Should I apply to spring weeks across multiple sectors?

If you are unsure which sector interests you, yes. Spring weeks and insight programmes are designed to help you explore. Applying across finance, law and consulting gives you the broadest view before committing to summer internship applications.

Do spring weeks guarantee a summer internship?

No, but they can help. At some firms, spring week participants have a stronger position when applying for summer roles. The level of advantage varies by firm and sector.

When should I start preparing?

The summer before your first year of university is a good starting point for research. Applications can open as early as late summer, so having your CV and basic commercial awareness ready before term starts puts you ahead.

Do I need a specific degree for any sector?

No. Finance, law and consulting all recruit from a wide range of degree backgrounds. Law firms recruit non-law students for vacation schemes (you complete the SQE later). Consulting and finance firms value diverse academic backgrounds.

2027 Applications

Spring Week & Insight Programme Applications 2027: The Complete Guide

What spring weeks and insight programmes are, how they work across finance, law and consulting, the application process, and how to prepare for every stage.

Built for students applying to Goldman Sachs, Clifford Chance, McKinsey and other leading firms

In this guide

1What spring weeks and insight programmes are
2When things happen across sectors
3The application
4Free CV checkerFREE TOOL
5Online tests
6Free psychometric practiceFREE TOOL
7Interviews and assessments across sectors
8Free video interview practiceFREE TOOL
9Sector-specific guides
10Firms and deadlines
11Frequently asked questions

Section 1

What spring weeks and insight programmes are

Spring weeks and insight programmes are short early-careers schemes run by employers to give students an introduction to their industry. They go by different names depending on the sector: spring weeks in finance, insight days or development programmes in law (such as Clifford Chance SPARK or Linklaters Pathfinder), and spring or insight programmes in consulting (such as McKinsey Discover or BCG London Insight Programme).

Format varies widely. Some are one or two days. Others span several months with in-person and virtual components. Some are paid, others are not. What they have in common is that they give you early exposure to a firm and industry before you apply for summer internships or vacation schemes.

At some firms, strong performance on a spring programme can strengthen or accelerate later internship applications. Linklaters Pathfinder explicitly fast-tracks participants to a vacation-scheme assessment centre. In finance, spring weeks can improve your chances when applying for summer analyst roles. In consulting, programmes like Deloitte's Spring into Deloitte provide structured exposure.

These programmes are competitive. They are often aimed at first-year students on 3-year degrees and second-year students on 4-year degrees, although eligibility varies by firm and sector.

Finance

Spring weeks: usually short finance insight programmes. Pay and timing vary by firm

Law

Insight programmes: range from 1-day events to 9-month development programmes. Timing varies widely by firm

Consulting

Spring and insight programmes: short events or virtual series at consulting firms. Often in spring

Eligibility

Usually first-year students (3-year degrees) and second-year students (4-year degrees). Check each firm

Why they matter

Early exposure, firm-specific knowledge, and at some firms a stronger position when applying for internships

Section 2

When things happen across sectors

Timing varies by sector and by firm within each sector. Finance often opens early, but timing still varies significantly by firm. Law and consulting timing varies more widely.

July - September 2026·Preparation (all sectors)

Research firms across whichever sectors interest you. Build your CV. Develop commercial awareness by reading the Financial Times, following industry news, and understanding what each sector actually does day to day.

Autumn 2026·Finance applications open

Many investment banks open spring week applications between late summer and autumn. For the 2026 cycle, Deutsche Bank opened in November 2025, UBS closed in October 2025, and Citi closed in November 2025. Timing varies by firm.

Autumn - winter 2026·Law and consulting applications

Law insight programme timing varies widely. Linklaters Pathfinder 2026 opened in December 2025. HSF Kramer First Year ran January to March 2026. Consulting programmes like Deloitte Spring into Deloitte opened in November 2025. Always check each firm.

After applying·Assessments

Finance firms often use online tests and video interviews. Law firms may use the Watson Glaser critical-thinking test. Consulting firms may use problem-solving assessments like McKinsey Solve. The format depends on the firm and sector.

Spring 2027·Programmes take place

Most spring weeks and insight programmes run between March and June, but exact dates vary by firm. Some law programmes span several months.

Section 3

How to apply across sectors

Your CV

The core principles are the same regardless of sector. A clean, one-page CV with strong evidence of ability and interest:

Education first: university, course, predicted grade, A-Levels. Academic performance matters across all three sectors.

Evidence of interest in your target sector. For finance: commercial awareness, any exposure to markets or analysis. For law: mooting, pro bono, debating. For consulting: leadership, problem-solving, analytical projects.

Transferable skills from any context: part-time work, societies, volunteering. Frame everything in terms of skills that matter to the sector.

One page. Clean formatting. No errors. Attention to detail matters in every sector.

Cover letter

Some firms use cover letters, others use application forms with written questions. The core questions are the same:

Why this sector? Show you understand what the work actually involves. "I want to help people" does not work for commercial law. "I like numbers" does not work for investment banking.

