Willis Towers Watson Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply

Last updated: September 2026

WTW is one of the world’s largest advisory and broking companies, with $9.93 billion in 2024 revenue, approximately 48,900 employees, and clients including 89% of the Fortune 1000. The firm’s Retirement Actuarial Internship for Summer 2027 is already live on careers.wtwco.com, paying $28–$35 per hour, while Health & Benefits, Corporate Risk & Broking, and Work & Rewards tracks are expected to post in fall 2026 through early 2027. WTW ranks #19 among Best Consulting Internships in Vault’s 2026 rankings, and its Glassdoor intern rating of 4.6/5 puts it among the highest-rated consulting internships in the industry. US interns rate the firm 5.0/5 across all sub-categories. The interview process runs four stages—application, HireVue video assessment, consultant interviews with case studies, and a final assessment day—and the firm explicitly treats the internship as its primary pipeline to full-time analyst roles through dedicated “Intern Conversion Only” postings.

Quick Facts

The key number: $28–$35/hr for actuarial interns, with the Summer 2027 Retirement Actuarial posting already live. WTW recruits on a rolling basis across tracks, so actuarial postings appear first (fall), followed by consulting and broking tracks in winter and spring. The 3.0 GPA minimum is a hard floor, and one or more passed actuarial exams is highly preferred for actuarial tracks.

Externships are short, remote professional experience programs where you finish a real project with a real company. The Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling Externship builds the valuation modeling and quantitative analysis skills that WTW’s actuarial and investment tracks reward, and the Corporate Strategy Externship Mentored by Eric Ries develops the structured problem-solving a WTW case interview tests for. Explore all Externships.

What Is a WTW Internship?

A WTW internship is a paid, 8–10 week summer placement at one of the world’s largest advisory and broking companies. WTW (formerly Willis Towers Watson, rebranded in 2022) operates across two segments: Health, Wealth & Career (59% of $9.93 billion in revenue) and Risk & Broking (41%). Interns work on real client assignments from day one—actuarial valuations, benefits plan analysis, insurance risk modeling, or compensation benchmarking depending on the track—with mentorship from experienced consultants. The company was formed in 2016 from the merger of Willis Group (founded 1828) and Towers Watson, is listed on Nasdaq (WTW) as an S&P 500 component, and is led by CEO Carl Hess. WTW serves 89% of the Fortune 1000 and 92% of the Fortune Global 500. The program includes team projects, presentations, panel discussions, and networking with senior leaders, and the firm posts explicit “Intern Conversion Only” full-time analyst roles, confirming the internship is the primary pipeline to careers at WTW.

When Do WTW Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

WTW recruits on a staggered, rolling timeline across its intern tracks. Actuarial postings appear first—the Retirement Actuarial Internship for Summer 2027 is already live as of August 2026—while Health & Benefits, Work & Rewards, and Corporate Risk & Broking tracks typically post in fall through early spring. The firm’s North America early careers page states that Summer 2028 internship applications will open in Spring 2027. The interview process runs four stages: online application, HireVue video assessment with cognitive games, first-round interviews with two consultants (behavioral plus case study), and a final assessment day. Prior-cycle evidence shows the Health & Benefits track had an apply-by date of February 22, 2026 for a June 1 start. For Summer 2027, the actuarial window is open now, and non-actuarial tracks should be monitored starting this fall.

How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.

Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open

WTW’s actuarial track is already live, and the firm reviews on a rolling basis across all tracks. That means seats fill progressively as qualified candidates are identified. The Health & Benefits prior cycle closed February 22 for a June start—a short window by any measure. WTW requires a 3.0 GPA and highly prefers passed actuarial exams, so the candidate pool is self-selecting and motivated. If you wait until January 2027 to apply for a track that posted in October 2026, the strongest candidates have already been interviewing for months. The HireVue assessment alone takes preparation (five scored questions, one attempt, plus cognitive games), so starting early gives you time to practice without rushing. Apply the week your target track posts, not the week before it closes.

Which WTW Internship Programs Should You Target?

WTW offers structured summer internships across its two business segments, each with distinct tracks, client exposure, and full-time conversion pathways. Which track to target depends on your major, actuarial exam progress, and whether you want deep quantitative work or broader advisory exposure.

See all openings on the WTW North America internships page. The Retirement Actuarial track is the largest and earliest-posted. Level Up is the feeder program: attend it before applying and you have a warm connection to the recruiting team.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

WTW publishes clear eligibility requirements across its internship tracks. The bar is higher than many peer programs, particularly for actuarial roles:

• Enrollment: 2nd or 3rd year undergraduate; for actuarial roles, new graduates from recognized universities are also eligible.

