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The route into management consultant

Assembled backwards from the job: the degrees that lead there, the subjects those degrees require, the exams and when they are sat, and what the whole thing costs in years. Print it.

1. Subjects, chosen at fifteen or sixteen

Aggregated across every degree that leads here. Anything marked required closes the door if you skip it.

Saudi curriculum track

مسار إدارة الأعمال— Business Administration · مسار علوم الحاسب والهندسة— Computer Science and Engineering · مسار إدارة الأعمال— Business Administration, or a science track · مسار الصحة والحياةor مسار علوم الحاسب والهندسة· المسار الشرعي— Sharia, or مسار إدارة الأعمال— Business Administration · المسار العامor مسار إدارة الأعمال· مسار الصحة والحياةor المسار العام

A-Level

  • Mathematicsrequiredfor Accounting and Finance, Business Administration and Management, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Economics, Environmental Science, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology
  • Chemistryrequiredfor Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Psychology
  • Physicsrequiredfor Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering
  • Economicshelpsfor Accounting and Finance, Business Administration and Management, Economics, Law, Media, Journalism and Communication, Political Science and International Relations
  • Further Mathematicshelpsfor Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Economics, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering
  • A languagehelpsfor Business Administration and Management, Law, Media, Journalism and Communication, Political Science and International Relations
  • Historyhelpsfor Economics, Law, Media, Journalism and Communication, Political Science and International Relations
  • Geographyhelpsfor Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Petroleum Engineering
  • Business Studieshelpsfor Accounting and Finance, Business Administration and Management
  • Design and Technologyhelpsfor Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
  • Biologyhelpsfor Environmental Science, Psychology
  • English Literaturehelpsfor Law, Media, Journalism and Communication
  • Politicshelpsfor Media, Journalism and Communication
  • Government and Politicshelpsfor Political Science and International Relations
  • Psychologyhelpsfor Psychology

IB Diploma

  • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HLrequiredfor Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Economics, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering
  • Physics HLrequiredfor Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering
  • Chemistry HLrequiredfor Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, Petroleum Engineering
  • Economics HLhelpsfor Accounting and Finance, Economics, Law, Political Science and International Relations
  • History HLhelpsfor Economics, Law, Media, Journalism and Communication, Political Science and International Relations
  • A second languagehelpsfor Business Administration and Management, Media, Journalism and Communication, Political Science and International Relations
  • Business Managementhelpsfor Accounting and Finance, Business Administration and Management
  • Design Technologyhelpsfor Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
  • Geographyhelpsfor Civil Engineering, Petroleum Engineering
  • Biology HLhelpsfor Environmental Science, Psychology
  • English A HLhelpsfor Law, Media, Journalism and Communication
  • Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL or Analysis and Approacheshelpsfor Accounting and Finance
  • Mathematics: Applications and Interpretationhelpsfor Business Administration and Management
  • Economicshelpsfor Business Administration and Management
  • Geography HLhelpsfor Environmental Science
  • Environmental Systems and Societieshelpsfor Environmental Science
  • Arabic Ahelpsfor Law
  • Chemistryhelpsfor Mechanical Engineering
  • Global Politicshelpsfor Media, Journalism and Communication
  • Global Politics HLhelpsfor Political Science and International Relations
  • Psychology HLhelpsfor Psychology
  • Mathematics SL or abovehelpsfor Psychology

Advanced Placement

  • AP Statisticshelpsfor Accounting and Finance, Business Administration and Management, Economics, Environmental Science, Media, Journalism and Communication, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology
  • AP Calculus BChelpsfor Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Economics, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering
  • AP Macroeconomicshelpsfor Accounting and Finance, Business Administration and Management, Economics, Political Science and International Relations
  • AP Chemistryhelpsfor Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering
  • AP Physics C: Mechanicshelpsfor Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering
  • AP Microeconomicshelpsfor Accounting and Finance, Business Administration and Management, Economics
  • AP English Languagehelpsfor Business Administration and Management, Law, Media, Journalism and Communication
  • AP Environmental Sciencehelpsfor Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Petroleum Engineering
  • AP Calculus ABhelpsfor Accounting and Finance, Business Administration and Management
  • AP Physics 1helpsfor Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering
  • AP Biologyhelpsfor Environmental Science, Psychology
  • AP World Historyhelpsfor Law, Political Science and International Relations
  • AP Comparative Governmenthelpsfor Law, Media, Journalism and Communication
  • AP Human Geographyhelpsfor Environmental Science
  • AP United States Historyhelpsfor Law
  • AP Latinhelpsfor Law
  • AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetismhelpsfor Mechanical Engineering
  • AP US or World Historyhelpsfor Media, Journalism and Communication
  • AP Comparative Government and Politicshelpsfor Political Science and International Relations
  • AP US Government and Politicshelpsfor Political Science and International Relations
  • AP Psychologyhelpsfor Psychology

2. The degree

More than one route usually exists. They are not equivalent.

