UK Corporate Finance Graduate Advice

Hi all,

I am requesting advise on breaking into uk corporate finance.

I am in my 2nd year at a semi target university studying a relevant degree.

After my 1st year I completed a summer internship at a small m&a firm, which I obtained through a cold email. I will be doing the same again at the same firm after I finish my 2nd year.

Also on my CV is a bit of m&a work for a society at my university.

My aim is to work in corporate finance, ideally it would be big4 grad scheme. However the issue I have is, what are the chances of me obtaining such a grad scheme in the corp fun function at these firms. I ask this as I understand the functions are much smaller than that of audit etc. Would it be more strategic to apply for audit and then try to lateral into the corporate finance function? The same again for mid market firms ie bdo, grant thornton, rsm etc.

In hind sight I should have applied to their summer internships but was too focused on poxy IB summer internships. I have come to the conclusion I will not be in the IB space directly out of university. Just being realistic. Of course I will also be applying to all other corporate finance grad schemes available when the recruiting season starts again.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.