The Cambridge Security Initiative
& The Department of War Studies, King’s College London
The International Security and
Intelligence Programme
6th July- 2nd August 2025- Emmanuel College, Cambridge
About ISI
Chaired by Sir Richard Dearlove, formerly Chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service (aka MI6), the Cambridge Security Initiative (CSi) launched the International Security and Intelligence (ISI) Programme in 2016. The aim of this unique programme is to provide an opportunity for participants to engage with leading academics and practitioners from intelligence and security communities in the historic setting of one of the world’s foremost universities. The programme is run in partnership with the King’s College London’s Department of War Studies and focuses primarily on intelligence dimensions of international security. Drawing on the programme’s considerable access to experience of and research in the field, the primary focus is on the intelligence dimensions of international security from transatlantic perspectives while also, with the help of leading experts, exploring broader global perspectives.
The programme convenors are Professor Michael S. Goodman, BA(Hons), MA, PhD, FRHistS, former Head of War Studies and Professor of Intelligence and International Affairs at King’s College London, and Professor David V. Gioe, PhD, FRHistS, a British Academy Global Professor in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, formerly Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Professor Gioe brings over 23 years of combined active and reserve service working in the U.S. intelligence community, including analytical and operational roles in the FBI, CIA, DIA, and the Office of Naval Intelligence.
The Cambridge Security Initiative believes that good intelligence is a critical tool of decision advantage for statecraft and military operations. The CSi further believes that effective intelligence and security agencies – under democratic oversight – should play a critical role in defence of Western values. Western democracies face diverse and complex challenges from state and non-state actors, which preoccupy the highest levels of government, private industry, and civil society. Participants of the ISI programme will explore themes such as:
- How can Western intelligence communities operate in a world of seemingly ubiquitous surveillance, and how might they compete with – or harness – the revolution in open-source data?
- What are the threats posed by intelligence, cyber warfare, radicalization, acts of terrorism, regional insecurity, and information operations?
- Are modern conceptions of transparency tempered by legitimate claims for state secrecy? What is the role of the intelligence and security agencies in a modern democratic society? What are the relevant ethical considerations?
- What are the analytical challenges facing intelligence practitioners? And how does intelligence function at the intelligence-policy interface?
- What are the various mechanisms of intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination? How does the delicate practice of intelligence liaison work? What must students understand about counter-intelligence and covert operations?
The teaching model follows that of Cambridge University, with the pace set by lectures, seminars and ‘supervisions’ (described below under ‘Independent supervised research’) designed specifically for this programme.
Included in the programme is attendance at CSi’s annual Conference which explores Intelligence and National Security in a Changing World. The conference, which all ISI participants attend, brings together speakers and delegates from governments, security agencies, academia and business to explore a wide range of security-related issues. Past speakers have included heads of the British Cabinet Office, the French Security Service, GCHQ, MI6, CIA, former distinguished academics, ambassadors and business leaders. For additional information, please visit the Conference page.
Participants have the opportunity to participate in a lively social and cultural programme with academic, pastoral, and medical support. Participants will have access to the Cambridge University Library for the duration of the programme as well as a bespoke online learning platform.
Applications are invited from students and practitioners with an intellectual or professional interest in statecraft and the interlocking themes of intelligence, security, strategy, defence, and foreign policy.
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ISI 2025
The 2025 International Security and Intelligence Programme is hosted at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge.
The residential programme will run from Sunday 6th July to Saturday 2nd August 2025.
Academic Programme
ISI offers an integrated programme of lectures, seminars and supervisions.
The ISI programme consists of two tracks: Track I – Independent Supervised Research and Track II – Topics in International Security and Intelligence, detailed below. Participants of the ISI summer programme will take both tracks and be assessed on their performance in each.
Track I: Independent Supervised Research
As part of the ISI application process, ISI participants propose a research topic that explores a particular security or intelligence question through a series of ‘supervisions’. Supervisions, central to Cambridge teaching and learning, bring together up to six students under the guidance of an expert in the field to conduct research-based work, culminating in the production of an extended essay of 3,500 words. Each group meets for five x 1.25 hours sessions backed up by office hours as needed.
The following are examples of research topics:
- Intelligence history / the U.S. and UK intelligence communities
- Nuclear proliferation / CBRN issues
- Human intelligence and tradecraft / intelligence in the military context
- Cyber and information operations/ foreign influence / covert action
- Regional security topics covering the Middle East, Africa, and Asia
- Islamist and other extremist terrorism and violent non-state actors
- Intelligence analysis, liaison, oversight, policymaking, and accountability / ethical dimensions
- Russian and European security and intelligence issues
- Security cooperation (especially in the Global South)
While we will endeavour to accommodate proposals that fall outside these areas, we encourage all students to use and follow the topics above.
