Britain's defence industry will benefit from an £80 million skills boost to increase places on key strategically-relevant courses.
- £80 million investment to boost UK skills for defence careers of the future
- Universities and colleges will be able to offer more places to students on key courses through the Government's Defence Industrial Strategy
- Growing defence skills will meet industry need and bolster UK national security
Britain's defence industry will benefit from an £80 million skills boost to help students gain the skills they need to build the fighter jets of the future and protect the UK at the frontline of our cyber defences.
Universities, colleges and other higher education providers in England will be able to bid for funding to increase opportunities for students on defence related courses vital to national security and defence industry requirements, with work ongoing with devolved governments to assess specific skills needs and funding options across the rest of the UK.
This is the largest single investment within the £182 million Defence Industrial Strategy skills package, demonstrating the Government's commitment to ensuring the defence sector has the workforce it needs for the future.
Visiting the University of Portsmouth, Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP announced £50 million will fund around 2,400 new student places over six years. A further £30 million investment is being directed at improving university facilities, including building brand new teaching facilities to increase capacity over the next decade.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP said:
We know our outstanding Armed Forces are only as strong as the industry that stands behind them, and through our Defence Industrial Strategy we're determined to create more opportunities for young people to learn new skills and secure good, well-paid, jobs in defence.
I'm calling on universities and colleges across England to apply for this funding to create more opportunities for students to learn the skills of the future, strengthening our national security and helping drive defence as an engine for growth.
Courses in engineering and computer science will be the primary focus of the investment, given their critical importance to national security and the defence industry.
This funding is part of the Strategic Priorities Grant and will boost places for students from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, helping to build skills and drive growth across the country.
This delivers on the Strategic Defence Review's recommendation to boost the pipeline of skilled workers who can contribute to the UK's national security. The MOD is the largest provider of apprenticeships in the UK, supporting over 24,000 apprenticeships last year.
The Government has committed to the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War - hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027, three years earlier than the previous Government promised.
The funding will help the Government to build towards the Prime Minister's target for two thirds of young people to be heading to university or taking a gold standard apprenticeship by the age of 25 through the government's Plan for Change.
A Defence Universities Alliance is being established, creating a UK-wide network of universities working in partnership with the MOD, Armed Forces and defence sector to support defence innovation and to encourage graduates to take up careers in defence related industries.
Intent to join the Alliance will be a key factor in grant decisions to ensure funded courses lead to real jobs for graduates. The DUA will build on the 60 partnerships already in place between the MOD and universities across the country.
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said:
From computing and AI to engineering, we are supporting young people into a variety of jobs in the defence sector that are not only good for their future security, but also for our country's.
This cash boost will help by ensuring more students can learn and train with the most up-to-date tech and facilities, restoring colleges and universities as engines of opportunity and growth.
Applications for this funding competition, run by the Office for Students (OfS), are expected to open 10th February 2026 and close 20th March 2026. Successful bidders will likely be confirmed in May 2026, allowing for activities and student places to be taken up from the start of the academic year 2026-27.
