How many case interviews should I practise before applying?

As many as you can. Practice is the single most important factor in case-interview performance. Partner with other candidates and aim to build genuine comfort with structuring problems under time pressure.

Do I need a business degree for consulting?

No. Consulting firms recruit from all disciplines. MBB firms especially value diverse academic backgrounds. Engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and humanities graduates all succeed. What matters is your ability to think structurally and communicate clearly.

What is the salary for a consulting summer intern?

Pay varies by firm, office and role. Firms do not always publish exact intern salaries. Check graduate salary surveys for indicative ranges, but treat specific numbers with caution.

Do internships always lead to full-time offers?

Strong performance can lead to a full-time offer, but conversion rates vary by firm, office and year. At many firms, the internship is designed as a pathway into full-time roles.

2027 Applications

Complete Guide to Consulting Summer Internship Applications 2027

Everything you need to know about consulting summer internships: application strategy, firm-specific assessments, case interview preparation and how internships can lead to full-time opportunities.

Built for students applying to McKinsey, BCG, Bain and other leading consulting firms

In this guide

1What a consulting summer internship is
2The 2027 consulting summer internship timeline
3The application
4Free CV checkerFREE TOOL
5Online tests
6Free psychometric practiceFREE TOOL
7The case interview: how to prepare and what to expect
8Free video interview practiceFREE TOOL
9The interview rounds: what to expect
10Firms and deadlines
11Frequently asked questions

Section 1

What a consulting summer internship is

A consulting summer internship is a paid internship at a consulting firm. Duration and eligibility vary by firm and role. Bain's Associate Consultant Internship begins with one week of training followed by staffing on a real case team. BCG says internship durations vary by role and location.

During the internship you may work with consulting teams on real client problems, depending on the firm and project. Interns are often given meaningful analytical work and exposure to the consulting process, but responsibilities vary by firm and project.

At many consulting firms, internships are an important pathway into full-time roles. BCG says interns can be considered for full-time consulting careers. Strong performance can lead to a full-time offer, but conversion rates vary by firm, office and year.

These internships are highly competitive. The case interview is a key differentiator in consulting recruitment, and candidates who have practised cases extensively tend to have an advantage.

Who can apply

Eligibility varies by firm and role. Many internships target undergraduate students, and some firms accept other student groups as well

Duration

Varies by firm and role

Pay

Pay varies by firm, office and role

Competitiveness

These internships are highly competitive

Conversion to full-time

Internships can lead to full-time offers, but conversion rates vary by firm and year

Application window

Varies by firm. McKinsey UK intern roles typically open in spring with deadlines in summer

Section 2

The 2027 consulting summer internship timeline

Application timing varies by firm. McKinsey's UK undergraduate intern roles typically open in spring with deadlines in summer. Other firms may differ, so always check the official careers site.

July - October 2026·Case interview preparation

Start practising case interviews. Join a case prep partner group, use online case resources, and attend any case workshops your university offers. Also develop your fit stories (leadership, teamwork, impact).

Varies by firm·Applications open

Application windows vary significantly by firm, so always check the firm's official careers site. McKinsey's UK undergraduate intern roles typically open in spring with deadlines in summer. Other firms may open at different points in the year. Follow each firm's stated deadline and process carefully.

After applying·Online assessments

Assessment formats vary by firm and may include problem-solving tests, online assessments and interviews. McKinsey uses Solve in its recruiting process. Other firms use their own assessment methods.

Interview period·Case interviews

Interview structures vary by firm, but candidates often face more than one case interview. Some firms run multiple rounds, sometimes including more senior interviewers later in the process.

After interviews·Offers

Offer timing varies by firm.

Summer 2027·Internship

Work with consulting teams on real projects. Performance during the internship contributes to full-time hiring decisions.

Section 3

How to apply for a consulting summer internship

Your CV

Top consulting firms often place strong weight on academic performance, leadership and impact:

Academic record first: degree, predicted grade, university, A-Levels. Top consulting firms often screen on academics.

Leadership roles with measurable impact: "Grew society membership from 50 to 200" is better than "Served as society president."

Any exposure to problem-solving, data analysis, or business: competition wins, consulting society projects, hackathons.

Spring programme experience if you have it. Reference it prominently.

One page. Clean, structured, impact-focused.

Cover letter

Some firms use written motivation questions or application forms rather than traditional cover letters. Where a written response is required:

Why consulting specifically? Show you understand the project-based, problem-solving nature of the work.

Why this firm? Differentiate between firms meaningfully. Their approaches, industries, and cultures genuinely differ.

Why you? Evidence of structured thinking, leadership, and impact.

Application questions

Consulting applications tend to be shorter than banking, but may include:

Problem-solving demonstration: "Tell us about a time you solved a complex problem." Structure, data, decision, result.

Leadership with influence: "Describe a time you persuaded others to follow your approach." Consulting is about influencing without authority.

Intellectual curiosity: "What business challenge are you most interested in?" Show breadth of commercial awareness.

