Students given top secret access in spy chiefs' internship schemes

Telegraph

01-04-2025

Spy agencies are giving interns access to top secret information.
Candidates are told they can gain 'unique access to our operations, gain experience, and make key contributions to real projects' during placements at MI6, MI5 and GCHQ.
The summer intelligence internship also serves as a diversity scheme for those from ethnic minorities and lower-income households.
The revelation comes after it emerged Hasaan Arshad, 25, stole top secret data while on an internship at GCHQ.
'Unprecedented exposure'
Potential applicants are told: 'No matter which organisation you choose, you're not just there to shadow.
'From day one, you'll be welcomed in and treated like members of our organisation with real work to do. With unprecedented exposure to the way we work, as well as our social societies, mentors, and affinity groups, you'll get a realistic view of life at a UK intelligence service.'
The GCHQ website says the 'summer intelligence internship' allows applicants to 'immerse yourself in the work of one of our intelligence mission teams'.
It adds: 'This isn't just work shadowing. With access to genuine case studies and briefings by various Operational Intelligence teams, you'll be treated like a member of our organisation and expected to get involved with real projects.
'If you're in your final (or penultimate) year of university and from a black, Asian, mixed heritage, or ethnic minority background, and from a socially or economically disadvantaged background, this is your opportunity to discover if a career in intelligence is right for you. We'll even cover your accommodation – all you need to bring is your fresh perspective.'
While M15 and M16 only offer the summer intelligence internship, GCHQ offers a wider variety of schemes.
In one for maths and cryptography, applicants are told they will work alongside experts on problems that have 'genuine practical importance', while its Summer Language Talent Programme says applicants will 'draft intelligence reports, translate foreign language material and deliver briefs'.
Abuse of trust
Arshad, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, took his work mobile phone into a secret location within the intelligence agency and connected it to a workstation, before taking it home and transferring the sensitive data to a hard drive linked to his personal computer.
It is understood that Arshad was not on the summer intelligence internship, which is also a diversity scheme, offered by GCHQ, MI5 and MI6.
The Telegraph understands all internships offered by all three intelligence agencies are subject to the same vetting standards and that MI5 is not looking to review their vetting processes based on Arshad's case.
However one Whitehall source said there has to be an element of trust when recruiting for the schemes.
Arshad, who pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 3ZA of the Computer Misuse Act 1990, will be sentenced later this year.
Once an internship finishes candidates have the opportunity to apply for permanent roles within their chosen organisation should they wish.
'Top secret' is the classification for the Government's most sensitive information, when compromise might cause widespread loss of life or threaten the security or economic well-being of the country or friendly nations, according to Ministry of Justice security guidance.