Goldman Sachs is number one choice for students

Nearly 26% listed Goldman as one of the five firms they would most like to work for. Some way behind on 18% came Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan.

HSBC appealed to 17% of the university students. Merrill Lynch and CSFB managed 15%, while the poll listed Citibank and UBS at 12%, ABN Amro at 8% and Royal Bank of Scotland at six per cent.

Many of the same students also listed consultancies and accountants as popular choices. Of these Andersen ironically took first place in the poll, which was conducted at the end of last year before the scale of the firm's problems over Enron became known.

Among all students - including those not considering a banking career - the BBC was the top choice, followed by the Foreign Office.

The poll showed that graduates overall are more interested in secure employment than ever, Universum said. They also said international career opportunities were the most attractive feature that an employer could offer.

A sensible balance between work and personal life was a high priority for more than half the students.