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London or Cheltenham
£6,193 - £6,908 (dependent on location) for the 11-week Language Programme
GCHQ and MI5 are part of the UK’s Intelligence Services. We work together to safeguard Britain’s people, interests and businesses from various threats at home, overseas, and online, including cyber-attacks, espionage, terrorism, and organised crime. Working across our vital missions, you’ll deliver impact at the heart of national security, all within a supportive and inclusive environment that allows everyone to thrive.
This is an exciting 11-week paid placement where you’ll work at the heart of our language teams and make a real impact on our operations. Adaptable and motivated, you’ll use your Mandarin language skills and cultural knowledge to unlock the nuances in audio and written materials. Equipped with specialist tools, you’ll uncover valuable insights that you’ll then present back to your team. You’ll provide vital context for your colleagues as well as our customers and intelligence partners.
As part of a friendly and supportive community of language specialists, you’ll collaborate with your team and demonstrate your cultural understanding by translating and transcribing Russian language materials, some of which may be technical or specialised in nature. Your work will influence operations as you present your findings, and you’ll also have the chance to draft intelligence reports and conduct research. This is a fascinating opportunity to test your language skills, unlock your potential and work alongside people who share your passion for Language.
To join, you must have (or be expecting) at least a 2:2 degree in Mandarin and be in your final year of study or have graduated in the summer of 2021 or later. You must be a British Citizen (or hold dual nationality where one component is British) and have lived in the UK for seven out of the last ten years.
You don’t need a technical background, but you must be eager to learn and develop new skills, especially those that are technical and complement your language abilities. You’ll receive a salary of £6,193 - £6,908 dependent on location, as well as other benefits including 5.5 days of annual leave and access to our subsidised gym, restaurant and (at Cheltenham) on-site coffee bars.
You’ll also receive a dedicated training and development package in both language and analysis. As a mix of both classroom-based and hands-on learning, this will enable you to further your abilities and grow your knowledge. Plus, you’ll be supported by trained professionals as well as receiving coaching and mentoring to help you thrive.
And at the end of the language programme, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for a permanent role, subject to tests and a competency interview. If successful, at GCHQ you’ll become a language specialist and have the chance to apply for our Language Career Development Scheme. This is designed to further develop your abilities and could lead to professional qualifications and membership of a professional body. At MI5, you’ll receive regular Mandarin lessons as you thrive as part of our growing community of language specialists.
Please note, the GCHQ roles are based in Cheltenham and the MI5 roles are based in London.
To find out more and apply, please visit our website.
At GCHQ and MI5 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website.
To be eligible to apply, you must be a British Citizen. If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, you will nonetheless be considered. Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for seven out of the last ten years. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. You can apply at the age of 17 years, if successful you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday. Full eligibility details can be found on our website.
