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KPMG School Leaver Programme vs Graduate Scheme: The Honest Comparison
KPMG 360° is the firm's degree apprenticeship for school leavers, covering audit, tax, consulting, and deal advisory. You earn a full BSc while working across client engagements from year one.Here's an honest comparison of the school leaver route versus the graduate scheme: what each offers, who each suits, and how to decide.
At a Glance
| Factor | School Leaver Route | Graduate Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| Entry point | After A-levels / Year 13 | After university (3–4 years later) |
| Degree | Funded by KPMG while you work | Already completed: self-funded |
| Earnings by age 22 | 3+ years of salary + no debt | Graduating with student loans |
| Career start | 5 years programme | Typically 2–3 year grad scheme |
| Programme | KPMG 360° Apprenticeship | KPMG Graduate Programme |
| Salary start | £22,000–£26,000 | Typically higher (£28–40k+) |
The Case for the School Leaver Route
- No tuition fees: the degree is funded by KPMG
- Earning from 18 instead of 21–22: typically £80–120k more by age 25 when you factor in tuition debt
- 3+ years of professional experience before peers have graduated
- Earlier career trajectory: reaching senior roles years ahead of graduate entry peers
Who the Graduate Scheme Suits
- Candidates who genuinely want the university experience first
- Those switching sectors after a first degree in a different field
- Applicants who feel they need more time to develop before entering a structured professional environment
Bottom line: KPMG's job simulation is their differentiator: it replaces a video interview and is longer and more complex than competitors' online tests. Most candidates underestimate it.
Free prep pack
Preparing for KPMG? Get a full pack free
The full PwC School Leaver pack is free: application stages, the competencies they score, real interview questions, commercial awareness, and a pre-submission checklist. The process it walks through is close enough to the other big schemes, KPMG included, to prep you for all of them.
Want the KPMG pack specifically?
KPMG Apprenticeship Prep Pack
Application stages, competencies, real interview questions, commercial awareness, and a pre-submission checklist: in one complete pack.