Industry Degree Academy Cadetship

The Industry Degree Academy (IDeA) cadetship is designed for students who want to launch their careers from day one, combining classroom study with real-world employment and graduating with meaningful, hands-on experience.

IDeA is a three-year program, exclusive to UTS, where students work with some of Australia’s leading companies while they study. Co-designed with industry partners, the program ensures you graduate with the skills, experience, and industry insight that employers are looking for.

How the IDeA cadetship program works

Earn and learn from day one. Throughout your degree, you will work part-time work and study part-time.

This involves:

• A paid role with an industry partner
• Work aligned to your course - depending if you choose the Bachelor of Cybersecurity, or Bachelor of Computer Science
• The opportunity to apply your learning in real time. 

Why choose a course with a cadetship?

What you’ll gain

Through the IDeA cadetship, you’ll undertake paid industry employment while studying, gaining real-world experience that aligns directly with your degree. You’ll be supported throughout your journey with ongoing mentoring, professional guidance, and access to a strong network of industry connections. This combination helps you build confidence in the workplace and transition more smoothly into graduate roles.

Support while you study and work

You’ll be supported to succeed across both university and employment through academic support from UTS, guidance from the IDeA program team, and mentoring provided by your employer. This ensures you are not navigating study and work alone, but with structured support at every stage.

Build experience over time

Rather than short-term placements, IDeA offers continuous paid employment that grows with you. As your skills develop, so does your responsibility in the workplace, allowing you to steadily build both technical capability and professional experience over time.

Graduate with more than a degree

By the time you complete the program, you will graduate with a UTS IT qualification, several years of paid industry experience, strong professional skills, and established industry connections, giving you a clear pathway into full-time employment.

Compare programs and scholarship options

Who should apply?

You may be a strong fit if you:

• Are applying for an undergraduate IT course at UTS
• Are interested in areas like cybersecurity or computer science 
• Want to gain industry experience while studying 
• Are ready to balance work and study commitments 
• Are motivated to build your career from the start 

How to apply

To apply, you’ll need to submit both an IDeA application and a UAC course application. Follow the steps below to complete the process.

Step 1. Check eligibility

1. You need to be an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident to apply.
2. You should be a recent school leaver*

*A recent school leaver refers to applicants who completed Year 12 in the two years prior to intake and have done no further study since within higher education (for example, current school leavers and anyone who took a gap year).

Step 2. Choose your course

Apply for an eligible UTS IT degree:

• Bachelor of Computer Science (IDeA)
• Bachelor of Cybersecurity (IDeA)

Step 3. Submit your IDeA application

Complete the IDeA online application with supporting information. 

Step 4. Apply through UAC

Then submit your course application through UAC.

Step 5. Prepare for recruitment 

If shortlisted, you’ll be matched with industry partners and invited to attend interviews.

Here's a handy guide to make your application stand out.