Maths and Cryptography Opportunities - Registration Of Interest

Department Upcoming jobs
Location(s) Cheltenham
Salary Dependent on programme

Job description 

Make your maths skills count for more.

Are you a maths student or graduate looking for an exciting first step in your career? Or are you in a mathematical role and ready for a change? Do you have a passion for maths and a love of learning? Are you curious about how your skills could help GCHQ protect the UK? We’ve got a variety of upcoming opportunities in our Maths and Cryptography teams, from permanent roles through to two-week insight programmes and nine-week summer internships.

Our Maths and Cryptography teams at GCHQ solve an incredible range of interesting problems every day. From evaluating existing theorems and developing new ones, to using cutting-edge technology to contribute to security projects, the work they do is fascinating, rewarding, and impactful. And you could be part of it.

We’re looking for people with mathematical skills to get involved in our work. And we’ve got a few opportunities on offer, depending on what you’re looking for and where you’re at in your degree.

What opportunities are there?

Maths and Cryptography Roles

Working across cryptography, cryptanalysis, network exploitation, cyber security, data science, digital signals and mathematical modelling (to name just a few areas), you’ll receive support and mentoring as you learn to become a maths and cryptography specialist. Begin an incredible career full of interesting challenges where you’ll never stop learning.

Role type: These are permanent roles. During the initial training period, full-time office attendance is required. Once training is complete, a range of flexible working arrangements may be available, including flexitime, part-time working and compressed hours.

Please note that home working opportunities are very limited. Candidates should be prepared and able to attend the office on a full-time basis where required.

Who should apply? By September 2027, you’ll have or expect to obtain at least a 2:2 undergraduate degree (or equivalent qualification) in a mathematical discipline, including (but not limited to) mathematics, computer science, statistics or physics. If you aren’t a recent graduate, you’ll still need a 2:2 degree in a mathematical discipline, plus you’ll need to have been working recently in a role where maths is the main component.

Salary: £37,892, plus recruitment bonus of £4,738. After your first year in-post you’ll also have the opportunity to qualify for an annual Specialist Skills Payment starting at £4,738.

Maths and Cryptography Insight Programme

Join us for a two-week programme where you’ll team up with fellow attendees to gain an insight into the nature of GCHQ’s work. You’ll be introduced to a mix of technical content we use in maths and cryptography roles at GCHQ, as well as meeting current mathematicians and learning skills that are useful in the world of work.

Who should apply? We strive to be as inclusive and representative of society as possible, however we acknowledge that women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds are currently underrepresented in our teams. That’s why we offer this programme to undergraduates from these groups who’ll be in their first year or above of a mathematics degree at the start of the programme (June 2027) and have an ‘A’ in A-Level maths or equivalent.

Insight Programme dates: Monday 28 June to Friday 9 July 2027 for participants from an ethnic minority background. Monday 12 July to Friday 23 July 2027 for women from any ethnic background. Applicants must be able to attend this two-week programme in person, as remote and home working are not available. The programme runs from 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Applicants who are unable to attend one or two days may still be able to participate.

Attendance payment and benefits: £350 per week plus accommodation. We will also contribute towards travel expenses at the beginning and end of the programme, up to a total of £250.

Maths and Cryptography Internship

During this nine-week summer internship, you’ll get involved in real operational projects that have a direct impact on our work. Working closely with, and learning from, technical experts, you’ll complete research on multiple technical projects, grow your skills and confidence, and get an idea of what a role with us could look like once you graduate.

Who should apply? You’ll need to be studying for your undergraduate degree (Bachelors, Integrated Masters or equivalent) in mathematics, or a Joint Honours subject with mathematics as the main component. By the beginning of the internship (June 2027), you’ll have completed a minimum of two taught years of your degree (or equivalent for part-time courses). Please note that a Scottish foundation year doesn’t count towards the minimum two years of study. You’ll also be on track to receive a 2:1 by the end of your degree, and you’ll have achieved at least an ‘A’ in A-level maths (or equivalent).

Internship dates: Monday 21 June until Friday 20 August 2027, full-time (37 hours a week, Monday to Friday). For the first two weeks, you’ll need to attend 9am to 5pm, after that, flexitime may be available, subject to agreement and depending on events taking place on certain days. Please note that this is office-based for the duration of the internship—remote or home working is not available.

Attendance payment and benefits: £5,528 over nine weeks (£31,937 pro-rata). Accommodation close to GCHQ can be provided, and the cost paid in arrears from your payment. You’ll also have 4.5 paid days off to use throughout the internship.

When do applications open?

Applications for all these opportunities open on Thursday 24 September (from 3pm).

Information events

Before we open for applications, we encourage people from an ethnic minority background and women from any ethnic background to register their interest*, and to attend our upcoming online events.

*Please note that we’re confining registrations of interest to the above groups only, due to their current under-representation in our workforce.

These events will give you the chance to learn more about the opportunities available and ask any questions you may have.

If you register your interest and meet the eligibility criteria, you'll receive more information about the events after we close for registrations. For now, here are the dates and times to keep in mind.

Maths and Cryptography Roles (permanent): we’ll be running two online question and answer sessions (each will last up to one hour, and you only need to attend one):

Tuesday 22 September 12:00 to 13:00
Wednesday 23 September 18:00 to 19:00
Two-week Insight Programme: we’ll be running two online question and answer sessions (each will last 30 minutes, and you only need to attend one):

Tuesday 22 September 17:00 to 17:30
Wednesday 23 September 12:00 to 12:30
Nine-week Internship: we’ll be running two online question and answer sessions (each will last 30 minutes, and you only need to attend one):

Wednesday 23 September 17:00 to 17:30
Thursday 24 September 12:00 to 12:30

I want to apply for more than one opportunity, is that ok?

Yes, absolutely. If you’re eligible for and interested in more than one opening, you’re welcome to apply for multiple opportunities. If successful, you will only be able to accept one opportunity. Also, please be aware that you’ll need to do a new application form for each opportunity, so make sure you factor in time to do this.

Please note that 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 who decide subsequently to apply will need to complete an application form once the window for applications has opened.

Once the application window has opened, we will welcome applications from all candidates*, regardless of their ethnic background, gender, disability and/or any other characteristic(s). All applications will be assessed solely on merit.

*Dependent on the specific eligibility requirements for each opportunity.