Nuclear-Powered Submarines Technical Scholarships

Overview

The AUKUS Nuclear-Powered Submarine Pathway was announced by the Leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States in March 2023. The objectives of the AUKUS Nuclear-Powered Submarine Pathway are to: deliver Australia a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine (NPS) capability ensure Australia safely and securely operates and sustains its nuclear-powered submarines expand our individual and collective undersea presence in the Indo-Pacific and contribute to global security and stability in the region. Announced as part of the 2024-25 Defence Budget initiatives the Nuclear-Powered Submarines Technical Scholarships grant opportunity will fund one eligible applicant to co-design and manage a national scholarship program which will provide 3,000 two-year stipend scholarships of $5,000 each to domestic students undertaking undergraduate degrees in priority science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) study areas at Australian Universities. The scholarship program is intended to increase interest and awareness of opportunities in the Nuclear-Powered Submarine (NPS) enterprise workforce. It will ensure there is a continuous pipeline of suitable STEM graduates for the NPS enterprise, particularly in Western Australia, South Australia and other geographic locations that will play a vital role in delivering the Optimal Pathway. The scholarships will align with the Australian Government’s broader investment to increase the STEM for the NPS enterprise, including through the Student Pathways Program for additional Commonwealth Supported Places, the Defence STEM Cadetship and the ASA Nuclear Graduate Program. The grant opportunity will support three cohorts of undergraduate students from 2024-25 to 2028-29. You must complete your project by 31 March 2029.