Schools

Find your way into business

There are many different paths to a great career in business. We’re here to help you explore your options and make the choices clearer, so you can be sure you do what’s right for you. After all, it’s your future.

Our schools programme offers a range of experiences and opportunities. You might start out by joining us for an EY Insight Day. If you’re going to university can choose between our EY Degree and an EY Scholarship. Our EY School Leaver programme offers a way of going straight into work.

Whatever path you take, working in a global professional services firm like Ernst & Young will give you the experiences and development opportunities you need to get your career moving. 

At Ernst & Young, we will help you find the type of career you want – your way.

We have created a range of schools programmes to help you gain the experiences, skills and networks you will need to build a path to success – wherever it takes you.

If you’re set on going to university then an EY Degree or EY Scholarship could be right for you. Then again, you may like the idea of stepping straight into work. If so, you could join our EY School Leavers programme. Or perhaps you’d just like to learn a little bit more about what life is like working for a global business like ours before you decide. If that’s you, then a visit to an EY Insight Day could be the perfect start for you.

They are all great ways to reach your goal of achieving a great career. So, just decide on your chosen path and after that, we will do everything we can to help you to get ahead.

Ernst & Young is one of the world’s leading professional services organisations, with over 152,000 people in 140 countries. We have a turnover of US$22.9 billion and we have ambitious global growth plans.

Our clients include some of the world’s most successful, innovative and respected organisations, spanning all industry sectors. The size and scope of our global business gives our people access to leading economic opinions and cutting edge technical capabilities.

Clients depend on our people’s ingenuity and creativity to improve how they work, make vital business decisions and explore opportunities.

There are four areas of our business. Each of which uses different expertise to help our clients. We call these business areas service lines – Advisory, Assurance, Corporate Finance and Tax – and each one requires people with a different set of skills and strengths.

Smarter choices for a head start in business

Every day, Ernst & Young helps businesses around the world to make smarter choices and find the right path to success. We’re equally passionate about helping people find their own way to the kind of career they want. As a successful global business that’s respected by many of the world’s leading multinational companies, we can do just that – and open plenty of doors along the way.

Everyone was just starting out once. Today’s students will grow to be tomorrow’s leaders. It’s why we think it’s important to give your children – or the young people you teach – confidence that they’re heading in the right direction and reassurance about the decisions they make, as they take their first steps to what could be a truly great career.

Why is Ernst & Young such a good place to start?

We invest in our people
We believe knowledge is priceless. Our dedicated Ernst & Young fund will pays for learning and training in the journey to achieving true potential.

We offer breadth and specialism
Being part of a global business will open up a world of opportunities – offering plenty of variety and lots of challenges, across a range of clients and projects.

We support ambitions
We help direct careers. On all of our programmes, the path could lead to a recognised professional qualification and a great future.

We work for important clients
We have important and globally established clients, From the outset all of our people have real responsibility for the work we do for them.

…and with the best people
We employ some of the very best people in our industry – they are there to learn from.

We offer regional opportunities
In addition to our offices in London, we have another 20 sites around the UK. So a great career with Ernst & Young really is closer than you think.

We believe in community
We have a commitment to more than just our clients. Our social networks, our peer groups and our work in the community ensure that everyone connected to Ernst & Young feels supported, appreciated and respected.

We’re recognised as a diverse employer
While our work with clients is satisfying enough, we’re especially proud to be respected by others for our diverse and inclusive culture. This work environment allows us to harness the power of our people and help them reach their potential, whatever their background.

We’re recognised for being a great employer
We’re a Times Top 50 Employer for Women and in 2012 we came first in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index.

Choose the path you take

At Ernst & Young, we’ll help you find the kind of career you want – your way. By beginning your career journey you’ll find paths that take you one step closer to achieving your true potential – both at work and in your personal life.

We’ve invested in creating a range of programmes to support talented, bright minds to achieve their potential. They will give you the business skills, acumen and support to grow in confidence, build your credentials, boost your future employability, and do amazing things with your career. Just decide on your chosen path and, from day one, we’ll help you get ahead in business.

When you first join Ernst & Young, you’ll get plenty of attention. We’ll assign you a counsellor who’ll become an expert in you and your career development. They’ll help you examine every piece of feedback you receive and show you how to point your career in the right direction.

We’ll also put control over your learning firmly in your hands. Although you’ll take an independent approach to learning at Ernst & Young, our global learning curriculum will give you a consistent, structured set of tools to help you learn and develop, including over 16,000 different courses.

