. So this guide shows what L.E.K. confirms and what prep sites only report.
This playbook covers each stage, from the application to the final round, and what to do if you miss the date. 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. Dates come from L.E.K.’s London ad and its job board.
1. Apply by 25 October 20261. Apply: the deadline was set for 25 October 2026
Apply now. The ad closes at 23:55 GMT on Sunday 25 October. Applying early costs nothing.Applications are closed. This year’s deadline was set for 23:55 GMT on Sunday 25 October.
2. Online assessments
L.E.K. names no test provider. A London Associate describes psychometric and maths exams.
3. Interviews
Several rounds of case and background interviews. Cases can be quantitative or strategic.
4. Final round and offer
L.E.K. does not publish its final round. Prep sites report a written case. Ask your recruiter.
Your ticks save on this device.
02/10
The role at a glance
One London role, any degree subject, no cover letter.
25 Oct 2026
Ad closes at 23:55 GMTDeadline, ad now closed
2:1
Working at a 2:1 or above
None
Cover letter: not required
3 dates
Start dates, set after the offer
1 office
Worldwide, each year
Not published
Salary and number of hires
Where these facts come from
- The ad. The London Associate ad says “a cover letter is not required”. It asks you to be “working at 2:1 or above in your degree”. L.E.K. recruits “from a wide range of disciplines in both the arts and sciences”.
- The date. L.E.K.’s job board gives 23:55 GMT on Sunday 25 October 2026 as the deadline. That is UK time.
- One office. L.E.K.’s application page says “candidates can submit an application to only one of our global offices per year”.
- Start dates. March 2027, October 2027 or March 2028. The ad says they are “allocated post-offer”.
- Training. The ad promises “a comprehensive initial two-week orientation programme”, then monthly training, and promotion to Consultant without an MBA.
- The office. Nova South, 160 Victoria Street, London (L.E.K. offices).
- Travel and extras. L.E.K. says you will travel “less than many other consulting firms”. It also names a six-month office swap, externships and secondments (roles page).
03/10
What L.E.K. looks for
L.E.K. asks for qualities, not technical skills. Show each one with proof on your CV and in interviews.
Curiosity
Show it by: a time you dug past the first answer.
Structured thinking
Show it by: structuring every case out loud before you calculate.
Creativity
Show it by: one idea in each case beyond the standard framework.
Teamwork
Show it by: a team story where you changed the outcome.
Ownership
Show it by: a piece of work you owned from start to finish.
Desire to learn
Show it by: a skill you taught yourself, and how fast.
What L.E.K. says, in its own words
- The ad. L.E.K. wants “intellectual curiosity”, “the ability to think in logical, structured ways” and “the creativity to look beyond the obvious”.
- Team and ownership. It wants people “who can collaborate and communicate well”, and candidates “who take ownership of their work”.
- No technical skills needed. The ad says you need no existing technical skills, only a strong wish to learn.
- From a London Associate. “Practice problem-solving and math skills extensively, as L.E.K. values quick thinking, logic, and creativity.” ([email protected]. blog, September 2023)
04/10Stage 1 · Apply
How to apply
Apply now. The ad closes on Sunday 25 October 2026 at 23:55 GMT. That is UK time.Applications are closed. This year’s deadline was set for Sunday 25 October 2026 at 23:55 GMT. Use these steps for the next ad, likely to close in late October 2027.
1
Pick one office
Only one a year, worldwide
2
Pick a track
Generalist or Life Sciences
3
Apply online
Your documents, no cover letter
4
Submit
By 23:55 GMT on 25 OctoberBy the closing date
The ad asks you to upload your application documents but does not list them, so have your CV ready. L.E.K. publishes no AI rule for applications. The ad does not say whether L.E.K. reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early costs nothing.