• GPA: minimum 3.0 overall (explicitly stated on the WTW North America Early Careers page and in intern conversion JDs).

• Actuarial exams: one or more SOA/CAS exams “highly preferred” for actuarial tracks. Not strictly required, but candidates with at least Exam P or FM have a significant edge.

• Work authorization: must be authorized to work in the US indefinitely without visa sponsorship. WTW explicitly excludes H-1B, CPT, OPT, and STEM OPT. This is a hard barrier for international students on F-1 visas.

• Graduation window: expected graduation December 2027 – May 2028 for Summer 2027 interns (Level Up eligibility); graduation June 2026 – August 2027 for actuarial intern conversion roles.

Does WTW Have a Hard GPA Cutoff?

Yes. WTW is one of the few advisory firms that publishes a hard minimum: 3.0 overall GPA. This appears on the North America Early Careers page and in individual intern conversion JDs. Unlike companies that list GPA as “preferred,” WTW uses it as a screening criterion. If your GPA is below 3.0, the application will likely be filtered before a human reviews it. That said, the 3.0 floor is lower than some competitors (McKinsey and BCG typically expect 3.5+), and WTW weighs actuarial exam progress, relevant experience, and demonstrated analytical ability alongside academics. A 3.1 GPA with two passed actuarial exams is stronger than a 3.8 with none.

What Skills Does WTW Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

WTW is not a generalist consulting firm. It is an advisory and broking company specializing in insurance risk, employee benefits, and human capital. The skills it values in interns reflect that specialization: actuarial and quantitative analysis appears in every technical track, Excel and financial modeling proficiency is a baseline requirement, and domain knowledge of insurance and benefits mechanics separates WTW candidates from students applying to MBB or Big 4. The firm’s JDs and interview guides consistently emphasize structured thinking, client communication, and the ability to anchor analysis in numbers rather than assertions.

How Is Demand for Actuarial & Advisory Interns Moving Right Now?

Build These Skills Before You Apply

And every skill in the chart maps to a remote Externship where you finish a real company project before the window closes.

How close is the overlap? The Yinan Zhao deliverable is financial modeling and valuation analysis in WTW’s own vocabulary, the Breaking Games project builds the data analysis and business intelligence evidence every track’s JD asks for, and the Eric Ries corporate strategy project develops the structured problem-solving that WTW’s case interviews test.

What Is the WTW Application and Interview Process Like?

WTW uses a four-stage hiring process for interns. The timeline runs approximately 2–4 months from application to offer, with interviews beginning shortly after the HireVue assessment:

1. Apply at careers.wtwco.com for your target track. Tailor your resume to highlight quantitative coursework, actuarial exam progress, and relevant analytical experience. WTW recommends one application per recruitment cycle.

2. Complete the HireVue video assessment. You will receive an invitation after initial screening. The assessment includes 3 practice questions and 5 scored questions with 3 minutes per response and one recording attempt only. It also includes two cognitive mini-games (Shapedance and Numerosity). Practice recording yourself 3–5 times before the real assessment.

3. First-round interviews with two WTW consultants (weeks 2–4). Each interview combines 15–20 minutes of behavioral questions (STAR method) and 25–35 minutes of a case study or technical exercise. Cases are domain-specific: benefits design, insurance risk pricing, workforce restructuring, or pension plan analysis. Prepare WTW-specific answers about why advisory and broking over MBB or Big 4.

4. Final assessment day (weeks 4–6). Individual case exercises, group case simulations, and behavioral deep-dives. For group cases, contribute analytically, build on others’ insights, and volunteer to synthesize findings. Anchor every assertion in a number.

5. Offer and onboarding. WTW extends offers on a rolling basis. Confirm your hourly rate, office location, start date, and any benefits (housing stipend, 401(k) eligibility). Continue actuarial exam preparation if applicable.

WTW’s behavioral interview component is “heavier than at MBB firms” according to roadtooffer.com, so prepare more STAR stories than you think you need. Glassdoor rates WTW intern interviews at 92% positive experience among Dow Jones subsidiary interviews, but the WTW-specific difficulty is moderate. Our HireVue question guide with a free AI mock tool covers the same video-assessment format WTW uses.

What Students on Reddit Say

WTW is actively discussed in r/actuary, where actuarial students share interview experiences, compare offers, and evaluate career trajectories. These threads represent the community’s unfiltered perspective on WTW’s internship program.

