BUCSIS students gain rare Insight into espionage history at the National Archives

On 16 July, BUCSIS organised a workshop and field visit to The National Archives in London to underscore the value of archival research in student projects. To ensure the experience was directly relevant, staff at the Archives curated a selection of declassified MI5 materials, focusing on two of Britain’s most infamous Cold War espionage cases: the Cambridge Spy Network and the Portland Spy Ring.

Workshop organiser Dr Ian Stanier highlighted the unique learning opportunity, stating:

“Exploring the National Archives at Kew gives students direct access to the hidden machinery of espionage— offering a rare chance to analyse how spy rings were uncovered, misunderstood, or managed in real time. A close look at one of the Cambridge spies, John Cairncross, was especially revealing, exposing a range of motivations not typically explored in secondary literature.”

Following the workshop, students were treated to a guided tour of the History of MI5 exhibition, led by the exhibition’s curator, rounding off a day of immersive and insightful engagement with Britain’s intelligence history.

For students who are interested in researching this area, the National Archives offer a useful guide on how to look for records on intelligence and the security services.

Some of the subject matter is also covered in BUCSIS’s programmes in Covert Action, HUMINT and the Psychology of Intelligence Elicitation:

• MA Covert Action, HUMINT and the Psychology of Intelligence Elicitation by Research
• Postgraduate Certificate in Covert Action, HUMINT and the Psychology of Intelligence Elicitation

For more information contact Dr Ian Stanier via ian.stanier@buckingham.co.uk