Application deadline
Varies by function. Please visit www.
careersinbritishintelligence.co.uk for
specific closing dates.
Starting salary
£24,945
No. of graduate positions
100+
No. of internship positions
Due to the security restrictions of
GCHQ we are limited in what we
can offer, but we do currently have a
Sponsored Undergraduate Technologist
scheme which runs annually in the
autumn. For further details see the
Sponsorships page at
First year usually based location
99% of our graduates are recruited
to work at our HQ in Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire, with a small number
recruited to our smaller Scarborough
and Bude sites.
Head office location
GCHQ's purpose built headquarters are
located on the outskirts of Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire (in the heart of the
Cotswolds).
Disciplines accepted
Most considered but we have specific
roles for IT, Research & Development,
Engineering, Mathematics, Languages,
Internet and Information Science.
In all cases it is important that
individuals have other key skills (for
example, team working ability, customer
skills, good communications), as well as
an appropriate degree.
University events list
Please check with your university
careers service for details of events, or
visit the Events section of our website.
How to apply
Graduate enquiries email address:
GCHQ is one of the UK's three intelligence
services, alongside MI5 and MI6. The only
one based outside London - in Cheltenham -
it has two very specific roles in helping counter
threats which compromise national and global
security.
The first is to gather and analyse intelligence,
using some of the world's most powerful
technology, which helps shape Britain's
response to global events. Teams of IT,
electronics and telecommunications specialists
manage the equipment, while mathematicians,
linguists and intelligence analysts study and
interpret the information it provides. This
information is then used by customers - for
example, the Government, law enforcement
agencies and the military - to inform foreign
policy or fight terrorism and crime.
The second is to provide technical advice for
the protection of Government communication
and information systems. This specialist
work is the responsibility of CESG - The
National Technical Authority for Information
Assurance.
In both roles the focus is on keeping one step
ahead of people who are, in turn, trying to keep
one step ahead of GCHQ. This means the work
is constantly evolving, extremely challenging,
and always interesting. GCHQ employs around
5,000 people - mainly in Cheltenham - and
recruits graduates from various disciplines into
entry level roles in a huge range of operational
and support functions.
While the work is totally unique, the skills -
and professional qualifications - graduates
gain will be industry standard, and transferable.
Everyone benefits from personalised training,
mentoring and shadowing. Applicants must be
British citizens.
PDF downloads:
Login to Top Employers 