Get a flying start and accelerate your progress towards being an ICAEW Chartered Accountant by putting classroom theory into commercial practice, with integrated paid work placements.

The ‘Flying Start’ degree is a collaboration between Newcastle University, PwC and ICAEW. It is the most established degree of its kind. It combines academic study and integrated paid professional work placements in PwC’s Audit practice. You'll progress towards the ICAEW Chartered Accountancy qualification, the ACA.

Throughout your journey a team of dedicated staff from both Newcastle University and PwC will support you. They'll help you:

• develop the business skills you need to gain a degree
• progress towards a professional qualification
• succeed on paid work placements

This will help you towards hopefully receiving a full-time graduate offer with PwC. You could be a fully qualified ICAEW Chartered Accountant just over a year after graduation - a true flying start.

Quality and ranking

• Top 20 in the UK for Graduate Prospects in Accounting and Finance – The Complete University Guide 2022
• Top 125 for Business and Economics – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2022

Business skills

You'll complete over 200 days of paid qualifying technical work experience working with real clients as part of PwC’s Audit Team, across the second, third and fourth years (‘stages’) of your degree. This will, not only allow you to put your knowledge into practice, but these days also count towards approximately half of the ICAEW work experience requirements to be an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.'

You'll also develop valuable skills of time management, self-motivation, teamwork and research, within the professional skills element of this degree.

Research skills

Our teaching is informed by the latest research to ensure that your studies are always in line with the most up-to-date industry thinking.

Your future

This course will equip you with the skills, experience, and qualifications needed to become a part-qualified, professional chartered accountant.  

100% of our graduates were in work or study six months after graduating, in roles such as chartered accountant, financial accountant, senior associate in assurance, and auditor.

In 2020, 100% of our graduates secured positions with PwC, but you're under no obligation to join PwC when you leave university.

If you are offered a position with PwC, you'll join the company on a graduate programme and complete the ICAEW ACA Advanced Level and the remaining technical work experience required.

Just over a year after you graduate, you could become a fully qualified ICAEW chartered accountant.