  • Accounting and Finance

    The advisory arms of the same firms recruit heavily from this degree.

    Four years in the Kingdom, three to four in the UK, followed by three or more years of professional examinations while working.

  • Business Administration and Management

    A major destination, though the top firms recruit heavily from more selective universities and from quantitative degrees too.

    Four years in the Kingdom and the US, three to four in the UK, frequently with an internship or placement.

  • Chemical Engineering

    Energy and industrial advisory, where process understanding is scarce among consultants.

    Four to five years, with a preparatory year common in the Kingdom and industrial placements widely available.

  • Civil Engineering

    Infrastructure advisory and major project consulting.

    Four to five years, plus several years of supervised experience before chartered or professional status.

  • Economics

    A very large employer of economics graduates, and less quantitative than the degree.

    Three to four years, with a placement or exchange year common.

  • Environmental Science

    Sustainability and ESG advisory, currently one of the faster-growing consulting practices.

    Three to four years, usually with fieldwork and often a placement.

  • Law

    Regulatory and risk advisory, particularly in financial services.

    Three to four years for the LLB, plus one to three years of professional training and examinations. In the US, law is a graduate degree taken after a first bachelor's.

  • Mechanical Engineering

    A common and well-trodden exit — engineering degrees are read as evidence of structured problem solving.

    Four to five years, often including a preparatory or foundation year in the Kingdom and an industrial placement year elsewhere.

  • Media, Journalism and Communication

    Communications consulting and corporate affairs, which recruit from this background.

    Three to four years, with placements and student media effectively compulsory in practice if not on paper.

  • Petroleum Engineering

    Energy advisory, where sector knowledge is the scarce input.

    Four to five years, with a preparatory year common and industrial placement standard.

  • Political Science and International Relations

    Public sector and government advisory, a very large practice area in the Kingdom.

    Three to four years, often with a language, an exchange or an internship year.

  • Psychology

    Organisational and people-focused consulting, where behavioural evidence is increasingly valued.

    Three to four years for the degree. Clinical practice requires postgraduate training on top, typically three or more further years and highly competitive.

3. Exams, and when to sit them

Registration deadlines fall weeks or months before the exam. That is what people miss, not the exam.

  • Qudurat and TahsiliGrade 11 and 12

    The Saudi admission composite; some business colleges require the humanities Tahsili and some do not.

    • Several periods across the yearQudurat (General Aptitude Test), open from Grade 11. Computer-based and paper sittings both run.
    • Final months of the school yearTahsili (Scholastic Achievement Test), sat near the end of Grade 12 once the syllabus is covered.
    • Spring and summer of Grade 12University applications through the unified admission portals and each university's own portal.
  • SAT or ACTGrade 11 to early Grade 12

    For US applications, where business schools are often a separate admission.

    • March, May, JuneSpring sittings. The standard first attempt, in Grade 11.
    • August, October, November, DecemberAutumn sittings. The second attempt, and the last one that reaches early US deadlines is usually the October or November date.
    • Two to four weeks after each sittingScores released; sending them to universities is a separate step with its own timing.
  • Professional examinationsAfter graduation, over three or more years

    SOCPA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA or ICAEW. This is the qualification employers pay for and value; the degree mainly buys you exemptions from parts of it.

  • IELTS or TOEFLBefore applying abroad

    Required almost everywhere for international admission.

    • Weekly, year-roundIELTS and TOEFL both run frequently at centres across the Kingdom; Duolingo and PTE can be sat at very short notice.
    • 3 to 13 days after the testResults, depending on the test. IELTS computer-delivered is among the fastest; paper-based is slower.
    • Autumn of Grade 12 at the latestWhen to have sat it by, leaving room for one repeat before offers are decided.
  • ESATOctober

    Cambridge and Imperial require it for chemical engineering; most universities do not.

    • July to SeptemberUCAT testing window, sat at a test centre.
    • September to JanuaryLNAT testing window for most law courses.
    • OctoberMost Oxford and Cambridge subject tests — TMUA, ESAT, PAT, TSA.
    • JuneSTEP, sat alongside A-Levels as a condition of a Cambridge or Warwick offer rather than for shortlisting.
  • IELTS, TOEFL or STEPBefore enrolment

    Decides whether an English preparatory year is required at the engineering colleges.

    • Weekly, year-roundIELTS and TOEFL both run frequently at centres across the Kingdom; Duolingo and PTE can be sat at very short notice.
    • 3 to 13 days after the testResults, depending on the test. IELTS computer-delivered is among the fastest; paper-based is slower.
    • Autumn of Grade 12 at the latestWhen to have sat it by, leaving room for one repeat before offers are decided.
  • TMUAOctober

    Required or advantageous for economics at Cambridge, LSE, Warwick and Durham among others.

    • July to SeptemberUCAT testing window, sat at a test centre.
    • September to JanuaryLNAT testing window for most law courses.
    • OctoberMost Oxford and Cambridge subject tests — TMUA, ESAT, PAT, TSA.
    • JuneSTEP, sat alongside A-Levels as a condition of a Cambridge or Warwick offer rather than for shortlisting.
  • TSAOctober

    Oxford PPE and Economics and Management.

