Aviation Management - BA (Hons) Degree

This degree can be studied as a three-year full-time degree or a four-year degree that includes a year of foundational study. Our foundation year is intended to prepare you for your subsequent years of studying, offering you the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence.

The foundation year will be relevant to:

1. Students who have not achieved the required A-level points (or equivalent) score to enter the first year of the degree programme.
2. Mature students who have been out of the formal education system for some time.

Find out more about the foundation year.

Please note: You will need to apply using a specific UCAS code if you wish to undertake the 4 years including foundation. Please refer to Key Course Information at the bottom of this page.

Students attending this programme will study a wide range of aviation management subject areas, with 80 credits per year being delivered by Cardiff School of Management (CSM) and 40 credits (4 separate courses) per year being delivered by Embry-Riddle Worldwide - namely:

Year 1 (CSM)

• Introduction to Legal Methods, Ethics and Practice (20 Credits)
• People Development within Organisations (20 Credits)
• Analytical Tools for Competitive Advantage (20 Credits)
• Academic and Professional Skills for Aviation Management (20 Credits)

Year 1 Embry-Riddle Worldwide

• Introduction to Research Methods (10 Credits)
• Principles of Management (10 Credits)
• Management of Aeronautical Science (10 Credits)
• Introduction to Aerospace Safety (10 Credits)

Year 2 (CSM)

• Ethical Business Operations and Supply Chain Resilience (20 Credits)
• Global Challenges for Business (20 Credits)
• Global Logistics Management (20 Credits)
• Work Experience for Aviation Management (20 Credits)

Year 2 (Embry-Riddle Worldwide)

• Corporate and Business Aviation (10 Credits)
• Applications in Aerospace/Aviation Law (10 Credits)
• Aviation Safety and Program Management (10 Credits)
• Aircraft Crash and Emergency Management (10 Credits)

Year 3 (CSM)

• Dissertation OR Aviation Consultancy Project (40 Credits)
• HRM and Employment Relations in Aviation (20 Credits)
• Operationalising Strategy​ (20 Credits)

Year 3 (Embry-Riddle Worldwide)

• Management of the Multicultural Workforce (10 Credits)
• Management of Air Cargo (10 Credits)
• Trends and Current Problems in Air Transportation (10 Credits)
• Airline Management (10 Credits)

The modules contained within this innovative course use a wide range of teaching and learning approaches. Modules delivered by Cardiff School of Management will principally consist of classroom-based and situational experiential learning. Classroom-based teaching will be delivered in appropriately equipped spaces. Lecture rooms are supplemented by group discussion, group problem solving exercises, and group games in order to consolidate learning and apply theory to a range of simulated aviation operational environments. Aviation Management students will exist as a part of the wider collective of Cardiff School of Management suite of programmes; as such, they will benefit from being a closely-knit and independent part of a much wider collective. This will give them the best of both worlds: a smaller-scale sense of community, but a large-scale social and study scene.

In addition to classroom-based learning, CSM modules across all three years of study will take place at Cardiff Airport: in students' first year, the 'Academic and Professional Skills' module will be delivered in Cardiff Airport's classroom facilities and will be taught in conjunction with CSM's employability team, with masterclasses delivered by professionals from various parts of Cardiff Airport's business operations. In their second year, students will undertake work experience at Cardiff Airport (or an alternative relevant organisation of their choice). This will enable students to contextualise the learning gained from the theoretical phases of the programme and, will provide the necessary 'shop window' to show their skills, knowledge and talents to future employers from within the sector.

In their final year, students will undertake an independently-driven academic research dissertation on an aviation topic of their choice, or they could take on an aviation consultancy project, addressing a real-world business issue at Cardiff Airport or elsewhere.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide's (online) teaching experience is extremely engaging and taught by experienced faculty with industry connections. Students interact with other module participants who can be anywhere in the world, on a frequent basis. Embry-Riddle's teaching includes the innovative use of tools such as virtual labs, as well as a virtual community 'eUnion' where all Embry-Riddle students can network and collaborate on extra-curricular activities. Every Embry-Riddle Worldwide student can access virtual laboratories to experience such features as a virtual crash lab, where students can gather and submit data required for accident investigations. As an ERAU student, you will have access to Hunt Library resources, as well as invitations to complimentary aviation webinars. Embry-Riddle Worldwide's online degrees have been ranked in the top 5 for 'best online bachelor's degree programmes' for the last 7 years in the national college and university rankings from the US News & World Report. They were awarded the number one position in the 2021 rankings – a remarkable achievement which highlights the top-quality management and delivery of their learning material.

