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Defence and Public Protection

The defence sector offers graduates a wide range of opportunities, from military roles involving safeguarding national security, to civilian positions in areas as diverse as cybersecurity, business development, engineering, technology, HR and management. The sector directly employs 147,000 people in the UK with a total turnover of £23.7bn in 2021, and is second only to the USA in terms of global defence exports (£8.8bn) (ADS, 2023).  

At the heart of the defence sector is the Armed Forces, which consist of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. These military branches offer a variety of roles, from combat and engineering to intelligence and logistics. There are also opportunities to work for non-military organisations across the public and private sectors. Defence also extends its reach to academia and research institutions, where vital studies enhance the understanding of global security challenges, inform policy decisions, and develop innovative technologies.

Sector overview and areas of work

For an overview of the main areas of work in the defence sector, visit the sites below:

British Armed Forces

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is responsible for implementing the defence policy set by the government, and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces who are responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom. The British Armed Forces include the Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force. Each also have their own careers/recruitment centres who provide information and advice on career options and entry routes.

National Security

Careers in National Security are part of the Civil Service, which means you will be working for the Government. This area of work includes The Secret Intelligence Service (or MI6), MI5, GCHQ, The National Cyber Security Centre and The National Crime Agency.

Cyber Security 

Cyber security professionals are employed by a range of organisations across both the public and private sector. To learn more about the different areas of work in this field, review the Cyber Career Framework.

UK Cyber Security Council International Women's Day Event - this recording provides insight into different job roles in the industry and entry routes. 

The Police

Making contacts

Making contacts will help in this sector. You could start by speaking with the experts – find out what they did after graduation and contact them for advice using the Career Mentor Scheme or Ask An Alum. 

Events

Recruitment fairs, open days, talks, and events give insights and opportunities to make contacts. For details of future events visit Handshake. If you have not yet activated your account, select the Single Sign On (SSO) option and follow the onscreen instructions.

Job roles

To explore some of the most common job roles in this sector visit Law enforcement and security jobs. Each job profile covers typical duties and responsibilities, entry requirements and the key skills required for each position. 

British Armed Forces

To research common graduate roles in the Armed Forces visit the following job profiles: Armed forces logistics/support officer, Armed forces technical officer, Armed forces operational officer and Armed forces training and education officer.

You can also visit the sites below:

The Police 

National Security

Roles tend to be based in the UK, but some may require international travel if you are working with other countries or embassies. There are many different roles available and each requires a different set of skills. Learn more about the roles available by visiting Careers in National Security.

For more information about working for MI5, MI6 or GCHQ visit the Prospect’s page Intelligence services careers for graduates. 

Cyber Security

Learn more about this area of work by visiting the Cyber Security Analyst job profile and Cyber Security training page on Prospects.

How to get into the cyber security profession - a recorded talk from UK Cyber Security Council' International Women's Day Event 2022.

Work experience and placements

Getting a graduate role in this sector is competitive. Undertaking relevant work experience may be difficult given the nature of this area of work, so it is important to think cresatively about ways to build insight, experience and relevant skills. Work experience will not only make your applications stand out, but it will also allow you to develop new skills and gain a valuable insight into the sector.

Some organisations in this sector offer placements and internships - here are some examples:

Another great way to build your insight is to take an online course:

Defence online courses on Future Learn - current courses include: Introduction to Network Security and Defence, The Future of Network Security and Defence.

British Armed Forces

The following student societies are linked to the respective Armed Forces divisions. Joining one will increase your insight and develop your skills.

Some training can be helpful with reserve forces:

There are also opportunities to volunteer for the Army Cadets.

  • Army Officer Internships - an opportunity to experience the role of an Army Officer for 6 to 18-months before, during or after University.

The Police

Although, pre-entry experience is not essential, it is useful to have experience of working with individuals or groups in the community, such as sports coaching or working with local youth groups.

There are opportunities to get involved with the Volunteer Police Cadets and you could also apply to become a police community support officer (PCSO) or a special constable.

The University recruits Community Engagement Officers to work within the Community Liaison Team to provide information and guidance for students living and socialising off-campus, and information for permanent local residents who live alongside students and have an interest in the University's development.

Graduate jobs and schemes

Competition is strong, especially for entry-level positions. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers. 

For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page, and for a list of general job search engines please visit our general job sources page. You could also have a look at Handshake, our vacancy database with employers who are targeting University of Exeter students.  

