Is it easier for women to convert internships?

Banks won't necessarily admit it in public, but ever since the financial crisis, the number of women wanting to work in the industry has plummeted.

"Applications from females have dropped significantly," says the head of graduate recruitment at one UK investment bank. "Figures as low as 20% of the total are being bandied around. It's a real issue and banks are making a concerted effort to address it."

Part of that effort involves ever more women's events. For example, Goldman runs various 'pre-university symposia', JPMorgan has special 'Winning women' events, and BarCap, BofA AND JPMorgan are all supporting the society of sportswomen at Cambridge University.

Given the huge difficulties getting women to apply to banking, surely this means female interns are in with a better chance of getting an offer?

Surprisingly, this year's interns don't necessarily agree. "There is certainly a very good and equal distribution of male/female interns," says one. "Is life easier for females? Really no idea."

The head of graduate recruitment says it's not any easier for women to convert internships into a fulltime offer, but that it is now easier for them to get internships in the first place.

"If you're a good female, it's going to be easier to get onto the programme. But once you're there, you have to perform," he says.