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Language Talent Programme – Registration of Interest - 3519

Cheltenham, Manchester, Scarborough

Department Languages

Salary £6,505 - £7,255, dependent on location for the 11-week programme.

Job description 

At GCHQ, linguists are essential to our mission. Their skills and knowledge support some of our most sensitive and critical work. This 11-week paid internship, beginning September 2026, is a unique opportunity to join us, learn new skills, and to see if a career as a Language Specialist at GCHQ is right for you. If you’re interested and have proficient language abilities in Russian*, we invite you to register your interest in the programme and join our virtual event.

*In addition to the current Russian programme at GCHQ in Cheltenham, Manchester, or Scarborough there may also be future opportunities in London for MI5 on the programme in both Russian and Arabic, as well as Arabic in Cheltenham. Final details will be confirmed prior to our recruitment campaign launching in August 2025. We encourage you to register your interest if you have proficient language abilities in Arabic and Russian and wish to complete the programme in Cheltenham, Manchester, Scarborough, or London.

GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber, and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. We use cutting-edge technology, ingenuity, and partnerships to identify, analyse, and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber-attacks, and espionage. At GCHQ, you’ll do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.

Being a linguist in our teams is about more than just translation. It’s about using your cultural expertise to give context and nuance to ongoing investigations. As you help piece together intelligence that unlocks a bigger picture, you’ll be valued for your insights and ability to spot details others might miss. You’ll analyse foreign language written materials, listen to audio recordings, and provide input using your cultural knowledge. And as you do, you’ll play a key role in mission-critical work, supported by our Language Specialists, who’ll guide you every step of the way.

Once the programme finishes, you’ll get the opportunity to apply for a permanent role with us. And with our support, you could grow an incredibly exciting career, with opportunities to work across the UK’s Intelligence Services.

There’s no single ‘type’ of person we recruit. We need people from all kinds of backgrounds to share different ways of thinking, so you’ll be encouraged to bring your whole self to work. If you’re interested in joining the programme and want to learn more, we’ll be hosting a virtual event to provide you with all the information you need.

Event details
The virtual information event takes place on 9th July 2025 at 1pm and 5pm and lasts approximately one hour. During the event, we provide more information about the programme and what it’s like to work at the UK’s Intelligence Services. Applications open in August 2025, so you don’t need to decide whether the programme is right for you yet. This event is  a chance to ask any questions you have to help you decide whether to apply.

Who can apply?
You’ll need to be in the final year of your undergraduate degree or have graduated in Summer 2022 or later. If you’re not a heritage speaker of Russian or Arabic, your degree must be in one of these languages.

You’ll also need to meet the eligibility criteria to work at the UK’s intelligence services.

Please note: A registration of interest does not constitute a job application, nor will such registration have any bearing upon the recruitment process itself. Any individuals who register their interest and subsequently decide to apply for the Language Talent Programme will need to complete an application form once the window for applications has opened. The application window for the Language Talent Programme will open in August 2025.

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. 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 websites.

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