Aviation Management BSc (Hons) with foundation year

Study level: Undergraduate
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Develop your aviation management skills through access to simulators, industry data and projects, with opportunities for practical learning in a specialist environment.

Course features

Course option

Year of entry

Location

CU Coventry (Coventry) and
Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

4 years full-time
5 years sandwich

UCAS codes

HGDF

Start date

September 2027
November 2027
January 2028
March 2028
May 2028
July 2028


Course overview

Ideal for those with a passion for aviation and an interest in business or science, this course combines industry insight with practical learning through simulations, projects and opportunities for international exposure, preparing you for a career in airlines, airports and aviation consultancy.

  • Industry-aligned learning: covers airline operations, revenue management and aviation safety using real-world case studies and simulation tools.4
  • Opportunity to gain global perspectives: benefit from guest lectures, networking events and optional overseas study trips with major aviation organisations.2
  • Professional skills: build knowledge in data-driven decision-making, strategic planning and regulatory frameworks relevant to aviation management.
A star in the centre of a rosette.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

City buildings next to a tree.

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2026

Why you should study this course

The course is delivered in an environment that offers an opportunity for individuals from a broad range of subject interests, experiences and backgrounds, to develop their commercial and technical knowledge, skills and capabilities commonly required to chart a successful career within the aviation industry.

  • Industry-standard practical training: gain hands-on experience with aviation simulation software and real-world case studies used by airlines and airports, with opportunities to develop workplace-relevant skills.
  • Direct industry access: benefit from guest lectures by aviation professionals and participate in networking events and site visits to UK aviation organisations.2
  • Strong alumni network: join a course with a 16-year history and a network of former students working in the aviation sector in companies such as British Airways, Heathrow Airport and Airbus. Some of our alumni are working in senior roles and support our current students through mentoring.
  • Specialist skill development: build knowledge of airline revenue management, airport operations and aviation safety through a curriculum designed with input from industry collaborators.

A man and woman sitting at a table in the Sir Frank Whittle Building

Is aviation management a good career?

Explore the world of aviation management through personal experiences and insights, discovering why it's a rewarding career choice.

Read Matthew's story

What you'll study

This course introduces airline and airport operations, aviation safety, revenue management and global aviation policy. You will have opportunities to use industry simulation tools, analyse real-world data and explore network planning.

Modules

Modules

A placement year2 provides optional first-hand industry experience and helps you discover where your skills and interests truly lie. Taken between your second and final years, it allows you to step into a professional environment, apply your learning and gain valuable insight into your chosen sector.

By spending an extended period in industry, you should develop confidence, build professional networks and strengthen the transferable skills that employers value most. This experience offers a powerful way to explore career paths and return to your final year with real -world expertise and a clearer sense of direction.

Key opportunities

  • Complete an approved work placement: gain practical experience aligned with your course and career ambitions, typically lasting at least 26 weeks.
  • Reflect on professional development: recognise and document the specific skills, knowledge and experience you gain during your time in industry.
  • Broaden your global perspective: optionally undertake an international work or study placement to experience a different professional or cultural context.

While this optional year is non-credit-bearing, successful completion ensures your experience is formally recognised on your final degree certificate to showcase your expertise to future employers.

Students sponsored by the University who opt for an international work placement must ensure they comply with the UKVI immigration regulations and should contact us for further guidance.

Modules

This year introduces you to your chosen subject while building essential skills.

  • Explore everything from marketing and global management to business communications and reflective growth, giving you a solid understanding of the subject before you progress.
  • Perfect the research and writing styles you’ll need to ace your degree-level assignments.
  • Learn core principles so you feel completely prepared when you start Year 1 of your degree.

On successful completion of this foundation year, you will be able to progress to year 1 of the degree.

Modules

We regularly review our course content to keep it relevant and current for our students. Consequently, we may update modules to reflect the latest industry standards.


How you'll learn

Forget stressful end-of-year exams. We focus on applied learning using a mix of lectures, tutorials and online study to get you ready for the real world. Instead of one big test, we assess your progress through coursework and phase tests. This better reflects the way you’ll likely work in your future career.


Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average, you will have between 10 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the option to attend additional sessions, including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.


Assessment

The foundation year will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module and may include:

  • formal examinations
  • phase tests
  • essays
  • group work
  • presentations
  • reports
  • projects
  • coursework
  • exams
  • individual assignments.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

The course seeks to support a range of teaching environments appropriate to the content being delivered and that cater for the needs of the diverse range of our students.


Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. You will normally study one 30-credit module at a time. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary depending on your year of study and selected modules. During your first year, you can expect 12-15 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend additional sessions, including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

  • academic or business reports
  • essays
  • in-class or online open book tests
  • presentations
  • projects
  • posters
  • role plays/ simulations
  • viva -voce
  • reflective writing
  • analytical tasks
  • laboratories
  • portfolios.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


International experience opportunities

International experience opportunities2 are fundamental to the successful delivery of the aviation management course, which is international by nature. The course has historically recruited an international cohort that could enrich your learning experience. The course content is also delivered from an international perspective through case studies and examples. Additionally, we aim to invite international guest speakers to contribute further to your learning (subject to availability).

The teaching team continually seeks to reflect the international diversity of the industry. Internationalisation is also supported by opportunities for international field trips. Destinations for the field trips in recent years have included France, the United States, Oman and Switzerland. On each occasion students have enjoyed engagement with key elements of the local aviation industry infrastructure (airlines, airports, and regulators) to broaden and deepen their knowledge and understanding – and to apply their learning from the course.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guarantee2.


Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

64 UCAS tariff points. All foundation courses require GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards. For T levels: overall grade of Pass (D or E on the Core) in the T level qualification in any subject.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Contextual/Fair Access Offers

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Offer, you could automatically receive a contextual offer which is 16 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Offer.

Got higher grades? Have you considered direct entry to the degree without foundation year?


Fees and funding

Foundation year

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2027/28 fees TBC
2026/27 fees: £5,760
Not available
International/EU Not currently available*** Not available

Degree

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2027/28 fees TBC
2026/27 fees: £9,790 per year
Not available
International/EU Not currently available*** Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2028/29 will pay £1,575 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,900 if they are paying international fees.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the table above for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI), a UK measure of inflation that tracks changes in the cost of living.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement or study abroad year, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2028/29. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above RPI.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) you may be charged the tuition fees in force at the time you take that additional period of study, and/or in line with any legislative changes that apply at that time.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

Applies to degree only

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad) which may include costs of travel, accommodation, equipment or uniform required for the placement and any visa-related costs.

Foundation year funding

To secure funding for a degree with a foundation year, you must complete the full four-year programme. If you do not finish the entire course, including the integrated foundation year, you may have to pay the foundation year fees yourself. For further information, please refer to the 'Tuition Fee Loan' details in the 'Funding your undergraduate course' section of our 'Fees and finance' page.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**This degree with foundation year is not currently available to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK.


Facilities

You’ll spend your foundation year at our CU Coventry Mile Lane building, just a short walk from Coventry city centre. You can still make the most of all the facilities at the main Coventry University campus whenever you like.

Once you successfully complete your foundation year, you’ll move over to the Coventry University campus to study your degree.

Facilities are subject to availability4. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Our Aviation Management BSc course is positioned within the School of Engineering rather than a traditional business school. This setting provides access to specialist facilities that support practical learning and offer opportunities to develop understanding of aviation operations and the wider industry.

  • Industry-standard flight simulators and static aircraft: gain practical, hands-on experience of aviation operations, combining theory with real-world practice.

 

Flight Simulators

Flight Simulators

Our simulators create an exciting way to learn, with 61 channels of flight data which can be analysed to assess the accuracy of a student's own design. The simulators are incorporated into an air traffic control environment.

Harrier Jet

Harrier Jet

Our Harrier T4 allows students to gain hands-on experience with the parts, tools and mechanical aspects of a real aircraft. It is used by many engineering disciplines to learn how an aircraft works and how to maintain it.

External view of the Lanchester Library.

Lanchester Library

You will have full reading rights in Coventry University's Lanchester Library. The library is usually open 364 days a year and has many study spaces, including group and silent areas. It also currently offers touchdown computers and free-to-loan laptops.

Facilities are subject to availability4. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.


Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion of the course you can expect to be able to:

  • develop sustainable solutions to aviation management problems, recognising the diversity of stakeholders that make up the global aviation industry
  • select and apply a range of research skills, management tools and strategies, to resolve current and future challenges
    promote, defend and justify recommendations using appropriately sourced evidence and data
  • identify, analyse and evaluate data from various sources to support decision making, business improvement, effective governance and regulatory compliance
  • work in teams and as an individual, to deliver outcomes that recognise the diverse and international context of the aviation industry
  • select and deploy relevant software and technologies to support management decision making and sustainable aviation operations
  • manage relationships and behaviours that support management processes, business outcomes and professional development in aviation
  • evaluate and synthesise contemporary theory and research findings to propose innovative solutions to aviation management problems
  • apply a range of management strategies and the principles of project management to achieve tangible outcomes to aviation management challenges and problems
  • consider and apply the fundamental principles of transport systems design and aeronautical engineering to inform sustainable management decision-making within the aviation industry.

This course aims to prepare you for a wide range of career options within the aviation industry, either in the UK or overseas – from airline and airport management to air transport consultancy, roles with industry suppliers and manufacturers or in international logistics.

Previous graduates have progressed to roles in airport and airline operations management, consultancy, finance and revenue management as well as various graduate schemes and further study. 

Where our graduates work

We have alumni working in numerous aviation organisations around the globe, participating in the complex network of airlines, airports, suppliers and regulatory/trade bodies that together create the aviation ecosystem. The number of our alumni that have gone on to secure rewarding positions within the aviation industry throughout the world, clearly demonstrates the value of a Coventry University Aviation Management degree. 

Recent graduates have found graduate roles in companies including:

  • British Airways
  • Virgin Atlantic Airways
  • Ryanair
  • easyJet
  • Wizz Air
  • Heathrow Airport
  • Birmingham Airport
  • East Midlands Airport
  • Oman Airports
  • Lufthansa Technic
  • UK Civil Aviation Authority
  • EASA
  • IATA
  • Airbus
  • Rolls Royce
  • Deloitte
  • ICF International Inc.

The graduate destinations listed above illustrate potential career paths. You may need to gain additional qualifications or practical experience, pass professional examinations, complete training, cover associated costs and meet specific visa or immigration requirements to secure employment in these fields.

Studying aviation management

Maria is a final year student studying Aviation Management BSc (Hons) she provides feedback on what she learned from her course, her enthusiasm for management and the aviation industry.

Read more
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Two students sat at a desk working on a laptop

Discover Phoenix+

Phoenix+ brings you together with other students to learn, experience and develop essential knowledge and skills. Whatever destination you choose, it's about preparing you for life after university.

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How to apply

This course with foundation year is not available to international students.


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