Accountancy firms have triumphed in a paid placement and internship UK employers survey - securing four out of the top five positions - including the number one spot won by Grant Thornton.
The Top 75 placement rankings - complied using 6,000 student-written reviews in 2012-2013 - documents real-life undergraduate experiences at the UK's most high-profile employers and shows which companies provide the most valuable student experience.
The RateMyPlacement results reveal that the average student intake (from one day to three week short term insights) at accountancy firms, totalled over 300 in 2012-13, three times more than the cross-sector average of just over 100.
The accountancy profession boasted the highest retention levels with 79% staying on or being offered a new role, well above the placement and internship industry average of 60%.
Grant Thornton, moved up one place to take the top spot in the fourth annual 'Top 75 Placement & Internship Employers 2013-2014' with student reviews averaging 8.66 out of 10.
Richard Waite, Grant Thornton's resourcing brand senior officer, said: 'We are thrilled to have been voted the Top Placement & Internship Employer 2013-2014 in the UK by students themselves. We tailor our schemes based on the feedback we receive each year so it is gratifying to know that this is making a difference. For a scheme to work it has to be mutually beneficial, which is why we focus so hard on giving early responsibility, making them feel valued, presenting the firm in the best light, and offering valuable skills for them to take forward.'
BDO leapt three places from sixth last year to scoop third place, while Big Four players PwC and Ernst & Young (EY) secured fourth and fifth place respectively.
Deloitte took the 11th spot, while KPMG could only manage 40th place - four places below Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
The reviews forming the basis of the ranking, encourage students to rate their experience on the amount of responsibility given, whether they felt valued by colleagues, impressions of the company overall, training and development opportunities, and transferable skills gained.
Additional factors such as opportunities to socialise with others, the cost of living in the area and company locations are also factored in.
Those qualifying for entry into the 'Top 75 Placement & Internship Employers 2013-2014' table must employ over 250 people and have a minimum of 15 reviews from the 2012-13academic year.