Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Bachelor of Aviation Management (Professional), majoring in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), is designed for students who want an aviation career without becoming a conventional aircraft pilot.
• The UAS major focuses on the rapidly developing uncrewed aviation sector, including drones, UAV operations, Advanced Air Mobility, airspace integration and related technologies.
• Students develop specialist knowledge in UAV design, aerodynamics, navigation, propulsion, communications, cyber security and data analysis.
• The programme includes training related to a remote pilot licence for multi-rotor drones.
• Swinburne states that its bachelor degrees provide guaranteed Work Integrated Learning opportunities, and this professional degree includes a 12-month paid placement opportunity. Students also work on projects based on real aviation-industry problems, including projects involving organisations such as Qantas and Melbourne Airport.
• The programme combines aviation management with technical UAS capabilities, potentially allowing graduates to work across aviation operations, drone technology, airspace integration, regulation and aerial data applications.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The official course page gives an indicative Semester 1, 2026 sequence. Swinburne cautions that unit offerings and sequencing can change, so the following should be treated as the currently published indicative structure rather than a guarantee of the exact future timetable.

Year 1 – 100 credit points:

Semester 1:

• The Global Aviation System and Regulatory Framework — AVA10001 — 12.5 credit points
• Essential Aviation Analytical Skills — AVA10011 — 12.5 credit points
• Introduction to Uncrewed Aircraft Systems — AVA10015 — 12.5 credit points
• Remote Pilot Licence Theory and Practicum (Multi-rotor drones up to 25kg) — AVF10001 — 12.5 credit points
• Elective study as prescribed in the course structure

Semester 2:

• Aviation Project: Blue Sky Ideas — AVA10014 — 12.5 credit points
• Aviation Safety and Risk Management — AVA10017 — 12.5 credit points
• Aircraft Aerodynamics and Performance — AVA10007 — 12.5 credit points
• Elective study as prescribed in the course structure.

Year 2 – 100 credit points:

Semester 1:

• Aviation Project: Managing Implementation — AVA20024 — 12.5 credit points
• Uncrewed Aircraft Vehicle (UAV) Operations — AVA20026 — 12.5 credit points
• Elective units

Semester 2:

• Human Factors in Aviation — AVA20025 — 12.5 credit points
• Airspace Management and Air Traffic Services — AVA20009 — 12.5 credit points
• UAV Design and Propulsion Systems — AVA30013 — 12.5 credit points
• Elective unit.

Year 3 – professional placement component:

• Integrated Professional Placement A – Aviation — AVA20016 — 25 credit points
• Work Experience in Industry A — WEI20001 — 25 credit points
• Integrated Professional Placement B – Aviation — AVA20017 — 25 credit points
• Work Experience in Industry B — WEI20002 — 25 credit points.

Year 4 – 100 credit points:

Semester 1:

• Aviation Capstone 1: Project Planning — AVA30008 — 12.5 credit points
• UAV Data Analysis — AVA30011 — 12.5 credit points
• Elective units

Semester 2:

• Aviation Capstone 2: Project Implementation — AVA30009 — 12.5 credit points
• Communication, Navigation and Cyber Security for UAV — AVA30012 — 12.5 credit points
• Elective units.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The selected major is:

• Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Major subject areas include:

• Remote piloting of multi-rotor drones
• UAV operations
• Aircraft aerodynamics and performance
• UAV design and propulsion
• Airspace management and air traffic services
• UAV communication and navigation
• Cyber security for UAVs
• UAV data analysis and visualisation
• Advanced Air Mobility
• Aviation regulation and safety.

• ning in UAV operations, aerodynamics, propulsion, navigation and cyber security.
• UAV data analysis and visualisation.
• Advanced Air Mobility knowledge.
• Aviation safety and risk management.
• Airspace management and air traffic services.
• Aviation capstone projects.
• Work Integrated Learning.
• Published 12-month paid placement opportunity.
• Projects based on real aviation-industry problems and organisations such as Qantas and Melbourne Airport.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies the following career opportunities for the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems major:

• Remote pilot / drone operator
• Uncrewed Aircraft Systems technician
• Aviation regulatory analyst
• Airspace integration specialist
• Aerial surveyor
• Aerial cinematographer.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current official course page lists the programme for Semester 1, commencing 1 March 2027, at Hawthorn.
• Current application deadline displayed by Swinburne is 10 March 2027, which is later than the published 1 March 2027 commencement date. This should be verified before application.
• The course code is BA-AVMPROF and the CRICOS code is 120881H.
• The programme page describes a 12-month paid professional placement opportunity and includes four professional-placement units in its published 400-credit-point structure. 

International Student Visa Requirements

The programme has CRICOS registration under code 120881H and is designed for international students studying in Australia.

For an international student, the relevant Australian visa is generally the Student visa (subclass 500). Current Department of Home Affairs requirements include evidence of appropriate Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). The official document checklist states that OSHC must cover the student from at least one week before the course begins and throughout the student's stay in Australia, subject to applicable exemptions.

Key visa-related requirements/conditions include:

• Student visa subclass 500.
• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for the registered course.
• Genuine Student requirement and supporting evidence where requested.
• Appropriate OSHC.
• Meeting applicable health requirements.
• Meeting applicable character requirements.
• Financial-capacity evidence where required by the Department of Home Affairs.
• Compliance with all conditions attached to the granted Student visa.
• The course must be studied in accordance with the visa and enrolment requirements.
• International students in Australia holding Student visas must study full-time and on campus for this course; Swinburne specifically states that online study is not available to international students in Australia who hold a Student visa.