By Andre Atallah, CEO of EP Advisory
Management Consulting graduate · UK · September 2027 start
Open on 15 October 2026 · rollingThis year’s ads have closedCheck each office’s ad for its closing date
Short answer: Apply now.This year’s ads have closed.Check your office’s ad for its closing date. There is no ad called Management Consulting. You apply once to PwC’s Graduate Advisory and Consulting ad for one office, then choose Management Consulting as your area. Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff and Leeds were open when we checked on 15 October 2026, with no closing date.PwC gave no closing date. It filled roles on a rolling basis.We last checked the ads on 15 October 2026. Then come SHL tests, a video interview, a virtual assessment centre and a senior leader interview. There is no case interview, and PwC does not sponsor visas.
Where are you now?
Independent guide. EP Advisory is not affiliated with PwC.
PwC’s Management Consulting graduates help clients “deliver profitable growth”, starting in September 2027. You do not study for a professional qualification.
This playbook covers every UK office with a Management Consulting route. 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 now: rolling, no deadline1. Apply (this year’s ads have closed)1. Apply by your ad’s closing date
One Advisory and Consulting form for one office, with Management Consulting as your area. 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 consulting job with no professional qualification, chosen by office.
RollingClosedSee ads
No closing dateThis year’s ads have closedEach ad gives its own date
Sep 2027
Start date, no deferrals
4 offices4 officesSee ads
With an ad on 15 October 2026Had a public ad in our checksCheck each office’s ad
No PQ
No professional qualification
Any subject
Degree, passed or on track
3 days
A week, at least, in office or on site
Management Consulting
One of four areas inside Graduate Advisory and Consulting. Open in four offices when we checked on 15 October 2026.This year’s ads have closed.Check each office’s ad for its closing date. No case interview and no visa sponsorship.
Strategy Consulting
A separate PwC graduate programme, based in London. It adds case study interviews, and it is on PwC’s visa list.
Where these facts come from
- The four areas. PwC’s Advisory and Consulting page lists Deals, Management Consulting, Technology Consulting and Workforce Consulting.
- No PQ. Every ad lists “Management Consulting No PQ”. PQ means professional qualification. PwC’s page names one only for Deals: the ACA or the CFA.
- Strategy. PwC’s Strategy page names “a series of case study interviews with a senior Strategy& leader”.
- Hours. The ads state no hours.
- Grade and pay. The ads list the grade as “Associate”. Salary is not published, so ask your recruiter (PwC FAQs).
New for 2027 starts
Roles opened earlier. Graduate roles opened on 17 September 2026. A year earlier, PwC’s FAQ said “from 1st October”.
Four areas, down from six. In June 2026, PwC’s page also listed Sustainability and Economics Consulting.
PwC now bans AI tools by name, unless it authorises them, and checks for AI-assisted answers.
03/10
What PwC looks for in Management Consulting
PwC looks for 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: facts 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 recommendation you backed with data.
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 Management Consulting, in its own words
- The work. “That might mean helping businesses understand, and create better experiences for, their customers and employees. It might mean optimising financial management, driving operational efficiency, advising on workforce effectiveness or bringing together a range of interrelated projects to deliver broad strategic outcomes.”
- Where PwC Consulting works. PwC’s Consulting page names seven areas, such as Customer and Service Excellence, and Business and Supply Chain Operations. It does not say which areas take graduates.
- Your homework. The ads ask you to “research your chosen business category and business area thoroughly” before you apply.
04/10Stage 1 · Apply
How to apply
Apply now: thereThereThere is no ad called Management Consulting. You apply to “Graduate – Advisory and Consulting” for one office. Then you choose Management Consulting as your area.
1
Pick an office
One Advisory and Consulting ad per office
2
Choose your area
Management Consulting, one of four
3
Fill the form
Exact grades, no AI help
4
Online tests
Invite usually open 7 days
The ads call it “Management Consulting No PQ”: no professional qualification to study.
