Applications for this job are now closed
£4,972 - £6,363 depending on location
Central London or Cheltenham, with accommodation assistance provided for each location
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 real time working in 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 an ethnic minority and socially or economically disadvantaged background are currently under-represented in the UK’s Intelligence Services. That’s why we offer this 10- to 11-week internship to university students, specifically from those backgrounds*.
What will I do?
Whichever agency you choose, you won’t be just an intern sitting on the sidelines – you’ll be part of the team. You’ll feed your curiosity, develop new skills and work on real-life projects. It’s an internship unlike any other. Where you’ll see how front-line operations are run, piece together intelligence and create a picture of possible threats. In short, you’ll be a part of our mission from your first day. And the work you do will help us keep the UK safe from harm.
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 picking 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.
- At MI6, we focus on threats from overseas. So you’ll be interested in different cultures, with a good sense of judgement and communication skills.
Where are the internships?
The internships are based in Cheltenham (GCHQ) and London (MI5 and MI6), but if you don’t live nearby – don’t let that stop you. If you need it, for the duration of the internship we’ll cover the cost of your accommodation.
What happens after the internship finishes?
As the internship ends, you’ll get the chance to apply for a permanent role with your chosen agency. In fact, almost everyone who does this internship goes on to apply for another role with us. Please note, you’ll still have to go through an assessment process for the role you apply for.
Who can apply?
You’ll need to be a university student in your penultimate or final year of university (for the 2024/2025 academic year), studying any subject. And you’ll need to be from an ethnic minority and socially or economically disadvantaged background.
When are the internships?
Depending on who you join, your internship will run on the following dates. It’s also worth noting we offer pro-rata annual leave during your time with us. So, you’ll get five days off.
- GCHQ: 30th June to 5th September 2025
- MI5: 16th June to 29th August 2025
- MI6: 12th June to 29th August 2025
Applications for the Summer Intelligence Internship open on 27th August 2024. In the meantime, you can register your interest. By doing this you’ll have the opportunity to attend an event. You can find more information about the entry requirements for this role on our website.
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 a job 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, MI5 and MI6 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.
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 website.
