Across Australia, more than 800 university students have been selected as part of the inaugural cohort of the Propel Australian Submarine Scholarship program. This scholarship will help build the skilled workforce needed to support Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines.
Delivered through a partnership between the Australian Submarine Agency and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), Propel will provide up to 3,000 scholarships over the course of three years for students studying priority STEM subjects at Australian universities.
The program offers financial support, mentoring, and professional development opportunities with leading scientists, engineers and industry experts.
$15.8 million has been committed by the Australian Government to Propel as part of broader investments to grow Australia’s submarine workforce pipeline under the AUKUS agreement.
Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program is expected to expand over the next decade, creating around 20,000 highly skilled jobs nationwide across engineering, advanced manufacturing, trades, digital technologies, and project delivery. South Australia’s defence industry workforce is expected to grow by more than 10,000 by the 2040s.
For students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Propel offers a direct pathway into one of the nation’s most significant long-term industrial and defence programs.
The next round of applications will open later this year. Learn more about Propel and future opportunities here.
Published 22 April 2026
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