    • July to SeptemberUCAT testing window, sat at a test centre.
    • September to JanuaryLNAT testing window for most law courses.
    • OctoberMost Oxford and Cambridge subject tests — TMUA, ESAT, PAT, TSA.
    • JuneSTEP, sat alongside A-Levels as a condition of a Cambridge or Warwick offer rather than for shortlisting.
  • No admissions test for most coursesNot applicable

    Environmental science rarely requires a subject admissions test anywhere, which makes this one of the least administratively demanding science applications.

  • LNATSeptember to January

    Required by Oxford, UCL, LSE, KCL, Bristol, Durham, Glasgow, Nottingham and SOAS among others. Nothing to revise and a great deal to practise; the official practice materials are free.

    • July to SeptemberUCAT testing window, sat at a test centre.
    • September to JanuaryLNAT testing window for most law courses.
    • OctoberMost Oxford and Cambridge subject tests — TMUA, ESAT, PAT, TSA.
    • JuneSTEP, sat alongside A-Levels as a condition of a Cambridge or Warwick offer rather than for shortlisting.
  • LSATAfter a first degree, for the US

    The US graduate-entry route, and years away from a school decision.

  • ESAT or TMUAOctober of the application year

    Required by Cambridge and Imperial for engineering; most other universities require nothing.

    • July to SeptemberUCAT testing window, sat at a test centre.
    • September to JanuaryLNAT testing window for most law courses.
    • OctoberMost Oxford and Cambridge subject tests — TMUA, ESAT, PAT, TSA.
    • JuneSTEP, sat alongside A-Levels as a condition of a Cambridge or Warwick offer rather than for shortlisting.
  • PATOctober

    Oxford's engineering, physics and materials test.

    • July to SeptemberUCAT testing window, sat at a test centre.
    • September to JanuaryLNAT testing window for most law courses.
    • OctoberMost Oxford and Cambridge subject tests — TMUA, ESAT, PAT, TSA.
    • JuneSTEP, sat alongside A-Levels as a condition of a Cambridge or Warwick offer rather than for shortlisting.
  • Portfolio or writing sampleBefore applying, and continuously afterwards

    Not required by every programme and required by every employer. School newspaper, a blog, a podcast, published pieces — start at fifteen, because this is the only credential the industry reliably reads.

  • Relevant experienceDuring and after the degree

    Not a test, and the real gate for clinical training. Assistant psychologist and support work posts are what competitive applicants have, and they take years to accumulate.

4. After the degree

Training, licensing and the years between graduating and practising independently.

United Kingdom · United Kingdom — graduate route

  1. schoolA-levels or equivalent2 yr
  2. undergraduateDegree in any subject3 yr
  3. practiceAnalyst, then consultant0 yr

LicensingNone. No registration, no protected title, no professional body requirement.

United Kingdom · Without a degree — apprenticeship or direct entry

  1. schoolGCSEs and A-levels for a higher apprenticeship2 yr
  2. trainingHigher or degree apprenticeship with a consultancy3–5 yrs
  3. practiceConsultant0 yr

LicensingNone.

Saudi Arabia

  1. schoolSecondary school, either track3 yr
  2. undergraduateBachelor's in any subject; engineering and business common4–5 yrs
  3. practiceAnalyst, then consultant0 yr

LicensingNone.

5. What the route costs

Not tuition — time. The years spent training are years not spent earning, and that is the largest cost of a long route by a wide margin.

United Kingdom

School-leaving to independent practice: 3 years.

United Kingdom

School-leaving to independent practice: 3–5 years.

The shortest route needing no degree written up on this site is ux designer at 3 years. Someone taking that route has been earning for 2 years by the time this one starts. At their entry pay of £32,000–38,000, that is roughly £64,000–76,000 of earnings deferred.

Saudi Arabia

School-leaving to independent practice: 4–5 years.

The shortest route needing no degree written up on this site is air traffic controller at 4 years. Someone taking that route has been earning for 1 year by the time this one starts. At their entry pay of SAR 140,000–220,000, that is roughly SAR 140,000–220,000 of earnings deferred.

How that figure was reached, and what it leaves out

It is arithmetic on the sourced figures elsewhere on this site — training years multiplied by the shortest route’s entry pay — not a measurement of anything. It ignores what trainees earn while training, which in medicine and several other routes is a real salary. It ignores the pay you reach afterwards, which for long routes is usually higher and can overtake the gap entirely. And it excludes tuition, deliberately: Saudi public universities charge nationals no tuition, and fees abroad vary so widely by country and university that any single figure would be misleading. Treat it as a sense of scale for the years, not as a calculation of whether a career is worth it.

Everything on this page is assembled from the career page, the majors that lead to it and the exams those majors require, so it cannot say something they do not. Entry requirements change every year — confirm on the course page for the year you apply.