The UK government is investing in a defense-focused degree course to train both civilian students and soldiers to become drone technology specialists. However, it’s only targeting a small number of people.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Department for Education (DfE), this new course will open for enrolment at the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) in Hereford in the west of England from September this year.
The degree course forms part of a broader effort to deliver on the aspirations outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, published in mid-2025, to enhance the capabilities of the British Army through AI, drones, and autonomous systems.
By building a pipeline of homegrown talent with specialized science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills, the MoD hopes to address critical workforce gaps while aiming to push the UK’s expertise in next-generation military capabilities.
As is often the case with much-trumpeted initiatives, the actual amount of funding made available – a £240,000 (about $322,000) investment from the British Army – hardly seems commensurate with the government’s ambitions for it.
The three-year course aims to train 15 civilian students and up to five soldiers each year to become drone technology specialists.
It is claimed to incorporate lessons learned from Ukraine, where that nation’s fight against the Russian invasion has already demonstrated the unnerving potential of relatively low-cost drones to eliminate cutting-edge military systems such as tanks.
“In Ukraine, drones are causing more casualties than artillery – that’s the reality of modern warfare. This degree gives young engineers a fast track to careers at the cutting edge, protecting Britain and powering growth in places like Hereford,” commented Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns MP, who has previously served as an officer in the Royal Marines.
The MoD said its intention is for the UK to develop a world-leading capability and industrial sector in autonomous systems, and it expects to double investment for these technologies during this Parliament.
Formally known as a Master of Engineering (MEng) (Hons) in Integrated Engineering (Autonomous Robotics), the course will place a strong emphasis on the dual-use potential of drone technologies, according to NMITE.
This is in line with previous technologies developed for defense that are now commonplace in civilian life, such as GPS or the internet.
“This degree reflects the scale of the opportunity in front of us – to equip the next generation of engineers with skills that matter now, and to quickly deliver positive impacts in terms of skills, defense and a security capability and regional growth,” said NMITE president and chief executive James Newby.
Anyone interested in joining the program can register for updates via a form on the NMITE website. ®
