Student Information

Internship Application Process

The DIIP application and assessment is a competitive process involving several selection steps. Each stage is described on this page to assist candidates to prepare effectively for each selection task.

Internship applications close on 30 August 2026, with internships commencing from November over a 12-week full time summer block, or a combination of full or part-time hours over the summer and part time hours during semester one 2027. Students must be available for internship commencement in November/December 2026. 

Internship application and assessment timeline:

  • 20 July – 30 August 2026: Applications Open
  • August – September 2026: Assessments and Matching
  • September – October 2026: Candidate Shortlisting and SME Interviews
  • October 2026: Internship Offers Sent and Confirmed
  • November – December 2026: Internships Commence
  • February-April 2027: Internships Conclude (based on work cadence)

1. Research the Defence Industry

It is strongly recommended that you research career pathways within the Australian defence industry to ensure you have a genuine interest in the DIIP and a potential desire to pursue graduate roles in the sector. As part of the selection process, applicants will be required to demonstrate both their interest in and suitability for this valuable internship opportunity.


2. Complete an Online Application

Using the Apply Now button on the DIIP website or the link provided various DIIP job advertisements, you will be required to complete an online application form to demonstrate your interest and suitability for the available internships. In addition, you will be asked to provide several documents to demonstrate your eligibility including a resume, evidence of citizenship, academic transcript, an academic reference and any additional materials.

3. Video Screening Interview

Selected candidates will be invited to complete a video screening interview using a one-way online recording platform. To complete this step, you will be asked questions related to your experiences, abilities and skills related to the internship, which your response will be recorded and reviewed by the DIIP selection team. As part of this experience, you will have the opportunity to practice prior to recording, and the ability to re-record your response multiple times.

4. EM17 CareerAbility Profile

Selected candidates will be sent a link to complete an EM17 Career Ability Profile. The EM17 is structured, evidence-based online psychometric assessment that explores 17 work related factors across four domains: Personality, Values, Enterprise Skills, and Work-Related Abilities. Together, these domains offer insight into how participants tend to think, behave, and approach work-related situations. Results are intended to help participants reflect on their preferences, strengths, and development areas within their own context, and to consider how these may influence their choices and next steps. The DIIP team utilise these results to assist in matching profiles against internship opportunities with host organisations.

5. Defence Industry Host Interview

After the assessment tasks, highly suitable candidates will be placed into a Talent Pool of potential interns. The DIIP Team will undertake comprehensive matching to ensure strong alignment between your background and requirements, and that of the defence industry host to ensure the placement is mutually beneficial and rewarding. The host organisation will then invite preferred shortlisted matched candidate/s for an individual interview to determine the fit for their internship position. This interview may be face-to-face or online depending on circumstances, and cover a range of questions surrounding your background, interest in the defence industry, qualifications and skills, and availability. Note: not all candidates in the Talent Pool will be invited for interview. Second round interviews may also be offered for unfilled positions.

6. Reference Checks

For selected candidates, the next stage of the selection process is a reference check to ensure documentation is valid, any clearances or checks required for your internship can be carried out, and a reference check with your academic referee may be undertaken. Suitable referees may include academic staff (lecturers, tutors), employers, previous internship supervisors, or professional mentors. Please include each referee’s name, role/title, organisation, email, and mobile number.

7. Offers & Agreements

Successfully selected candidates will be contacted by the DIIP Team to confirm the offer and details of their internship, including confirmation of their industry host, agreed start date, internship work/project plan, and internship agreement.

8. Internship Onboarding

Interns will commence their full-time (or part time equivalent) 12 week / 450 hours placement at an agreed start date from November 2026, with internships concluding between February to April 2027. The DIIP Team provides end-to-end support to interns throughout the end-to-end placement process and will deliver a number of check-ins, events and career development opportunities throughout the internship period.

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Intern & SME applications are currently open until 30 August 2026

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I never realised a job in defence could be this interesting.

I used to think it was all project management or maintenance work, but this experience opened my eyes to the exciting R&D opportunities that exist behind the scenes.

I’ve also had the chance to connect with some amazing professionals whose careers I really admire. Being able to build that kind of network as a student has been a huge bonus. My supervisors also allowed me to pursue technical directions that aligned with my interests, which really helped me grow my skills.
K. AshcroftDIIP Intern, 2025
The Defence Industry Internship Program provided me with an invaluable opportunity to gain exposure to cutting-edge defence technologies.

During my time at Arkeus, I applied the skills I had acquired through my university studies while being mentored by incredibly bright, talented, and hard-working individuals.

As part of a team, I took on real responsibility for tasks that contributed meaningfully to the advancement of Arkeus’ mission.
L. SinghDIIP Intern, 2025
I would strongly recommend the program to university students seeking an internship.

Throughout the internship, the DIIP team maintained regular check-ins with both my supervisor and me to monitor my progress and ensure I was benefiting from the experience.

Their ongoing support played a big part in making the internship such a rewarding and productive opportunity. I had the opportunity to contribute to real-world engineering projects that were both highly technical and deeply engaging. Through this I gained practical knowledge relevant to my field.
L. AbantoDIIP Intern, 2025
My internship was an incredibly enriching and positive experience that reinforced my passion for applying data science to solve complex problems, providing me with the support and resources needed for me to kickstart, as well as excel within my professional career.

I had the opportunity to apply my data science skills in a real-world engineering context.

I contributed to projects that focused on predictive maintenance and remaining useful life of mechanical systems, and gained first hand experience on how data can be used to improve decision making processes in defence engineering settings.
S. NguyenDIIP Intern, 2025

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