- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) ranks as the best university for landing a job at a Big Four Accountancy Firm, with 2,726 graduates working for PwC, Deloitte, EY or KPMG.
- The University of Cambridge ranks second, with 3,401 graduates employed in roles across the Big Four firms.
- Oxford Brookes ranks third, with 2,355 graduates employed in roles across the Big Four firms
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) ranks as the best university for landing a role at a Big Four Accounting Firm (PwC, Deloitte, EY and KPMG) according to a new analysis of LinkedIn data.
As undergraduates return for their final year of university this September, many will have their mind set on a career with some of the UK’s largest and most reputable graduate employers.
However, as places for these graduate roles become more competitive, many will be wondering how their university stacks up in terms of career prospects.
Online trading platform and broker CMC Markets, analysed LinkedIn data for the Big Four Accounting Firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY) and KPMG, to see where their current employees most commonly attended university.
The analysis looked at the UK’s top 60 universities, including all 24 that are members of the Russell Group, to see which universities have the most graduates working for a Big Four Accounting Firm. The figures were also calculated as a proportion of each university’s enrolment size, based on student enrolment for the 2020/21 academic year according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
1. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) – 5,776 graduates (42.9% of enrolment size)
LSE ranks as the best university in the UK to attend if you want to pursue a career at the Big Four, with a total of 5,776 university graduates currently employed across these firms. When accounting for the number of students enrolled in a typical academic year at LSE, this works out at 42.9% of the total enrolment size. Despite LSE’s modest population of just 13,455 students, it ranks top for each of the four firms, with the most alumni in current roles at PwC (1,494), Deloitte (1,798), EY (1,477) and KPMG (1,007).
2. University of Cambridge – 3,401 graduates (15.4% of enrolment size)
The University of Cambridge offers the second-best chance of securing a role at the Big Four, with 3,401 graduates currently employed across the four firms. Cambridge ranked highly for all four firms, most notably having the second most alumni for both Deloitte and EY behind LSE. The percentage of graduates working for a Big Four firm works out at 15.4% of the total enrolment size at the university – which is 22,155 students. University of Cambridge alumni are split as follows across the four firms: PwC (893), Deloitte (1,057), EY (844) and KPMG (607).
3. Oxford Brookes University – 2,355 graduates (13.2% of enrolment size)
Oxford Brookes University places third, with 2,355 graduates employed in roles across the four firms. When considering the total number of alumni across the Big Four, Oxford Brookes ranks a respectable 12th in the list, however when accounting for the university population size of 17,795 students, it ranks as the third best university for Big Four employment outcomes. Oxford Brookes alumni are split as follows; PwC (563), Deloitte (559), EY (809) and KPMG (424).
4. Durham University – 2,702 graduates (13.1% of enrolment size)
Durham University places fourth, with 2,702 graduates employed in roles across the four firms. Despite having a greater number of graduates overall in roles at the Big Four than Oxford Brookes University, when accounting for Durham University’s larger population of 20,645 students, this works out at 13.1% of the enrolment size of the university. Durham’s graduates are split as follows; PwC (754), Deloitte (794), EY (588) and KPMG (566).
5. University of Lancaster – 1,732 graduates (9.9% of enrolment size)
The University of Lancaster places fifth, with 1,732 graduates employed in roles across the Big Four firms – equivalent to 9.9% of its total student population of 17,470. Of the four companies, Lancaster sees more of its graduates in roles at EY according to LinkedIn, with 497 alumni working for the company.
University ranking by percentage of alumni who list themselves on LinkedIn as working for a Big Four firm
Rank
UK University
PwC Employees
Deloitte Employees
EY Employees
KPMG Employees
Total
Total student enrolment (for the 20/21 academic year)
Number of alumni working at The Big Four as a percentage of current enrolment size
1.
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
1,494
1,798
1,477
1,007
5,776
13,455
42.9%
2.
University of Cambridge
893
1,057
844
607
3,401
22,155
15.4%
3.
Oxford Brookes University
563
559
809
424
2,355
17,795
13.2%
4.
Durham University
754
794
588
566
2,702
20,645
13.1%
5.
University of Lancaster
466
435
497
334
1,732
17,470
9.9%
6.
University of Warwick
761
810
614
527
2,712
28,110
9.6%
7.
University of Oxford
661
856
546
504
2,567
27,150
9.5%
8.
