The International Security and
Intelligence Professional (ISI Pro) Programme
Monday, March 29th to Saturday, April 10th, 2027 | Magdalene College, Cambridge
About ISI Pro
The International Security and Intelligence Professional Programme, Spring 2027
Chaired by Sir Richard Dearlove, former Chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), the Cambridge Security Initiative (CSi) launched the International Security and Intelligence Professional Programme (ISI Pro) in 2025 inspired by the established and highly acclaimed ISI programme.
ISI Pro offers the opportunity to acquire a deeper understanding of international security and intelligence dynamics, hone strategic thinking skills and enable the opportunity to network with those keen to develop their understanding of the global security environment. The course is predominately designed for mid-to-senior level professionals from across government, business, military, intelligence and law enforcement communities, international organisations, and academia.
ISI Pro also offers an excellent opportunity for ISI programme alumni to return and reconnect with Cambridge. Alongside career professionals, this course brings understanding of international security and intelligence to the next level.
Programme Dates 2027
Check in: Monday 29th March from 2pm.
Programme starts: Tuesday 30th March 9am.
Programme ends: Friday 9th April – followed by an all-course end of programme gala dinner.
Check out: Saturday 10th April 10am.
Programme Location
The ISI Professional programme will be held at Magdalene College, Cambridge.
Magdalene College, founded 1428, is a thriving, close-knit, academic community that contains beautiful gardens and features exemplary 15th Century architecture. The College grounds are situated in the city centre and bordered on one side by the River Cam. The College also houses the original diaries of the famous alumnus, Samuel Pepys, whose commentaries on late 17th Century life and times have been a rich source for generations of historians.
ISI Pro Delegates will stay in College accommodation on site, take their meals in the 16th Century College Dining Hall and follow a carefully designed academic programme in the College’s Conference Centre.
ISI Pro Course Description
Building on CSi’s strong connections with leading practitioners and academic researchers in the fields of security and intelligence, this advanced course brings together experts and professionals to examine critical global security challenges and their impact on governments, citizens, businesses and international organisations.
With a special focus on the role of intelligence in shaping international relations, security and defence policies, ISI Pro offers invaluable insights into the navigation of today’s complex security landscape.
Organised into masterclasses, presentations and break-out sessions, the programme delves into the most urgent security crises around the world as well as the enduring challenges to world order and the fundamental security dilemmas they pose.
Key themes to be examined will include: intelligence success and failure, information and cyber warfare, strategic risk, regional crises, security architectures and the geopolitical implications of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
The role of intelligence in statecraft and the ‘missing dimension’ of intelligence in international affairs will also be explored. Regional actors including Russia and China will be examined in the context of great power competition, as will the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine. Presentations on ethics, leadership, strategy, the role of private sector business intelligence, as well as perennial security threats such as terrorism, sabotage, counterintelligence, and insider threats will also be explored.
The course will be convened by Professor David Gioe, who brings a quarter century of ‘pracademic’ experience as a former intelligence officer and leading scholar of intelligence in international affairs. He is a former British Academy global professor in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London and previously a tenured associate professor at the US Military Academy at West Point. Alongside Professor Michael Goodman, he is co-convener of CSi’s ISI Programme. He is a former CIA analyst and operations officer and a US Navy veteran.
Professor Gioe will be joined by former intelligence officials, policymakers, and leading academics who bring real-world insights and cutting-edge research to the programme. Many of these have taught regularly on the ISI programme and/or are frequent presenters at CSi’s annual conference, ‘Intelligence and National Security in a Changing World’.
Application and Fees
- A professional CV or resume should be submitted with a short statement of purpose (not to exceed 500 words) detailing how ISI Pro fits into the applicant’s career goals and what perspectives or expertise the applicant might bring to ISI Pro.
- The name and contact details of a character reference from your current employer.
- A non-refundable application fee of £150 is due at the time of application.
The Programme Fee is £3950 and includes the following:
- The full academic programme.
- Daily continental breakfast.
- Cafeteria lunch on weekdays.
- Arrival evening informal ‘icebreaker’ at a local Pub.
- Two gala dinners (At the start and conclusion of the programme).
- Single occupancy bedroom with en-suite bathroom for 12 nights.
- An on-site Operations team.
Applications will be assessed within 21 days of submission. Once accepted the applicant will be asked to complete a Registration Form and submit the full Programme Fee within 21 days to secure their place on the 2027 Programme.
APPLY HERE
Cancellation Fees
Applicants who cancel and withdraw from the programme are charged a percentage of the programme fee as follows:
| 75 days+ | 25% cancellation fee |
| 75 to 30 days | 70% cancellation fee |
| 30 to 0 days | 100% cancellation fee |
Visa and Insurance Information
Insurance:
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:
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. It is your responsibility to check if you require a visa to enter the UK, so please factor in the time it will take to apply for one.
You must apply for a Standard Visitor visa online before you travel to the UK.
If you visit the UK regularly, you can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa instead.
You will also need to check if you require an ‘Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)’ – most Europeans and North Americans will need one of these. Details can be found here.
Please check you meet the eligibility requirements on the UK Government Website.
Additional Information about UK Visas can be found here.
Please also note the following:
The Cambridge Security Initiative is responsible to the UK Border Force for monitoring attendance at the programme to ensure that students comply with the terms of their visa.
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 Pro.
You are strongly advised to make copies of your passport, visa letter and insurance policies prior to travelling and to keep these separate from the originals.
The Cambridge Security Initiative contracts with Cambridge Colleges for the use of facilities: this event otherwise has no direct connection or association with the University of Cambridge.