You’ll run into all kinds of interesting people and work with some exceptional clients while you’re here. We’re proud of the diversity of our people  - we believe you need the broadest range of opinion, background and life experience to do the best possible work.

Many of the things that happen on-the-job will stay with you forever. You’ll perhaps learn as much from these life-enriching, experiences as from any formal training. They’ll certainly help you understand where you want to take your career. Where you go from there – and how far – really is up to you. Maybe you’ll go on secondment to a client, explore challenges in a new environment, or work with people in different countries. But rest assured, the experiences, skills, friendships and contacts you build along the way will set you up for life. Wherever it takes you.

If you want to learn more about finding a way into business, or have a question you would like us to help answer, there are a number of ways to get in touch:

If you’re thinking about applying to one of our 2013 Schools programmes, here’s more detail on what you will need to do next.

First, some tips

A good application can make you stand out from the crowd. You can give people a sense of the real you – and demonstrate the value you can add to their programme. There are some useful techniques that can help you perfect this part of the process.

When it comes to online application forms, there are some key points to bear in mind so give yourself plenty of time. Get familiar with the online application system so you know how it works. There’s always a risk of it crashing so don’t leave it till the last minute, and copy the text of your answers to a separate document. Also make sure you save your password(s) somewhere safe so you can log back in.

Online application forms tend to be challenging so that employers can discover what is unique about you. Your answers should be carefully thought through and should be tailored to the role you’re applying for. Make sure you’ve answered every question fully within the allowed word count and take extra care over your grammar and spelling.

And whatever happens, always tell the truth. It will become evident and embarrassing if you’re not honest.

EY School Leaver

Who can apply

You can apply to the EY School Leaver Programme if you’re in your final year at school.  We’ve opportunities available in our Audit, Tax and Corporate Finance service lines, across a variety of regions.

You must have these grades:

• Grade B or higher in GCSE Mathematics and English Language
• Predicted 300 (24) UCAS points or equivalent (not including General Studies or A2 re-sits).

How to apply

Please complete our online application form.

After you have submitted your application you’ll need to complete an online strengths assessment where we will test your numerical, verbal and abstract reasoning skills. You could then be invited to spend a day at an assessment centre. If things go really well, you’ll be offered a place on our EY School Leaver programme.

EY Degree

Who can apply

You can apply to the EY Degree if you’re in the final year of your A-Levels and have the following grades:

• Grade B or higher in GCSE Mathematics and English Language
• AAA/AAB in your A or AS Levels, not counting General Studies or re-sits.

We don’t just want to know about your academic background. We’re interested in positions of responsibility you’ve held and any recent work experience you’ve had.

We want you to explain why you’ve applied for the degree and what you hope to gain from your experience with Ernst & Young.

We’re looking for a wide variety of skills – such as team working, communication and analytical ability – as well as a keen interest in business.

How to apply

Starting your journey to an EY Degree is the same as any other course. Visit the UCAS website to apply and enter course code NN43 or search for BSc/AccE&Y to find the EY Degree. Once you’ve applied, LUMS will screen your UCAS application and you’ll be asked to complete an online Ernst & Young application form and take an online ability test. You’ll also be invited to a selection workshop at our London office. If you do well and meet the degree requirements, we’ll make you an offer.

EY Scholarship

Who can apply?

You must have these grades:

• Grade B or higher in GCSE Mathematics and English Language
• Predicted ABB at A-Level or equivalent, not counting General Studies.

All offers are conditional on your obtaining your predicted A-Level results and getting a place at university.

How to apply

You can apply on our main jobs website. Just search for ‘EY Scholarship’. You’ll have to fill in our standard application form. After that, you’ll be asked to complete an online strengths assessment. We’ll then test your numerical, verbal and abstract reasoning skills and, if things go really well, you’ll be invited to spend a day at an assessment centre. While you’re there you’ll take part in role-play case studies, an interview and a team exercise to help us learn more about your strengths and make our decision about offering you a place on our EY Scholarship.

EY Insight Day

Who can apply?

You can apply to the EY Insight Day if you’re in your final or penultimate year at school.

You must have these grades:

• Grade B or higher in GCSE Mathematics and English Language
• Predicted 300 UCAS points or equivalent, not counting General Studies.

If you’re in the Upper Sixth or final year of your A-Levels, we recommend you apply directly to the EY Scholarship or Degree programme.

How to apply

You can apply on our main jobs website. Just search for ‘EY Insight Day’. You’ll have to fill in our standard application form. After that, you’ll be asked to complete an online strengths assessment. We’ll then test your numerical, verbal and abstract reasoning skills and, if things go really well, you’ll be invited to attend one of our EY Insight Days.