Supervision group allocations are made in the weeks leading up to the programme and only once fees have been paid in full.
Track II: Topics in International Security and Intelligence
The central themes of the programme are explored through core lectures and seminars given by ISI faculty. Lectures are given to the entire ISI cohort and students are allocated to seminar groups of approximately 15 students to explore the lecture topics in greater depth.
Key themes for lectures and seminars include:
- The role of intelligence and security agencies in the US and the UK
- The 21st-century threat landscape in historical perspective
- The intelligence cycle
- Transparency, oversight, and competing claims of state secrecy
- Information operations
- Terrorism and conventional warfare
- Topics in regional security
- The security implications of digital revolutions
Intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination remain at the core of the intelligence cycle while counter-intelligence and covert action play more opaque but still vital roles at the heart of the nation-state and international alliances. Understanding what intelligence can achieve, and its limitations, will be major themes for analysis and discussion and will be further explored at the annual conference.
The Programme also hosts a series of outstanding lectures given by distinguished guest speakers which explore a wide range of contemporary intelligence and security issues. In recent years these have been given by former Heads of MI5, MI6, GCHQ and the French Security Services; the Chief Judge to the Appeals Court of the United States Armed Forces, and the CIA Deputy Director for Operations as well as by leading academics working in the field of Intelligence and Security studies.
Contact time for the ISI programme is a least 50 hours.
ISI uses Moodle, an online learning platform, where the Independent Research Project is uploaded, the timetable can be accessed and resources can be downloaded.
Please refer to the 2025 ISI Syllabus for additional information.
Application and Practical Information
Applications are invited from students in higher education and from professionals.
Successful applicants will usually have a GPA of well above the minimum 3.5 (or equivalent) requirement and are likely to be in the later stages of an undergraduate course, studying for a Master’s degree, PhD or have graduated and started their careers. However, it should be stressed that we look carefully at the whole application, not least where there may be good reasons for a modest GPA.
All applicants who are accepted on to the programme will be asked to confirm that they have read, understood, and will abide by the ISI Health, Safety and Emergency Protocols and Codes of Conduct.
- If you are currently enrolled in higher education, you will need to upload an academic transcript and an academic reference.
- If you are a professional applicant, you will need to upload your CV and a professional reference.
- A personal statement of 500 words or less, explaining why you would like to participate in ISI 2024 focusing on your professional or academic experiences and what you feel you will gain from the programme.
- ISI research supervision proposal including the subject area, title, brief description, relevant work, and sources.
- Proof of English Language Proficiency. This is only required for non-native English speakers studying at universities whose language of instruction is not English.
How will my ISI application be evaluated?
The admissions team is seeking students who are deeply interested in intelligence and international security affairs demonstrated by: professional experience, internships, previous academic research, enrolment in a relevant university degree or certificate programme, or by having taken classes in similar topics, We also assess: scholastic aptitude and achievement, usually as reflected in academic transcripts and/or academic references, motivation statement, the applicant’s career or academic goals and the extent to which a research proposal aligns with the expertise of our faculty.
Insurance Information:
All participants must ensure that they have adequate insurance prior to travelling to Cambridge. Insurance should cover:
- all international medical and emergency expenses;
- loss or damage to your personal belongings while you are travelling to/from and during your stay in the UK;
- personal liability. [Personal liability insurance protects you from financial losses if you are held responsible for bodily injury or property damage to a third party. It covers the legal costs and damages you may be required to pay as compensation.]
Visa Information:
If you require a visa, you can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities.
You must apply for a Standard Visitor visa online before you travel to the UK.
A Standard Visitor visa costs £115 for up to 6 months. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
If you visit the UK regularly, you can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa instead.
Please check you meet the eligibility requirements on the UK Government Website.
Additional Information about UK Visas can be found here.
Please note: the Cambridge Security Initiative and the Department of War Studies, King’s College, London are responsible to the UK Border Force for monitoring attendance at the programme to ensure that students comply with the terms of their visa.
We strongly advise you to make copies of your passport, visa letter and insurance policies prior to travelling and keep these separate from the originals.
If you arrive in Cambridge without the correct immigration clearance for short-term study, we will not permit you to start the programme. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa clearance to participate in ISI.
If you are a non-native English speaker studying at a university whose language of instruction is not English, it is essential that your English language skills are good enough for you to undertake an intensive and challenging academic programme that is taught and assessed in English.
You will, therefore, need to meet the same requirements as a Cambridge undergraduate and provide evidence of one of the following:
IELTS: overall score of 7.5 (with at least 7.0 in each element).