Section 4FREE TOOL

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Consulting firms screen for academic excellence, leadership evidence, and structured communication. Upload your CV for an instant check.

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Section 5

Firm-specific assessments

Some consulting firms use problem-solving assessments, while others use more traditional online assessments or mixed processes. The exact test depends on the firm.

McKinsey Solve

Varies

Providers: McKinsey proprietary

McKinsey Solve uses game-based problem-solving tasks rather than a standard multiple-choice format. You cannot revise it like a standard test, but familiarity with the format can help. The exact format and duration can vary.

BCG assessments

Varies

Providers: BCG

BCG may use interviews and other assessment formats depending on the programme and role.

Bain assessments

Varies

Providers: Bain

Bain's assessment process may include interviews and other evaluation stages depending on the role.

Other online assessments

Varies by firm

Providers: Various providers

Some larger firms use online assessments that may include numerical, verbal or work-based elements.

Preparation tips

McKinsey Solve: approach it systematically. Understand the data relationships before making decisions.

For other assessments: practise the format beforehand. The first time you see it should not be the real thing.

Check the firm's instructions carefully for what to expect.

Section 6FREE TOOL

Practice a psychometric test

Some consulting assessments differ from banking-style psychometrics, while others use similar test formats. Familiarise yourself with analytical test formats below before facing the firm-specific versions.

Psychometric Tests

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Section 7

The case interview: how to prepare and what to expect

The case interview is the centrepiece of consulting recruitment. You are given a business problem and asked to solve it live, thinking out loud. Case interviews vary by firm and can differ in format and length.

Many case interviews combine fit questions with a case discussion, but the exact split varies by firm. McKinsey is known for detailed behavioural probing (PEI) in addition to case work.

Candidates may face multiple case interviews across more than one round, depending on the firm. Practice is highly valuable for case-interview performance.

Common question types

Profitability decline

"A UK retailer has seen profits decline by 20%. Diagnose the problem and recommend a solution." Structure: Revenue (price x volume) vs Costs (fixed vs variable). Dig into the driver.

Market entry

"Should a European fintech company enter the US market?" Structure: market size and growth, competitive landscape, regulatory environment, client capabilities, entry modes.

Pricing

"Our client wants to price a new subscription product. How should they approach this?" Consider cost-plus, value-based, and competitive pricing approaches.

Market sizing

"How many electric vehicle charging stations will the UK need by 2030?" Break into components, state assumptions clearly, calculate step by step.

Personal Experience Interview (PEI)

"Tell me about a time you led a team through a significant challenge." McKinsey PEIs probe deeply. Expect several follow-up questions on a single story.

How firms score your answers

Structure: do you break problems into logical components with a clear framework?

Analysis: can you work with data, make calculations, and draw sound conclusions?

Communication: do you explain your thinking clearly as you go?

Business judgement: do your hypotheses and recommendations make commercial sense?

Composure: can you handle pushback and unexpected data without losing your structure?

Synthesis: can you summarise findings into a clear, actionable recommendation?

Section 8FREE TOOL

Practice a video interview question

Some firms may use video interviews or other screening stages before live interviews. Practising structured answers on camera develops the same communication skills you need in live cases. Try one question below.

HireVue Practice

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Your question

30s preparation 2 min recording Camera + mic

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Section 9

The interview rounds: what to expect

Consulting interview processes often involve more than one round, but the exact structure varies by firm. Candidates may face several case interviews across multiple rounds, sometimes including more senior interviewers later in the process.

First round

Varies

Typically includes case interviews with fit or behavioural questions. Interviewers may be managers or similar-level consultants.

Second round

Varies

Often includes more challenging cases, sometimes with ambiguous data or multiple valid approaches. May be conducted by partners or senior leaders.

Additional exercises (some firms)

Varies

Some firms may include additional exercises such as group work or other assessment tasks.

How to stand out during the week

Practice as many cases as you can before your first real interview. Partner with other candidates and practice both as interviewer and interviewee.

Learn core frameworks (profitability, market entry, pricing, market sizing) but never force-fit a framework. Adapt to the specific problem.

Practice mental maths. You may be asked to make calculations without a calculator in live cases.

In PEI/fit: prepare several deep stories. McKinsey interviewers probe extensively, so have enough detail for multiple follow-up questions per story.

Ask for a moment to think before structuring your approach. Taking 30 seconds to organise your thoughts is expected and appreciated.

Section 10

Typical internship windows by firm

Application timing varies by firm, and some firms recruit earlier or later than students expect. Always check the official careers site.

Firm	Programme	Opens
McKinsey	Business Analyst Intern	UK undergraduate intern roles typically open in spring with deadlines in summer	Get alerted
BCG	Consulting Internship	Check the current UK careers page for role-specific timing	Get alerted
Bain	Associate Consultant Intern	Check the Bain internship page for current application details	Get alerted
Deloitte	Consulting Internship	Timing varies by programme. Check Deloitte Early Careers for current openings	Get alerted

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Frequently asked questions

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