Top Companies for MBA Consulting Internships

While the big name firms are the ones most targeted by MBAs for consulting internships, MBAs who are interested in the consulting industry have options beyond just them when it comes to summer internship options. Here’s a list to give you an idea of some of the companies offering consulting internships for MBAs.

If there’s a company we missed, let us know below the line or on Facebook!

1. Bain & Company

Why it made the list: #1 on Vault’s list of Best Consulting Internships (2016), #2 on the 2016 Vault Consulting 50

Duration: 10 weeks

Locations: United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and South America (see the Bain Summer Associate Program website for specific locations)

Who they are looking for: A team player who can also think independently, robust analytical skills, excellent communication skills, endless curiosity, fluency in English (there may be additional language requirements depending on which office you apply to – check the local office page for more details).

Internship experience: Bain’s Summer Associate Program starts off with a one-week trip to Cape Cod to learn Bain’s core consulting skills. Interns will work with clients which could include Fortune 500 companies, midsize firms, nonprofits and startups across industries such as consumer electronics, finance, transportation, healthcare, and energy. Interns present the results of their work to partners and clients.

Opportunities for advancement: Bain’s head of global recruiting, Keith Bevans, told TopMBA: “When we hire summer MBA interns our goal is that 100% of our interns get offers to return full time at the end of the summer. We've consistently been well over 90%.”

What they have to say: According to Bevans, Bain’s MBA internship is unique in that it gives interns an idea of what it’s like to work at Bain by having them work on solving real problems clients are facing. “We have live clients, real teams that have a variety of problems that the teams are trying to work through over the course of the case. Instead of making up a problem to solve, we actually take one of the parts of the problem that we are solving and give that to our interns.”

2. Boston Consulting Group

Why it made the list: #4 on Vault’s list of Best Consulting Internships (2016), #3 on the 2016 Vault Consulting 50

Duration: Usually two to three months but varies based on role and location

Locations: BCG home offices in Africa, Asia, Central & South America, Europe, the Middle East and North America with a possibility for travel

Internship experience: BCG interns get to work alongside BCG consultants, taking responsibility for specific components of a client project. The BCG website gives examples of challenges interns have worked on in the past including investigating why a US technology company was losing market share in Europe. Some internships involve travelling and then returning to the home office at the end of each week for events and social activities.

Opportunities for advancement: According to the BCG website, “[A] vast majority of our interns receive offers for full-time positions.”

What an intern has to say: On Boston Consulting Group’s internship website, Nicoline, a consultant in Brussels, states, “My internship experience with BCG stood out because of the high degree of responsibility and senior client interaction I had on day one.”

3. McKinsey

Why it made the list: #1 on the 2016 Vault Consulting 50

Duration: 8 to 12 weeks

Location: Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, South America, Asia (see McKinsey’s list of home offices for specific locations)

Internship experience: Interns work on client engagement as a member of the McKinsey team.

Opportunities for advancement: At the end of the internship, each office usually decides whether or not to make permanent offer.

Read about one MBA’s experience working at McKinsey’s Hong Kong office.

4. PwC Advance

Why it made the list: #5 on Vault’s list of Best Consulting Internships (2016) and the 2016 Vault Consulting 50

Location: United States

Internship experience: PwC Advance is PwC’s professional internship program for both MBAs and undergraduate students. In addition to learning more about the professional services industry, interns get the opportunity to work on client assignments and network with coworkers. PwC’s Leadership Development Experience provides on-site and online training to help interns build their technical and leadership skills. Select interns have the opportunities to shadow members of PwC’s US leadership team through the Insight program or travel outside the US through the International Intern Experience.

Opportunities for advancement: According to the PwC advance website, 90% of interns receive full-time offers.

5. KPMG

Why it made the list: #6 on Vault’s list of Best Consulting Internships (2016), #3 on the 2016 Vault Consulting 50.

Who it’s for: First-year MBA students with significant, relevant experience

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Location: Major US cities

Opportunities for advancement: High-performing interns are considered for full-time positions at the end of their internship.

Internship experience: The KPMG MBA internship teaches interns about the firm’s methodology while giving them access to firm leadership and c-suite executives. After receiving training, KPMG’s summer interns immediately begin work on firm projects. The internship experience includes a formal performance management process, mentor assignments and networking opportunities.

What a former intern has to say: Jeff Scafaria was an intern in the deal advisory mergers and acquisitions during the summer of 2015. In his opinion, “One of the most rewarding aspects of my internship was the opportunity to lead a discussion with c-suite leaders covering work that I produced.” He decided to rejoin the company as a full-time hire, a decision he says was reaffirmed by “KPMG’s culture and trust in their employees”.

