Overview

The Graduate Diploma in Flying (GDF) is a program designed to meet the needs of graduates with an ambition toward a career as a professional pilot. Students may undertake the GDF as a standalone program, otherwise, it can be taken as a concurrent program with the Bachelor of Aviation (Management). … For more content click the Read More button below.  

Learning Outcomes

1.
Have the ability to apply this technical interdisciplinary knowledge to successfully operate an aeroplane;
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2.
Be able to locate, utilise and implement documentation and information explaining techniques and standard operating procedures as required for the safe and legal operation of an aeroplane in a commercial operations;
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3.
Successfully demonstrate the capacity to handle and operate an aeroplane safely and to the standard specified by legislation for each qualification of a Commercial Pilot Licence, and Command Instrument Rating Multi-Engine
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4.
Be able to list and recall core theory components within the technical knowledge areas of Air Navigation, Meteorology, Aeroplane Performance, Planning and Operation, Air Law, Aerodynamics, Aeroplane General Knowledge, Human Factors, and Aircraft Handling;
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5.
Meet all applicable Civil Aviation Safety Authority standards for the award of the licences and certificates, as prescribed in Part 61 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations.
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Graduate Capabilities

For more information on Graduate Capabilities please click on this link

Program Structure

Students must complete 48 UOC when taken as a standalone program.

Core Courses48 Units of Credit:

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Sample Programs

To access sample program(s), please visit:
Graduate Diploma in Aviation (Flying) Program Structure

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):
Domestic Students
International Student

Program Requirements

Progression Requirements

To remain enrolled in the program, students must maintain their Aviation Security Identification Card and Australian Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate, and pass random drug and alcohol tests. Students failing to do this may be ineligible to fly and may be required to either take leave or discontinue their program pending discussions with the Head of Operations at the Flying Operations Unit.

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

Additional Information

The Flight Screening course is conducted at the UNSW Flying Operations Unit (http://www.aviation.unsw.edu.au/future/fou.html) at Bankstown. Flight Screening consists of ground and airborne training and assessment.

The ground training is AVIA1111 - Basic Aeronautical Knowledge (BAK) – an academic course on campus that commences in Term 3.  Students concurrently undertaking the Bachelor of Aviation (Management) program should undertake AVIA1111 (12UoC) as a free elective course.  A progress examination is scheduled on the last day of the BAK course and the CASA RPLA exm is scheduled during the exam period.

The airborne training is for the issue of a Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL) and commences in Term 3. RPL training consists of classroom briefings, pre-flight briefings, airborne flying lessons in DA40 aeroplanes and post-flight briefings. The culmination of the airborne training is the RPL flight test.

The entry requirements for AVIA1111 are:

  • Completion of BAv(Mgmt) undergraduate degree at UNSW or equivalent, or any AQF level 7 Bachelor degree in a cognate discipline (Cognate discipline is described above as for the GDF); OR
  • Satisfactory completion of the first year (48 UOC) of the Bachelor of Aviation (Management) or Bachelor of Aviation (Flying) program at UNSW; AND
  • Meet UNSW English Language Requirements; AND
  • Be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident; AND
  • Pass an interview with Head, School of Aviation or Nominee to ascertain suitability

Applicants should complete the application form at http://www.aviation.unsw.edu.au/downloads/GradDipFlyingInternalApp.pdf and will be contacted to arrange an interview time. In order to remain enrolled, students need to successfully obtain an Aviation Reference Number (ARN), hold an Australian Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate, qualify for an Australian Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC), and pass a CASA English Language proficiency interview conducted by the Head of Operations of the UNSW Flying Operations Unit. These requirements need to be satisfied before any flight training can commence.

Fee Information go to: http://www.aviation.unsw.edu.au/future/graddipfly.html.

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Domestic Students
Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)
International Students

Additional Expenses and Resources

FEE-HELP is available for eligible students, however, successful completion of the Flight Screening course is an entry requirement for this program, which attracts an upfront payment of $40,000. Flight Screening is not covered by FEE-HELP. For fee information relating to the compulsory Flight Screening course and the GDF program, please see Additional Information.

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)
Pre-2019 Handbook Editions