By Andre Atallah, CEO of EP Advisory
Deals graduate · UK · September 2027 start
Rolling · last checked 15 October 2026This year’s Deals ads have closedCheck each ad for its closing date
Short answer: Deals is rolling, with no fixed closing date. Leeds and Belfast were open when we checked on 15 October 2026.This year’s Deals ads have closed. PwC filled roles on a rolling basis.Check each Deals ad for its closing date. We last checked on 15 October 2026. You apply once to PwC’s Graduate Advisory and Consulting programme for one office and choose Deals. Then come SHL tests, a video interview, a virtual assessment centre, matching and an in-person interview with a senior leader. London’s ad was not visible when we checked on 15 October 2026, so check PwC’s job site.Use this guide to prepare for the next round.
Where are you now?
Independent guide. EP Advisory is not affiliated with PwC.
PwC’s Deals graduate scheme puts you on work such as mergers, acquisitions and restructuring, for a September 2027 start. You could study for the ACA or the CFA.
This playbook covers every UK office with a Deals ad. 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. Rules and dates are PwC’s, checked on 15 October 2026. Prep times are our suggestions.
1. Apply: open and rolling1. Apply (this year’s ads have closed)1. Apply: check each ad’s closing date
One online form for one office, with Deals as your choice. Prep 1 to 2 days.
2. Online tests: usually 7 days per invite
A values activity, a behavioural test and a reasoning test, all on SHL. Prep 1 to 2 weeks.
3. Video and assessment centre: usually 7 days per invite
A recorded video interview, then a virtual assessment centre. Prep 1 to 2 weeks.
4. Final interview: in person, in your office
Matching, a recruiter call, then an interview with a senior leader. Prep about 1 week. An outcome can take up to a month.
Your ticks save on this device.
02/10
The programme at a glance
A Deals job with a professional qualification, chosen by office.
RollingClosedCheck ads
No fixed closing dateThis year’s Deals adsFor each office’s closing date
Sep 2027
Start date, no deferrals
2 offices
With an open Deals ad, checked 15 Oct 2026Had a Deals ad this cycleWith a Deals ad, checked 15 Oct 2026
ACA or CFA
Your qualification, by office
Any subject
Degree, passed or on track
3 days
A week, at least, in office or on site
ACA: Leeds
The ICAEW chartered accountancy route, over your first three years. Your first exams come within a few months. Kaplan teaches it, with a PwC qualification team behind you.
CFA: Leeds and Belfast
The investment route. PwC says it means “mastering investment analysis, portfolio management and ethics”. It has three exams, about 300 study hours per level, and 4,000 hours of work experience.
Offices as listed on the ads when we checked on 15 October 2026.
Where these facts come from
- Qualifications. PwC’s Advisory and Consulting page: “If you join us as in Deals, you could complete the ACA or CFA professional qualification.”
- The bodies. CFA figures are from the CFA Institute. ICAEW runs the ACA.
- Grade and pay. The ads list the grade as “Associate”. Salary is not published, so ask your recruiter (PwC FAQs).
- Hours. The ads state no hours. PwC’s Deals page says “High pressure, tight deadlines and unpredictable hours can be a reality at times depending on your area of focus.”
New for 2027 starts
The CFA replaces ICAS for Deals. PwC’s page for 2026 starts offered the ACA or ICAS.
PwC now bans AI tools by name, unless it authorises them, and checks for AI-assisted answers.
03/10
What PwC looks for in Deals
PwC scores six behaviours at every stage. Show each one with a real example.
Inspire
“I understand my impact and people want to work with me.” Show it by: a group that chose to follow your lead.
Empower
“I coach and work side by side with others.” Show it by: a time you explained something hard in plain words.
Evolve
“I grow as a person and guide us into the future.” Show it by: a new tool or skill you learned fast.
Champion
“I commit to quality, integrity and inclusive behaviour.” Show it by: numbers you checked when a shortcut was easier.
Build
“I apply a business mindset to my work to increase PwC’s success.” Show it by: a decision you backed with figures.
Deliver
“I collaborate across PwC to deliver quality and distinctive client experiences.” Show it by: work you finished with others to a tight deadline.
PwC’s Advisory and Consulting page adds three traits: “You are endlessly curious. You solve problems in a creative way. You enjoy using data and insight to tell compelling stories.”
