Cyber Insights Summer School Ref. 2412

Mind Achieving Impact AwardSocial Mobility Foundation AwardThe Times Top 100Disability confident leaderThe Prince's Responsible Business

Cyber
Cheltenham
£300 per week.

GCHQ is offering you an exciting opportunity to join our 10-week Cyber Insights Summer School.


ABOUT US
 
As one of Britain’s intelligence agencies, we unlock the complex world of communications to keep our nation safe. We work closely with MI5 and MI6, our partners in the intelligence community, to safeguard Britain’s people, interests and businesses from various threats. Think cyber-attacks, espionage, terrorism, and organised crime. It’s challenging, varied and meaningful work that you simply won’t find anywhere else.
GCHQ, the longest standing code-breaking intelligence agency in the UK, is offering you an exciting opportunity to join our organisation on a maths summer placement.

At GCHQ, 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, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodiverse conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce.
 

What Will You Be Doing?
 
GCHQ will invest in enhancing your talent and cyber skills. On our Cyber Insights Summer School, you’ll get unique exposure into how GCHQ uses innovative technologies and get the chance to see how your passion for technology could help protect the UK.  This is a unique and exciting opportunity for students to work on projects with real operational interest to our organisation.
 
The summer school is designed to be an engaging, enjoyable experience that will enable you to develop a greater understanding of Computer Network Operations, Cyber Security and GCHQ‘s role in protecting the National Infrastructure.  
 
It is a great opportunity to learn through structured teaching with extensive hands-on practical and experimental learning. You’ll grow and further your knowledge in Network Fundamentals, Malware Analysis, Pen Testing, Web Hacking, C and Python Programming.  
 
You’ll learn new techniques and skills in a supportive environment, developing a project of your choice with support from Subject Matter Experts. In addition to technical skills growth, we offer you soft skills and interview guidance. You’ll meet people who have the same interests as you, not only in the classroom but also at social gatherings and evening activities.
 
At the end of the summer placement you may be offered another summer placement or, subject to criteria and requirements, be offered a permanent job within our world leading team.   
 
If you’re excited about working with us and think you have some of what we’re looking for but aren’t sure if you’re 100% there yet… why not just give it a go! 
 
Requirements

  • You’ll be graduating between summers 2023-2026
  • On track for a minimum 2:2 degree or a Joint Honours degree in a STEM subject (click here to see full list)
  • Available to attend the full 10-week scheme; Monday 4 July – Friday 9 September 2022 (Please note that the course runs 9-5 Monday – Friday during the 10 weeks)

 We’re looking for motivated and committed individuals from all backgrounds who have an aptitude for problem solving and an understanding of a programming language (Python, C, javascript, or similar) and have an interest in cyber-focused areas such as on-line security or networking.  


Training and Development
 
At GCHQ we’re proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment that’s designed to encourage open minds and develop your potential. As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you succeed. With comprehensive training and development opportunities we’ll enable you to grow your skills and perform to the best of your abilities.  
You’ll be part of a close-knit cohort, and have access to a comprehensive training and development package that will include: 

  • World-class cyber experts delivering interactive lectures, workshops and practical learning through application;
  • Individual and group real-time exercises in a supportive learning environment and organised social activities;

 
Salary
 
You’ll receive a summer placement payment of £300 per week.
 

Accommodation and Location
 
We are excited that our 2022 Cyber Insights Summer School is going to be delivered face-to-face from Cheltenham where your accommodation is provided for if required. Accommodation will be centrally located and just a short distance from our training centre.
 

Selection Process

To be eligible to apply for this position, you must meet our nationality, residency and security requirements.  Full details of these requirements can be found here.
 
Be prepared to dedicate 60-90 minutes towards completing this application. We are conscious this might be more time than you expected, so our system will allow you to save your application at any time and come back to it later. But remember to submit your full application before the closing date.
 
If you meet the Minimum Eligibility and Application Sift criteria, the next step of this selection process will be a virtual interview.
Interviews are currently scheduled to be held from Monday 22 Jan to Tuesday 15 February 2022, however, these dates are subject to change.
 
If you successfully complete the above stages, you’ll receive a placement offer, conditional to you completing our security clearance (SC) process which enables you to obtain the level of security clearance required to undertake this role.

Offer of Interview

As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. This is known as the Offer of Interview (OOI).  To secure an interview for this role, candidates applying under this scheme must meet the following minimum criteria:

  • Be on track for a 2:2 STEM degree
  • Application form - you will be asked a series of eligibility questions and other questions relating to this vacancy.

If you successfully complete the required stages, and are successful at interview, you will receive a job offer conditional on you completing our developed vetting (DV) process, which enables you to obtain the level of security clearance required to undertake this role.

 
Eligibility
 
To be eligible to apply, you must be a British Citizen. One of your parents must be a British Citizen or must have the nationality or citizenship from our approved list of countries (for more info link to website / JD). If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, you will nonetheless be considered. (for more info link to website / JD). 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 and 6 months, if successful you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday. Discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member. Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside of the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. Further information on our eligibility criteria can be found on the Applying section.
 

This Program / Vacancy is closed to applications.