Offices with a Management Consulting route
| Office | Ad status on 15 October 2026Ad statusAd status | Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Belfast | Open. Also lists Deals and Technology Consulting.Closed. It also listed Deals and Technology Consulting.See the ad. It also lists Deals and Technology Consulting. | No |
| Bristol | Open. Management Consulting is the only area.Closed. Management Consulting was the only area.See the ad. Management Consulting is the only area. | No |
| Cardiff | Open. Management Consulting is the only area.Closed. Management Consulting was the only area.See the ad. Management Consulting is the only area. | No |
| Leeds | Open. Also lists Deals and Technology Consulting.Closed. It also listed Deals and Technology Consulting.See the ad. It also lists Deals and Technology Consulting. | No |
| Birmingham, Edinburgh, London, Manchester | Not visible on PwC’s job site when we checked. Check it before you apply.This year’s ads have closed.Not visible when we checked on 15 October 2026. Check PwC’s job site before you apply. | Not on PwC’s visa list |
Checked on each office’s ad. PwC says roles “may close without warning”, so check PwC’s job site before you apply.This year’s ads have closed. Check PwC’s job site for the next ones.Check each ad on PwC’s job site for its closing date.
More on the form and the one-application rule
- One application. The ads say: “we accept one application per recruitment season”.
- Your area. The ads say “Preferences are considered but not guaranteed”.
- Grades. Do not convert overseas grades. Do not “be vague or lie about your results”, because PwC checks them later.
- AI. No AI tools, “unless explicitly authorised by PwC”. Ask for adjustments when you apply.
Your CV: do and don’t
Do
“Surveyed 120 society members, found why sign-ups fell, and lifted renewals by 15%”
Show a problem, the data you used and a result. Give each role one.
Don’t
“Passionate about consulting”
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 here. Our PwC Audit playbook covers one of those routes.
- 2028 programmes. If you are unsuccessful or withdraw, wait for programmes “starting in 2028”. PwC had not published a date when we checked on 15 October 2026.PwC’s 2028-start ads were open when we checked on 15 October 2026.PwC has given an opening date.PwC has not confirmed a date yet.PwC had no open 2028-start ads when we checked on 15 October 2026. Watch its job search.
- Summer Internship 2027. Paid, 4 to 8 weeks, for students “graduating in 2028”. Management Consulting runs in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, London and Manchester. It can lead to a graduate offer, but it is not sponsored (PwC).
- Diversity in Business. Paid three-day placements in spring 2027, for students “graduating in 2029”. Management Consulting has three national streams: Advancing Social Mobility, Black Talent in Business and Women in Business (PwC).
- Belfast work placement. An “11-month paid placement” in Management Consulting, for students in the second year of their degree (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. Management Consulting 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 case study.
Likely SHL Verify Interactive G+, not named by PwC. SHL’s factsheet describes one timed test of the same three abilities. 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
On the day: practice and deadline
- 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.
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. There is no case interview on this route.
Video interviewSHL, on demand
Questions on screen · Recorded · Reviewed by an assessor
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 why there is no case
- The centre. It is virtual. PwC does not publish the exercises or their length.
- No case. PwC names case study interviews only for Strategy Consulting. No PwC page or ad adds a case, group exercise or presentation for Management Consulting.
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 Management Consulting?Why this office?
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 consulting 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 an area PwC Consulting works in.
Why consulting
Why Management Consulting?
What they’re testing: that you know what the area does.
Show a strong answer
- Use PwC’s words: helping clients “deliver profitable growth”. Link it to a time you improved something with data. Name one area, such as Customer and Service Excellence.
Your area
Why Management Consulting and not Deals or Technology Consulting?
What they’re testing: that you researched your area, as PwC’s ads ask.
Show a strong answer
- Say what each area does in one line. Then say which work suits your strengths, with one example.
Business
What is one challenge UK business leaders face today?
What they’re testing: commercial awareness.
Show a strong answer
- Pick one finding from PwC’s UK CEO Survey 2026. Say what it means for a client, and how a consultant could help.
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 facts 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 facts saved.
