Studying science, engineering, technology and maths (STEM) at QUT opens a world of opportunities to achieve your full potential and forge a rewarding career.
Why study STEM at QUT?
Discovering how to improve lives by solving a range of real-world problems will be crucial in the
future. Many of the jobs of today were unheard of a decade ago: app developers, big data
analysts and sustainability engineers.
STEM careers provide the greatest opportunities to
succeed in the future.
No university is better placed to help you launch your STEM career
than Queensland’s only university of technology.
Why study STEM at QUT?
The fundamental underpinning of the skills you need for jobs of the future is STEM.
But did you know that there’s a secret formula to getting that great-paying, in-demand and stellar career that you’ll love? We call it STEM+X - where X is your passion, another field or a world-changing goal.
To help get you started on finding your perfect STEM+X combo, we’ve created a 60-page STEM+X guide in partnership with Careers with STEM.
Think about the future. What issues do we need to address, as a society, to ensure longevity? Climate change. Water scarcity. Food shortages. Species extinction. Affordable housing. With a predicted 75 per cent of future occupations needing STEM literacy, it means that a skilled STEM workforce is central to addressing these complex issues now and into the future.
Science and Advanced Science
Understand and tackle the greatest challenges facing our world and its future.
Lauren Blackwell, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Science student
Double your career opportunities
A double degree can help you develop a portfolio of skills and capabilities so you will be flexible, prepared for change and able to maximise your career opportunities. Create your own specialist career niche by combining your STEM degree with a complementary study area that interests you.
The Careers with STEM Job Kits are free 8-page e-mags you can download, offering a complete introduction to individual STEM careers.
Discover what a job in STEM is all about, meet real people working in the field, and find out what you can do right now to set your career on the right path.
Tune in to hear from a great line-up of guest alumni from around the world, sharing their stories about the paths they’ve taken to get where they are in their STEM careers. Hosted by QUT STEM graduate, Mackenzi Oliver, these episodes will help you find your inspiration for a STEM career.
QUT alumnus Dr Abigail Allwood is at the cutting-edge of space exploration
Women in STEM
With only one in four STEM workers being women, we recognise the importance of supporting and celebrating women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.
We're tackling this gender divide through a number of programs and initiatives, including #STEMtheTide.
Libby Hogarth is a passionate urban planner with a focus on inclusive and meaningful spaces. Libby uncovers the varied range of projects which use the expertise of urban planners to become the best possible developments for all users.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, QUT's Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Sheil sat down for an interview with Minister Karen Andrews, Australia’s Minister for Industry, Science and Technology.
Donald Piggott-McKellar is an Associate Director at Forge Advisory, and one of the minds behind the evolving infrastructure of Brisbane for over 10 years.
Dr Naomi Paxton explains what biofabrication is, the importance of being in a supportive and diverse team and how she made the leap from physics to biomanufacturing.
You’ve got ideas that can help shape the world? Our courses will give you the tools, equipment and technology to bring your concepts to life.
We're Queensland’s only university of technology - future-focused and always exploring emerging disciplines and equipment. We'll help you push the boundaries of scientific development using cutting-edge facilities housed in our specialist precincts, labs and workspaces.
Our researchers work in key STEM areas, aiming to solve some of the major challenges facing society and the planet, including:
sustainable development and climate change
energy and food security
an ageing population and chronic disease
information dissemination and security.
Many of these leading researchers will be your lecturers. Their experience, passion and knowledge will be shared with you as part of your studies. They will inspire you to reach your potential and exceed your goals.
Naomi Paxton
"Combining polymer science and engineering innovations in biofabrication research has the potential to revolutionise how we treat tissue loss and improve the quality of care for patients."
Mardi McNeil
QUT PhD student Mardi McNeil was part of a team carrying out the first ever assessment of how a particular type of green macroalgae, Halimeda, affects the marine ecosystem in the Great Barrier Reef.
Evangeline Corcoran
"A highlight of my PhD studies so far is publishing my first lead author paper and receiving international honours as a ‘Woman to Watch’ in the drone industry for my role in researching the use of drones, thermal imaging and machine learning to monitor threatened wildlife."
Scholarships
We recognise the achievements and potential of our students, and encourage you to apply for our scholarships, bursaries and development programs. Scholarships offer both financial support and a wealth of invaluable experience. They can help shape and support your time at university. All you need to do is apply.
Vanessa and Riva are both recipients of the prestigious Westpac Young Technologists Scholarship. Only five universities across Australia offer this $15,000 scholarship. The scholarship includes a personalised enrichment program, giving you access to paid internships, inspiring mentors and an international leadership development experience, and membership of the Westpac 100 Scholars Network.
Brody Foy, a QUT mathematics graduate and past Dean’s Scholar and Rhodes Scholar, is using his PhD to apply his maths skills to computational biology. Specifically, lung function testing. Brody has also co-founded a non-profit consultancy that uses data analytics and machine learning to solve problems in healthcare, energy and social services.
Saskia Mathers
Saskia Mathers, a current Deans Scholar and computer software systems engineering student, is a Women in Engineering scholarship recipient and past president of Women in Technology (WiT) at QUT. Saskia has used her experiences in the program to build networks with sponsors and combine her leadership experiences and passion for STEM.
