Graduate Diploma
Take your pilot career to new heights with the Graduate Diploma in Flying at UNSW. This comprehensive 1.4-year program is designed to fast-track your journey to becoming a pilot.
Take your pilot career to new heights with the Graduate Diploma in Flying at UNSW. This comprehensive 1.4-year program is designed to fast-track your journey to becoming a pilot. Dive into rigorous training and assessments, complemented by academic study in Flying Operations, to master the skies.
Gain hands-on experience and technical, interdisciplinary knowledge to become a confident and proficient pilot. The Graduate Diploma in Flying provides the necessary training and assessment for your Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and Instrument Rating (IR). Your training unfolds at the state-of-the-art Flight Operations Unit at Bankstown Airport where you'll fly Diamond DA40 and Piper PA44 aircraft, equipped with cutting-edge Garmin 1000 flight display/navigation systems.
Train under the guidance of UNSW's top-tier instructors and immerse yourself in a rewarding environment that sharpens your skills, forges lifelong friendships and builds the discipline required for a thriving pilot career.
You can take the Graduate Diploma in Flying as a standalone program, or study it concurrently with the UNSW Bachelor of Aviation (Management).
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.
Pilot Mentor Program
You'll be assigned an airline pilot as your mentor in your final year, courtesy of the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA). The objective of this program is to provide you with career guidance and consultation about specific airline operations.
Flight Training
Gain the necessary training and assessment for your Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and Instrument Rating (IR). Our ground and flying instructors are all selected, trained and employed by UNSW to ensure that our training is of the highest quality. You will commence with a Flight Screening course in September and will be expected to make yourself available on a full-time basis during flying training.
Leader in aviation education
UNSW School of Aviation has been a leading educator in the industry for over 25 years. Our courses are written and coordinated by experts with substantial industry experience and our aviation programs are constantly updated to keep pace with the evolving aviation industry.
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.
To gain entry to this program, you must have one of the following:
You also need to meet all of the following requirements:
Note: A cognate discipline is one commonly used as background in managing flying operations. Cognate disciplines include engineering, physical science, mathematics, psychology or business.
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.
To gain entry to this program, you must have one of the following:
You also need to meet all of the following requirements:
Note: A cognate discipline is one commonly used as background in managing flying operations. Cognate disciplines include engineering, physical science, mathematics, psychology or business.
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:
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.
In Australia's advanced aviation landscape, aspiring pilots often start in general aviation to build experience before exploring diverse roles such as airline, charter, or corporate pilots, flight instructors and more. This rich industry offers pathways into international flying, helicopter operations, aerial surveying, and even management positions within the aviation sector.
UNSW 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. UNSW is also recognised for producing Australia's most employable graduates*, meaning you'll be in good stead to launch the aviation career of your dreams.
Commercial airline pilot
Private airline pilot
Technical support officer
Flight operations manager
Chief Operating Officer
Flying Instructor
Cabin Crew Manager
Fleet Planner
Flight Crew Scheduler
Airfreight Manager
Airport Planner
Aviation Safety Manager
*AFR Top 100 Future Leaders Awards 2020,2021,2022,2023