Bachelor of Aviation (Flying)
Creating the next generation of aviation experts.
Creating the next generation of aviation experts.
Explore the science behind aviation, earn your flying licences and get ready to take on global opportunities within the aviation sector. This degree not only educates and trains pilots to the highest commercial standards, it also develops future industry leaders and managers.
Launch your flying career at one of the top 50 universities in the world.* The Bachelor of Aviation (Flying) will prepare you for a career either as a pilot or as a manager in the aviation industry.
In addition to completing the flying licences and ratings required to become a professional pilot, you’ll also receive a solid academic and theoretical grounding in aviation management and safety. The integration of academic content with flying theory and practical training will give you a competitive edge as you’ll graduate with a broader understanding of the aviation industry. In turn, you’ll be better prepared to take on more senior leadership roles.
Our graduates have a high employment rate in Australia and internationally. This is the result of our reputation in the industry, our industry partnerships and our global alumni network.
Join the School of Aviation
UNSW Aviation operates as a school within the Faculty of Science. UNSW is the highest ranked global university with a stand-alone aviation school that offers aviation degrees, operates flight training under its own Air Operator’s Certificate and undertakes research. The School of Aviation has been a leading educator in the industry for over 25 years.
Learn from expert educators
Our courses are written and coordinated by experts with substantial industry experience. Our industry facilitators bring a wealth of aviation experience to their teaching, while our academic staff regularly engage with regulatory authorities, industry bodies and research collaborators. UNSW Aviation educators have come directly from leadership roles in industry, having held senior management positions within organisations such as Qantas, Airservices Australia, CASA, ATSB and the Federal Airports Corporation.
Standards
UNSW holds an Air Operators Certificate for training issued under CASR Parts 141/142. Safety and quality of training are of first priority. All flying is managed by the University’s Head of Operations and in accordance with a precise syllabus approved by CASA. The Professional Pilot Program includes ongoing monitoring of students and instructors proficiency, with student progression being dependent on the attainment of specific achievement levels at the end of each phase.
Gain industry connections through the Pilot Mentor Program
You’ll be assigned an airline pilot as your mentor in your final year, courtesy of the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA). The objective of this program is to provide you with career guidance and consultation about specific airline operations.
Kickstart your career with the Qantas Future Pilot Program
Our pilot recruitment program gives you the opportunity to be mentored by experienced QantasLink pilots. If successful through the selection process, you could transition to a job at QantasLink straight after graduation. New pilots are usually only considered for employment with a commercial airline after spending time flying in the general aviation market, which is most often gained by flying single-pilot charter aircraft or by seeking employment outside of Australia. This program provides a pathway to QantasLink that requires less than the minimum hours required for direct entry as a first officer. Please note the Qantas Future Pilot Program is only available for students to apply who have Australian citizenship (or New Zealand citizens with special long-term residency in Australia).
At UNSW, we are committed to ensuring prospective students have all the information they need in order to make informed decisions about their study options.
To assist you in gaining a better understanding of how Admissions works at UNSW, we have provided you with a summary of ATAR offers and the student profile.
We hope this information will help you identify the degree that is right for you.
In addition to your UAC or direct application (via Apply Online), you must complete the internal application form. This form is available on the School of Aviation Website. You can also request one from the Undergraduate Coordinator at aviation@unsw.edu.au or by calling +61 2 9385 5756. Interviews will be arranged with applicants after receipt of the internal application form.
Students will need to obtain a CASA Class 1 medical certificate before beginning flying training.
Mathematics Advanced
We offer a range of adjustment factor schemes that reward students for academic performance and extra-curricular achievements. These schemes also take into account a range of personal and educational disadvantages that may have affected your studies.
HSC Plus
This scheme rewards students who perform well in Year 12 subjects that are relevant to their preferred UNSW degree. You may be awarded up to five points.
Elite Athletes, Performers and Leaders (EAPL)
This program recognises achievements in the areas of sport, academia, leadership and music at an elite level. You may be eligible for up to five points.
Educational Access Scheme (EAS)
Factors such as illness, financial hardship, language difficulties or attending a particular school can mean you don't always get the best possible marks in Years 11 and 12. If one of these situations applies to you, submit an application for the Educational Access Scheme (EAS) via UAC. Eligible students can receive between 1 and 10 points towards their chosen UNSW degree.
