Flying start degree programme - FS2 - Edinburgh Review

On placement you work on PwC audit clients. You typically join a team of 10-15 people and work out at client site for a few weeks. The day to day tasks vary depending on what you're doing but you spend time getting to know the client and team members and often work independently on different areas of testing.

I have learnt lots of excel skills and how to use a variety of audit software on placement. At university you complete 12 out of 15 ICAEW exams and then put the theory into practise on placement. There's also a training course before you come on placement to understand what you'll be doing day to day.

I love this programme. Its a very close knit course at university and all year groups are very close through numerous socials throughout the year. for example we hold an annual family social at the beginning of term and a winter ball. Additionally peer mentoring skill allows first years to fully integrate. On placement we go to a range of PwC offices and you live with people from the course so again get to know older years.

I feel very valued by the managers I have worked for and they have always been very grateful for the work we do. we are a full part of the team whilst here on placement and the flying starts are well known across the office.

The programme is very well organised between the university, ICAEW and PwC. In first year we have regular visits from a PwC coordinator which gets us integrated into the business before we start placement. We also get to learn a lot about the day to day job and the client before we arrive. Additionally there is a wide range of support from tutors at uni and buddies at Pwc. Upon arrival on the first day of placement you are greeted by a flying start champion is a graduate of the programme and knows all about the office.

We get a lot of support at uni from lecturers. As it is a small course with 50 people per year group the lecturers get to know you very well and take an interest in your progression through the course. Additionally they all communicate well and are fully aware of all commitments in other modules -which makes revision easier in the run up to exams.

I got a buddy, flying start champion and a people manager. I had regular catchups with my people manager which allowed me to flag any issues on placement. As there is always someone there in the year above we could also easily ask them for help throughout the placement with things like overtime forms and expenses.

The salary is good and overtime is now paid which is good as it makes staying late feel easier. The accommodation is excellent and included everything you need. additionally we can expense travel to and from placement.

There is a good social side within the firm as regular activities are organised. There are numerous sports teams to get involved with and charity events. Additionally everyone is assigned to a social group which mixes people from associates to partners. This is a good networking opportunity.

Yes

You learn a lot.

Be confident on assessment days. It doesn't matter if you get answers wrong as long as you think things through and can back yourself.