Generalist
Any degree subject, from the arts or the sciences. The Generalist ad
Life Sciences
For backgrounds in biosciences, medicine or biotechnology, plus an interest in business strategy. The Life Sciences ad
Both close on 25 October 2026 at 23:55 GMT and share the same start dates.Both had the same deadline, 25 October 2026 at 23:55 GMT, and share the same start dates. L.E.K. does not say whether you can apply to both. If you are unsure, ask the recruiting team before you apply.
Your CV: do and don’t
Do
“Ran a 300-person student survey that changed the union café’s prices”
A result with a number, and proof you owned the work.
Don’t
“Highly motivated, with strong analytical skills”
A claim with no proof. With no cover letter, your CV must show it.
Our CV achievement examples show how to write those lines, and our guide to writing a strong CV covers the rest. 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 L.E.K. Consulting 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.
Can’t make the deadline? Your optionsMissed the deadline? Your options
- Penultimate year. The London Summer Associate 2027 is for penultimate-year students. It runs for eight weeks from early July. It closes on Sunday 3 January 2027 at 23:55 GMT.Its deadline was set for Sunday 3 January 2027 at 23:55 GMT. Its ad says L.E.K. does not review those applications on a rolling basis.
- PhD or MD. The Life Sciences Specialist is a different role, for PhD and MD applicants only. It closes on Sunday 1 November 2026 at 23:55 GMT.Its deadline was set for Sunday 1 November 2026 at 23:55 GMT.
- Next year. The last London Associate ad’s deadline was 26 October 2025. This year’s closes on 25 October 2026.This year’s deadline was set for 25 October 2026. So the next one will likely close in late October 2027.
- Other firms. See our guides to McKinsey, BCG and Bain.
05/10Stage 2 · Tests
L.E.K. online assessments
L.E.K. says selected candidates take “online assessments”. It names no provider and publishes no practice test.
A London Associate wrote in 2023: “The online testing included psychometric and math exams.”
Everything else in this chapter comes from prep sites. It is reported, not confirmed, and the two main reports differ.
What each prep site reports
- StrategyCase (updated July 2026) reports 18 questions in 30 minutes. It says the test is “Zoom-proctored online with camera-on supervision”, with no calculator. It says pen and paper are allowed, and you can go back to change answers (source).
- Management Consulted (updated February 2026) reports 60 to 75 minutes and 20 to 30 questions, mostly multiple choice, built on charts and tables. It says the test “can vary depending on region and role” (source).
- Games. Some prep sites describe short games for some offices outside London. No source places them in London.
The six question types, as reported
StrategyCase lists these six types. The questions are our own examples, not L.E.K.’s. Try each one without a calculator.
Fast maths
“What is 15% of 360?”
What it tests: quick, accurate sums in your head.
Show the working
- 10% is 36 and 5% is 18. So 15% is 54.
Critical reasoning
“A team of 10 all speak French, German or both. Seven speak French and five speak German. How many speak both?”
What it tests: logic from the facts given.
Show the working
- 7 plus 5 is 12. That is 2 more than the 10 people. So 2 speak both.
Data interpretation
“Firm A has revenue of £40m at a 25% margin. Firm B has £60m at 15%. Which makes more profit?”
What it tests: reading figures, then one more step.
Show the working
- A makes £10m. B makes £9m. So A makes more, despite lower revenue.
Basic algebra
“A shop sold 240 mugs and plates. It sold three times as many mugs as plates. How many mugs?”
What it tests: turning words into a simple equation.
Show the working
- Plates are x and mugs are 3x. So 4x is 240, x is 60, and mugs are 180.
Data sufficiency
“Revenue was £2m from 40,000 orders. Can you work out the average spend per customer?”
What it tests: knowing when the data is not enough.
Show the working
- No. You can work out spend per order, £50. But orders are not customers, so you need the number of customers.
Error spotting
“A price rose from £80 to £100. The report calls it a 20% rise. Is that right?”
What it tests: checking someone else’s numbers.
Show the working
- No. The rise is £20 on £80, so it is 25%. A 20% change is the fall from £100 to £80.
