GCHQ
Maths And Cryptography Insight Programme
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Cheltenham
Job Summary
Attendance payment: students will receive a weekly attendance payment of £350 per week. Your accommodation will be funded by GCHQ. Receipted travel cost requests to support your attendance will be refunded for travel to the Insight Programme, and at the end of your time with us (up to a total of £250).
Dates of Insight Programmes: this year, we’re running two, two-week programmes, one for people from ethnic minority backgrounds and one for women. Women from an ethnic minority background may apply for either programme.
- Monday 28 June to Friday 9 July 2027: Our programme for people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
- Monday 12 July to Friday 23 July 2027: Our programme for women.
Hours of Insight Programme: 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. The Insight Programme comprises classroom-based training in Cheltenham. Applicants must be able to attend this two-week taught course in person - remote or home working is not available. (Those who can’t make one or two days should still be able to participate.)
About Us
At GCHQ we unlock the complex world of data and communications to keep the UK and its citizens safe, both in the real world and online. Working closely with our British Intelligence partners in MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from threats including serious organised crime, terrorism, and cyber-attacks. A role in GCHQ means you’ll have varied and fascinating work in a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.
Job Description
The role
The Maths and Cryptography Insight Programme represents one of the many things that GCHQ is doing to increase diversity within our organisation. People from ethnic minority backgrounds and women are currently under-represented in our teams. We’d therefore like to encourage people from these backgrounds who might not necessarily see GCHQ as a potential employer, to join us for our two-week summer programme and see what life with us is really like.
This year we’re running two programmes. Both programmes run for two weeks, 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, and have an introductory session at the provided accommodation on the Sunday evening before they begin.
During the programme, we’ll introduce you to GCHQ and you’ll meet our mathematicians to learn about the work they do. We’ll cover topics on different forms of cryptography and how they’re used in practice (including symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, hashing, digital signatures, networks and historical cryptography). Once you’ve learnt the theory, we’ll ask you to apply this knowledge to a series of challenges, both as a team and independently.
What you’ll learn about maths and cryptography will complement your degree studies and you’ll also be able explore your future with us, from our internships to our maths and cryptography careers.
Person specification
About You
This opportunity is open to people from an ethnic minority background, or women (from any ethnic background).
You’ll have an ‘A’ in A-level maths (or equivalent) and be in the first year or above of an undergraduate mathematics degree, or a degree where mathematics is the main component (for example, Maths with Philosophy or Maths with Physics). We’ll assess your mathematical aptitude as part of the application process, and we’ll be looking for a real interest in the subject. We also want to see that you’re willing to learn new things.
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Training and development
At GCHQ, we’re proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment. As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you succeed.
The Maths and Cryptography Insight Programme will help you understand our ways of working. You’ll gain skills and experience through training from our expert partners and world-class subject matter experts. We’ll also develop your skills around writing job applications, and preparing for interviews and presentations.
This is a unique opportunity to learn where a career with us could take you, and explore our full-time roles (depending on where you are in relation to completing your degree).
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 those who are eligible for this opportunity, 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 commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion on our website.
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.
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.
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
What To Expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:
- An initial online application form including pre-screening questions to ensure you meet our eligibility criteria.
- A full on-line application.
- Application sift, looking at your motivation for joining the programme.
- On-line test, assessing how you approach a technical problem.
- If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of a place on the programme.
Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 4 to 6 months to process including vetting.
Before you apply
To work at GCHQ you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. Read about our eligibility criteria on our website.
Get help with your application
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This role requires security clearance. It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. Find out more about the vetting process on our website.
Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.
Before you apply, we advise you to consider setting up a separate email address for your contact with us, to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you to manage your application with us more securely.
The programme is based in Cheltenham. Accommodation will be arranged for you and funded by GCHQ.
We offer reasonable reimbursement of travel costs for candidates attending in-person appointments during the recruitment and vetting process. Full details will be provided with your interview or assessment invitation.
Reimbursement is discretionary and will only be made in line with the Candidate Expenses Policy, as amended from time to time. Candidates must book their own travel, using the most economical option, and provide original hardcopy receipts for reimbursement.
Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.
Right To Withdraw Statement
Please be aware that we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
Working for the Civil Service
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
Name: careers@recruitmentteam.org.uk.
Email: careers@recruitmentteam.org.uk.
Recruitment team
Email: careers@recruitmentteam.org.uk.
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