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University of New South Wales (UNSW)

  • 34% international / 66% domestic

Bachelor of Aviation (Flying)

  • Bachelor

Launch your flying career at one of the top 20 universities in the world.* The Bachelor of Aviation (Flying) will prepare you for a successful career as a pilot, industry leader or manager within the aviation sector.

Our Flying program has been recently revamped to meet...

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor
Duration
3 - 3 years full-time
Domestic Fees
$9,000 per year / $317,000 total

About this course

Overview

Launch your flying career at one of the top 20 universities in the world.* The Bachelor of Aviation (Flying) will prepare you for a successful career as a pilot, industry leader or manager within the aviation sector.

Our Flying program has been recently revamped to meet the rapidly changing needs of the aviation sector. The degree focuses on the skills and knowledge needed to become a professional pilot working either as a single pilot in a general aviation organisation or as a multi-crew team in an airline. Designed in collaboration with key aviation industry partners, the program allows students to gain real-world experience through mentorships and partner programs to accelerate their pathway to becoming a first officer.

With tourism experiencing a huge upswing, airlines around the world growing their fleets and a brand-new airport opening in Sydney's west, there's never been a better time to take to the skies as a pilot. Our graduates are highly respected and in high demand in Australia and internationally, thanks to UNSW Aviation's reputation in the industry and our global alumni network.

*QS World University Rankings, 2024

Key features
  • Taught across two campuses
    You will spend half of the program at UNSW's Kensington Campus, where you will complete academic courses. The other half of the program, incorporating flying theory and flight training, is delivered at UNSW's Flying Operations Unit (FOU), located at Bankstown Airport.
  • Professional Pilot Program
    The Professional Pilot Program provides the flight training required to obtain your flying licences and ratings. The program includes up to 200 hours of flight training and approximately 30 hours of simulator training. The Professional Pilot Program must be taken on a full-time basis.
  • Flying Operations Unit (FOU)
    UNSW's exclusive Flying Operations Unit is based at Bankstown Airport and operates a suite of aircraft, including Diamond DA40 and Piper PA44 training aeroplanes, along with state-of-the-art flight simulators and training equipment. Our ground and flying instructors are meticulously selected to deliver the highest quality training to UNSW students. During your flight training, you'll develop the necessary discipline to succeed in your career as a pilot and form life-long friendships along the way.
Why study this degree at UNSW?

Join the School of Aviation
As the only Go8 university to offer aviation, UNSW is the go-to place to get your wings. The School of Aviation has been a leading educator in the industry for over 25 years. We're 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 Bachelor of Aviation (Flying) program is one of three undergraduate programs, sitting alongside the Bachelor of Aviation (Management) and the new Bachelor of Aviation (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems).

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, while our academic staff regularly engage with regulatory authorities, industry bodies and research collaborators. UNSW Aviation educators have come directly from leadership roles within organisations such as Qantas, Airservices Australia, CASA, ATSB and the Federal Airports Corporation.

Gain industry connections through mentorships
You'll be assigned an airline pilot as your mentor in your final year, courtesy of the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA). This program aims to provide you with career guidance and consultation about specific airline operations.

Kickstart your career with the Qantas Aviation Career Enrichment (Q-ACE) Program
Our second-year Bachelor of Aviation (Flying) and Graduate Diploma in Flying students now have the opportunity to participate in Q-ACE - a program delivered by the Qantas Group that helps prepare aspiring airline pilots for direct entry employment opportunities after completing their university study.

Program Code
3980
CRICOS Code
017227G
Campus
Other
UAC Code
429500
Total Units of Credit (UOC)
144
Indicative Enrolments
118
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Entry requirements

Entry requirements
2023 Lowest Selection Rank 1
80.00 + Interview
2023 A levels 2
13 + Interview
2023 IB Diploma 3
29 + Interview
2023 Lowest ATAR 4
75.45*
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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
Additional Selection Criteria

In addition to your UAC or direct application (via Apply Online), you must complete the internal application form

, opens in a new window
. 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.

Assumed knowledge

Mathematics Advanced

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:

  • English language tests and university English courses
  • Prior study in the medium of English
  • Other qualifications

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.

International direct entry
I studied in:
Qualifications Direct entry requirement
International ATAR
75
UNSW Foundation Studies GPA
6.9
Great Britain General Certificate of Education (GCE A levels)
10

All applicants must present a minimum of two Advanced Level (A2) subjects. Entry Scores are calculated from the best two, three, or four A2 Level subjects (excluding repeated subjects) using the following values: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2 and E=1.

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
26

Results based on scores required for entry into UNSW in 2019 and are only applicable if the Diploma has been completed. Students currently attempting the IB can apply directly to UNSW or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). For more details, visit www.uac.edu.au

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) (after 2016)
1130

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) based on the total of evidence-based reading and writing and mathematical test scores. Must be provided in conjunction with evidence of successful completion of senior secondary studies.

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.

Additional Selection Criteria

In addition to your UAC or direct application (via Apply Online), you must complete the internal application form, opens in a new window. This form is available on the School of Aviation Website, opens in a new window. 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.

Admission pathways


If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into your chosen degree, you may be eligible for a pathway program with UNSW College. UNSW College provides alternative entry options using university-approved content so that you can start your UNSW journey with confidence.

English language requirements


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:

  • English language tests and university English courses
  • Prior study in the medium of English
  • Other qualifications

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.

Check the specific English language requirements for this program
Select from the options below *
Which applies to you? *

Career pathways

Future careers

Australia has one of the most highly developed aviation industries in the world. It is 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 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 a 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. There is also the potential to transition into an aviation management role, working as part of a leadership team for an airline, airport or aviation business.

Potential careers
  • Commercial airline pilot
  • Private airline pilot
  • Flight instructor
  • Technical support officer
  • Flight operations manager
  • Chief Operating Officer
Our alumni

"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

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Engineering courses at University of New South Wales (UNSW).
73.8%
Overall satisfaction
80.9%
Skill scale
44.1%
Teaching scale
87.7%
Employed full-time
$68k
Average salary