What PwC says about Deals, in its own words
- The work. “In Deals, you’ll provide strategic advice and support to clients in areas such as mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and restructuring.”
- What you learn. “You’ll learn how organisations from all kinds of industries and sectors work: how they make money, why they succeed long-term, and how to assess their true value.”
- Teams you could join. PwC’s Deals page names Lead Advisory and Restructuring (Corporate Finance, Valuations and Restructuring), Strategy& Value Creation, and Transaction Services. It does not say which teams take graduates.
04/10Stage 1 · Apply
How to apply
Apply now: Deals is open and rolling. PwC fills roles as it goes and may close early on high volume.This year’s Deals ads have closed. PwC filled roles as it went.Check each Deals ad for its closing date. PwC may close early on high volume.
1
Pick an office
One Advisory and Consulting ad per office
2
Choose Deals
And the ACA or the CFA
3
Fill the form
Exact grades and visa details
4
Online tests
Invite usually open 7 days
Offices with a Deals route
| Office | Deals route on the ad | Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds | ACA or CFA. Open.Closed.See the ad. | No |
| Belfast | CFA. Open.Closed.See the ad. | No |
| Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester | Not visible on PwC’s job site when we checked on 15 October 2026. Check it before you apply. | See the ad |
| London | Not visible on PwC’s job site when we checked on 15 October 2026. Check it before you apply. | On PwC’s visa list |
Open ads checked on 15 October 2026. Roles close without notice, so check PwC’s job site before you apply.This year’s Deals ads have closed. Watch PwC’s job site for the next round.Check PwC’s job site for each ad’s closing date. We last checked on 15 October 2026.
Bristol and Cardiff have Advisory and Consulting ads, but neither lists Deals.
More on the form and the one-application rule
- One application. PwC says: “We’ll only consider one application for our 2027 programmes.” Withdrawing before the online assessment still counts.
- Your qualification. The ads ask you to research “the professional qualifications aligned to your preferences” before you apply.
- Grades. Do not convert overseas grades. PwC checks your results later.
- AI. No AI tools, “unless explicitly authorised by PwC”. Ask for adjustments when you apply.
Your CV: do and don’t
Do
“Compared three sponsor offers for the investment society and secured one worth £2,400 more”
Show you can weigh options with numbers. Give each role a result.
Don’t
“Passionate about M&A”
A claim with no proof. Show what you did instead.
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 PwC 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.
Not this year, or not for you? Your other PwC routes
- One application per cycle. Applied to another PwC 2027 programme? Then you cannot also apply for Deals. Our PwC Audit playbook covers one of those routes.
- 2028 programmes. Otherwise, wait for a 2028 start. PwC had not published a date when we checked on 15 October 2026, so watch its job search.Otherwise, wait for a 2028 start. See PwC’s job search for the opening date.Otherwise, apply for a 2028 start. PwC’s 2028 programmes were open when we checked on 15 October 2026. See its job search.PwC’s 2028 applications have closed. Watch its job search for the next round.
- Summer Internship 2027. Paid, 4 to 8 weeks, for students “graduating in 2028”. Deals runs in Birmingham, Leeds, London and Manchester. It can lead to a graduate offer, but PwC does not sponsor internships (PwC).
05/10Stage 2 · Online tests
The PwC online tests
PwC’s online stage runs on SHL, in three parts. Only the last part is timed. Deals has no extra test.
Not assessed
1. Values activity
Untimed
2. Behavioural test
Timed
3. Reasoning test
From PwC’s selection page: “The test is hosted in the SHL platform.” The timed test covers “numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning”. There is no situational judgement test, verbal test or Deals modelling test.
Likely SHL Verify Interactive G+, not named by PwC. SHL’s factsheet describes one timed test of the same three abilities, with 36 minutes and up to 24 questions. PwC publishes no timing, so check your invite.
Step through the reasoning test
Numerical: timed
Build the chart
Read the facts on the left, then drag each bar to the right height or type the total under it. Employers set their own version, so yours may differ.
Split the pie
Work out each share of the budget, then drag the handles round the pie or type the percentages.
Sort into order
Work out a value for each row of the table, then drag the items into order from highest to lowest.