Allowed and not allowed, as one prep site reports
Allowed
- Pen and paper for your working
- Going back to change an answer
Not allowed
- A calculator
- Turning your camera off during the Zoom call
These rules come from StrategyCase only. L.E.K. publishes none, so your invite is the final word.
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 L.E.K.
- A London Associate on the tests and cases[email protected]. blog · Sep 2023 · no account neededTom describes the online maths and psychometric tests, then his wedding market sizing case.Free
General practice
- General numbers practice: table questionsSHL Direct · not L.E.K.’s test · no account neededL.E.K. names no test provider. Use these only as general practice with tables, and work without a calculator.Free
Skip anyone selling “real” L.E.K. test questions or offering to sit the test for you. L.E.K. publishes no practice test, so nobody can sell the real one.
Next: number tests reward steady practice. Our guide to psychometric and logic tests shows how to train for each type.
06/10Stage 3 · Interviews
L.E.K. interviews
L.E.K. runs “several rounds of interviews”, with case studies and questions about your background. Cases can be quantitative or strategic.
ExperientialAbout you
Your background · Your strengths · Why consulting and why L.E.K.
CaseA business problem
Quantitative or strategic · Data and your own experience · Reach and defend a conclusion
Reported, not confirmed for London: prep sites say the first round has two interviews.
L.E.K. says: “An interview is your opportunity to show us how you think.”
What L.E.K. says its interviews aim to do
Get to know youLearn how you think and respond to business issuesUnderstand your strengthsGain insight into your interest in consulting and in L.E.K.Give you a chance to learn about the firm
What prep sites report about the rounds
- First round. Two interviews of 30 to 40 minutes. Each has a few background questions, then a case you lead (StrategyCase). Hacking the Case Interview also reports two.
- Final round. StrategyCase reports two or three senior interviews of 45 to 60 minutes, at the office. Hacking the Case Interview reports two of 30 to 40 minutes.
- Written case. Both sites report a 60-minute written case in the final round. L.E.K. does not describe it, and it is not confirmed for London.
- Case types. Market sizing, growth, market entry and profitability, often with maths in several steps.
- Timing. StrategyCase reports roughly 4 to 6 weeks from application to offer. L.E.K. gives no timeline for the Associate role.
How to answer
Case interviews
L.E.K. wants to see you use “data and your own experiences to reach and defend a conclusion”. Follow its seven tips, shown above.
Your moves
- Restate the question and your assumptions before you start.
- Jot down your plan, then say it out loud.
- Share a hypothesis early. Change it when the data says so.
- Check your answer before you give it. Tom forgot that a wedding has two people.
- End with a clear answer and how you would test it.
The moves are ours, built on L.E.K.’s tips and Tom’s story.
Experiential interviews
L.E.K. wants to know you, your strengths and your interest in consulting and in L.E.K. This answer frame is ours:
Background
Your path, in two sentences.
Proof
One result, with a number.
Motivation
Why consulting, and one thing you found about L.E.K. yourself.
Strengths
One strength, shown in a story.
Follow-ups to rehearse
What exactly did you do?Why L.E.K., not another firm?What would you do differently?What did you learn from it?
See our guides on how to pass a job interview and the toughest interview questions.
Practise: one question at a time
L.E.K.’s own cases
L.E.K. publishes the first three cases, and a London Associate describes the fourth. L.E.K. gives no answers, so the working is ours.
Brainteaser
“Planes leave New York and Los Angeles every hour, on the hour. The flight takes five hours. You leave New York at noon. How many planes flying the other way do you pass?”
What they’re testing: spotting what matters and what is noise.
Show our working
- Time zones and the weather are noise. Four planes are already in the air when you leave. Five more take off while you fly, from noon to 4pm New York time. So you pass 9 in the air, or 11 if you count the planes at each airport.
