Cyber Insights Summer School (CISS)

Job summary

This is a 10 week ‘in person’ programme taking place from the end of June to the beginning of September 2027.

Location: CISS 2027 will be classroom-based training in Lancashire.

Receipted travel cost requests to support your attendance will be refunded for travel to the summer school, and at the end of your time with us. (up to £200)

The role

GCHQ is providing you with an opportunity to enhance your cyber skills by attending our Cyber Insights Summer School. You’ll have an opportunity to see how your passion for technology could help protect the UK by gaining exposure into how GCHQ uses cutting edge technologies.

Job description

During our Summer School, you’ll develop a wide range of skills relating to cyber security – both offensive and defensive. You’ll learn through structured teaching with extensive hands-on practical experience and experimentation, growing and developing your knowledge in Network Fundamentals, Malware Analysis, Pen Testing, Ethical Hacking and Forensics. And you’ll benefit from a unique and exciting opportunity to gain knowledge, understanding and an insight into the work of a world-leading team within GCHQ.

You’ll be part of a close-knit cohort, with access to a comprehensive training and development package that includes:

• Support from world-class cyber experts delivering interactive lectures, workshops, and practical learning through application

• Individual and group real-time exercises in a supportive learning environment

• Organised social activities

• Help to develop your skills in programming and computer networking which will support your STEM degree studies

You’ll benefit from a payment of £300 per week for the duration of the summer school, and free accommodation which we’ll provide while you learn at a Lancashire location. You’ll have your own ensuite room, with shared kitchen facilities. Travel expenses to support your attendance - at the start and end of the summer school only - are available.

Person specification

About you

You’ll have a basic understanding of a programming language (Python, C, JavaScript, or similar) - for example you may have coded a simple programme in the past. You’ll also be able to tell us about your interest in cyber-focused areas such as online security or networking.

You’ll need to be studying a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) subject, or a joint honours degree that includes a STEM subject, at university, and be graduating between the summers 2028 to 2030.

To be eligible to apply, you must be a British Citizen. If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, you will nonetheless be considered.

Our 10-week summer school will take place from the end of June to the beginning of September 2027. You’ll need to be able to commit to this whole period.

Benefits

Training and development

At GCHQ we’re proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment. As an organisation that values and nurtures people, we’re committed to helping you succeed. During our 10-week programme, you’ll develop your skills in programming, computer networking, and cyber security, to help support your future career aspirations.

The Cyber Insights Summer School will give you a unique opportunity to gain an insight into our ways of working. You’ll gain skills and experience through coaching and mentoring from our training partners and our world-class Subject Matter Experts. During the summer school, a pastoral care officer is available to support you throughout your time with us, more than just helping you to settle in.

On completion of the summer school, you may want to consider applying to some of our future opportunities , such as an 11-week summer programme, or an industry year placement – which will involve working within our Computer Network Operations Teams. You could also consider joining us in full-time employment through one of our future recruitment opportunities. Availability of these opportunities will depend on where you are in relation to completing your degree. Cyber Insights Summer School is a unique opportunity for you to gain experience and understanding of where a career with us could take you.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Equal opportunities

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, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website. https://www.west-careers.co.uk/life-at-gchq/diversity-inclusion.html

We’re Disability Confident

GCHQ is proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. As a Disability Confident Leader we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who best meet the essential minimum criteria for this position, will be offered an interview, if it is practical for us to do so. (This is known as Offer of an Interview.) To secure an interview for this role, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are:

• You'll be required to reach the minimum pass mark for the online Situational Judgement Test (SJT), which assesses criteria important for all roles in our organisation.

• You will need to achieve a minimum pass mark in each of our 4 application questions.

There is a wide range of extra support available throughout the recruitment process to enable you to do your best, see our website for information on reasonable adjustments we can offer.

What to expect

Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:

1. An initial online application form including pre-screening questions to ensure you meet our eligibility criteria.
2. Online Situational Judgement Test (SJT) in which you rate the appropriateness of responses to a series of short scenarios.
3. Full Application Form.
4. Application Form Sift.
5. Virtual Interview.

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around