The classic version
SHL also offers a multiple-choice version. Read the table and chart, then pick one of five answers.
Your moves
- Drill percentage change, ratios and totals from tables.
- Read the units and the axis before you answer.
- Keep paper and a pen for working, as PwC’s practice suggests.
Inductive: timed
Fill the next grid
Spot how the pattern moves from grid to grid, then click squares in the big grid to draw the one that comes next. Employers set their own version, so yours may differ.
Join the points
Each step adds a line. Find the rule, then drag from point to point to draw the lines that finish the sequence.
The classic version
In the multiple-choice version you see a row of figures and pick the one that comes next from five options.
Your moves
- Track one change at a time: shape, position, then count.
- Say the rule in words before you answer.
Deductive: timed
PwC publishes no deductive example. SHL’s sample gives you facts and asks which statement must be true.
Your moves
- Write each rule as a short note.
- Check every rule again before you move on.
Behavioural: untimed
PwC’s practice asks “Which statement best describes you?” and shows three statements. You pick one, such as:
- “I always try to find ways my organisation can build stronger ties with the community”
PwC’s advice is “Go with your instincts”.
Your moves
- Answer as you are, not as you think PwC wants.
Our own simplified drawings of SHL’s screens, not screenshots. Numbers on them are examples. Employers set their own version, so your screens may differ.
For more on reasoning items, see our tips for psychometric tests.
The rules: allowed and banned
Allowed
- Practice tests sent with your invite
- Adjustments, if you ask when you apply
- A laptop or tablet, as PwC recommends
- A calculator in PwC’s practice. Check your invite for the real test.
Banned
- AI tools, unless PwC authorises them
- Help from anyone else
- Duplicate accounts
- Copied answers
From PwC’s selection page. PwC checks for “highly similar responses” and AI-assisted support.
On the day: practice, deadline and scoring
- Practice. PwC says you can “take some practice tests before you start”. Its own guide warns its samples are “slightly different to the actual tests that we use”.
- Deadline. Usually seven days from the invite.
- No AI marking. PwC says “We do not use AI to assess candidate performance”.
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 15 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From PwC
- PwC’s own guide to the online testsPwC Careers · up to 45 min · no account neededPwC’s practice questions for each test, with its own tips.Free
Practise
- SHL’s free practice testsSHL, the test maker · free SHL account neededThe test maker’s own practice. PwC links to it.Free
- SHL’s example questionsSHL · no account neededSee the formats before you sign up. Skip verbal and SJT.Free
Watch
- 15 SHL reasoning questions solved, step by stepAptitude-Test-Prep on YouTube · Mar 2025 · 54 min · the host is a JobTestPrep affiliateInteractive numerical, inductive and deductive items, worked through.Free
Skip leaked PwC questions and AI helpers. PwC checks for copied answers and AI help, and withdraws applications it flags.
Next: build your speed on numbers and logic with our guide to psychometric and logic tests.
06/10Stage 3 · Interviews
The video interview and assessment centre
Two stages: a recorded video interview, then a virtual assessment centre. Both test the six behaviours. PwC publishes no Deals case or technical round.
Video interviewSHL, on demand
Questions on screen · Recorded · Reviewed by PwC
Assessment centreVirtual
Human and technical skills · Exercises not published
PwC says: “we do not use AI to assess candidate performance”.
PwC says the video questions “focus on how you typically approach your work, for example at school, university or any prior work experience you may have” (Advisory and Consulting page).
The assessment centre and your qualification
- The centre. It is virtual. PwC does not publish the exercises or their length.
- Your qualification. PwC says “additional information about what to expect from the qualification will be provided throughout the assessment process.”
How to answer: PwC’s STAR method
PwC’s interview guide recommends STAR. Build each story in four parts:
Situation
Set the scene in one or two lines.
Task
What you had to achieve.
Action
What you did, not the team.
Result
What changed, with a number.
Follow-ups to rehearse
What would you do differently?Which PwC behaviour does this show?Why Deals?Why the ACA or the CFA?
PwC’s tip: “you can use notes as prompts, but don’t read from them”. The follow-ups are ours.
See our guides on how to pass a job interview and the toughest interview questions.
Practise: one question at a time
Motivation questions
The first two come from PwC. The rest, and all answers, are ours.
