Language Talent Programme - Mandarin

In this exciting 11-week paid placement, you’ll use your language skills and cultural knowledge to make a real impact on our operations. Day to day, you’ll develop your understanding of language as you analyse, transcribe, and translate audio and written materials. Some of these materials may be technical or specialised in nature, giving you a chance to master new skills in a unique field, but it doesn’t stop there.
Here, your influence goes beyond language. Your cultural understanding will be invaluable as you collaborate closely with customers and partners, providing context for your team. In fact, you may even get the chance to draft Intelligence reports and conduct research using a variety of tools during your time with us. Equipped with specialist tools, you’ll uncover valuable insights that you’ll then present back to your team. Your work will be unique, varied and far from average. Importantly, you’ll be surrounded by colleagues who share your passion for languages, and you’ll get the opportunity to use your language skills and make an impact.
We have limited spaces in London and Cheltenham, so we’d encourage you to be open and flexible with your application.
Training and Development
From day one, we’ll be here to support you. Whether you join GCHQ or MI5, you’ll receive a comprehensive training and development package in both language and analysis, including classroom-based learning and hands-on training, which will enable you to grow your skills and perform to the best of your abilities. Throughout your internship and career, you’ll be supported by trained professionals.
We’re committed to developing our staff, but we know this will look different for everyone. That’s why there’ll be lots of tailored training, coaching and mentoring as we work with you to build the skills you need, enabling you to excel throughout your internship and chosen career. At MI5 and GCHQ, you’ll find an inclusive and supportive working environment that’s designed to encourage open minds and attitudes. We value and nurture talent and are committed to helping you fulfil your potential.
At GCHQ, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for a permanent position with us once you’ve completed the programme. If successful in your tests and competency interview, you’ll join our vibrant community as a Language Specialist.
If you do decide to join us as a Language Specialist, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for our Language Career Development Scheme within the first five years of working at GCHQ. This scheme is designed to help you broaden and develop your language skills. In addition to this, you’ll also have the chance to become a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIoL) and gain recognised professional linguist qualifications.
At MI5, you’ll have a personal mentor who will introduce you to the organisation, and a language mentor who will enhance your language skills. This mentor will tailor practice materials to your needs to prepare you for your language test. Plus, as one of the government’s leading employers of linguists, when you join us, you’ll become part of a vibrant network of language enthusiasts who share your love of language.
Like GCHQ, you’ll also have the opportunity to apply for a permanent MI5 position at the end of your placement. As a permanent member of our team, you’ll be provided with regular language lessons so you can maintain and develop your skills and become part of a thriving linguist community.
Please note, the MI5 roles are based in London, and the GCHQ roles are based in Cheltenham., Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6-9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you to continue any current employment until you’ve received your final internship offer.
Equal Opportunities
At GCHQ and MI5 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 websites.
https://www.gchq-careers.co.uk/life-at-gchq/diversity-inclusion.html
https://www.MI5.gov.uk/careers/diversity
We’re Disability Confident
GCHQ and MI5 are 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.

We welcome applications if you have, or expect to obtain, a 2:2 degree or above in Mandarin, you’ll either be in the final year of your degree or have graduated in Summer 2021 or later. Whatever your background, you’ll be adaptable, motivated and collaborative, always keen to use your language skills and learn new things. You don’t need a technical background for this role, but you must be willing to pick up new skills - especially those that are technical and complement your language abilities., Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a person-to-person interview to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role. This is our ‘Offer of Interview’ (OOI). To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are:
+ Demonstrate a motivation for applying to work for MI5 or GCHQ as a Language Specialist
+ A demonstrable high level of Mandarin by achieving a pass in our language tests
+ Demonstrate a proactive approach to problem solving, being self-starting and able to engage with others
On successful completion of these stages, you will be invited to an interview. This is your offer of interview.

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.

Rewards and Benefits
At GCHQ you’ll receive a starting salary of £6,193. Applicants who pass the end-of-programme graduate-entry language tests and assessment centre, and who are made and accept an offer of employment at our agency, will receive a starting salary in excess of £34,663.
At MI5 you’ll receive a starting salary of £6,908. Applicants who pass the end-of-programme graduate-entry language tests and assessment centre, and who are made and accept an offer of employment at our agency, will receive a starting salary of £37,281.
On the 11 – week Internship you’ll receive a salary of £6,193 - £6,908 dependent on the organisation, plus other benefits including:
+ 5.5 days of annual leave during the internship
+ Access to a subsidised gym, restaurant, and on-site coffee bars in the Cheltenham office, 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 discretely.
The role at MI5 is based in London, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs.
Please note the role at GCHQ is based in Cheltenham so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs.
Right to Withdraw Statement:
Please be aware that we withhold 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 undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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.