Your ATAR is not the only measure of your potential to succeed, which is why we offer a range of pathways into university. Explore your options below and get in touch with our future student advisors to discuss your path to UNSW.
Gateway Admission Pathway
This scheme is open to students in Years 11 and 12 who attend Gateway schools. It significantly adjusts the ATAR requirements for your preferred UNSW degree and provides you with an early conditional offer to UNSW.
Entry programs for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
We offer entry programs for Indigenous Australians, including the Indigenous Preparatory Programs and the Indigenous Admission Scheme (IAS). The entry pathway program you apply for will depend on the degree you want to study.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
UNSW Global offers courses and programs designed to help you reach the English language level required for entry into your chosen degree. Different options are available depending on your current English language level. Learn more.
We do not accept secondary qualifications from this country. We may accept tertiary study results, please contact us for more information.
Please contact us for direct entry requirements.
In addition to your UAC or direct application (via Apply Online), you must complete the internal application form. This form is available on the School of Aviation Website. You can also request one from the Undergraduate Coordinator at aviation@unsw.edu.au or by calling +61 2 9385 5756. Interviews will be arranged with applicants after receipt of the internal application form.
Students will need to obtain a CASA Class 1 medical certificate before beginning flying training.
UNSW Global has university pathway programs that provide seamless transition to UNSW Sydney so you can achieve your academic and career goals. Learn more.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
UNSW Global offers courses and programs designed to help you reach the English language level required for entry into your chosen degree. Different options are available depending on your current English language level. Learn more.
The Bachelor of Aviation (Flying) is made up of 23 courses taken over three years of full-time study. This includes 21 core courses and two general education courses. You’ll spend half the program studying academic courses at our Kensington Campus and the other half completing flying theory and flight training at our Flying Operations Unit (FOU).
The academic program includes courses in aviation management and aviation safety as well as core courses in flying theory, mathematics and physics. In addition to theoretical studies, you’ll have up to 200 hours of flight training and approximately 30 hours of simulator training.
Flight training within the BAv (Flying) requires separate enrolment in the Professional Pilot Program in addition to the BAv academic enrolment. Enrolment in the Professional Pilot Program enables students to undertake flight training for the purpose of obtaining the licences and ratings included in the program. There are no academic units of credit allocated to the Professional Pilot Program. However, the School of Aviation provides successful students with UNSW Wings and a certificate at a Wings and awards ceremony. The theory lessons undertaken to gain the various ratings and licenses are part of the BAv academic program.
The Professional Pilot Program covers flight training and flight tests to a minimum of Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), together with Instrument Rating - Multi Engine Aeroplane and Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) theory.
The Professional Pilot Program is conducted in block periods throughout the degree program. It includes up to 200 hours of flight training and approximately 30 hours of simulator training to CPL and Instrument Rating - Multi Engine Aeroplane status. The flight training and associated theory are taught in an integrated format and delivered over two years, in addition to the demanding main campus academic commitment. Students may elect to complete further academic work in lieu of flight training for the elective in the final phase of third year.
Entry to the Professional Pilot Program within the BAv (Flying) is restricted to those enrolled in the flying stream. Students undertaking the Professional Pilot Program begin the academic year in mid-February of first year, and complete the first two terms of the academic core before commencing Basic Aeronautical Knowledge (BAK) in September of first year. Flight training is scheduled continuously from November in first year to mid-December in second year; completing training for the Recreational and Commercial Pilot Licences, and Instrument Rating - Multi Engine Aeroplane. Students complete the academic core in term one of third year and then return to Bankstown Flying Operations Unit for the final stage of flight training, which covers Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) theory, examinations and their elective.
Students are expected to make themselves available on a full-time basis during training. At times, students may be expected to fly earlier or later or occasionally on weekends if necessary due to scheduling pressures or delays due to maintenance or weather.
Term one
Term two
Term three
Term one
Term two
Term three
Third year flying electives
Current third year flying electives may include:
Students may choose other electives, subject to UNSW approval. Students may choose an academic elective instead of flying or a combination of both. Flying electives will be charged the cost at the time of training.
