If you want paid, hands-on experience in your chosen field while you’re still studying, a cadetship is one way to get it. It works a lot like an apprenticeship, since you learn while working for an employer.
What a cadetship is
A cadetship is designed by the employer or organisation offering it, so there’s no single format. Many follow a similar pattern, though. You’re employed in a role connected to your degree and work part-time or on set days around your university classes.
Benefits of a cadetship
Cadetship benefits can include things like:
- A salary while you study
- Help with study costs, such as an allowance or fees covered
- Work experience in your field before you graduate
- Mentoring & on-the-job training
- Experience across different teams or projects
- A pathway into ongoing work after you graduate, in some programs
Each program offers a different mix, so check the details carefully before you apply.
When you can apply
Cadetships are generally offered to students who have already started university, though some let you apply in Year 12, the year before you start. Some are aimed at students at the beginning of their degree, while others are for students in later years. Applications often open well before a cadetship begins, so check closing dates early.
For example, the Australian Public Service Data and Digital Cadet Program is open to Australian citizens studying a data or digital degree who have completed at least their first full-time year and have at least one year left. Cadets in the program work at least two days a week while they finish their degree.
What it takes
Because you’ll be working and studying at the same time, a cadetship needs commitment and good time management. You’ll be balancing work hours with classes and assessment deadlines, so think about how that would fit with the rest of your week before you apply.
A cadetship also ties you to one field early in your degree, so it could suit you if you’re fairly sure about the career you want.
What an apprenticeship is
An apprentice is an employee who learns a trade or profession while working for an employer under a training contract. The contract must be registered with a state or territory training authority, and the off-the-job training is delivered by a registered training organisation (RTO), such as a TAFE.
Apprenticeships lead to a nationally recognised qualification, from a Certificate II to an Advanced Diploma depending on the apprenticeship.
Traineeships work in a similar way, but they lead to a qualification other than a trade qualification.
Key differences
Apprenticeships always run under a registered training contract, while each cadetship is set up by the employer offering it. Beyond that, they differ in three practical ways.
What you study
Apprentices train on the job and with an RTO towards a vocational qualification. Cadets usually study a university degree connected to their role.
When you can start
You don’t need a senior secondary certificate to become an apprentice, and you can start a school-based apprenticeship before you finish school. Cadetships generally start once you’re at university or about to begin.
Pay and study costs
Both are paid roles. Apprentices are paid apprentice rates set by their award or agreement, which depend on the length of the apprenticeship and how much training they’ve completed. A cadet’s pay is set by the program or, in some industries, by an award. How study or training costs are covered depends on the program, the award and any agreement in place.
When “cadet” means something different
Some modern awards, which are the legal documents that set minimum pay and conditions for an industry, include cadet classifications with their own rules:
- In journalism, cadets are taught on the job by their employer, with a standard cadetship lasting up to 3 years
- In manufacturing, a technology cadet is employed under a registered contract of training to complete a vocational qualification, much like an apprentice
The Australian Defence Force Cadets is different again. It’s a community-based youth development program for people aged 13 to 18, and it’s separate from work-based cadetships.
Whenever a role or program has “cadet” in its title, read the details to see whether it involves a training contract, university study, or neither.
Finding cadetships and apprenticeships
Cadetships are often advertised on employer and government career websites. The Australian Public Service lists its cadetship and sponsorship programs in one place, and you can filter by cadetship on our Find Opportunities page.
For apprenticeships, Apprentice Connect Australia Providers are the first point of contact. They connect apprentices and trainees with employers and support you throughout the apprenticeship. If you’re interested in a school-based apprenticeship, your Careers Advisor is a good person to talk to first.
If you’re weighing up ways to earn while you study, our careers and work resources cover more on building experience while you’re still at school.
Note: information is accurate as of September 2026 – but employers and governments regularly change these programs so check directly if you want the specifics.