How Do You Stand Out at a Firm That Recruits Actuarial Talent Nationally?

Three moves, all executable before fall 2026. First, pass at least one actuarial exam before you apply. WTW’s JDs say exam completion is “highly preferred,” and the intern conversion posting requires “successful completion of one or more actuarial exams.” Exam P (Probability) or Exam FM (Financial Mathematics) are the standard entry points. Each passed exam may increase your intern hourly rate by $1 (per a Reddit commenter in r/actuary), and the signal for the return offer evaluation matters more than the dollar. Second, know why WTW is not McKinsey and articulate the difference. WTW is an advisory and broking company specializing in insurance risk, employee benefits, and human capital—not a generalist strategy consultancy. Interviewers want to hear that you understand this distinction. Reference WTW’s two segments (Health, Wealth & Career vs. Risk & Broking), its role as the broker who helps clients place insurance and design employee benefit programs, and its actuarial foundation. A strong answer: “I want to build deep expertise in a specific domain rather than rotate across industries. WTW’s retirement consulting practice lets me apply actuarial skills to pension design problems that affect millions of employees.” Third, attend Level Up with WTW before applying. The 1–2 day undergraduate insight event is WTW’s pipeline to summer internships. Attending gives you direct exposure to WTW’s business areas, networking time with senior professionals, and a warm connection to the recruiting team before applications open.

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

WTW’s peer set spans global insurance brokers and advisory firms that recruit from the same actuarial, benefits, and risk-management talent pool.

Our consulting internships guide maps the full landscape of advisory and consulting opportunities, timeline by timeline.

FAQ

Can I still apply for a summer 2026 Willis Towers Watson internship?

No. The summer 2026 class started in late May 2026 and those postings closed earlier in the year. The next open cycle is summer 2027: the Retirement Actuarial Internship is already live on careers.wtwco.com, and Health & Benefits, Work & Rewards, and Corporate Risk & Broking tracks are expected to post in fall 2026 through early 2027.

How much do WTW interns get paid?

WTW publishes pay ranges on its job postings. The Retirement Actuarial Internship pays $28 to $35 per hour. The Health & Benefits track paid $26 to $27 per hour in the prior cycle. A housing stipend of $1,500 per month was reported for one Boston actuarial intern on Levels.fyi, but this is not confirmed as standard across all locations and tracks.

What GPA does WTW require for internships?

WTW requires a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, which appears on the North America Early Careers page and in intern conversion JDs. This is a hard screening criterion, not a soft preference. For actuarial tracks, one or more passed SOA or CAS exams is highly preferred and can offset a GPA closer to the 3.0 floor.

Does WTW sponsor visas for interns?

No. WTW explicitly states it will only consider candidates currently authorized to work in the United States who will not require sponsorship now or in the future. This excludes international students on F-1 visas requiring H-1B, CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT authorization. This policy applies across all US internship tracks.

What is the WTW intern interview process?

WTW uses a four-stage process. First, submit an online application through the careers portal. Second, complete a HireVue video assessment with five scored questions and two cognitive mini-games. Third, interview with two consultants covering behavioral questions and a domain-specific case study. Fourth, attend a final assessment day with individual cases, group exercises, and behavioral evaluations.

Can a WTW internship lead to a full-time offer?

Yes. WTW posts explicit Intern Conversion Only positions requiring prior summer internship completion, confirming a structured pathway from intern to full-time analyst. The Retirement Actuarial Analyst conversion role pays $69,500 to $81,000 annually. Return offers are performance-based and not automatic, but the internship is clearly designed as the primary entry point to full-time careers.

What is the Level Up with WTW program?

Level Up is a one-to-two-day undergraduate insight event that functions as a pipeline to WTW summer internships. Participants attend workshops, network with senior professionals, and explore career opportunities across business lines. The program offers both in-person sessions in Chicago and virtual formats. Completing Level Up provides an early connection to the recruiting team before internship applications open.

Where are WTW internships located?

WTW offers internships across 17 or more US cities, including New York, Chicago, Houston, Boston, Arlington VA, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and others. The Retirement Actuarial track has the broadest geographic spread. WTW uses a hybrid work model with in-person collaboration expected for team projects and client presentations.

WTW’s actuarial track is live now and the firm reviews on a rolling basis. The seats that are open today will not be open in January 2027. Spend the runway building proof: a remote Externship turns “interested in actuarial consulting” into a finished quantitative project a fall 2026 application can point at.