Educational Transition Pathway: Australian Veterans’ Experiences of the Bachelor of Cyber Security

This article evaluates the University of Southern Queensland’s competency-based Bachelor of Cyber Security pilot program (2023-2025), designed to support veterans’ transition from Defence to the cybersecurity industry. Responding to three societal imperatives – veterans’ employment challenges, the Australian government’s call for more cybersecurity personnel, and the Australian Qualifications Framework’s mandate to recognise prior learning – the Bachelor of Cyber Security co-designs curriculum with industry and embeds recognition of prior learning from military contexts. It integrates industry certifications and offers a paid 12-month internship, enabling veterans to consolidate workplace expertise while earning academic credit. Findings from qualitative interviews with veteran students and University of Southern Queensland staff, as well as analysis of program documentation, indicate that competency-based learning can alleviate skills shortages and offer higher education providers a scalable model to recognise prior learning, support national security workforce strategies, and expand access for underrepresented cohorts.