Bachelor of Aviation
| Rank threshold | ATAR: 68 SR: 68 |
| Duration | 3 years full-time |
| Location | Online and Cairns |
| Next start term | Term 1, 2024 |
| Study mode | On Campus, Online |
| Course code | CL09 |
Overview
CQU's Bachelor of Aviation will prepare you to launch a diverse career in one of the most important global economic industries, aviation. Our versatile degree features a choice of two majors to suit your interests and career goals. The flight operations major, when studied alongside the Graduate Diploma of Aviation (Flight Operations), allows students to satisfy the knowledge requirements to apply for an Air Transport Pilot Licence to prepare you for a career in the airlines. With a national network of flight partners, you will benefit from CQUniversity’s industry partnerships that broaden your career opportunities, and build your connections within the aviation industry.
The Bachelor of Aviation is a versatile degree with options to major in Flight Operations or Airport and Airline Management, preparing you for a career as a pilot or diverse roles in airport management.
In the first year of the course, you will learn the fundamentals of the aviation industry, including safety, human factors, relevant national and international laws, airline and airport operations, flight fundamentals and the basics of piloting an aircraft in a simulated environment. You will also lay the foundation to gain crucial lifelong learning and transferable skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and teamwork.
Airline and Airport Operations major
The Airline and Airport Operations major will prepare you for a career as an airline and airport professional by providing the core theoretical foundations of aviation operational management, including aviation marketing, finance analysis, air freight transportation, resource management and planning and operation. You will benefit from practical learning experiences throughout your studies, including case studies, projects and assessments, and undertake an industry placement in your final unit. If you choose to study on campus in Cairns, you will also benefit from learning in-situ at the Cairns Domestic Airport and experience real-time case studies from your classroom window.
In this major, you will study a wide range of topics specifically tailored to the airline and airport operations environment and develop skills in critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving and teamwork. You will also develop an understanding of the relationship between human physiology/psychology and the aviation environment by focusing on the function and limitations of the human body. You will be introduced to the application of safety processes and how they are applied within the aviation industry and to the laws relevant to airline and airport operations.
Flight Operations major
The Flight Operations major will prepare you for a career as a professional airline pilot capable of managing a multi-crew environment. In this major, you will study the academic and aeronautical knowledge requirements of the Air Transport Pilot License and Command Instrument Rating. You will build knowledge and skills relating to aerodynamics, navigation, meteorology and flight planning, as well as being introduced to the laws relevant to aviation, multi-crew environments and the development and maintenance of a safety management system.
The Graduate Diploma of Aviation (Flight Operations) will provide you with the aeronautical experience required for a career as a commercial pilot. During your study, you will gain the aeronautical experience required to apply for a Recreational Pilot Licence, Private Pilot Licence, Command Instrument Rating, and Commercial Pilot Licence.
You will benefit from our national network of flight partners and industry partnerships. CQU's partnership with Aviation Australia provides students with the opportunity to undertake a Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Multi-Crew Cooperation Course (MCC) in the third year of the Bachelor of Aviation (Flight Operations). A CASA-approved MCC course is a requirement to operate as a pilot in a multi-crew flight.
Pathway to become a commercial pilot
If you wish to become a commercial pilot, you will need to complete CQU's Graduate Diploma of Aviation (CM54) in addition to the CL09 Bachelor of Aviation (Flight Operations). After successful completion of the first term of study, in your second term, you will attend an interview to ascertain your preparedness for a career as a pilot. Once you have successfully completed the interview, you will be requested to apply for the Graduate Diploma of Aviation.
“The best thing about CQU is the staff. They have been really helpful.
Daniel Hicks
Bachelor of Aviation, Bachelor of Information Technology, Master of Research
Career Opportunities
The Bachelor of Aviation (Flight Operations) in conjunction with the Graduate Diploma of Aviation, prepares graduates for aviation careers in the air transportation industry as a professional airline pilot. Graduates will have all the aeronautical knowledge and flight training required to hold an Air Transport Pilot Licence, Commercial Pilot Licence with Command Instrument Rating. Graduates may be eligible to apply for cadetships or traineeships offered by some airlines. Graduates may also be eligible to apply for Australian Defence Force positions.
The Airline and Airport Operations major will prepare you for a career in aviation management. Aviation management is a broad and dynamic field and there are unlimited amounts of aviation business administration jobs that are necessary to keep air travel moving safely. This major provides a broad range of skills, both technical and managerial, that will prepare you to become an aviation professional who understands the theory behind airline and airport operations and can apply these principles to a practical work environment for long-term careers in airline and airport management. Graduates may find employment with airlines and related organisations such as airports, government agencies, tourism authorities, freight forwarders, airport ground handling companies, consulting firms, IT firms and air safety authorities.
Structure & Availability
Course structure
You are required to complete 8 core units and either a major in flight operations or airline and airport operations. The flight operations major consists of 13 units and the airline and airport operations major consists of 15 units.
Unit information
For information on the units, you could study as part of this course, visit the Handbook and select the "Course Structure" tab.
Credit transfer information
If you have already completed study relevant to the course you have enrolled in, you may be eligible for credit transfer.
On-Campus Availability
| Intake | Locations |
|---|---|
| Term 1, 2024 | Cairns |
| Term 2, 2024 | Cairns |
Online Availability
| Intake | Locations |
|---|---|
| Term 1, 2024 | Available Online |
| Term 2, 2024 | Available Online |
Airline and Airport Operations major
This major will prepare you for a dynamic management career in aviation. It will equip you with a specialist skillset specific to the complex operations environment of the aviation sector. You'll be prepared to manage with influence in airlines and airports, tourism authorities, freight forwarders, and air safety authorities.