The following lists all of the flight tests to be passed during the Professional Pilot Program. All flight tests are conducted by a CASA Flight Training Examiner (FTE) or a CASA-Approved Testing Officer (ATO).
The following lists all the written examinations required for licensing to be passed during the Professional Pilot Program.
*CASA Examinations. The remainder are UNSW in-house examinations.
Australia has one of the most highly developed aviation industries in the world. It’s home to some of the best global airlines and has significant hubs for airlines based in Asia, the Americas and Europe.
Becoming a pilot with an airline usually requires a period working within the general aviation sector to gain additional flying experience. For this reason, most flying graduates will spend some time working as a flying instructor, charter pilot or in some other general aviation flying activity.
For qualified pilots, there is wide variety of work in aviation which includes being an airline pilot (international and regional), a flight instructor, charter or corporate pilot, corporate jet flying, helicopter flying and aerial survey work.
“Being taught the flying perspective within the aviation discipline was of great value throughout my career. It taught me the responsibility that you need to not only be a good pilot but a good operator as well. The emphasis on working as a team within projects and in day-to-day, as well as the importance of on-time flying were invaluable traits I have taken into my career. Over the last decade I have kept in touch with many of my friends in my cohort. My three years at UNSW were the most fun I have had in my life and can never be replaced.”
Ryan Smith
Captain, QantasLink
“Completing your education at UNSW doesn’t only give you high quality flight training but also a deeper level of industry knowledge that just doing your pilot training cannot give you. The current environment and my 25 years in the industry has proven that you need to have a fall back during the down turns. Completing my flying training with UNSW gave me a tertiary qualification that allowed me a much easier path into postgraduate study when I lost my medical.”
Jeremy Robertson
Aviation Medical Examiner and Commercial Pilot, R&D AeroMed
Applications for undergraduate study from domestic students (Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens) are processed by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
Visit the Apply section of the UAC website and you can nominate up to five degrees in order of preference, with the first being your most desired degree and university.
On-time applications for admission usually close at the end of September each year for Term 1 admission. Late applications can be submitted, but a late fee will apply. For study starting in Term 1, the majority of offers are made in December and January. Visit the UAC website for key dates for admission outside of Term 1.
In addition to submitting an application via UAC, you must complete the internal application form for the Bachelor of Aviation (Flying). Interviews are scheduled on a case-by-case basis, typically with a 1-2 week turnaround once the interview period commences from early September. As we receive a high volume of applications, we encourage applicants to submit their internal application form as early as possible.
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.
*If you are an international student studying an Australian qualification, go to the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) for application and UAC key dates. Note: If you are under 18 years of age, you need to make special arrangements. Read more.
In addition to submitting an application via UAC, you must complete the internal application form for the Bachelor of Aviation (Flying). Interviews are scheduled on a case-by-case basis, typically with a 1-2 week turnaround.
Commonwealth Supported Place: Student Contribution Band 2
*The student contribution for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 based on a standard full-time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The actual student contribution you will be liable for depends on your individual program of study and the calendar year in which you enrol. Actual fees are calculated upon enrolment. Student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the university and may increase each year during your studies (subject to caps determined by the Australian Government), effective at the start of each calendar year.
The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only - other fees and charges are not included.
You’ll need to pay for the flight training costs portion of this degree. In 2022, the anticipated standard cost of flight training to obtain the minimum of a Commercial Pilot License (CPL), Instrument Rating - Multi Engine Aeroplane, and ATPL (Frozen) is $141,500 (some elective fees and extra flying fees may apply). Additional flying costs are incurred depending on your choice of third year flying practicum and if more than the 200 flight hours are required to achieve proficiency in any aspect of the flight training.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed below.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
You’ll need to pay for the flight training costs portion of this degree. In 2022, the anticipated standard cost of flight training to obtain the minimum of a Commercial Pilot License (CPL), Instrument Rating - Multi Engine Aeroplane, and ATPL (Frozen) is $141,500 (some elective fees and extra flying fees may apply). Additional flying costs are incurred depending on your choice of third year flying practicum and if more than the 200 flight hours are required to achieve proficiency in any aspect of the flight training.
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
QS World University Rankings, 2022.
AFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.
#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.
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