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Discipline info for Australian students
Interested in Defence?
Launch your career in a defence-related industry.
As the largest university in South Australia, we meet the needs of the defence industry to develop and transform Australia’s future workforce.
UniSA is a major provider of graduates to the defence industry. Our degrees give students specialised skills that support career readiness for the defence industry workforce, developed and designed with industry. Whether you are a Year 12 student or returning to study, our degrees will help you create a career with impact. By choosing to grow your career with UniSA in defence-related studies, you are positioning yourself for opportunities with businesses that support the Australian Defence Force (ADF), and you’re contributing to Australia’s sovereign capability.
We offer a range of Bachelor, Master and PhD degree programs to help you get ready to work in a defence-related industry, from aviation to engineering, human performance to project management. We have extensive research strengths and partnerships with companies in the defence sector to help professionals upskill and build on their existing knowledge.
In 2024, UniSA launched Australia’s first Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship, giving students the opportunity to study UniSA’s Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) degree over five years, while undertaking paid work at one of our defence industry partners. Co-delivered by UniSA and the host employer, this unique combination of paid work and study allows for immersive on-the-job training, and the opportunity to earn while you learn and graduate as an experienced software engineer. Register your interest
UniSA's Global Executive Master of Business Administration (Defence and Space) is an international, defence-focused MBA designed for senior leaders and experienced managers in the defence and space sectors. A unique collaboration with international experts, the 18-month program is delivered across three countries: Australia, the UK and the USA. Launched in 2023, the Global Executive MBA (Defence and Space) gives graduates opportunities to shape the future of the industry on an international scale. Register your interest
UniSA also welcomes serving and ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force, and their families, to study our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. We offer credit arrangements, flexible study options and tailored support through our Veterans’ Engagement and Education Program (VEEP).
Key features
- Close collaboration with government, business, the professions and other community groups to ensure our degree design and research remains industry standard.
- Distinctive industry experience programs that emphasise design, leadership and business skills, successfully placing UniSA students into defence industry and defence research internships, placements, and project scholarship programs.
- Opportunities for STEM students to get involved and undertake internships.
- A strong relationship with University College London, leveraging its acknowledged world-leading strengths in naval architecture and maritime engineering.
- Supporting defence industry workforce development and defence business growth through education, research, innovation and partnerships.
- One of Australia’s leading universities for engineering research, with research rated well above world-class.1
1 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia
Our partnerships with defence organisations offer many opportunities to help you build industry experience and prepare you for a successful defence sector career.
You could complete real-world placements and if you’re a high achiever, you could be offered a longer internship. These experiences will build your industry experience to prepare you for a successful career in the defence sector. Our distinctive industry experience programs emphasise design, leadership and business skills. We have successfully placed UniSA students into defence internships, placements, and project scholarship programs in engineering, IT, maths and physics, in organisations including the Department of Defence and Department for Innovation and Skills.
We are engaged in research that will transform the future of defence – not just in Australia, but internationally. Our extensive research strengths and partnerships within the defence industry span many of our research centres, including the Future Industries Institute and the Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments.
UniSA’s research strengths in defence include:
- Engineering and systems integration
- Autonomous and unmanned systems
- Telecommunication networks and signal processing
- Advanced materials and the development of tailored surface coatings
- Information technology and the integration of systems
- Business and social sciences
- Interrogation and mining of data for patterning and predictive model building
- Project management and the execution of large-scale complex projects
- Leadership, management and human resources
- Industrial design
- Human factors and biomechanics
- Enhancing human performance
Find out more about our defence industry expertise and partnerships.
Transfer your defence experience to a new career
Whether you are continuing your service or transitioning to civilian life, you can expand your career through studies at UniSA. There are many options available to you in our extensive range of Bachelor, Master and PhD degree programs.
If you already hold qualifications from the Australian Defence Force or you are looking at transferring from another university program, there are credit arrangements you can take advantage of once accepted into your degree of choice. To discuss your application and the possibility of credit and flexible study arrangements contact the Future Student Enquires team.
Through VEEP, our Veterans’ Engagement and Education Program, we help you to balance your study with work and family commitments, and to respond to some of the unique challenges that may arise as a result of your service.
By registering in VEEP, enrolled students will benefit from access to a defence community within UniSA, and personalised support.
Studies related to defence
We are a globally connected university, our staff and students come from over 90 countries. We have more than 2,500 industry and professional relationships that support student internships, research and community engagement. UniSA also has extensive research strengths and partnerships within the defence industry.
UniSA offers the following Defence degrees
Choose your level of study
World-class partners for a world-class university
We are a globally connected university with over 2,500 industry and professional relationships that support student internships, research and community engagement.
Ask UniSA
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How do I apply?
The way you apply for UniSA will depend on the undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree you're interested in studying.
The majority of applications are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Check out more information on the SATAC website and follow the appropriate process for your degree of interest.
There are a small number of degrees that you need to apply for through direct application processes. The process you need to follow will be listed on the 'How to Apply' section of the degree homepage, but you'll also be taken to where you need to go if you hit the 'apply' button.
If you are interested in studying one of our 100% online degrees you'll need to apply directly to UniSA Online.
You can find more information about the application processes for UniSA on our How to Apply webpage.
If you're more interested in applying for a postgraduate degree by research, check out and follow the information in our step by step guide to applying. -
Is there a closing date for applications?
Applications for all degrees will close ahead of study commencing, but the timelines may vary for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Undergraduate
The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be guaranteed equal consideration is generally in very late November or early December. While you may be able to apply after this date, you are not guaranteed to be considered equally with other applicants and your application may not be assessed in time for the main round of offers. More competitive degrees may not make any offers after the main offer round. Find more information on the Key Dates section of the SATAC website, but you can also call the Future Student Enquiries team for more information on 08 8302 376.
Postgraduate
Many postgraduate by coursework degrees do not have set closing dates. The exceptions are highly competitive degrees, so it is best to check – either on the degree homepage on the SATAC website or by checking with our Future Student Enquiries team.
As most postgraduate applications are assessed as they are submitted and offers are continuous, there are no set closing dates for applications. Degrees can be filled and closed with little notice so it is best to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on a place. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquires team on (08) 8302 2376 or submit an enquiry.
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What credit can I receive for previous studies?
You may be eligible for credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area and completed within a certain timeframe. Receiving credit or RPL will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree. You can read more about our pre-existing credit agreements through our online Credit Assessor. If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning (RPL) for this experience. Credit and RPL is assessed by the Program Director once you've received an offer, and you apply through UniSA's current student experts, Campus Central.
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Can I speak to someone regarding my study options?
Future Student Enquiries welcomes the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your study options at UniSA. We can discuss degree information, entry requirements and pathways, applications, general career outcomes and student life, so you have the information to make the best study decision for your future. Head to our Book an Appointment webpage to find a date and time to speak with us, and take your next steps on journey to university study.
Why study at UniSA?
As one of the most innovative universities in Australia and Asia, there are many reasons to study with us. Here are just three:
Accessible, helpful and flexible
We have six campuses, a 24/7 online learning environment, and we offer flexible study options like online and evening courses.
Graduate success
UniSA is South Australia's number one university for graduate careers.*
*ComparED (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019-21 – Full-time Employment Indicator (Undergraduate). SA public universities.
A five star university
Five stars for research, employability, teaching, facilities, internationalisation, inclusiveness and innovation*
*2023 QS Stars Ratings