Are you an international student?
Discover more about studying with us as an international student. Find out how to apply, information about scholarships and pathway programs, and what student life is like at QUT.
A common misconception about university is that you have to do it ‘on your own’. You’ll be relieved to know that QUT offers many opportunities to get involved, make new friends, and receive proactive and timely support services to help you succeed.
Join a range of student-led projects and clubs: QUT Aerospace, QUT Construct, Girls in Engineering Making Statements, QUT Maths Society, QUT Motorsport, QUT Planning Student Association, Women in Science, and QUT Women in Technology are just some.
Why wait until you graduate to create your business, social enterprise or side hustle? QUT Entrepreneurship is the perfect place to collaborate, network and share ideas with fellow budding entrepreneurs and like-minded students from across the university.
The Oodgeroo Unit is QUT's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student success unit, providing admission pathways, dedicated study spaces, tutors, cultural support and scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
News
16th February 2021
Years of hard work and goal-chasing will pay off for more than 12,000 new QUT students next week when they start university.
Best friends Jamieson Ritchie and Meg Chester are among the new students who will take part in O Week (February 22-26) before classes begin on March 1.
They are both embarking on double degrees at QUT and are already planning lunchtime catch-ups at Gardens Point during Semester 1.
Orientation will give students a chance to make new friends, explore the campus, learn about clubs and societies, attend seminars, enjoy food and entertainment, and pick up their free first-year t-shirts and study planners.
First-year students will receive this limited edition 2021 QUT t-shirt.
“I never knew what I wanted to do until Year 10 when I went to a summer school at the University of Sydney and studied robotics,” she said.
Jamieson Ritchie and Meg Chester.
“From there I enrolled in my school’s robotics program and competed at the national RoboCup event.
“When I did the robotics program at school my coaches were past students who’d gone on to study mechatronics and robotics at QUT … that really inspired me. Now I’m going back to do some coaching this year too while I’m at uni.”
Meg, 18, is starting a Bachelor of Business / Bachelor of Design and has already connected with other first-year architecture students through a Snapchat group and a wider first-year students Facebook page run by QUT.
“I’ve wanted to do architecture since I was in Year 7 and I think it will be a good advantage to have a dual degree,” she said.
“When I was little I’d always design things on the iPad – houses and buildings. Then once I did design as a subject at school I decided I really liked it.
“I’ve learnt a lot about QUT at open days and I love that the university is in the city on the river. The location was a big drawcard for me – it’s a beautiful campus to study on.”
Allanah King is studying nursing at QUT.
Allanah King, 18, has enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing after deciding two years ago that nursing would be her life-long career.
“All my family are teachers and nurses but at first I thought, no, I’m not going to become a teacher or a nurse!” she said.
“But I had to choose something for a traineeship at school and when I did my first interview at Logan Hospital they took me for a tour and it was the most amazing instant feeling – I thought, yes, I want to do this for the rest of my life.”
Allanah earned her Certificate III assistant-in-nursing qualification while still at Rivermount College and also completed a Certificate III in Business last year.
“It’s amazing that I got to start my career at 16 with that hospital apprenticeship – it was literally my first job,” she said.
“I currently specialise in diversional therapy for disability and I work with patients with Alzheimer's.”
Allanah, who is a Waanyi Ganggalida woman, said she chose QUT because of recommendations from hospital colleagues and other students.
“QUT has been the number one school recommended to me for nursing and I know how much support it gives its students and its Indigenous students through the Oodgeroo Unit,” she said.
And while international travel is not currently on the cards, Allanah already has some global life experience.
“I’m one of five children and my dad works in mining – our whole family lived in Africa for three years from when I was 13 to 16, and we lived in Indonesia when I was five,” she said.
Dan Woodrow and Stephan Muller are in QUT's Elite Athlete Program.
Dan is a St Peters Lutheran College graduate and Ambrose Treacy swimmer who specialises in the 100m and 200m freestyle and is a national junior medallist.
“I’ve been an athlete for a long time and I’ve really liked being a student of the sport and always learning,” he said.
“I think this course will give opportunities to go down the research path or the elite coaching path.
“I train about 20 hours a week and also work part-time at the pool. It keeps me busy – keeps me on my toes!
“The Elite Athlete Program will give me the flexibility to work my classes around my training schedule and swim meets. And I’m very happy that all my lectures are online for my first semester – it saves travel and time.”
Stephan is an Ormiston College graduate and cricketer, and was a batsman with Queensland’s Under 17s before making his first grade debut this summer with Redlands.
“I think studying sport science will definitely help me with my own sport – we do a lot of strength and conditioning training and I find it quite interesting how that affects performance,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to uni. I’ve planned out my timetable around my training sessions … I’ve got a few online lectures at night and I’ll go into the uni three days a week, so it will be good to still get in there and experience the campus.”
QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil congratulated all of the university’s new students on their achievements through a challenging 2020 and welcomed them to QUT for 2021.
“You are entering an exciting new period of your life and I encourage you to become part of the university culture by making the most of your time at QUT, both inside and outside your formal classes,” Professor Sheil said.
“There are plenty of people ready to share their own experiences and help you navigate this new environment. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. We were all new once ourselves and we want to you thrive here.”
