Universities recruited for officer training

Newcastle University is to train the armed forces of the future. The Ministry of Defence has chosen Newcastle for its defence technical undergraduate scheme, which will offer first degree programmes in engineering and science disciplines preparing students to be technical officers in all of the services.

It is anticipated that there will be 150 male and female MoD-sponsored students by 2003-04. Each student will get £4,500 a year and an extra £1,500 a year if they take part in military training in the Easter and summer holidays.

Newcastle is one of four universities that will be providing the degree programmes. Southampton is another and the other two have yet to be chosen from the 15 that have bid.