13 August 2025
The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) has been chosen to deliver $15.8 million in STEM scholarships to support Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarine workforce.
Partnering with the Australian Submarine Agency, ATSE will deliver 3,000 scholarships through the newly established Propel: Australian Submarine Scholarship program.
Propel will support students undertaking tertiary studies in priority STEM areas to help grow the future workforce needed to deliver Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines.
Applications will open later this year, with students receiving initial scholarship payments in 2026.
ASA Deputy Director-General Technical, Tim Hodgson, said the new scholarships will support young Australians develop the capabilities needed to safeguard the nation.
‘AUKUS represents one of the most significant industrial endeavours in our country’s history. The success of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines relies on people developing the skills needed to build and sustain them,’ said Mr Hodgson.
‘The Propel scholarship program will support the defence industry by strengthening our nation’s future STEM capable workforce and continuing investment in young Australians who will make up our future workforce.’
‘We congratulate the ATSE for their selection to deliver this critical program and we look forward to partnering with the academy in implementing Propel in the months ahead.’
ATSE has a history of delivering successful scholarship programs with connections to academia, industry and government, including Defence and Defence-adjacent organisations, to provide the best educational and career outcomes for scholarship recipients.
Across Australia, the nuclear-powered submarine program is expected to create around 20,000 highly-skilled jobs for Australians for decades to come. These scholarships will develop the talent required to fill those positions and support the broader AUKUS alliance.
The scholarships align with the Australian Government’s broader investment to increase the pipeline of STEM-qualified Australians for the nuclear-powered submarine enterprise, including through the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Student Pathways program for additional Commonwealth Supported Places, the Australian Submarine Agency Nuclear Graduate Program, and national workforce development initiatives as part of the Skills and Training Academy.