Careers With Mi5/6......what Degree&#x27;s?

melbourne

Hi, what type of degrees do you think MI5 and MI6 choose amongst applicants? Obviously there will be computer scientists and other scientists, and obviously any oxbridge graduates!!! but for the general positions like field officers...........

Also what universities have strong ties with these two institutions? I have heard Oxford, Cambridge, SOAS, Exeter and Durham mentioned............??

I wouldn't set your heart on a career in the SIS if I were you (not that you are, necessarily). MI6 is certainly not something you can just apply for, although MI5 openly recruit now. If you really wanted to maximise your chances, though, I think Arabic studies would be a very good degree subject for straightforward recruitment.

I could give you the PO Box number for MI6 recruitment, I suppose. But then I'd have to shoot you. :biggrin:

Reply 2

lou p lou

2

the only person i know who had any interest in joining MI5 as a career did law at cambridge

lou xxx

Reply 3

PublicSchoolAnn

melbourne

Hi, what type of degrees do you think MI5 and MI6 choose amongst applicants? Obviously there will be computer scientists and other scientists, and obviously any oxbridge graduates!!! but for the general positions like field officers...........

Also what universities have strong ties with these two institutions? I have heard Oxford, Cambridge, SOAS, Exeter and Durham mentioned............??

My politics teacher told me to get into MI 5(be a spy!) or be a top dog in the civil service you have to fit a mould
-Be an oxbridge graduate,perhaps St Andrews
-Been at the right school
-know the right people
Maybe my teacher is just bitter but hey.
'Back in the day' as my teacher said, when he was at university they tried to broaden interence into MI5/ Civil service. Anyone could sit a test but the test was only going to suit certain people-people who had grammar drilled into them.Grammar does not show intellegence but it shows schooling.Of course this was unfair but the governemet got to keep its status qou.
Thats just a story ,I dont know what it is like now.

Reply 4

PublicSchoolAnn

'Back in the day' as my teacher said, when he was at university they tried to broaden interence into MI5/ Civil service. Anyone could sit a test but the test was only going to suit certain people-people who had grammar drilled into them.Grammar does not show intellegence but it shows schooling.Of course this was unfair but the governemet got to keep its status qou.
Thats just a story ,I dont know what it is like now.

There's never been a test for MI5, but there is still a test for civil service entrance. It's still "grammar"-heavy, but there's less Latin and Greek now.
Shame. :smile:

Reply 5

john williams

15

They look for 'intellectual incisiveness' and analytical skills which are well-developed in a good economics degree programme.

says an economist

OP

personally i dont think its as "oxbridge/eton/harrow" as it used to be, just like society in general. Being the intelligence service they probably use their intelligence and recruit exactly what they need. If they need an ugly, smelly, arabic speaking computer nerd then that is what they will get- not the oxbridge equivalent??

Reply 8

john williams

They look for 'intellectual incisiveness' and analytical skills which are well-developed in a good economics degree programme.

Apparently, MI6 are looking for solid academic performance, but nothing particularly good or particularly bad. Anything other than a 2.1 will count against you.

Reply 9

Evil Muffin

1

Oooh, where did you hear the thing about them having strong ties with Exeter? I saw an advert back in the Guardian ages ago, said they didn't mind what degree you had (but I imagine they do have biases)

Reply 10

MI5 is an equal opportunities employer, and welcomes applications from all middle-class Oxbridge graduates, whatever their ethnic background :wink:

Reply 11

d750

MI6 is certainly not something you can just apply for,

that's not true, MI6 (aka SIS) have their own recruitment website.

d750

I could give you the PO Box number for MI6 recruitment, I suppose. But then I'd have to shoot you. :biggrin:

...actually the PO Box number is 1300; aka London, SE1 1BD. :wink:

Reply 12

melbourne

OP

timeofyourlife

that's not true, MI6 (aka SIS) have their own recruitment website

Not quite true- unless you count:

http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1059736061019

unlike MI5 (who has www.mi5.gov.uk) MI6 does not have a website.

Reply 13

melbourne

Not quite true- unless you count:

http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1059736061019

unlike MI5 (who has www.mi5.gov.uk) MI6 does not have a website.

webpage, then :rolleyes:

Reply 14

faa

yeh i was just about to say MI6 dont have a web site! lol

Reply 15

I don't think having a webpage and claiming to be an equal opportunities employer means very much. They probably just bin the applications they get that way and go with the guy they know.

Reply 16