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CQUni Handbook
CM54 - Graduate Diploma of Aviation
Overview
Course Overview
This course will provide you with the aeronautical experience required for a career as a commercial pilot, under the standard of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) 142 Integrated Program.
You will build your skills as a pilot, starting with short flights constrained within the aerodrome training area and circuit area right through to the commercial pilot licence level. You will conduct long-distance flights, visiting multiple aerodromes in regional and outback Australia. You will be required to attend a flight training provider approved by the Head of Course in order to complete this course.
You will develop your critical reflection and self-analysis skills as well as analytic, communication, and presentation skills. 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.
To enrol in this course, you must successfully complete the first year of the Bachelor of Aviation, pass a Class 1 Aviation Medical, be eligible to hold an Australian Security Identification Card, and have the approval of the Head of Course. In order to gain both aeronautical knowledge and experience, you must concurrently maintain full-time study in the Bachelor of Aviation (Flight Operations) and Graduate Diploma of Aviation. When you graduate from this course you would normally hold a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and a Multi-Engine Command Instrument Rating (ME-CIR).
Career Information
This course prepares you for aviation careers in the air transportation industry as a commercial pilot. When you graduate with the Graduate Diploma of Aviation (you will meet the aeronautical experience requirements for a career as a commercial pilot in the air transportation industry. When studied in conjunction with CQUniversity’s Bachelor of Aviation (Flight Operations) you would normally be legally qualified to work as a commercial pilot and have access to other aviation careers in the air transportation industry, or a cadetship/traineeship offered by some airlines. You may also be eligible to apply for the Australian Defence Force which recruits potential pilots for all services. With additional flight training, you can explore opportunities in general aviation such as; flight instructing, tourism operations, and agricultural operations such as mustering and crop spraying.
Course Details
| Duration | 2 years part-time |
|---|---|
| Credit Points that Must be Earned | 48 |
| Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
| Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
| Course Type | Postgraduate Award |
| Qualification (post nominal) | GradDipAvn |
| AQF Level | Level 8: Graduate Diploma |
| Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
|
Admission Codes
|
Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
Not Applicable |
|---|---|
|
International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
Where and when can I start?
Units offered internally at the below campuses may be delivered using a combination of face-to-face and video conferencing style teaching.
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
Please Click Here for more information.
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
Please Click Here for more information.
The following tables list the courses availabilities by location and term. Directing your pointer over your preferred location will provide further information if this course is not available for the full duration. Please be sure to also check individual unit availability by location and term prior to enrolling.
Domestic Availability
Term 1 - 2026
Online
Term 1 - 2025
Online
Term 2 - 2024
Online
Term 1 - 2024
Online
Show All
International Availability
Term 1 - 2026
Online
Term 1 - 2025
Sorry, no international availabilities found.
Term 2 - 2024
Sorry, no international availabilities found.
Term 1 - 2024
Sorry, no international availabilities found.
Show All
For any problems regarding admissions availability for the selected course please contact
13 CQUni (13 27 86) or send us an email at
http://contactus.cqu.edu.au/
Entry Requirements - What do I need to start?
Academic Requirements
To be eligible for entry into this course, applicants must supply:
- Current Aviation Reference Number (ARN), and
- To be eligible to hold an Aviation Security Identification Card (AISC), and
- Current Class 1 Aviation Medical, and
- At a minimum, a passing grade in the following units AVAT11013, AVAT11005, BUSN11016, AVAT11010,
AVAT11012, AVAT11008, AVAT11009, and AVAT12018; and - Completion of an interview with the Head of Course or nominated Aviation academic staff member; and
- Completed Student Checklist - to be signed and submitted with the application (per instructions on the
checklist).
Note: The Graduate Diploma of Aviation (Flight Operations) is available to current CQUniversity Bachelor of Aviation students only. Students completing the Graduate Diploma of Aviation must be enrolled concurrently in the CQUniversity Bachelor of Aviation to maintain their place.
