honestly, do grad schemes care what uni you went to?

hey, im at the uni of leicester, and was not sure what i wanna do after exactly, but i know i want to do either accounting or something to do with finance or data analysis

i checked and leicester is like 36th or something in the uk, which, i mean, i enjoy it here, so i dont mind, but i was wondering for these sectors whether grad jobs/schemes care about the ranking / reputation a lot?

i heard for like law and IB it matters a lot but idk about other parts of finance / tech / data

Reply 1

University of Leicester

Official Rep

Original post by Al3x235

hey, im at the uni of leicester, and was not sure what i wanna do after exactly, but i know i want to do either accounting or something to do with finance or data analysis
i checked and leicester is like 36th or something in the uk, which, i mean, i enjoy it here, so i dont mind, but i was wondering for these sectors whether grad jobs/schemes care about the ranking / reputation a lot?
i heard for like law and IB it matters a lot but idk about other parts of finance / tech / data

Hey,

I’m also at Leicester, and I totally get where you’re coming from!

Figuring out what to do after uni can be tough, but it’s awesome that you’ve narrowed it down to accounting, finance, or data analysis—those are all solid fields with loads of opportunities.

As for the whole ranking thing, it’s definitely true that for areas like law or investment banking, where competition is crazy intense, the uni’s reputation can matter more. But for accounting, finance, and especially data analysis, what you actually do during your time here is way more important than where we rank.

Employers in these fields care more about your skills, experiences, and how well you perform academically. If you can show that you’ve got strong grades, some relevant experience (like internships or part-time work), and good skills (like Excel for finance or coding for data analysis), you’ll be in a good spot.

Honestly, Leicester’s ranking isn’t going to hold you back if you’re making the most of what’s available here. Try to get involved in anything that can give you practical experience, and maybe even look into getting some certifications or taking online courses in areas that interest you. Plus, networking is key—sometimes it’s about who you know as much as what you know, so start building connections wherever you can.

At the end of the day, employers are looking for people who can do the job well, not just where they studied. So don’t stress too much about the ranking—focus on building a strong CV and gaining as much experience as you can. You’re in a good spot, and there’s plenty of support here to help you get where you want to be.

Hope that helps!

Sumayyah
Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience

Reply 2

Kiddo276

I know people who've done well in grad schemes after going to Leicester. You could have done a lot worse in terms of where you went, I don't think you should be too worried

Reply 3

McGinger

Many grad recruiters now blank-out the name of the Uni - deliberately.
Stop worrying.

Reply 4

Labradoodle1

Really depends on the industry, but for most you should be fine.

Reply 5

Al3x235

Original post by Labradoodle1

Really depends on the industry, but for most you should be fine.

i was thinking of going into data analysis or accounting or IT i think

Reply 6

ilovelemons

I’ve assessed thousands of graduates for many of the Top 100, companies on the whole as stated above blank out your University so that there is no bias. Civil Service also stipulates you do not put your University on any applications or CV.

Reply 7

Labradoodle1

Original post by Al3x235

i was thinking of going into data analysis or accounting or IT i think

That's pretty broad, it depends on the type of company you're applying to those positions at. However I think for the vast majority you should be fine.

Reply 8

Al3x235

Original post by Labradoodle1

That's pretty broad, it depends on the type of company you're applying to those positions at. However I think for the vast majority you should be fine.

yeah i know haha, i was thinking of just applying for any i can find tbh, big4 audit, any IT ones i can find, maybe the nhs management scheme..also some smaller companies too if i find any opportunities!

i dont have much work experience tho (just tutoring thats self employed) , so idk how bad that is / makes me look? im part of societies and things , but i feel not having a job is putting me in a big disadvantage..idk how true this is in reality?

Reply 9

Labradoodle1

Original post by Al3x235

yeah i know haha, i was thinking of just applying for any i can find tbh, big4 audit, any IT ones i can find, maybe the nhs management scheme..also some smaller companies too if i find any opportunities!
i dont have much work experience tho (just tutoring thats self employed) , so idk how bad that is / makes me look? im part of societies and things , but i feel not having a job is putting me in a big disadvantage..idk how true this is in reality?

I'm still only a uni student so I'm not really a position to be giving out advice haha. I do think you should be fine for those though. I know someone who went to a uni with very low prestige who works in big 4 audit. I don't think IT companies are often particularly picky about unis either :smile: