Nuclear-Powered Submarine Student Pathways

The additional places will develop a pipeline of highly-skilled STEM graduates who will strengthen Australia’s sovereign capabilities.

About the measure

The Australian Government is investing $128.5 million over four years to support 4,001 commencing Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) over 2024 to 2027.

Growing a qualified and experienced STEM workforce to support Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine enterprise is a national priority. The scale of work required to support the enterprise will be unlike any previous shipbuilding program in Australian history and will deliver career and job opportunities for generations.

These additional places will develop a pipeline of highly-skilled STEM graduates who will strengthen Australia’s sovereign capabilities.

The following higher education providers have been allocated places in relevant areas:

Provider	Places allocated commencing over 2024–2027
The University of Adelaide	700
RMIT University	426
University of Wollongong	425
University of New South Wales	340
Flinders University	330
Curtin University	320
The University of Queensland	315
The University of Melbourne	300
Macquarie University	190
The University of Newcastle	140
Western Sydney University	120
Charles Darwin University	110
The Australian National University	108
Charles Sturt University	71
The University of Western Australia	56
Murdoch University	50

Applications

Applications opened on 1 September 2023 and closed on 28 September 2023. Allocation of places to eligible providers were determined based on the outcomes of a competitive selection process. Applications were assessed against criteria by the Department of Education and the Australian Submarine Agency.

Information on the selection criteria can be found in the program guidelines below:

Nuclear-Powered Submarine Student Pathways program guidelines

Final allocations were determined by the Minister for Education following consultation with the Minister for Defence.