Use the navigation above to browse common questions about the KPMG Graduate and Vacationer Programs.
Applications for our vacationer and graduate programs are now closed.
They will reopen in February. To be the first to find out, please register your interest here:
Pre-application
What is the KPMG Graduate Program?
The KPMG Graduate Program is a permanent opportunity at KPMG, with a structured learning pathway available to final year students and recent graduates.
What is the KPMG Vacationer Program?
Our Vacationer Program is a 3–8 week full-time internship, open to undergraduates and postgraduates in the second-last year of their degree. It’s a great opportunity to gain insights in day-to-day life here.
What is the KPMG Foundations Program?
This program is available to students with two years of study left, and allows you to explore the endless career possibilities offered at KPMG. It is a one-day program designed to provide you with the knowledge to make the right career choices. Learn more about the KPMG Foundations Program.
What are the application dates?
The 2024/25 Graduate and Vacationer Program applications for the main intake have now closed.
They will reopen in February. To be the first to find out, please register your interest here:
Are you still accepting applications for the Graduate Program?
Applications are closed but they will reopen in February 2025 for graduates (Feb 2026 start).
Sign up for updates on applications - register your interest
Are you still accepting applications for the Vacationer Program?
Applications are closed but they will reopen in February 2025 for vacationers (Nov 2025 start).
Sign up for updates on applications - register your interest
When do the programs run each year?
- The Graduate Program starts between February and March the year following offers – so if you are accepted this year, you will start in February 2025. We do have limited starts in June for some business areas.
- The Vacationer Program starts between November and December in the same year you apply. We will be running a limited winter program.
- The Foundations Program takes place in the September/October tertiary holiday period.
Am I eligible?
Diversity is important to us at KPMG. We welcome applications from people with all degree backgrounds and experiences, as well as domestic and international students.
Below are the eligibility criteria for our different programs:
- Graduate Program – be in your final year of study or have recently graduated.
- Vacationer Program – be in your second-last year of study.
- Foundations Program – have two years left of study.
You don’t need to have work experience to apply to our programs, but if you do (including casual or part-time work) we recommend including this on your CV.
Do you have any tips for completing my application?
As you go through the process, we’ll share tips for how to prepare at each stage. To help you get started, here’s some advice from our emerging talent team:
- Be yourself – throughout our recruitment process, we want to get to know you and learn about your skills, interests and career aspirations.
- Keep your CV concise – your CV doesn’t need to be longer than two pages and you don’t need to include a cover letter.
- Know the dates – make a note of application and assessment deadlines.
- Do your research – if you can, we recommend attending one of our events on campus or at our offices to help you learn more about what we do and get an understanding of our culture. If that’s not possible, don’t worry, you’ll find plenty of useful information on our careers website to help you discover where your skills and interests could fit.
- Keep an open mind about the sort of work you’d like to do – we have specialist teams across so many areas (one of the big benefits of working in a larger firm), and it pays to do some research about the work we do and teams available in your chosen pathway. If something sounds interesting, it could be worth a look. You never know, it could be the perfect fit.
- Practice, practice, practice – prepare for behavioural based questions and use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to structure your answers.
Who can I contact if I’m having issues with my application?
For any issues with your application throughout the process, or if you need extra support, you can get in touch with our emerging talent team at gradrecruiting@kpmg.com.au, or you can ask our chatbot Scout. Just click the link at the bottom right-hand side of your screen to get started.
Please note: due to the high volume of applications and queries we receive, responding to your email may take longer than usual.
What locations do you recruit for?
We have student opportunities available across our 14 locations nationally, in metro and regional areas:
- Adelaide
- Brisbane
- Canberra
- Darwin
- Geelong
- Gold Coast
- Hobart
- Melbourne
- Newcastle
- Parramatta
- Perth
- Sydney
- Townsville
- Wollongong
Learn more about our locations.
How does KPMG support people who require adjustments throughout the recruitment process?
At KPMG, we are committed to adjusting our recruitment process to allow you to demonstrate your full potential. If you have disability or require adjustments of any kind, please let us know when you apply.
If you have any questions about this, you can get in touch with our Emerging Talent team at gradrecruiting@kpmg.com.au.
I applied last year and wasn’t successful. Can I reapply?
Yes! We welcome you to reapply.
Do I need to be an Australian resident to apply?
You don’t need to be an Australian resident, but you must have full-time working rights within Australia at the time of your application and for the program dates you are applying to. If you are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or do not have permanent residency, please make sure you have the following documents:
- Visa grant notification
- You may be asked for Superior English test results by an Australian Government approved test provider.
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Once you’ve completed your application form and have been assessed as eligible for the program, you’ll receive an invitation to complete online assessments. They are delivered by a third party called CriteriaCorp and are sent to your inbox. They need to be completed within 48 hours of your receiving the email invitation to complete them (not 48 hours after completing your application). Depending on when you apply, you may receive the invitation anywhere up to two weeks after you apply.
