Fellow: when you are in the final year of your master or when you have just graduated from it.
Junior Associate: if you have just completed doctoral research or have fewer than 3 years work experience.
Associate: if you are studying for an M.B.A. or have more than 3 years work experience.
Academy Fellow: if you will be completing your university or postdoctoral studies within the next 18 months.

Our global careers site contains a more extensive description of the various roles.

Start dates

We welcome applications at any time. There are five start dates per year. To ensure that you can start on your preferred date we advise you to commence the application procedure about four months in advance.

The start dates for 2012 and 2013 are:

3 September 2012
5 November 2012
8 January 2013
11 March 2013
3 June 2013
2 September 2013
4 November 2013

If you have any questions regarding when would be the best time for you to apply, please feel free to discuss this with us—we’re happy to help.

The process of becoming a consultant at McKinsey

There are four steps in your path to becoming a consultant at McKinsey:

Step 1: Apply online
Simply fill in our online application form and attach your cover letter, CV and transcripts of your grades (secondary school and university). We usually let you know within two weeks whether we will invite you to the first round of interviews. First rounds are always held on a Friday morning, but we do consider your planning as far as possible.

Step 2: Prepare for your interviews
If we invite you for an interview, this is an opportunity for both parties to find out whether McKinsey is the right choice for you. We want you to do well in this interview so we can both make the most informed decision possible.

Learn more about our interview process

Practice a case study online

Step 3: First round of interviews with recruiter and consultants
In the first round of interviews, you have three one-hour interviews. One of the interviews is with a recruiter, who assesses your team skills, initiative, drive, ambition, and powers of persuasion. The other two interviews are with a consultant, who will test both your social skills and your ability to solve problems. During the interviews you will have ample opportunity to ask questions about consulting and working at McKinsey.

If you complete the first round of interviews successfully, we invite you to the second (final) round of interviews.

Step 4: Second round of interviews with three partners
In the second round of interviews, you speak with three partners from our office. The nature of the interviews is similar to the interviews you had with the consultants in the first round. Here too, a case study forms part of the interviews. We pay attention to your motivation and your ability to work well in teams.

If you complete the second round successfully, you receive an offer.

Apply