Motivation
“Why do you want to join your preferred employer?”
PwC’s own practice question, with two minutes to answer
What they’re testing: a clear reason, said within the time.
Show a strong answer
- Give one reason about deals work, one about PwC and one about you. Record it, then watch it back.
Why PwC
Why are you interested in joining PwC?
PwC says its final interview covers this
What they’re testing: that you chose PwC, not just any firm.
Show a strong answer
- Name something specific: a PwC behaviour that fits you, or a Deals team you read about.
Why Deals
Why Deals?
What they’re testing: that you know what Deals teams do.
Show a strong answer
- Use PwC’s words: mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and restructuring. Link one to a time you weighed options with numbers. Name one team, such as Transaction Services.
Qualification
Why the ACA, or why the CFA?
What they’re testing: that you researched your qualification, as PwC’s ads ask.
Show a strong answer
- Say what it covers and how it fits the work you want. Then say how you will plan the study.
Hours
How do you handle tight deadlines?
What they’re testing: realism, since PwC warns of unpredictable hours.
Show a strong answer
- A real crunch, how you planned it, and what you delivered. Show you kept quality under pressure.
Behaviour questions
Our own prompts and answers, one per behaviour.
Inspire
Tell me about a time people chose to follow your lead.
What they’re testing: influence.
Show a strong answer
- A role you earned, how you earned it, and what the group achieved.
Empower
Tell me about a time you explained something hard to someone else.
What they’re testing: coaching.
Show a strong answer
- Who needed help, how you made it simple, and what they could do afterwards.
Evolve
Tell me about a time you learned a new tool or skill fast.
What they’re testing: whether you grow.
Show a strong answer
- Why you needed it, how you learned it, and what you did with it next.
Champion
Tell me about a time you checked the detail when a shortcut was easier.
What they’re testing: quality and integrity.
Show a strong answer
- The pressure, the shortcut you refused, and what checking the detail saved.
Build
Tell me about a decision you backed with numbers.
What they’re testing: a business mindset.
Show a strong answer
- The options, the figures you compared, and what the choice gained.
Deliver
Tell me about a time you worked with others to a tight deadline.
What they’re testing: teamwork.
Show a strong answer
- Who was involved, how you kept them aligned, and what you handed over on time.
Your story bank: a worksheet to print or copy
Two STAR stories per behaviour, plus your Deals answers.
| Behaviour | Story 1 | Story 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Inspire | ||
| Empower | ||
| Evolve | ||
| Champion | ||
| Build | ||
| Deliver | ||
| Why Deals and your qualification |
Go further: the best outside help
Our own picks, checked on 15 October 2026. We are not linked to any of these sites and earn nothing from them.
From PwC
- The six behaviours PwC scoresPwC Careers · no account neededMatch one story to each behaviour.Free
- PwC’s interview guide, with a 2-minute practicePwC Careers · no account neededFilm a two-minute answer, then review it with PwC’s checklist.Free
- PwC’s guide to assessment centresPwC Careers · no account neededCommon exercises and tips for a virtual centre.Free
- The Deals teams you could joinPwC Careers · no account neededPick one team, such as Transaction Services or Valuations, and say why it interests you.Free
- PwC’s 2026 mid-year M&A outlookPwC · Jun 2026 · 14 min read · no account neededPwC’s own market view. Pick one trend for your “why Deals” answer.Free
Watch
- PwC recruiters answer the top questionsPwC UK Careers on YouTube · Oct 2026 · 5 minAnswers on AI, one application and practice tests.Free
07/10Stage 4 · Final
Matching and the final interview
The final interview is in person, with a senior leader from your matched business area. If you are matched to Deals, that is a Deals leader.
Matching
After the assessment centre, PwC matches you to a business area and office. Preferences “are considered but not guaranteed”.
Recruiter call
You book a call with a recruiter. It includes a recap of your feedback so far.
Senior leader interview
In person, in your matched office. PwC wants to hear “why you are interested in joining PwC”.
Outcome
The PwC UK Careers team gives you feedback and the result. It could take up to a month.
Offer checks and joining
- Checks. Fit and Proper and Independence assessments, background and criminal record checks, and Right to Work. PwC also checks your grades and job history.
- Right to work. It must cover “the full duration of the position”.
