Spring week/ SA's in Sydney/Hong Kong/ Singapore

Hi guys, 

I'm a Brit going to the University of Sydney (on a student visa). I already know about Spring's and SA's in UK (Trackr good as well) but I know little about the environment in the three cities mentioned. 

I want to work in Advisory (happy to work in anything to boost my chances for a FT) and would like to know which firms i should apply for in each of the three cities for internships or should I just do London.

Ta

5 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know about Spring Weeks and Summer Analyst (SA) programs in Sydney, Hong Kong, and Singapore:

Hong Kong and Singapore

  1. Key Firms to Target:

    • Bulge Bracket Banks: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, BAML, Citigroup, Barclays, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, UBS, HSBC.
    • Elite Boutiques: Moelis, Evercore, Lazard, Houlihan Lokey.
    • Regional Players: DBS, Nomura, Macquarie, Daiwa Capital Markets, Mizuho Securities, Standard Chartered, Societe Generale.
  2. Language Requirements:

    • For Hong Kong, proficiency in Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) is often critical. Many firms test your ability to translate investment highlights into impactful Chinese.
    • Singapore tends to be more English-friendly, but networking with local professionals is key.
  3. Cultural Fit:

    • Hong Kong leans towards hiring mainland Chinese candidates, with a strong preference for those with excellent Chinese language skills.
    • Singapore has a more diverse hiring pool but still values connections and networking.
  4. Networking:

    • Reach out to bankers with ties to your background (e.g., Singaporean or Hong Kong professionals with Western education). They are often more receptive to networking.

Sydney

  1. Key Firms to Target:

    • Bulge Bracket Banks: Similar to Hong Kong and Singapore, but with a smaller presence.
    • Big 4 Accounting Firms: PwC, Deloitte, EY, KPMG often have advisory roles that can lead to IB opportunities.
    • Local Players: Macquarie, UBS (strong presence in Australia).
  2. Visa Considerations:

    • Without permanent residency (PR), breaking into IB in Sydney can be challenging. Many firms prefer candidates with PR or citizenship.
    • Consider staying in Australia longer to gain PR or explore lateral moves after gaining experience elsewhere.
  3. Alternative Pathways:

    • If PR is a barrier, you could explore doing a Master's program in the UK or US to re-enter the market as an Associate.

London vs. Asia-Pacific

  • London offers a more structured Spring Week and SA program pipeline, which might be easier to navigate as a Brit.
  • However, gaining experience in Asia-Pacific could differentiate you and provide exposure to high-growth markets.

Recommendation

  • Apply broadly to all three regions to maximize your chances.
  • If language or visa barriers are significant, focus on London while networking heavily in Asia-Pacific for future opportunities.

For more detailed insights, check out the WSO threads on https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/2019-summer-an…</a">2019 Summer Analyst Program for Hong Kong/Singapore and https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/job-search/2021-summer-analyst-pr…</a">2021 Summer Analyst Program for Hong Kong/Singapore.

Sources: 2021 Summer Analyst Program for Hong Kong/Singapore, 2018 IB Summer Analyst Recruiting Timeline - Hong Kong/Singapore, 2021 Summer Analyst Program for Hong Kong/Singapore, Chances of breaking into IB in Sydney without PR, 2020 Summer Analyst Program for Hong Kong/Singapore

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Spring weeks aren’t really a thing in Sydney. Path is typically internship at small boutique / big 4 to gain experience, some run structured programs, may also get lucky if you try reaching out to small firms and asking to intern. Then in penultimate year go for an IB internship and hopefully convert it to a FT offer. 

 
Most Helpful

As hseiebeei mentioned above, we don't really have spring weeks in Aus. The closest thing we have is probably the selective early insight events hosted by some banks (GS CADP, UBS IB Development Challenge, BofA Insights Program, Citi Talent Program come to mind). These vary in terms of length and types of activities, but banks will often shortlist candidates from these events for SA roles (in the case of GS this year, ~90% of SA seats were filled following CADP). By the time applications open for these, you should be in your penultimate year, have some relevant internship experience, and be essentially ready to recruit for regular SA roles. Another way to get in front of the recruiting process is winning case comps (JPM IB case comp, MacCap Boardroom Pitch, etc), but these are often very competitive.

It is notoriously difficult to recruit for the top BBs and local banks in Aus (often less than 10 IB seats available per firm) - maximise your chances of landing a role by getting your foot in the door at a big 4 deal advisory team / reputable boutique early, apply to all the major IB programs as soon as they open, and network with a few analysts from each firm.

Re London - I've known a few people that recruited from Aus. Definitely worth applying as the intern classes are substantially larger (even after adjusting for population) and odds are considered marginally better compared to Aus. 

Unfortunately, don't know all that much about the process for HK/SG.

Good luck! 

 

Iste minus vel voluptatem et. Nobis et sit quis similique aut.

Ut aut itaque possimus nihil saepe quia dolorem possimus. Ut repellendus sit quia sed. Fugit ratione et doloribus aut facere nesciunt. Ratione modi aperiam eligendi hic ut quod magni quasi.

Et iure maiores est quos facilis aut numquam consequatur. Qui omnis aut consequatur voluptas molestias quisquam. Sunt quos est ab qui voluptatum. Rerum quaerat beatae exercitationem quisquam et doloremque sed. Quam voluptates nemo quam aspernatur. Porro rem dolor qui natus tempore.

Aliquam sed fugit illum et facilis perferendis. Possimus consequuntur saepe ratione temporibus eius sunt a.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (68) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”