Britain’s defence industry is set for a major skills boost after the government announced an £80 million investment aimed at expanding higher education courses
critical to national security and future defence technologies.
The funding, unveiled as part of the government’s Defence Industrial Strategy, will allow universities and colleges to increase student places on strategically important courses, particularly in engineering and computer science. Ministers say the move will help address long-standing skills shortages while strengthening the UK’s defence capability.
Under the plans, higher education providers in England will be invited to bid for funding to expand defence-related courses, with parallel work under way with devolved administrations to assess skills needs and funding options across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The £80 million package represents the largest single element of the wider £182 million defence skills programme and signals what ministers describe as a long-term commitment to building a workforce fit for the challenges of modern defence.
Announcing the investment during a visit to the University of Portsmouth, Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP said £50 million would fund around 2,400 additional student places over the next six years. A further £30 million will be used to upgrade university infrastructure, including the construction of new teaching facilities designed to increase capacity over the coming 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”.
Engineering, computing and cyber-related subjects will be the primary focus of the funding, reflecting their growing importance to national security and the defence supply chain. The investment will be delivered through the Strategic Priorities Grant and will be open to students from across the UK.
The move also responds to recommendations from the Strategic Defence Review, which called for a stronger pipeline of skilled workers into defence. The Ministry of Defence already plays a major role in training, supporting more than 24,000 apprenticeships last year, making it the UK’s largest apprenticeship provider.
The funding comes against the backdrop of a significant increase in defence spending, with the government committing to raise expenditure to 2.6 per cent of GDP from 2027 — the largest sustained rise since the end of the Cold War.
Ministers say the investment also supports the Prime Minister’s wider ambition for two-thirds of young people to enter university or complete a “gold standard” apprenticeship by the age of 25, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
A new Defence Universities Alliance (DUA) will sit at the heart of the initiative. The alliance will bring together universities, the MOD, the Armed Forces and industry partners to drive defence innovation and encourage graduates to pursue careers in defence-related sectors. Institutions that commit to joining the alliance will be more likely to secure funding, ensuring courses are closely linked to real employment opportunities.
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”.
The funding competition, administered by the Office for Students, is expected to open on 10 February 2026 and close on 20 March 2026. Successful bids are due to be confirmed in May 2026, with new courses and student places available from the 2026–27 academic year.
CEO of ADS Group, Kevin Craven said: “Demand for apprenticeships and graduate roles across the defence industry continues to outstrip supply, yet skills funding has historically fallen short. The government’s commitment to provide an £80 million skills boost is therefore hugely welcome.
We see this as an important step in a series of essential reforms needed to sustain our highly skilled workforce and deliver on the ambitions set out in the Strategic Defence Review”.
The announcement builds on the government’s recent Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, which outlined reforms to expand opportunity, strengthen university finances and improve graduate outcomes — positioning skills development as a central pillar of the UK’s economic and national security strategy.
Vivienne Stern, MBE, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said:
“Universities have a crucial role to play in the nation’s defence, and have been identified as a critical part of the security and defence infrastructure of the UK by the Defence Industrial Strategy. The contribution spans research, the development of innovative technology and applications, and providing the skilled graduates needed to protect the UK in a more challenging and changing world. The announcement of this funding from the MOD alongside the development of the Defence Universities Alliance will support the university sector to play its part in this vital work”.
Professor Graham Galbraith, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth, said:
“We are immensely proud that the Minister chose Portsmouth to announce this vital investment in our nation’s defence capabilities. Home to HM Naval Base Portsmouth, the city has a strong relationship with the sector, and the University builds on this legacy through world-leading research and by developing the skilled workforce that supports defence and drives economic growth.
This £80 million package represents an exciting opportunity for universities across England. By creating thousands of new student places and enhancing facilities, we can ensure the next generation has the skills needed to drive innovation in this strategically important sector”.