5. Deloitte

Why it made the list: #7 on Vault’s list of Best Consulting Internships (2016), #4 on the 2016 Vault Consulting 50

Duration: 10 weeks

Locations: 80+ Deloitte offices in the United States

Who they are looking for: First-year MBAs with demonstrated leadership and communication skills who have the ability to think analytically and solve problems.

According to a Deloitte spokesperson: “We’re also looking for professionals who have the confidence, skills and experiences to create innovative solutions to solve the complex challenges facing organizations today and build trust in the marketplace.”

Internship experience: Deloitte’s summer associates work with diverse global clients representing a broad range of industries. Interns are responsible for a variety of client-facing tasks including: interviewing staff, gathering data, analyzing issues, formulating and making recommendations and helping clients implement proposed solutions.

Opportunities for advancement: Based on their performance, summer associates may be offered a full-time position.

6. Strategy& (part of the PwC network)

Why it made the list: #8 on Vault’s list of Best Consulting Internships (2016), #14 on the 2016 Vault Consulting 50

Duration: 6 to 12 weeks

Locations: Strategy+ offices around the world

Who they are looking for: Students from top-tier business schools who have business-level fluency in the language of the region where they will be working.

Internship experience: Interns work on client assignments as an associate. Responsibilities include conducting business analyses, financial modelling, interviewing clients, preparing client records and participating in client and team meetings. Interns are given the opportunity to develop wide-ranging core consulting skills plus deep expertise in an industry or function.

What a recruiter has to say: Alissa Danaher, a campus recruiting leader for PwC states, “This is an exciting time in our industry and, particularly, for PwC's Strategy&. Every MBA intern who joins us right now will play a part in shaping the future. Our clients are the world’s top institutions and they are increasingly demanding practical strategies. A PwC Strategy& intern will have the opportunity to not just generate ideas, but to bring those ideas to life on a global scale."

7. Accenture Internships

Why it made the list: #9 on Vault’s list of Best Consulting Internships (2016), #20 on the 2016 Vault Consulting 50

Duration: 10 to 12 weeks

Internship experience: Instead of just shadowing others, Accenture’s interns are involved directly in the work. According to the Accenture internship website, intern responsibilities may include conducting research, performing data analysis, testing software or writing reports. Interns have the opportunity to experience company culture, expand their network and build their skills. In addition to networking and social events, interns also have the opportunity to volunteer as part of Accenture’s annual Intern Day of Service.

8. A.T. Kearney Summer Consultant Program

Why it made the list: #9 on the 2016 Vault Consulting 50

Duration: 10 weeks

Locations: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Mexico City, New York, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Toronto, Washington DC

Internship experience: A.T. Kearney’s summer associates work across a wide range of industries. Summer associates are fully-participating members of one of A.T. Kearney’s consulting teams and are given the opportunity to share ideas and help develop solutions which have a significant impact upon the client’s business. Working alongside experienced consultants, summer associates develop models, conduct complex data analysis, and work on data-gathering assignments at client sites as well as the office.

What a recruiter has to say: According to A.T. Kearney recruiter Lauren Santimauro, "At A.T. Kearney we pride ourselves on our collegial culture and strong collaboration with colleagues. The summer program provides summer associates with the opportunity to truly get to know the firm, because they are fully immersed in it during their ten weeks -- from client work, networking opportunities and mentorship."

9. L.E.K Consulting Internships

Why it made the list: #13 on the 2016 Vault Consulting 50

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Internship experience: According to L.E.K. Consulting’s internship page, summer associates gain real casework experience by working as part of a team. L.E.K’s summer associates have the same work stream and receive the same development support as the company’s full-time associates. Individual tasks may include gathering and analyzing data, leading stakeholder interviews, and working with the team to derive insights. After a week of training, interns are paired with a mentor team to provide them with guidance and coaching throughout the course of the internship.

To learn more about what it’s like to work at L.E.K Consulting, read our interview with the director of recruiting, Jody Mullen.

10. Cornerstone Research

Why it made the list: #8 on the 2016 Vault Consulting 50

Where they recruit: Columbia, Harvard, INSEAD, Sloan, Stern, Kellogg, Booth, UCLA Anderson, Wharton

Internship experience: Cornerstone Research’s consulting internship gives MBAs the opportunity add value to casework through their understanding of financial, economic, and strategic issues that arise during business litigation. Examples of past cases (PDF) can be found on the Cornerstone Research website.