The excitement is palpable; so too the anxiety. The second-year economics student is about to begin his 10-week internship at the investment banking division of one of the top-tier banks in the City of London.

Schooled in Singapore, the 20-year-old had a taste of what is in store in his first year as an undergraduate at a leading British university. While most of his peers were adjusting to their surroundings, he was applying for a “Spring Week”: work experience at a bank to gain exposure to trading, dealmaking and risk.

The sector’s toxic image is no deterrent. Nor is the prospect of all-nighters. Long hours, he insists, are the product of a “culture of excellence”. It is the “dynamism” that appeals to him. “I like the idea of being involved with the biggest market movers in the industry.” There is also the money.