Queen’s University Belfast
1,149
488
416
286
2,339
25,365
9.2%
9.
University of Bath
480
500
406
322
1,708
18,555
9.2%
10.
Heriot-Watt University
255
273
270
193
991
11,200
8.8%
11.
University of Nottingham
919
849
625
650
3,043
35,785
8.5%
12.
University of St. Andrews
283
276
202
166
927
11,485
8.1%
13.
Imperial College London
457
545
371
332
1,705
21,370
8.0%
14.
University of Bristol
717
655
515
476
2,363
29,785
7.9%
15.
The University of Manchester
987
1,001
770
729
3,487
44,635
7.8%
16.
University of Birmingham
858
796
576
667
2,897
37,750
7.7%
17.
SOAS University of London
116
138
95
101
450
5,865
7.7%
18.
University of Southampton
423
529
337
308
1,597
21,395
7.5%
19.
University of Leeds
881
717
568
544
2,710
36,840
7.4%
20.
Loughborough University
411
379
290
260
1,340
18,335
7.3%
21.
University of Exeter
620
632
467
472
2,191
30,250
7.2%
22.
Queen Mary University of London
415
526
376
348
1,665
23,870
7.0%
23.
University College London (UCL)
861
999
703
544
3,107
45,715
6.8%
24.
Newcastle University
660
476
366
311
1,813
27,775
6.5%
25.
University of Leicester
272
325
234
181
1,012
16,100
6.3%
26.
Royal Holloway, University of London
210
237
165
127
739
12,295
6.0%
27.
King’s College London
576
699
554
470
2,299
38,445
6.0%
28.
Ulster University
984
477
233
161
1,855
33,045
5.6%
29.
University of York
352
367
266
238
1,223
22,695
5.4%
30.
University of Sheffield
452
502
371
312
1,637
30,605
5.3%
31.
University of Kent
262
297
241
193
993
18,585
5.3%
32.
University of Reading
385
299
205
164
1,053
19,980
5.3%
33.
University of Edinburgh
559
586
489
349
1,983
37,830
5.2%
34.
University of Surrey
234
287
213
125
859
16,565
5.2%
35.
Aston University
252
226
204
162
844
16,795
5.0%
36.
University of Strathclyde
306
336
287
273
1,202
24,450
4.9%
37.
City, University of London
261
344
264
177
1,046
21,325
4.9%
38.
University of Liverpool
405
408
277
282
1,372
29,185
4.7%
39.
Cardiff University
395
585
255
250
1,485
33,510
4.4%
40.
University of Aberdeen
165
164
159
92
580
16,080
3.6%
41.
University of Glasgow
345
366
327
301
1,339
37,145
3.6%
42.
University of Sussex
189
217
152
101
659
19,415
3.4%
43.
University of East Anglia (UEA)
184
201
128
128
641
18,975
3.4%
44.
University of Hull
118
132
131
87
468
14,615
3.2%
45.
University of Essex
147
181
136
125
589
18,465
3.2%
46.
Aberystwyth University
60
73
51
49
233
8,040
2.9%
47.
University of Northumbria at Newcastle
220
216
301
111
848
31,860
2.7%
48.
University of Arts, London
112
203
131
88
534
21,105
2.5%
49.
Swansea University
143
195
77
66
481
21,465
2.2%
50.
Keele University
73
59
61
53
246
11,505
2.1%
51.
University of Stirling
78
82
77
56
293
14,410
2.0%
52.
Coventry University
208
228
197
150
783
39,145
2.0%
53.
University of Dundee
89
85
60
45
279
16,230
1.7%
54.
Nottingham Trent University
174
181
133
131
619
38,995
1.6%
55.
University of Huddersfield
60
63
51
62
236
20,610
1.1%
56.
University of Lincoln
41
52
46
33
172
17,565
1.0%
57.
University of Chester
38
28
29
18
113
14,210
0.8%
58.
St George’s, University of London
3
7
3
8
21
5,185
0.4%
59.
Harper Adams University
1
4
2
–
7
5,135
0.1%
60.
Norwich University of Arts
1
–
1
–
2
2,620
0.1%
The study was conducted by CMC Markets, a UK-based financial services company that offers online derivative trading such as spread betting and contracts for difference across world markets such as shares and foreign exchange.
Disclaimer:
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. The vast majority of retail client accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Source: https://www.cmcmarkets.com/en-gb/spread-betting