TOEFL (Internet-Based Test): overall score of 110 with 25 or above in each element.
Cambridge English: C2 Proficiency – accepted with a minimum overall score of 200, with no element lower than 185.
Cambridge English: C1 Advanced – accepted with a minimum overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185, alongside other evidence of competence in English.
English Language GCSE, or O-level: grade B or equivalent.
International Baccalaureate Standard Level (SL): score of 5 in English (as Language A or B).
European Baccalaureate: score of 70% in English Studied the International Baccalaureate programme, if it is taught in English Studied the Singapore Integrated Programme (SIPCAL).
If your programme/university course is taught in English – you have met the language requirement.
Fees
ISI fees consist of the following:
- Administration Fee £150.00 (due on application; non-refundable)
- A Programme Fee covering the academic programme and one of the following accommodation options:
Option A: Private bedroom and shared bathroom – £5,100.00
Option B: Private bedroom with en-suite facilities – £5,700.00
The programme fee is payable once an applicant is admitted. The applicant will receive a registration form to complete, which requires them to choose the desired option (depending on availability) and pay the corresponding Programme fee. The receipt of the filled registration form and the relevant programme fee secures and guarantees your place on the ISI Programme.
The accommodation fee includes a daily continental breakfast and covers attendance at 10 ‘formal halls’.
Please note, en-suites are subject to availability and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Should it not be possible for you to live in Cambridge for the duration of the programme for family or other reasons, please let us know when you make your application.
Sir Richard Dearlove Scholarship
There are five full tuition-fee scholarships available for students attending the ISI programme – who will have a GPA above 3.5.
The Cambridge Security Initiative welcomes applications for the 2025 ISI Scholarships.
The deadline for Scholarship applications is 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time on Monday 11th February 2025.
Please note: (i) you can apply in any order or concurrently but (ii) to be eligible for consideration for a scholarship, you MUST have an ISI offer.
To apply for the Sir Richard Dearlove scholarship, please click here.
Home University Financial Aid
If you will be receiving financial aid and intend to use this to pay all/some of the ISI fees, disbursement dates may delay your ability to pay the fee. In such a case it may be possible for you to secure your place by paying a £500 deposit, settling the balance once your aid is released. Please contact isioperations@thecsi.org.uk to discuss such arrangements at the earliest opportunity.
Dates
ISI operates a rolling application process and is always fully subscribed. Early application is therefore strongly advised.
| ISI 2025 events | Dates |
|
Scholarship application deadline
|
17:00 Greenwich Mean Time on Monday 11th February 2025
|
|
Scholarship decision date |
Tuesday 25th February 2025 |
|
ISI 2025 residential programme
|
Sunday 6th July to Saturday 2nd August 2025 |
|
CSi 2025 conference
|
Thursday 24th July to Friday 25th July 2025 |
| Due date for submission of independent research essays | Friday 15th August 2025 |
| Grades issued | Friday 5th September 2025 |
|
Transcripts issued
|
Friday 19th September 2025 |
Staying in Cambridge
Founded in 1584, Emmanuel College with its quiet courts and gardens is set in the heart of medieval (and modern) Cambridge. Like most colleges, it has a rich architectural history and its central location provides the ideal base from which to explore the cultural and social life of this historic city.
Single occupancy accommodation is offered for the duration of the programme, either with en-suite or shared bathroom facilities. Linens, towels and cleaning by College staff are provided and laundry facilities are available. There are well-equipped kitchens for students’ use on each floor; study and social spaces; wi-fi, a cafe, a bar, and a fine historic dining hall. Breakfast is included in the accommodation fee (Sunday – Friday). Also included are at least two ‘formal halls’ (served three-course dinners) each week. Central Cambridge offers an abundance of food outlets to suit all tastes (and budgets), a very popular daily produce market, and many convenience stores.
ISI is a residential programme bringing together people from many countries with shared intellectual interests who find there is much to be gained from the shared social and cultural experience.
Cambridge has a great deal to offer during the summer – concerts, theatre, film, beautiful college gardens, pubs, restaurants, and riverside walks. ISI offers a busy and varied cultural and social programme which takes full advantage of all of this. Highlights include visits to the great medieval cathedral in Ely, the Imperial War Museum at Duxford Airfield, historical tours of the University, punting, pub outings, afternoon tea at Grantchester, and the Cambridge Shakespeare festival which has a selection of his plays performed outdoors in college grounds. Further afield the whole group has a day trip to Bletchley Park as part of the programme, and London, with all that it has to offer, is only 50 minutes away by train.
