Locations: Cheltenham (GCHQ) or London (MI5), with time potentially split across two London sites in Central and West London (TFL Zones 1 and 2)
Internship payment:
- GCHQ: £5,530 plus accommodation, if required
- MI5: £6,773 plus accommodation, if required
Hours of internships: full-time (36 hours per week with MI5 or 37 hours per week with GCHQ), office-based for the duration of the internship
Internship start dates (subject to confirmation):
- GCHQ: expected start date between 21 and 28 June 2027 (10 weeks)
- MI5: expected start date 14 June 2027 (11 weeks)
Bringing fresh perspectives to intelligence.
Our Summer Intelligence Internship is an exciting opportunity to find out if a career in Intelligence could be right for you. It also represents one of the many things that GCHQ and MI5 are doing to increase diversity within our organisations.
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?
GCHQ and MI5 may be different organisations, but we share the same goal: to keep the UK safe. What we do is hugely varied, and bringing in fresh perspectives is essential to our success.
Whichever agency you choose, 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 process to secure a place.
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 a Black, Asian, mixed heritage or other ethnic minority background, and from a socially or economically disadvantaged background. For more information, please read the full eligibility criteria for our internships on MI5’s Internships page.
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. Mentors, managers and buddies will be on hand to help you get the most out of your experience.
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.
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 event.
Event details
We’ll be running online insight events on Wednesday 19 August at 1.30pm or 5.30pm for anyone who’s eligible for and interested in applying for the internships. We’ll cover some more details about the internship, the application process, and the vetting process. Once the registration of interest has closed, we’ll send you an invitation to the events, and you can pick the time that suits you best.
Please note that a registration of interest does not constitute an application, nor will such registration have any bearing upon the recruitment process itself. Any individuals who register their interest and who decide subsequently to apply to the Summer Intelligence Internship will need to complete an application form once the window for applications has opened.
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 to explore the many other opportunities we have available throughout the year.