Profits
“Two brewers have similar, steadily growing revenue. Cheapo’s profits grow steadily. Bourgeois’ profits swing. Why? As Bourgeois’ CEO, how would you calm them?”
What they’re testing: a profit structure, then practical fixes.
Show our working
- Revenue matches, so look at costs. Bourgeois sells beer “brewed fresh from mountain water”, so its input costs and supply may swing. Fixes: long-term supply contracts, a second source, or fewer fixed costs.
Sizing and pricing
“A daily pill regrows hair within three months. Estimate the size of the market and say how you would price it.”
What they’re testing: a sizing method, then pricing logic.
Show our working
- Market: people with hair loss, times the share who would take a pill every day, times a yearly price. Price: what it is worth to the buyer next to other treatments, then the cost to make it.
Market sizing, London
“Size the market for weddings.”
What they’re testing: a clear method, then a sense check.
Show our working
- Start from the number of adults, the share who marry and how often. Then the step Tom missed: each wedding has two people, so halve your count of people. Check every answer before you give it.
About you
The wording is ours. Each question comes from an aim L.E.K. gives for its interviews on its application page.
Background
“Walk me through your background.”
What they’re testing: L.E.K. wants to “get to know you”.
Show a strong answer
- Two or three steps of your path, each with the reason you took it.
- One result with a number, then why it led you to consulting.
- A London Associate’s advice: “Don’t shy away from showing your full self.”
Motivation
“Why consulting?”
What they’re testing: your “motivation and interest in management consulting generally”.
Show a strong answer
- Name the work that draws you. The ad lists research “on markets, competitors, and customers” and “rigorous strategic and financial analyses”.
- Prove it with one time you did that kind of work and enjoyed it.
Why L.E.K.
“Why L.E.K.?”
What they’re testing: your interest in “a career with L.E.K. specifically”.
Show a strong answer
- Give one fact you found yourself. The roles page names a six-month office swap, externships and secondments.
- Say why that fact matters to you. Then say what you would bring.
Strengths
“What strengths would you bring?”
What they’re testing: L.E.K. wants to “understand your strengths”.
Show a strong answer
- Pick one quality from the ad, such as curiosity or ownership.
- Prove it with one story from your bank: your role, what you did and the result.
Your story bank: a worksheet to print or copy
Two stories for each quality L.E.K. names. Learn them well enough to tell without notes.
| Quality | Story 1 | Story 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Curiosity | ||
| Structured thinking | ||
| Creativity | ||
| Teamwork | ||
| Ownership | ||
| Desire to learn |
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 L.E.K.
- L.E.K.’s interview tips and three casesL.E.K. Careers · no account neededSeven tips, then a brainteaser, a profit case and a pricing case. Run each one out loud with a friend.Free
- A day as a London AssociateL.E.K. Consulting on YouTube · Oct 2022 · 3 minA London generalist Associate on her day, her coach and her cohort. Use it for your answer to why L.E.K.Free
Watch
- An L.E.K.-style case, led by the candidateManagement Consulted on YouTube · Apr 2025 · 27 minA strategy case with real maths. The feedback praises clear hypotheses, then says what the answer lacked.Free
- A market sizing and pricing caseRocketblocks on YouTube · Feb 2025 · 36 minThe same shape as L.E.K.’s pharma example, with feedback after each step.Free
Practise
- Bain’s Coffee Shop Co. caseBain & Company, not L.E.K. · no account neededL.E.K.’s cases have no model answers. Bain’s case lets you check your work step by step.Free
07/10Stage 4 · Final
Final round and offer
L.E.K. does not publish its final round. It says only that there are several rounds of interviews.
Prep sites report two or three senior interviews and a 60-minute written case. This is not confirmed for London.
Ask about the format
How many interviews, how long, and whether there is a written case.
Practise a written case
Work through a business problem on paper, against a 60-minute clock.
Ask about start dates
March 2027, October 2027 or March 2028, set after the offer.
