The potential burden of an ongoing HECS debt can create a very real deterrent for even the most high performing and enthusiastic students to attend university.
However, there is an option for Year 12 school leavers who are keen to embark on a career in software engineering that removes the stress of a HECS debt.
The WiseTech Global Earn & Learn program aims to make tech careers accessible for all, and to help build talented software developers and innovative thinkers. The innovative model combines university study with a full-time job at WiseTech, one of Australia’s top tech companies.
Over four years students will earn a university degree in computer science, be paid a competitive full-time salary, gain real world experience, have university course fees reimbursed and finish with no HECS debt.
It’s a smart long-term career choice: technology careers offer a wealth of opportunity to apply creativity and problem solving – not just in tech companies, but wherever technology can be applied in any industry. In fact, the Tech Council of Australia predicts that Australia will need an additional 122,000 entry-level tech workers by 2030.¹
Fiona Chuang, who joined the WiseTech Earn & Learn program in 2024, explains how the financial model allows her to put all of her energy into learning new things.
“Earning while I study my degree is a lot less pressure as it means I can actually focus on learning and gaining skills rather than stressing about how I’m going to pay for university,” she said.
For students who have to move out of home to attend university, the financial challenge of a HECS debt can be even more daunting.
Valin Kennedy relocated from Orange in regional NSW to Sydney to join the program and study computer science at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), a move he says wouldn’t have been possible without the financial support provided by the program.
“Initially, I aimed to attend UTS for a Bachelor of Computer Science, drawn by the chance to live in Sydney and participate in their elite athlete sports program. However, the costs associated with moving from a rural area to the city made this seem like a distant goal. Learning about the Earn & Learn program changed everything. Moreover, it not only provided financial assistance for relocating, it also offered the exact course I wanted at UTS, coupled with valuable work experience in my desired career field,” he said.
In addition to the financial support, Valin explained that joining the cohort of 52 students in the program helped provide social support to adapt to the move to a bustling city.
“The large group of people in the Earn & Learn program at WiseTech really helped me adjust to moving to Sydney. Before I moved, I didn’t know many people there, but now I have plenty of new friends to hang out with and attend university classes. It’s made me feel much more welcome in Sydney.”
Do you have students who might be interested in software engineering? Applications are now open for Year 12 students to join the 2025 WiseTech Earn & Learn program. For more information visit: www.wisetechglobal.com/earn-and-learn
Reference
1. Tech Council of Australia The State of Australia’s Tech Ecosystem report – March 2024
