Bill Shorten put in his bid to lead the University of Canberra months after other applicants and just two days before shortlisted candidates were interviewed, but the former Labor leader’s new employer has denied he was the chancellor’s captain’s pick.

In September, Mr Shorten announced his retirement from federal politics to take up the position as vice chancellor in February. He will step into an institution that is broke, fraught with internal division, and in the throes of cuts and 200 staff redundancies.