Associate Degree of Aviation
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
The Associate Degree of Aviation equips students for a professional career as a commercial pilot. Students undertake their professional pilot training program at CAE Melbourne Flight Training, located at Moorabbin Airport, and obtain a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and Multi-engine Aeroplane Instrument Endorsement. They also complete a Multi Crew Cooperation and Jet Orientation Course, and the required theory for the Air Transport Pilot Licence.
The course is designed to enhance students’ understanding of aircraft management, their multi-crew skills and knowledge of Jetstar operating procedures to prepare them to become a First or Second Officer.
Intakes for this course service the Jetstar Program – To be advised.
The course is designed to enhance students’ understanding of aircraft management, their multi-crew skills and knowledge of Jetstar operating procedures to prepare them to become a First or Second Officer.
Intakes for this course service the Jetstar Program – To be advised.
This program is available to Jetstar cadets only and candidates must apply through Jetstar. Please see below Course information in detail for more.
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Duration
1.5 years full time or equivalent part time
Study mode
- Full-time
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
The Associate Degree of Aviation is a professional pilot course, beyond the minimum specified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority that qualifies graduates to either commence an aircraft type endorsement within an airline pilot cadet program or commence employment as a Flight Instructor. Graduates may pathway to the Bachelor of Aviation or Bachelor of Aviation / Bachelor of Business courses with advanced standing. Graduates would also have met the competency requirements to be eligible for the vocational award of Certificate IV in Aviation (Commercial Aeroplane Licence) and Diploma of Aviation (Instrument Flight Operations). Upon completion of the associate degree program graduates would either undertake a jet type rating before commencing line pilot operations with an airline or commence employment as a Grade 3 Flight Instructor (depending on the practicum elective chosen). Please note that this course is only available to applicants who are accepted into either a pilot cadet training program with an organisation holding an internationally recognised Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of transport category aeroplanes, or a flight instructor cadet training program with an organisation holding a recognised Air Operators Certificate (AOC) with approval to conduct flight training.
Course structure
To qualify for the Associate Degree of Aviation, students must complete 200 credit points comprising of:
- 4 Aviation Core units (50 credit points)
- 5 Aviation Practical units (62.5 credit points)
- 6 Aviation Theory units (75 credit points)
- 1 Aviation elective (12.5 credit points)
Additional Practicum Units (valued at 12.5 credit points each) are available to students when additional flying hours are needed to fulfil licencing requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Students who enrol for additional practicum units will be required to pay additional tuition fees.
A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate. Practicum (AVF) and associated licence theory (AVT) units that are either delivered by a University recognised flying provider or credited under a Credit Transfer Agreement will be done so under the requirements of the University’s Academic Partnerships Policy.
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Associate Degree of Aviation is 100 credit points (normally eight units)
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Associate Degree of Aviation is 100 credit points (normally eight units)
Units of study
Associate Degree Aviation Core Units
Complete the following four units (50 credit points)
Aviation Practical Core Units
Complete the following five units (62.5 credit points):
Aviation Core Theory Units
Complete the following six units (75 credit points):
Elective units
Choose one from the following (12.5 credit points):
Optional Additional Practicum units
Additional Practicum units may need to be completed if the student needs more flying time and subject to the approval of the Director of Flight training only.
AVF80009 Multi Engine Aeroplane Instrument Endorsement Additional Practicum * Outcome units - matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and professional recognition.
Career opportunities
The Associate Degree of Aviation is a professional pilot course, beyond the minimum specified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority that qualifies graduates to either commence an aircraft type endorsement within an airline pilot cadet program or commence employment as a Flight Instructor. Graduates would also have met the competency requirements to be eligible for the vocational award of Certificate IV in Aviation (Commercial Aeroplane Licence) and Diploma of Aviation (Instrument Flight Operations). Upon completion of the associate degree program graduates would either undertake a jet type rating before commencing line pilot operations with an airline or commence employment as a Grade 3 Flight Instructor (depending on the practicum elective chosen).
Aims and objectives
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- demonstrate both broad and specialised technical knowledge and skills within the field of professional pilot practice
- demonstrate broad knowledge of Aviation Human Factors and Aviation Management to analyse and contribute to the implementation of solutions in global professional airline and aviation practice
- critically apply theoretical and practical skills as a professional pilot and to be able to analyse, evaluate and review to provide solutions to non ambiguous, ambiguous and novel complex flight scenarios
- apply knowledge and skills beyond the minimum specified in the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Part 61 Manual of Standards to achieve the licencing qualification of Commercial Pilot (Aeroplane)
- apply knowledge and skills beyond the minimum specified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to achieve the rating qualification of Instrument Rating Command Multi Engine Aeroplane
- apply knowledge and skills to achieve successful completion of a Multi Crew Cooperation Course beyond the minimum as specified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
- have the ability to make and initiate high level judgements within the professional pilot framework, and to successfully transmit knowledge, skills, ideas and to communicate with a variety of stakeholder audiences in a range of practical and technical and learning contexts
- demonstrate professional standards at all times that include responsibility and accountability with a pro-active professional pilot work ethic and recognise the need to engage in ongoing professional development.
Professional recognition
The Associate Degree of Aviation is a professional pilot course, beyond the minimum specified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority that qualifies graduates to either commence an aircraft type endorsement within an airline pilot cadet program or commence employment as a Flight Instructor. Graduates would also have met the competency requirements to be eligible for the vocational award of Certificate IV in Aviation (Commercial Aeroplane Licence) and Diploma of Aviation (Instrument Flight Operations). Upon completion of the associate degree program graduates would either undertake a jet type rating before commencing line pilot operations with an airline or commence employment as a Grade 3 Flight Instructor (depending on the practicum elective chosen).
Pathways and scholarships
- Pathways and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
Students who participate in a six- or 12-month professional placement will be subject to an increase in total course fees.
| 2023 rate* | Estimated total cost of the course | Estimated cost of the course per year if studying full-time* | Amenities fee per year if studying full-time* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full fee |
$36,300.00 (Theory units only) | $26,400.00 (Theory units only) | See how your SSAF is calculated |
Fees are estimates only: The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2023 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester. Students who participate in a six or 12-month professional placement will be subject to an increase in total course fees.
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
Find out more about fees.
Entry requirements
Successful completion of:
- the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification
- completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees and degrees).
Applicants without a formal qualification may be considered for entry upon completion of the STAT test.
Course prerequisites
- VCE units 3 and 4 – VCE Units 3 and 4 – a minimum study score of 25 in any English (except EAL) or 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent
- VCE Units 3 and 4 - a minimum study score of 20 in Further Mathematics or equivalent.
Other requirements
Applicants must have been successfully selected and accepted into either:
Applicants must have been successfully selected and accepted into either:
- a pilot cadet training program with an organisation holding an internationally recognised Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of transport category aeroplanes or
- a flight instructor cadet training program with an organisation holding a recognised Air Operators Certificate (AOC) with approval to conduct flight training.
Applicants will be required to meet the requirements of a Class 1 medical examination as regulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for holders of a Commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplane).
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee offer of a place. See Admissions at Swinburne for general information about the admission process.