Career planning can be very daunting and its important to get started early in your degree! This will help you to get the most out of your time at university and be a competitive graduate.  


This co-curricular program takes you on a personalised career development journey that you can do alongside your academic courses. But the end of the program, you will:

  • understand what it takes to be employable in an increasingly competitive and unstable job market;
  • develop key employability skills; and
  • get work experience before you graduate.

This program is optional and allows you to undertake career development at your own pace while you study.

Career development at your own pace

You can register for the program at any time during your science degree and complete the program at your own pace, alongside your academic courses. You can progress as quickly or as slowly as you like, depending on your other commitments, but if you want to finish the program, you need to do so by your last term of study. If you are only interested in some aspects of the program, this is OK! Its up to you to do as little or as much as you would like. The more you do, the more badges, awards and skills you gain!  

Program details

There are three awards (or levels) in the program, which are described below. Each level has a set of badges you need to collect in order to complete the level. Once you complete a level, you can move on to the next one. By the end of the program, you’ll have a collection of professional development badges and awards to showcase your career development journey, and you’ll receive AHEGS Accreditation on your secondary transcript.  

UNSW

Bronze Award: Career Management Foundations

This award introduces you to key career management skills and concepts through online modules. It will help you to prepare and plan your career development journey and ensure you have a strong foundation for the next levels.  

Complete these online modules to collect your Bronze Level Badges!

  • Employability and the Future of Work
  • Resume Writing Skills
  • Interview Skills
  • Personal Branding
  • Career Planning

Silver Award: STEM Career Management

This award encourages you to explore different career options and expand your professional network! Undertake workshops and attend industry events to earn your Silver Award. There are three Silver Level badges to collect:

  • Advanced Career Management – complete a selection of advanced career development workshops, courses or activities. 
  • Professional Networking – participate in professional events and put your networking skills into practice!
  • STEM Career Exploration – explore careers in STEM by accessing industry, research and career events offered by UNSW Science and UNSW Employability.
UNSW
UNSW

Gold Award: Professional Experience

This award allows you to gain relevant work experience before you graduate and to consolidate your career development journey into a professional development portfolio. There are two gold level badges to collect:

  • Professional Experience – gain relevant work experience through work placements or research internships.  
  • Professional Reflective Practice – create a professional development portfolio that captures your STEM Career Launchpad journey.