EY runs internships at two different entry points. Expedition EY is a virtual program open to freshmen and sophomores who aren't eligible for a standard internship yet, and EY Launch is an 8 to 10 week paid internship for students at least two years from graduation, spanning assurance, tax, consulting and the strategy-consulting group branded EY-Parthenon. ApplyBolt's live board currently shows real EY and EY-Parthenon openings, though 2027 internship-titled postings typically follow later in the cycle.
The two programs aren't competing for the same students. Expedition EY exists because EY, like the other Big 4 firms, wants a relationship with strong candidates before they're old enough for a real internship. Treat it as a low-stakes way onto EY's radar rather than the internship itself, and plan on EY Launch as the program that actually puts you on client work.
What EY actually does
EY is one of the Big 4 professional services firms, organized around Assurance, Tax, Consulting and Strategy and Transactions, the last of which does its strategy-consulting work under the EY-Parthenon name. Interns are staffed onto real client engagements within whichever service line they join, which means the day-to-day work varies a lot depending on whether you land in audit, tax advisory or EY-Parthenon's deal strategy work.
Expedition EY vs EY Launch
| Program | Who it's for | Format | What it leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expedition EY | Freshmen and sophomores | Virtual, self-paced challenges and live sessions | Scholarship prizes for standout participants and an early foot in the door |
| EY Launch | Students two or more years from graduation | 8 to 10 weeks, paid, in-person or hybrid | Direct pipeline into EY's junior-year internship class |
What an EY internship pays
EY hasn't published one company-wide intern rate. Self-reported figures on Glassdoor put general internship pay around $42 an hour on average, with a wide range underneath that number depending on service line and location. EY Consulting interns have reported roughly $39 an hour plus a signing bonus, and EY-Parthenon interns have reported higher rates on top of a larger signing bonus, which tracks with how strategy consulting tends to pay across the industry.
What background you need
Assurance and tax want an accounting or finance background with a credible plan for CPA eligibility, since both service lines feed into a licensed accounting career. Consulting is more flexible on major but expects sharp analytical and communication skills. EY-Parthenon draws from a smaller, more competitive pool and tends to favor candidates with a strong academic record or standout extracurricular leadership, similar to other strategy-consulting recruiting.
How to apply
EY posts Launch and Expedition EY through its own early-careers site rather than a single fixed deadline, and campus recruiting events matter more here than a cold online application. If you're a freshman or sophomore, sign up for Expedition EY as soon as it opens for your class year. If you're further along, apply to EY Launch directly and don't wait on an Expedition invite that isn't required.
For how EY compares to the rest of the Big 4 on timing and pay, see our Big 4 internships guide. Our PwC and KPMG guides cover the other two firms' own programs if you're deciding where to apply first.
Openings at EY right now
Live from the ApplyBolt board
Frequently asked questions
Does EY have a summer internship program for 2027?
Yes. EY runs Expedition EY, a virtual program for freshmen and sophomores, and EY Launch, an 8 to 10 week paid internship for students at least two years from graduation, across assurance, tax, consulting and EY-Parthenon strategy. ApplyBolt's live board currently shows real EY and EY-Parthenon openings, with 2027 internship-titled postings typically following later in the cycle.
What is Expedition EY?
Expedition EY is a virtual, self-paced program built for freshmen and sophomores who aren't yet eligible for a standard internship. It runs through online challenges and live sessions and offers scholarship prizes to standout participants, functioning as EY's earliest entry point into its recruiting pipeline rather than a paid work placement.
What does an EY internship pay?
EY hasn't published one company-wide intern rate. Self-reported figures on Glassdoor put general EY internship pay around $42 an hour on average, while EY Consulting interns have reported roughly $39 an hour plus a signing bonus, and EY-Parthenon interns have reported higher rates given the strategy-consulting track's pay premium.
What background do you need for an EY internship?
It depends on the service line. Assurance and tax want an accounting or finance background with a path toward CPA eligibility, consulting is more flexible on major but expects strong analytical and communication skills, and EY-Parthenon wants a track record of academic or extracurricular achievement given how competitive strategy consulting recruiting is.