Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Aeronautical

Reach new heights in your ADF career

Only for domestic students

Does the thought of sending an astronaut to the moon fill you with excitement? Aeronautical engineers work at the cutting-edge of engineering designing, manufacturing, and maintaining aircraft in the aviation and aerospace industries. A Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering from UNSW Canberra at ADFA will kickstart your career in this highly valued industry with the skills you need to thrive in your defence force career.

This degree is also available to non-defence students.

Faculty

UNSW Canberra

Delivery Mode

Face-to-face (includes blended)

Award

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

Commencing Terms

Semester 1

Duration (Full Time)

4 Year(s)

Overview

Why study at UNSW Canberra?

When you study with us, you’ll have access to purpose-built workshops and facilities and benefit from the best university campus teacher-to-student ratio in Australia. Working with experienced engineers and client representatives on industry-focused design and research projects, you’ll gain the hands-on experience needed to meet the global challenges of the future.

In your fourth and final year, you’ll also design and conduct your very own research project. You’ll work with one of our world-class academics to make an original contribution to the field of aeronautical engineering

Program Code

4472

Campus

Canberra

UAC Code

450040 - Defence 451040 - Non Defence

Total Units of Credit (UOC)

192

Indicative Enrolments

112

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Entry requirements

2023 Lowest Selection Rank

450040 - 85 + Defence Selection 451040 - 90

2023 A levels

450040 - 14 + Defence Selection 451040 - 16

2023 IB Diploma

450040 - 31 + Defence Selection 451040 - 34

2023 Lowest ATAR

450040 - 81.65 451040 - 82.3

The 2023 Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) is the adjusted rank (ATAR plus adjustment factors) you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2023.

The 2023 A levels score is based on four Advanced Level (A2) subject. Entry scores are calculated from the best three or four A2 subjects (excluding repeated subjects) using the following values: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1. At most one Applied A Level subject may be included in the best four subjects used to calculate the aggregate.

The 2023 IB Diploma is an indication of the IB you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2023. It is to be used as a guide only.

The 2023 Lowest ATAR is the lowest ATAR (before adjustment factors were applied) to which an offer was made. Where <5 is listed, this indicates that less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made and so the score has not been published. N/A indicates no offers were made on the basis of ATAR.
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.

See more

Assumed knowledge

Mathematics, Physics

Adjustment Factors

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.

Admission pathways

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.

English language requirements

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:

If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.

Program structure

Our Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering degree is a four-year degree with an in-built Honours year. It is specifically designed to prepare you for the needs of the ADF as Australia’s largest aircraft operator. This program is tailored to aeronautical engineers and covers the fundamentals of aeronautics, aerodynamics and engine propulsion, aircraft design and more.

As you progress further in your degree, you’ll be given further opportunities to study courses that interest you. You could choose from electives including:

aerospace engineering
helicopter and rotorcraft design
hypersonic flight, which is five times faster than the speed of sound.

You will also complete a 60-day internship in a professional aeronautical engineering environment. Put into action everything you have learnt and see how a practicing aeronautical engineer approaches and solves problems in the real world.

Full program structure

Go to the handbook

Future careers

By studying aeronautical engineering at UNSW Canberra, you’ll be accredited by Engineers Australia to begin working immediately as an aeronautical engineer within the ADF and around the world.

Air Force

Air Force graduates operate and maintain aircraft. They become responsible for the airworthiness and modification of aircraft and engines and the acquisition and introduction of new equipment into the Australian fleet. 

Army

As an Army graduate, you will be involved in the maintenance and repair of the Army’s rapidly growing fleet of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, including the ARH-Tiger, Chinook and MRH-90 Taipan helicopters, as well as other fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

Navy

As a Navy graduate, you will find yourself working with a variety of aircraft ranging from heavy transporters to multi-role strike fighters. You will engage in the maintenance, repair, modifications, operational deployments and airworthiness of the Navy’s fleet of rotary-wing aircraft. 

Accreditation

Engineers Australia

How to apply

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.

Ready to start your application?

Apply now

Fees & Scholarships

2023 Indicative First Year Full Fee

$8,300*

The Australian Defence Force covers tuition fees for defence students.

Scholarships

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.

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