English Language Proficiency Requirements
Applicants are required to provide confirmation of completion of:
- A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
- An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate IV qualification, or
- An 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:
- 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) iBT - Requires 75 or better overall and no score less than 17; 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, visit our international student information for more details.
Assumed Knowledge
No recommended study.
Fees and Charges
Course Features
Awards and Accreditation
| Interim Awards | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Exit Awards | Not applicable |
| Accreditation |
|
Residential School Requirements
No Residential School for this course.
Practicum/Work Placement
| Not applicable |
Previous and Current Enrolments
| Year | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 30 |
Inherent Requirements
There are currently no inherent requirements associated with this course.
Compulsory Requirements
Health Requirements
Students are required to hold a Class 1 Aviation Medical throughout the course.
Security Requirements
Students are required to hold a current RED Australian Security Identification Card (ASIC) throughout the course.
Other Compulsory Requirements
The following additional requirements must be maintained throughout the course:
Aviation English Language Proficiency (ELP) levels of at least 4, and
Adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in the CQU Flight Training Student Handbook, and
Maintaining fulltime enrolment in CL09 Bachelor of Aviation (Flight Operations) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.0
Core Learning Outcomes
- 1. Research, review, and analyse technology and procedures related to a range of aircraft and flight practices.
- 2. Demonstrate teamwork and leadership skills whilst functioning as a member of a flight crew on a simulated commercial flight.
- 3. Exercise a high level of judgement in the cockpit and on the ground when conducting and planning a simulated commercial flight.
- 4. Reflect critically upon the professional and ethical responsibilities of a commercial pilot from a national and international perspective when conducting a flight as a pilot in command.
- 5. Analyse critically and solve complex problems encountered when performing the duties of a commercial pilot.
- 6. Operate an aircraft to the level of a commercial pilot.
| Course Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 1. KNOWLEDGE Have advanced knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area | ||||||
| 2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems | ||||||
| 3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas | ||||||
| 4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice | ||||||
| 5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concept | ||||||
| 6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | ||||||
| 7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts | ||||||
| 8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts | ||||||
| 9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters | ||||||
Course Structure
In order to complete this course, you must:
- Complete the core structure
Core Structure
| Number of units: 7 | Total credit points: 48 |
|---|
You must maintain a GPA of 4.0 or higher to remain enrolled in the program.
Introductory Units
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| AVAT28001 | Flight Practice 1 | |
| AVAT28002 | Flight Practice 2 | |
| AVAT28003 | Flight Practice 3 | |
| AVAT28004 | Flight Practice 4 | |
Advanced Units
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| AVAT28005 | Advanced Flight Practice 1 | |
| AVAT28006 | Advanced Flight Practice 2 | |
| AVAT28007 | Advanced Flight Practice 3 | |
More Details
Additional costs not included in the course fee:
Additional enrolment costs:
Your enrolment will be conditional on you obtaining the following during the First Term of the First Year, and before you fly solo:
-
An Aviation Reference Number (ARN) from the Australian Civil Safety Authority (CASA)
-
An Australian Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate from a Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME)
-
An Australian Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC)
-
An Australian Aviation English Language Proficiency assessment at level 4 or higher
The cost of these items is approximately $1,000* and is not included in the course fee.
Additional study costs:
You will be required to purchase the following:
-
Navigation equipment and a headset $700
-
Books $1,000
-
Uniform $400
-
Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) $1,000
The cost of these items is approximately $3,100* and is not included in the course fee.
Additional flight training costs:
If you require extra hours to reach the required standards for each unit, they will be charged at approximately:
-
$500 per hour for single engine aircraft and,
-
$1,000 per hours for twin engine aircraft.
CASA examination costs:
-
Progression in CM54 Graduate Diploma of Aviation is subject to students completing external CASA CPL theory exams. Content for these exams is delivered in the associated CL09 Bachelor of Aviation (Flight Operations), however students are responsible for the cost of sitting in the CASA theory examinations, which is not included in either the CM54 or CL09 course fees. The cost of each CASA examination is approximately $160* per attempt.
*Flight training costs listed in the Offer Letter are estimates only.