- No deferrals. PwC does not offer deferred starts.
Key dates: September 2027 intake
14 and 16 Sep 2026
Belfast and Leeds ads posted
17 Sep 2026
Applications opened
15 October 2026
Open and rolling. Apply now
By 15 October 2026
This year’s Deals ads closed
15 October 2026
Our last check. See each ad for its closing date
Each stage
Invite usually open 7 days
Each stage
Invite usually open 7 days
1 Jun 2027
Last day to apply if you need a visaVisa applications were due by this date
Sep 2027
You startThe programme started
08/10
Visa sponsorship
PwC lists only London as a Deals office it can sponsor. No London Deals ad was visible when we checked on 15 October 2026. Check PwC’s job site for one.This year’s Deals ads have since closed.
1 Jun 2027
Last day to apply if you need a visaVisa cut-off was set for this date
London
Only Deals office on PwC’s visa list
18 months
Graduate visa, if you apply from 2027
Our reading: if you need a visa, only a London Deals role can work. Watch PwC’s job site for one.
More on PwC’s visa rules
- PwC’s list. PwC’s immigration page, “correct as of October 2026”, names “Graduate – Deals – London”.
- The open ads. The Leeds and Belfast Deals ads say sponsorship “No”.
- The cut-off. PwC sets 1 June 2027 as the visa cut-off for the September 2027 intake. It adds: “If you do apply after this date, we will withdraw your application.”
- 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).
- Not sponsored. Internships, Women in Business, Black Talent in Business and fixed-term placements.
See our guides to staying in the UK after studying and UK companies that sponsor visas. This is general information, so check GOV.UK.
09/10
Key takeaways
Before you apply
- Deals is rolling, so apply early. Leeds and Belfast were open when we checked on 15 October 2026.This year’s Deals ads have closed. PwC fills roles on a rolling basis, so apply early next time.Check each Deals ad for its closing date. PwC may close early on high volume.
- You apply once to PwC’s Graduate Advisory and Consulting programme and choose Deals.
- PwC considers one application for all its 2027 programmes.
- The SHL stage ends with one timed reasoning test.
- The final interview is in person, with a senior leader. PwC publishes no Deals case.
- Need a visa? PwC sponsors Deals only in London, so look for a London ad. PwC’s visa cut-off is 1 June 2027.The cut-off for this intake was set for 1 June 2027.
When a scheme gives a close date, we email you a few days before it closes. Save PwC once and the reminder is set.
Set my reminders freeFree account, no card.
10/10
Frequently asked questions
Is the PwC Deals graduate scheme open now?
Yes. Deals ads for the September 2027 intake were open in Leeds and Belfast when we checked on 15 October 2026. There is no fixed closing date. PwC may close early on high volume, so apply early.No. This year’s Deals ads for the September 2027 intake have closed. PwC filled roles on an ongoing basis. Use this guide to prepare for the next round.Check each Deals ad for its closing date. We last checked on 15 October 2026. PwC may close early on high volume, so apply early.
Can I apply to PwC Deals directly?
Not as a separate scheme. You apply to PwC’s Graduate Advisory and Consulting programme for one office and choose Deals as your preference. PwC matches you to a business area and office after the assessment centre.
Will I study for the ACA or the CFA in PwC Deals?
It depends on your office. PwC says Deals graduates could complete the ACA or the CFA. When we checked on 15 October 2026, the Leeds ad offered Deals with the ACA or the CFA. The Belfast ad offered Deals with the CFA.
Is London open for PwC Deals?
London’s Advisory and Consulting ad was not visible when we checked on 15 October 2026. PwC does not say why. Check PwC’s job site for a London ad before you apply.This year’s Deals ads have since closed.
Is there a Deals case study or technical test?
PwC publishes none. Deals applicants take the same SHL tests, video interview and assessment centre as other areas. The final interview is with a senior leader from the business area you are matched to.
Does PwC sponsor visas for the Deals graduate scheme?
PwC lists only London Deals as a graduate role it can sponsor. When we checked on 15 October 2026, no London Deals ad was visible. The Leeds and Belfast ads said no sponsorship. PwC’s visa cut-off is 1 June 2027. It withdraws later applications.PwC’s visa cut-off for this intake was set for 1 June 2027. It withdraws later applications.