If you haven’t applied for a role with KPMG recently, you’ll receive two assessments to complete. They each take around 15 minutes. One a general cognitive capacity assessment – it’s gamed-based and looks at problem solving, numerical reasoning and verbal knowledge. This is a timed assessment. The second is about your workplace behaviours and this is not timed.
If you’ve applied for a role with us within the last year and complete online assessments, you may only receive one assessment.
Career pathways
How can I learn more about the different teams at KPMG?
Visit our which team should I join page for information about the different business areas open to graduate and student programs at KPMG.
Can I apply to more than one business area or location?
Yes, but please do this as part of the one application – you do not need to apply separately to each pathway or job ad.
When you’re submitting your application to your first preference of pathway, you’ll be asked if you want to select an additional pathway. You can also select multiple location preferences in that application (note: you are responsible for making sure you’re available to work at those locations).
What do you look for in candidates?
It’s not just about what’s on your CV. Through your application, try to convey your passion for making a difference and willingness to be curious and find innovative solutions to problems.
We look for:
- resilience
- progressive thinkers who can bring a fresh perspective and communicate their ideas with passion
- enthusiasm and a willingness to try new things.
Some teams also need specific qualifications or fields of study, or citizenship/visa status. See the FAQ Am I eligible? for more detail.
What’s your Graduate and Vacationer Program recruitment process?
Do your research
Learn more about what we do at KPMG, including our people, work and values. We understand if you don’t know exactly what you want to do yet. Because our business is very broad, we have designed four career pathways for our Vacationer and Graduate Programs – take the time to understand each one and decide which is the best fit for you.
Submit your application
Submitting your application online is easy. You’ll need to apply to one of the career pathways and if you already know where you’d like to work, you will have the option to select an area, division and team. If you’re not sure which team you’d like to apply to, you can submit a general application within the relevant pathway.
You will also need to select which of our office locations suits you best, then upload your CV. We recommend keeping it no longer than two pages, and there is no need for a cover letter.
Complete an online assessment
Expect to spend approximately one hour in total completing two online assessments. One is based on cognitive skills (a timed assessment using gamification) and the other is on personality traits (untimed). You’ll automatically receive the results of your online assessments at the end.
Attend an assessment centre
Assessment centres are a great opportunity to meet members of the KPMG team and network with your peers. They take place in-person at our offices, giving you the chance to visualise a career at KPMG. On the day, you’ll be interviewed by members of your future team and complete some testing activities. This is also your opportunity to interview us, so bring along any questions you may have.
Outcome and next steps
If you receive an offer from us after the assessment centre, congratulations! We will be in touch over the coming months to help you prepare for your journey with us.
If you receive an unsuccessful outcome, you’ll have the opportunity to receive feedback on your application if you have attended a face to face meeting with us and we will also invite you to stay in touch through our Talent Communities. Of course, we welcome you to apply again in the future.
Post application
What’s your Graduate and Vacationer Program recruitment process?
Refer to answer above (What’s your Graduate and Vacationer Program recruitment process?).
What questions will I be asked during the interview?
The interviews are designed to help us understand more about you, including your passions and career interests. You’ll be asked about your time at university, extracurricular activities and any work experience.
We use motivational and behavioural based questions, which are related to the skills and behaviours we consider crucial for success at KPMG.
Please also take the opportunity to ask us any questions you have.
Life at KPMG
What will my salary be as a graduate?
Our salaries are paid at competitive market rates and made up of a base salary and superannuation. If you receive an offer at the end of the recruitment process, our recruiters will discuss details of the fixed reward (salary) package with you.
We also provide a great range of rewards and benefits to support our people in their career development and wellbeing. Learn more on our rewards and benefits page.
What are the working arrangements for grads?
Our graduate roles are ongoing and permanent, this means there is no contract end date.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to working: our lives are different, our roles are varied, and we've proven that we can adapt and flex to get the best outcomes for ourselves, each other, our clients and communities.
Full-time KPMG employees work 7.5 hours per day, plus an hour for lunch. We embrace and encourage flexible working across our three different hubs: office, client site and home.
What training do you offer graduates?
We believe in learning for a lifetime, and when you join our team, your journey of continuous learning will start immediately.
Graduates and Vacationers will be trained on the job, while doing work that matters. You will join a multidisciplinary team and work with diverse clients to help solve complex issues that will stretch your thinking and challenge you every day.
We also provide a variety of online and in-person learning opportunities. Our Eclipse Learning Academy is available to all employees to support upskilling and knowledge sharing. Learn more on our learning and development page.
Do you support postgraduate studies?
Yes. But not through our graduate program. Learn more on our learning and development page.