Build
Tell me about a recommendation you backed with data.
What they’re testing: a business mindset.
Show a strong answer
- The problem, the data you gathered, what you recommended and what changed.
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 consulting answers.
| Behaviour | Story 1 | Story 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Inspire | ||
| Empower | ||
| Evolve | ||
| Champion | ||
| Build | ||
| Deliver | ||
| Why Management Consulting |
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 seven areas PwC Consulting works inPwC Careers · no account neededPick one area, such as Customer and Service Excellence, and say why it interests you.Free
Read
- PwC UK CEO Survey 2026PwC UK · Jan 2026 · no account neededWhat UK bosses say they worry about. Use one finding in your “why consulting” 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 Management Consulting, that is a Management Consulting leader. There is no case.
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 on your feedback”.
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. After an offer, PwC checks your grades, job history and right to work.
- 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, Bristol, Cardiff and Leeds ads posted
17 Sep 2026
Graduate roles opened
15 October 2026
Ads open, no closing date. Apply now
This cycle
This year’s ads have closed
Your ad
Apply by the date on your ad
Each stage
Invite usually open 7 days
Each stage
Invite usually open 7 days
Sep 2027
Start date
08/10
Visa sponsorship
PwC does not sponsor visas for Management Consulting. You need your own right to work.
No
Sponsorship, on all 4 ads we checked
Not listed
On PwC’s October 2026 visa list
18 months
Graduate visa, if you apply from 2027
On a Graduate visa? PwC says your right to work must cover “the full duration of the position”. A Graduate visa you apply for from 1 January 2027 lasts 18 months (GOV.UK). So ask PwC before you apply.
More on PwC’s visa rules
- PwC’s list. PwC’s immigration page, “correct as of October 2026”, names sponsored graduate roles in Audit, Tax, Deals, Workforce Consulting and Strategy Consulting. Management Consulting is not on it, and it was not on last year’s list either.
- 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
- Management Consulting was open in Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff and Leeds when we checked on 15 October 2026, with no closing date. So apply now.This year’s ads have closed. PwC filled roles on a rolling basis, with no closing date.Check your office’s ad for its closing date, and apply before it.
- There is no Management Consulting ad. You apply to Graduate Advisory and Consulting and choose it as your area.
- The ads call it “No PQ”: you do not study for a professional qualification.
- PwC considers one application for all its 2027 programmes.
- The final is an in-person interview with a senior leader. There is no case interview.
- PwC does not sponsor visas for Management Consulting.
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 Management Consulting graduate scheme open now?
Yes. When we checked on 15 October 2026, Advisory and Consulting ads with Management Consulting were open in Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff and Leeds. There is no closing date, and PwC says roles may close without warning.No. This year’s Advisory and Consulting ads had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026. PwC gave no closing date. It filled roles on a rolling basis.Check each office’s Advisory and Consulting ad for its closing date. PwC says roles may close without warning.
Can I apply to PwC Management Consulting directly?
No. You apply to PwC’s Graduate Advisory and Consulting programme for one office and choose Management Consulting as your area. PwC matches you to a business area and office after the assessment centre.
Is London open for PwC Management Consulting?
London’s Advisory and Consulting ad was not visible when we checked on 15 October 2026. Check PwC’s job site for a London ad before you apply.No. This year’s Advisory and Consulting ads had closed when we checked on 15 October 2026. Check PwC’s job site for a London ad next cycle.Check PwC’s job site for a London Advisory and Consulting ad and its closing date.
Is there a case interview for PwC Management Consulting?
No. PwC names case study interviews only for Strategy Consulting. Management Consulting applicants take SHL tests, a video interview and an assessment centre, then meet a senior leader.
Will I study for a qualification in PwC Management Consulting?
No. Every ad lists Management Consulting No PQ, which means no professional qualification.
Does PwC sponsor visas for Management Consulting?
No. Management Consulting is not on PwC’s October 2026 sponsorship list, and every public ad we checked said no sponsorship. You need your own right to work for the whole role.