Ask about your right to work
Whether this role is sponsored, if you need a visa.
These steps are our suggestions.
Key dates: London Associate, 2026-27
25 Oct 2026
London Associate ad closes, 23:55 GMT
25 Oct 2026
London Associate deadline, 23:55 GMT
Not published
Test, interview and offer dates
Not published
Test, interview and offer dates
1 Nov 2026
Life Sciences Specialist closes (a different role, PhD and MD only)Life Sciences Specialist deadline (a different role, PhD and MD only)
3 Jan 2027
London Summer Associate 2027 closes, 23:55 GMTLondon Summer Associate 2027 deadline, 23:55 GMT
Mar 2027
Earliest start date
Late Oct 2027
Next London Associate ad likely to close, as in 2025 and 2026
08/10
Visa sponsorship
Our reading: L.E.K.’s London ad does not mention visa sponsorship. If you need a visa, ask the recruiter before you apply.
The London Associate ad says nothing on sponsorship (checked 14 October 2026).
The Graduate visa
- 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). It needs no sponsor.
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 you apply
- Apply now. The London ad closes on Sunday 25 October 2026 at 23:55 GMT.This year’s London deadline was set for Sunday 25 October 2026 at 23:55 GMT. Watch for the next ad, likely to close in late October 2027.
- You can apply to only one L.E.K. office worldwide each year. Choose it with care.
- No cover letter is needed. Make every CV line show a result.
- L.E.K. says online assessments and names no provider. Practise numbers without a calculator.
- Expect several rounds of case and background interviews. Run L.E.K.’s own cases out loud.
- Ask the recruiter whether the role is sponsored before you rely on a visa.
- Missed it? The London Summer Associate 2027 closes on 3 January 2027.The next London Associate ad will likely close in late October 2027.
When a scheme gives a close date, we email you a few days before it closes. Save L.E.K. Consulting once and the reminder is set.
Set my reminders freeFree account, no card.
10/10
Frequently asked questions
When is the L.E.K. London Associate deadline?
The London Associate (Generalist) 2027 ad closes on Sunday 25 October 2026 at 23:55 GMT, which is UK time that day. The ad does not say whether L.E.K. reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early costs nothing.This year’s London Associate (Generalist) 2027 deadline was set for Sunday 25 October 2026 at 23:55 GMT. The next ad will likely close in late October 2027.
What do I need to apply to L.E.K.?
You should be working at a 2:1 or above, in any subject from the arts or sciences. You upload your application documents on L.E.K.’s careers site. The ad says a cover letter is not required.
Can I apply to more than one L.E.K. office?
No. L.E.K. says you can apply to only one of its global offices each year. It does not say whether this covers both London tracks, Generalist and Life Sciences, so ask the recruiting team if you are unsure.
What is the L.E.K. online test?
L.E.K. says online assessments and names no test provider. A London Associate describes psychometric and maths exams. Prep sites report a timed numbers test, sometimes on Zoom with your camera on, but they disagree on its length.
What are L.E.K. interviews like?
L.E.K. runs several rounds of interviews, with case studies and questions about your background. Cases can be quantitative or strategic. Prep sites report a 60-minute written case in the final round, which is not confirmed for London.
Does L.E.K. sponsor visas for London Associates?
Our reading: the ad does not say. If you need a visa, ask the recruiter before you apply. UK graduates can also use the Graduate visa, which needs no sponsor.
I missed the L.E.K. deadline. What now?
In your penultimate year? The London Summer Associate 2027 closes on Sunday 3 January 2027 at 23:55 GMT.The London Summer Associate 2027 deadline was set for Sunday 3 January 2027 at 23:55 GMT. The Life Sciences Specialist role, a different job for PhD and MD applicants only, closes on 1 November 2026.The Life Sciences Specialist role, a different job for PhD and MD applicants only, had a deadline set for 1 November 2026. The next Associate ad will likely close in late October 2027.