Flight Operations major
Flight Operations prepare you for a career as a professional airline pilot, managing a multi-crew environment. You will graduate with your Air Transport Licence (Frozen), meaning you'll have the opportunity to satisfy all 14 ATPL theoretical exams by the end of your degree.
Aviation Placement - AVAT13025
Aviation Placement is a 12 credit unit for third-year students in the Airline and Airport Operations major who will gain important work experience (up to 240 hrs) directly from industry partners.
Requirements
Rank Threshold
A rank threshold is the minimum competitive rank that applications will be considered for entry to this course. The rank threshold for this course is: SR 68 | ATAR 68.0
Lowest Ranks
The lowest selection rank refers to the lowest rank to which an offer was made for an intake or term and includes adjustment factors applied to an applicant's ATAR such as the Regional Adjustment Scheme and Educational Access Scheme. An ATAR with adjustment factors applied is referred to as a selection rank.
The lowest selection ranks (includes adjustment factors) for Term 1, 2023 for the following locations are as follows:
Cairns: 68.2
Please note entry to courses is competitive and the lowest score (ATAR or selection rank) will vary from year to year and campus to campus and is provided as a historical guide of past performance.
Student profile
If you would like to know more about entry scores for applicants with recent secondary education and the student profile for this course view our Course and Entry Score Profile for Term 1, 2023.
Institute profile
To find out about CQUniversity's Undergraduate Profile for Term 1, 2023 view our Institute Profile.
Recommended study
Prerequisites
When applying, you must demonstrate that you have met the listed Entry Requirements and English Language Proficiency requirements.
After you have applied and enrolled in this course, you will need to be able to meet the Security and Health Requirements as these generally relate to work-integrated learning activities that form part of your course. You will be provided with more information about security and health requirements after enrolling in the relevant units that these relate to.
Entry Requirements
English Language Proficiency Requirements
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.
Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:
- A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent) or
- An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) diploma level qualification, or
- Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0
completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.
If you do not satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores as below:
- An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 550 or better overall & minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test); or
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46; or
- An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.
If you are an International student please visit International students English requirements for further information.
Each student will be assessed individually.
Students who are wishing to complete the Flight Operations major are required to hold a Class 1 Aviation Medical throughout the course.
Students who are wishing to complete the Flight Operations major are required to obtain an Australian Security Identification Card (ASIC) before commencing flying in the second year and maintain that current throughout the course.
Students who are wishing to complete the Airline and Airport Operations major may be required to obtain an Australian Security Identification Card (ASIC) to complete AVAT13025 Aviation Placement and AVAT13026 Aviation Capstone Project units.
Fees & Scholarships
2023 Indicative Fees
| Fee Type | Fees |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee | $9,151 |
2024 Indicative Fees
| Fee Type | Fees |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee | $9,866 |
| Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee | $26,029.50 |
Indicative first-year fee
The fees listed are indicative only and based on enrolling in a full-time study load for one academic year (generally, this is eight units over two terms). Your fees may vary depending on the units you select and the number you study per term. Fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change. Understanding your fees.
Commonwealth support and government assistance loans
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees if you meet eligibility requirements. If offered a CSP, you may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees. Learn more about paying for university.
Other study costs
Part of your course costs includes Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). There may also be additional costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations. Explore other study costs.
At CQUniversity, we believe higher education should be for everyone. No matter your situation, we know that everyone needs a helping hand from time to time, and we are proud to offer a wide range of scholarships, bursaries and stipends.
Our scholarships could help you pay for things like relocation, living on campus, laptops and technology, childcare, study and living expenses, travel and more.
How to apply
| State | Admission Code |
|---|---|
| Victoria | Online: 150914 |
| Western Australia | Online: 150914 |
| New South Wales | Online: 160914 |
| Northern Territory | Online: 150914 |
| Queensland | Cairns: 822241; Online: 852245 |
| South Australia | Online: 150914 |
| Tasmania | Online: 150914 |
If you have decided what you would like to study and are ready to apply, we’re here to help you along the way.
Before you apply, you will need to have a Unique Student Identifier (USI). If you do not have a USI, creating one is quick and easy. Simply visit usi.gov.au to create one.
Want to know more about application dates and other admission information?
View our important dates information and read about other admission considerations, such as information for domestic students with overseas qualifications, indigenous support, and elite athlete, coach and performer support.
What’s the best way to apply?
- Option 1: Ideal for most situations, whether you have completed high school recently or some time ago.
- Option 2: Ideal if you are studying with one of our partner study hubs.
- Option 3: Ideal if you have previously studied with CQU.
Option 1: Ideal for most situations, apply via a tertiary admission centre
View the table below for the best application option based on where you live.
| If you live in | Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC)* |
| Queensland | Apply via QTAC |
| New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | Apply via UAC |
| Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, South Australia | Apply via ApplyCQUNI |
*Please note that you may be required to pay a fee when applying via a TAC.
Option 2: Want to study with one of our partner study hubs? Apply via ApplyCQUni
Benefit from local support, space, technology and facilities offered by one of our delivery partners.
| If you are studying with: | Study Support |
| Murray River Study Hub | Access to local study facilities. |
Option 3: If you have previously studied with CQU, apply direct.
As a past CQU student, you may be eligible to apply directly to CQU for this course. To apply directly, your prior study with CQU must be a completed or partially completed CQU course or unit, including:
- CQU’s Skills for Tertiary Entrance Preparatory Studies (STEPS), Tertiary Entrance Program (TEP), or Start Uni Now (SUN) units.
- A CQU certificate, diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree, bachelor degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master or research higher degree, or a unit within these courses.
