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PwC Scraps UK Honorary Degree Requirement for Applicants

PwC is getting rid of its 2:1 degree classification requirement for all undergraduate and graduate roles, internships, and job placements to reach a wider pool of applicants and improve the firm’s socio-economic diversity.

2:1, also known as Upper Second-Class Honours, is a UK degree classification awarded to undergraduate students who achieve a grade of 60% to 70%.

“Whilst academic achievement has its place, for far too many students there are other factors that influence results,” Ian Elliott, Chief People Officer at PwC, says in a press release. “Talent and potential is determined by more than academic grades and so removing the 2:1 entry requirement will open our roles to a greater pool of talent.”

A PUSH FOR MORE DIVERSITY

According to PwC, which is a leading employer of UK grads, removing the 2:1 criteria will allow the firm to reach over 70,000 more students. Currently, around 17% of UK students do not achieve a 2:1 or 1st class degree classification.

“Changing the entry criteria will enable PwC to further diversify its graduate intake through broader access to talented young people, who may not have the top academic achievements but have the attributes and all-round proven capabilities for a career with the firm,” Elliott tells The Guardian.

Elliot says that removing the 2:1 criteria will not only allow the firm to recruit more applicants, but bring more diversity to the firm as well.

“We were fortunate to have over 95,000 applications to our graduate and school leaver programs this year,” Elliot says. “This move isn’t primarily about attracting more applications but opening our roles to students from a broader range of backgrounds, including those from lower income households. Removing the 2:1 criteria will allow us to make real progress in driving social mobility of PwC recruits.”

Sources: PwC, The Guardian, Imperial College London, Higher Education Statistics Agency

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