Why this firm? Reference something specific: a deal, a practice area, a programme structure, a conversation at an event.

Why you? Link your experiences to the skills the role requires.

Application questions

Common application question themes across sectors:

Motivation: "Why are you interested in [sector]?" Be specific and honest. Reference a genuine moment of interest.

Commercial awareness: "Tell us about a recent news story / deal / development that interests you." Pick something from the last 3 months. Show curiosity, not just knowledge.

Competency: "Tell us about a time you worked in a team / solved a problem / showed leadership." STAR format. Specific, honest, with a clear outcome.

Section 4FREE TOOL

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Section 5

Assessments by sector

The type of assessment you face depends on the sector and firm. Here is what to expect.

Numerical and verbal reasoning (finance)

Varies by firm

Providers: Various providers

Many investment banks use numerical and verbal reasoning tests after the application stage. Time pressure is the main challenge. Practising the format beforehand helps significantly.

Watson Glaser (law)

Varies by version

Providers: Pearson TalentLens

Widely used by many commercial law firms. Tests critical-thinking skills: inference, deduction, interpretation and evaluation of arguments. The reasoning style is unfamiliar to most students, so practice is important.

Problem-solving assessments (consulting)

Varies by firm

Providers: Various

McKinsey uses Solve, a game-based problem-solving assessment. Other consulting firms may use their own assessments or more traditional formats. The exact test depends on the firm.

Preparation tips

Whatever sector you are targeting, do at least one practice test before the real thing. The format is more important than the content.

For Watson Glaser: focus on the information provided rather than outside knowledge.

For numerical reasoning: get comfortable with quick percentage and ratio calculations under time pressure.

For McKinsey Solve: approach it systematically rather than rushing.

Section 6FREE TOOL

Practice a psychometric test

One of the most valuable preparation steps for any online assessment is doing a practice test so the format is familiar. Try one below.

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Section 7

Interviews and assessments across sectors

Interview formats differ significantly by sector. Finance firms often use timed on-demand video interviews. Law firms tend towards live interviews with partners. Consulting firms use case interviews where you solve a business problem out loud.

Regardless of sector, the core skills are the same: structuring your thoughts, giving specific examples, demonstrating genuine interest, and communicating clearly.

Common question types

Finance: "Why investment banking?"

Show you understand the work: deal execution, financial modelling, client advisory. Reference specific aspects that interest you.

Law: "Why commercial law?"

Show you understand the difference between commercial and other types of law. Reference transactions, disputes, or regulatory work.

Consulting: "Walk me through a business problem"

Case interviews test structured thinking. Break the problem into components, analyse systematically, and reach a recommendation.

All sectors: "Tell me about yourself"

A 60-90 second pitch covering your background, why this sector, and what makes you a strong candidate. Practise this until it flows naturally.

How firms score your answers

Structure: can you organise your thoughts clearly?

Specificity: do you give concrete examples rather than generalities?

Commercial awareness: do you understand the industry and the firm?

Communication: are you clear, confident and concise?

Motivation: does your interest feel genuine?

Section 8FREE TOOL

Practice a video interview question

Practising on camera builds skills that transfer across every interview format: structuring answers, managing time, and articulating your motivation. Try one question below.

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Section 9

Sector-specific guides

For detailed advice, firm deadlines, and sector-specific preparation, see the guides below.

Finance Spring Week Guide

Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley and other investment banks. Covers the full spring week application process including online tests, video interviews and the programme itself. intervyo.co.uk/guides/finance-spring-week-2027

Law Insight Programme Guide

Clifford Chance SPARK, Linklaters Pathfinder, Freshfields First Years Insight Scheme and other law firm programmes. Covers Watson Glaser preparation, application strategy and what to expect. intervyo.co.uk/guides/law-insight-day-2027

Consulting Spring Programme Guide

McKinsey Discover, BCG London Insight Programme, Deloitte Spring into Deloitte and others. Covers case-style assessments, firm-specific tests and programme preparation. intervyo.co.uk/guides/consulting-spring-programme-2027

How to stand out during the week

If you are unsure which sector interests you, apply across sectors. Spring weeks and insight programmes exist precisely to help you explore.

The skills you build preparing for one sector transfer to others. Commercial awareness, structured thinking and clear communication matter everywhere.

Start early. Some applications open in late summer for programmes the following spring.

Section 10

When to apply by sector

Application timing varies by sector and firm. Always check the official careers site for each firm.

Firm	Programme	Opens
Finance spring weeks	Various banks	Many open late summer to autumn. See the finance spring week guide for firm-specific dates	Get alerted
Law insight programmes	Various firms	Timing varies widely. Linklaters Pathfinder opened December 2025. HSF Kramer ran January to March 2026	Get alerted
Consulting programmes	Various firms	Deloitte Spring into Deloitte opened November 2025. McKinsey Discover 2026 was in April. See consulting guide	Get alerted

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