GCHQ
Language Talent Programme - Registration of Interest
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Language Talent Programme - Registration of Interest
Locations: Cheltenham, Manchester, London
Closing Date: 23:00 on Sunday 26th July 2026
Role: Language Specialists
Salary: £6,380 to £7,059 dependent on location for the 11-week programme
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Description
Programme start date: September 2027
Flexible working: This programme is full-time and office-based for the duration of the 11 weeks, to ensure you get the most out of your time with us. Full-time attendance is 36 to 37 hours per week, with some specific hourly attendance required e.g. for training courses. You’ll be notified of these well in advance.
About Us
GCHQ and MI5 are part of the UK’s Intelligence Services. We work together to safeguard Britain’s people, interests, and businesses from various threats at home, overseas, and online, including cyber-attacks, espionage, terrorism, and organised crime. Working across our vital missions, you’ll deliver impact at the heart of national security, all within a supportive and inclusive environment that allows everyone to thrive.
About The Programme
Language Specialists play a uniquely valuable role translating, interpreting and contextualising foreign language content, providing mission-critical insights that have a tangible influence on our operations. The Language Talent Programme is an 11-week paid programme that provides a pathway to becoming a specialist in Russian or Mandarin on a permanent basis. With dedicated training, support and on-the-job exposure, it’s designed to equip you with the skills and experience required to apply and fulfil a full-time role with us.
You don’t need any previous experience or technical ability to apply. However, you will have, or be expected to obtain, a 2:2 degree or above in Russian or Mandarin. You’ll either be starting the final year of your degree in Autumn 2026, or have graduated in Summer 2023 or later. Adaptable, collaborative and keen to learn, you’ll be passionate about language and keen to apply your skills. Importantly, you’ll be genuinely interested in a career with us and committed to starting immediately should you decide it’s right for you.
Across The 11-week Programme, You Will
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- Begin with a three-day induction to GCHQ or MI5 and our ways of working
- Get privileged access to operational intelligence, language tools and a range of audio and written materials which you’ll analyse, transcribe and translate, all supervised by a mentor
- Be embedded within a friendly, welcoming team who share your love for language
- Develop the skills you need to pass the language test element of the full-time role assessment (with the support of an experienced linguist)
Around 7 to 9 weeks in, you’ll sit your language test and competency interview. Should you be successful, you’ll transition directly into a role as a Language Specialist with either GCHQ or MI5. As a result, we ask that you only apply if you’re able to begin a full-time role once the programme ends.
Please note that the Mandarin programme is at GCHQ only in either Cheltenham or Manchester, while the Russian programme can be done at either GCHQ in Manchester or Cheltenham, or MI5 in London.
Register your interest
Before applications open on Monday 3 August, we’re inviting eligible candidates who are interested in joining the programme to register their interest. As part of the registration of interest, you will be invited to an online virtual insight event, to learn more about the organisations and the programmes, before the application window opens.
Virtual Insight Event date
Thursday 30 July at 1.30pm and 6pm. The content will be the same across both sessions, so you only need to attend one
Once the registration of interest has closed, eligible candidates will receive an email with event invitations and joining details.
Please note, registering your interest does not constitute a job application and has no impact on the recruitment process. Anyone who registers their interest and then decides to apply, will need to complete an application form once the application window opens. All applications are assessed solely on merit.
Before you register
Due To The Sensitive Nature Of Our Work, There Are Some Eligibility Criteria You’ll Need To Meet (as Well As Some Recommendations We’d Make To Aid Your Registration And Any Future Application). You Will Need To
- Be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. Read more on our eligibility criteria for GCHQ and MI5
- Comply with our no drugs policy from the point of application and if successful at the end of the recruitment process, you will need to undergo Developed Vetting. Learn more about our drugs policy and the vetting process for GCHQ and MI5
- Familiarise yourself with our guidance on the use of AI in applications for GCHQ and MI5
- Complete your registration, application and all recruitment processes from within the UK
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The Russian and Mandarin Language Talent Programmes are based in Cheltenham or Manchester for GCHQ and the Russian Language Talent Programme for MI5 is based in London, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider the financial and practical implications before registering your interest or applying. A relocation loan is available to support those moving to London.
We recommend using a different email address (without identifying details) for your contact with us. This will help keep your personal and application correspondence separate, and more secure. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.
Select ‘Apply’ to register your interest.
Cheltenham
Language Specialists
London
Manchester
Cheltenham
Language Specialists
London
Manchester
"I add so much value – and I get so much back."
Sophie
Linguist
I graduated with a degree in Russian so I wanted to make the most of my skills. At GCHQ, my skills go even further than I thought! There’s so much more to the role than traditional translation. You’re really involved with the technical and analytical side of things. It means I’ve got a lot of responsibility and add a lot of value to investigations. I also love the importance that’s placed on learning. We’re given dedicated days to keep up with cultural influences and developments in language. It means I understand sources in a wider context and can uncover more reliable intelligence.
Discover more about life at GCHQ
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