£5,530 to £6,773 depending on location, with accommodation provided, if required
Cheltenham (GCHQ) or London (MI5), with time potentially split across two London sites in Central and West London (Zones 1 and 2).
Bringing fresh perspectives to intelligence.
Ever wondered if a career in intelligence could be right for you? Or is it something you’ve never considered, but could get curious about? Our Summer Intelligence Internship is a great opportunity to spend some time exploring the day-to-day activities of the UK’s Intelligence Services. Discover how we keep the UK safe. And find out if you could see yourself building a career with us.
People from a Black, Asian, mixed-heritage or other ethnic minority background and who are also from a socially or economically disadvantaged background are currently under-represented in the UK’s Intelligence Services. That’s why we invite applications to this 10- to 11-week internship from university students in their penultimate or final year of study (for the 2026/2027 academic year), who are specifically from these backgrounds.
What will I do?
As part of a cohort of fellow interns, you’ll gain unique insights into the organisations, along with access to specialist training and lots of support from a dedicated internship manager, mentors and the wider team. It’s a great way to build new skills and develop your abilities, as well as figure out if a career in intelligence is something you want to pursue after your degree. If it is, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for employment with your chosen agency once the internship is over. Please note, should you choose to apply, you will still need to go through the usual competitive application and selection process to secure a place.
How do I pick which agency to join?
Whatever your skills and interests are, if you’re motivated, ready to learn and discover your potential, we want to hear from you. When it comes to choosing the right agency for you, here’s a bit of insight:
- at GCHQ, we safeguard the UK’s digital homeland, which means we deal with a lot of data. So, you’ll need a passion for analysing information and discovering what it can reveal.
- at MI5, we protect the UK’s national security. You’ll need to be an enthusiastic and inquisitive problem solver who’s interested in looking after the UK’s security at home.
Where are the internships?
The internships are based in Cheltenham with GCHQ or London with MI5, with time potentially split across two sites in Central and West London. If you don’t live nearby – don’t let that stop you. We'll cover the cost of accommodation for the duration of the internship where required.
What happens after the internship finishes?
At the end of the internship, you’ll have the opportunity to apply to join your chosen organisation as an employee. If you choose to make an application for employment following the internship, then you’ll still need to go through a competitive application and selection process in order to join.
Who can apply?
You’ll need to be a university student in your penultimate or final year of university (for the 2026/2027 academic year), studying any subject. And you’ll need to be a British National from an ethnic minority and socially or economically disadvantaged background. You can find more information about the entry requirements on MI5’s Internships page.
When are the internships?
Our internships are expected to run on the following dates. Please note that these dates are indicative only and may be subject to change. We will confirm final start and end dates before offers are issued. You'll also receive five days' annual leave during your internship.
- GCHQ (subject to confirmation): expected to start on either Monday 21 or Monday 28 June 2027 and run until Friday 27 August or Friday 3 September 2027 (10 weeks)
- MI5: expected to run from Monday 14 June to Friday 27 August 2027 (11 weeks)
Applications for the Summer Intelligence Internships open from 10am on Monday 24 August 2026. In the meantime, you can register your interest. By doing this you’ll have the opportunity to attend an online insight event to find out more about the internships.
To register your interest in this role and for our online event, please click the apply button.
Remember, these internships are only open to university students in their penultimate or final year of study, who are also from an ethnic minority and socially or economically disadvantaged background. If you aren’t eligible for this internship, we’d encourage you to visit our careers sites and explore the many other opportunities we have available throughout the year.
Please note that a registration of interest does not constitute an application, nor will it influence the recruitment process. Individuals who register now will still need to complete an application form once the window has opened.
At GCHQ and MI5 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse organisation 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. Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our websites: Diversity and inclusion at GCHQ and Diversity at MI5.
To be eligible to apply, you must meet the criteria above and 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 websites: How to apply for GCHQ and Applying for jobs at MI5.