Graduate schemes

Several large organisations offer graduate schemes and hire graduates directly into jobs. See individual company websites for more information. Below is a list of some of the larger employers in this sector:

Security Services

  • GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) - info on Summer School, Future Leaders Programme and Graduate Opportunities 
  • Secret Intelligence Service (MI6)

The Police / probation

  • Metropolitan Police – offers a two-year Detective Degree Holder Entry Programme giving you a direct route in to a career as a detective constable, without first undertaking a role in uniform policing.
  • Police Now - offer two national graduate programmes, one for detectives and another for neighbourhood policing.
  • Unlocked - recruits graduates and career changers to become prison officers.

Finding companies for speculative applications

As jobs are not always advertised, it can be useful to develop your networking skills and apply speculatively. Visit our Researching employers page for advice on how to identify organisations in your area(s) of interest.

Further sources of support 

For further advice on finding graduate opportunities, visit at our Finding a graduate job page. 

If you are an international student, visit our international webpages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally. 

To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal. Login using your University email address. The worldwide country guides cover everything from job search resources and CV guidelines to cultural advice and visa information. Watch a short training video on how to get the most fromGoinGlobal (4 minutes 20 seconds). 

Further study and professional development

Some individuals decide to undertake further study to build their skills and knowledge of the sector. Not all roles or employers will require this, so it is important to research entry requirements and employer preferences before committing to additional training or qualifications. Use the sites below to research your further study options.  

If you would like to pursue postgraduate study before entering your chosen sector, please visit our Postgraduate Study page for information about choosing further study. If you are unsure whether further study is for you, you may wish to attend our ‘Postgraduate study: is it right for you?’ session which runs termly. All sessions are advertised on Handshake. 

Further information 

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Many major graduate employers have policies and processes that are proactive in recruiting graduates from diverse backgrounds. To find out the policies and attitudes of employers that you are interested in, explore their equality and diversity policies and see if they offer ‘Guaranteed Interview Schemes’ (for disabled applicants) or are recognised for their policy by such indicators as ‘Mindful Employer’ or as a ‘Stonewalls Diversity Champion’. 

The UK law protects you from discrimination due to your age, gender, race, religion or beliefs, disability or sexual orientation. For further information on the Equality Act and to find out where and how you are protected, as well as information on what you need to do if you feel you have been discriminated against, visit the Government’s webpages on discrimination. 

To learn more about how to share details of a disability with an employer and the support you can receive applying for jobs and work experience visit our equality and diversity page. 

Further information

  • Women in Defence is one of the largest independent communities of individuals and organisations that recognises the achievements of women working in defence. They also encourage women at all levels to join the defence sector

Armed Forces

In October 2018, the UK government announced that women could serve in all British military roles - including frontline infantry and Special Forces - for the first time, with basic training for new recruits offered from April 2019.  A research briefing published in July 2023 reported there are now around 16,450 women in the UK Regular Forces, making up 11.5% of the total workforce. Learn more about Women in the Army and Women in the Royal Marines.

Figures from the same briefing showed around 10.1% of personnel (14,320) self-identified as belonging to a minority ethnic group (compared to an estimated 16.1% of the total UK population). The Army had the highest proportion of minority ethnic personnel (14.8%), followed by the Royal Navy/Royal Marines (5.1%) and the RAF (3.5%). Find out more about diversity and inclusion by visiting The Army, The Royal Navy and The Royal Air Force.

Veteran mental health charity Combat Stress is available to support regulars, reserves, veterans and their families through bereavement, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and other forms of stress. Other charities such as the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) campaign for greater equality in the Armed Forces.

Ministry of Defence

On 1 April 2021 the Ministry of Defence’s Conduct, Equity and Justice (CEJ) Directorate launched, with the ambition to support Defence in being recognised within the UK and internationally, as leaders in equality, justice, and fairness. It is a ‘Disability Confident Leader’ under the Government Disability Confident Scheme and has a number of staff networks to support diversity and inclusion. Find out more by visiting the Conduct, Equity and Justice (CEJ) Directorate’s website.

Secret Service

Cyber Security 

  • Role models - a collection of case studies showing the varied journeys into the cyber security field.
  • Seidea CIC - supports Black and Minority Ethnic women worldwide in their entry into the cybersecurity field.

The Police

If you are considering a career in policing and want to know more about what is being done to promote diversity and inclusion, visit the Police’s diversity pages. It includes a page that lists a number of organisations working to ensure police forces are representative of their communities.