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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, hold a minimum of Class 2 CASA Aviation Medical, be eligible to hold an Australian Security Identification Card, and successfully complete an interview with the Head of Course or designated academic staff member. 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).

Your enrolment in this course is subject to the polices and procedures outlined in the CQU Flight Training Student Handbook.

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
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $146,832
Indicative Year - 2024
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $141,180

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.
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
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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 considered for entry into this course, you must demonstrate the following:

  • be currently admitted to the CQUniversity Bachelor of Aviation (CL09) (Flight Operations Major) studying full-time and maintaining a minimum GPA of 4.0, and
  • provide confirmation of current Aviation Reference Number (ARN), and
  • hold a Job-ready ASIC Certificate, or a current valid Australian Security Identification Card (ASIC), an
  • hold a current Class 2 Aviation Medical Certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) (however, a Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate is strongly recommended), and
  • have successfully completed AVAT11013, AVAT11005, BUSN11016, AVAT11010, AVAT11012, AVAT11008, AVAT11009, and AVAT12018; and
  • have successfully completed of an interview with the Head of Course or nominated Aviation academic staff member.

Note: Students concurrently completing the CQUniversity Bachelor of Aviation (CL09) and CQUniversity Graduate Diploma of Aviation (CM54) must be enrolled full-time and maintain a minimum GPA of 4.0 to maintain their place.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or the United States of America, you are required to meet the English language proficiency requirements set by the University.

You are required to provide documentation confirming completion of:

  • a secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
  • an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate IV qualification or Diploma level qualification, or
  • a Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0.

These qualifications must be completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or the United States of America, to meet the English language proficiency requirements.

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 of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
  • a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT overall score of at least 75 with no score less than 17 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
  • a Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) overall score of at least 54 with no less than 46 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
  • an Occupational English Test with a minimum result of 'B' in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

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 a prospective international student, please visit the English requirements for international students page for further information.

Each application will be assessed individually.

Prerequisite Subjects
No information available at this time
Fees and Charges
Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards Not applicable
Exit Awards Not applicable
Accreditation
  • Not applicable

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:

  1. Complete the core structure

Core Structure

View Full Course Structure
Number of units: 7 Total credit points: 48

You must maintain a GPA of 4.0 or higher in the Bachelor of Aviation (Flight Operations) [CL09] to remain enrolled in the course.  Your enrolment is also subject to the policies and procedures outlined in the CQU Flight Training Student Handbook.

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.