Throughout their time as a BA (Hons) Aviation Management student at Cardiff Metropolitan University, each student will be supported by the allocation of a personal tutor who will provide pastoral support for the student's time on the course. The Programme Director will also provide strategic leadership and direction to the course and will be available to each student who has specific issues regarding course content and structure. The programme will be delivered by experts within their field of study. These will include aviation management specialists as well as operations, logistics and law experts who will impart the latest theories and insights from their respective subject areas.

With the exception of the dissertation/consultancy project, all Cardiff Metropolitan module assessment is based upon 4,000 words (or equivalent) assessments. These assessments are diverse in nature and will range from the traditional essay to presentations, industry reports and discussion sessions and collaborative investigation projects. The assessment methods are designed to give students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of theoretical, applied, and professional practice issues. Close engagement with the aviation industry is key to this course. Much of the assessment work will be focused upon industry reports and consultancy projects undertaken with aviation organisations. It will involve the input of industry experts to ensure that the skills and knowledge learned are relevant to the Sector.

The online delivery of Embry-Riddle Worldwide modules means that students are assessed in a variety of stimulating, engaging ways. Assessments occur on a more continual basis when studying Embry-Riddle modules, but each assessment counts for a less critical amount of the overall module. Examples of innovative, thought-provoking assessments that you'll undertake are: a 'pecha kucha' presentation, case study analyses of air accidents, site visit reports (after visiting an airport firefighting facility!), and weekly contributions to online discussions.

The capstone research project will be presented as a traditional 12,000 word report, supplemented with a presentation to an academic/practitioner audience.

It is expected that many graduates from this course will go on to obtain positions within the aviation industry in areas such as: operations and production managers, logistics managers and general managers with a wide-ranging responsibility for all aspects of aviation management. For students wishing to go on to further study, the course provides entry on to a wide range of taught and research degree Masters programmes within the University where graduates can progress on to either an MA, MSc or MRes degrees in order to develop and enhance their knowledge base and area of expertise.

Close connection with Professional Bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and the Ryal Aeronautical Society (RaeS) will enable students to work towards chartered status of their institution thus increasing the employability opportunities of the student. The programme is working towards being recognised by the RAeS.

Typical Offers

The following requirements are based on typical offers relevant to entering year 1 of the degree.

If you do not meet these entry requirements, we also offer a Foundation Year which allows progression to Year 1 upon successful completion.

• Tariff points: 112
• Contextual offer: See our contextual offers page.
• GCSE: Five GCSEs at Grade C / 4 or above to include English Language / Welsh First Language, Mathematics / Mathematics – Numeracy.
• English Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all elements, or equivalent.
• A level subjects: Minimum three A levels to include Grades CCC. No specific subjects required. Welsh Advanced Skills Baccalaureate considered as a third subject.
• BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DMM
• T Level: Merit.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: No specific subjects required.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 2 x H5. No specific subjects required.
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 2 x H2 grades. No specific subjects required. Higher level subjects only considered with a minimum grade H4.
• Scottish Advanced Highers: Grades DD. No specific subjects required. Scottish Highers are also considered, either on their own or in combination with Advanced Highers.

Combinations of the above qualifications are accepted if they meet our minimum requirements. If your qualifications aren’t listed, please contact Admissions or refer to the UCAS Course Search.

Further information on Overseas qualifications can be found here.

If you are a mature applicant or have relevant experience that you would like us to consider, please contact Admissions.

Due to studying across two separate learning systems, with modules being delivered via Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, we are unable to offer credit transfers and recognise prior learning for this degree.

How to Apply

Further information on how to apply can be found here.

For general enquiries please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6044 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk.

For programme specific enquiries please contact Programme Director, Dr Nicholas Jephson:

• Email: NJephson@cardiffmet.ac.uk