Graduate Diploma of Aviation

Overview

Study the Graduate Diploma of Aviation and gain advanced knowledge and practical skills that lead you towards a management role within the aviation industry. This course has a focus on aviation safety behaviours and is designed to meet the needs of personnel currently involved in the industry who wish to upgrade their skills.

Check the Graduate Diploma of Aviation course handbook

Get a copy of our course guide

Upgrade your skills

Human factors in aviation management
Aviation safety behaviours
Aviation management
Effective communication and teamwork
Aviation safety reporting
Innovation solutions

Stretch your career further

Aviation mangement
Airport manager
Flight or ground operator
Aviation authority
Transport
Supply chain

Strong industry connections and co-creation

Qantas
Jetstar Airways

Explore Work Integrated Learning

International student visa

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Why Swinburne?

Graduate employers include Qantas and Jetstar Airways

$30,000 aviation scholarship awarded annually

Aviation education leader for more than more than 30 years

Source

Qualifications

Applicants are required to have one of the following:

A bachelor degree (or higher award) in a related discipline from a recognised higher education institution or equivalent; or
A recognised bachelor degree (Honours) in any of the following disciplines: Aviation, Engineering, Business, Economics, Management, Law, Marketing, Science, Technology, Psychology or Social Science; or
Completion of the Graduate Certificate of Aviation.

Applicants are required to have one of the following:

A bachelor degree (or higher award) in a related discipline from a recognised higher education institution or equivalent; or
A recognised bachelor degree (Honours) in any of the following disciplines: Aviation, Engineering, Business, Economics, Management, Law, Marketing, Science, Technology, Psychology or Social Science; or
Completion of the Graduate Certificate of Aviation.

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 70%, all skills 65% or above
or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Book your Pearson Test of English

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Learn more about credit

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Learn more about RPL

Finding your fit

At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.

Graduate Certificate of Aviation

Discover more (Graduate Certificate of Aviation)

How credit points work

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma of Aviation, students must complete 100 credit points comprising:

6 core units (75 credit points)
2 x elective units (25 credit points)

Your units

Graduate Certificate

Completing 3 core units and 1 elective entitles you to the graduate certificate.

Core units

Elective unit

Graduate certificate

Units of study	Unit code
Core units
Human Factors and Advanced Technology Core unit, 12.5 credit points	AVA80004
Aviation Industry Fundamentals Core unit, 12.5 credit points	AVA80012
Marketing in Aviation Core unit, 12.5 credit points	AVA80032

Learn more about the Graduate Certificate of Aviation

Graduate Diploma

Completing an additional 3 core units and 1 elective unit entitles you to the graduate diploma.

Core units

Elective unit

Core units

Elective unit

Graduate diploma

Units of study	Unit code
Core units
Safety in Operational Teams Core unit, 12.5 credit points	AVA80003
Airline Revenue Management and Pricing Core unit, 12.5 credit points	AVA80034
Leading High Performance Organisations Core unit, 12.5 credit points	AVA80039

Elective units

Units of study	Unit code
Recommended elective units
Economics Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	ECO80001
Business Information Systems Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	INF60007
Cloud Enterprise Systems and Analytics Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	INF60012
Strategic Project Management Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	INF70005
Governing Technology for Business Environments Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	INF80042
Business Strategy Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	MGT80002
Leadership for Innovation Elective unit, 12.5 credit points	MGT80005
Further electives can be selected from other disciplines (subject to approval and availability).

Nested programs

The Graduate Diploma of Aviation forms the second stage in a nested suite of programs. Continue studying with the:

Master of Aviation

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$31,920

Total fee* ($AUD)

$31,920

Commonwealth Supported Yearly Fee* ($AUD)

$9,314

Commonwealth Supported Total Fee* ($AUD)

$9,314

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$37,840.00

Fees are estimates only

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2025 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.

How do I pay my fees?

Two types of loans are available to assist with student study fees. Depending on eligibility, you’re able to apply for one of the loans outlined below.

FEE-HELP is a loan that’s available for full-fee paying higher education students. Depending on your eligibility, the Commonwealth Government can help pay all or part of your loan directly to Swinburne.
HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme that’s available if you’re enrolled in a Commonwealth-supported place. Depending on eligibility, a HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of your contribution amount.

Find out more about fees

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

log in to My Finances
check your Australian bank account details are correct
check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
pay using your preferred payment method.

Learn more about paying your fees

Eligibility for FEE-HELP

You’re eligible for a FEE-HELP loan if you are studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or UniLink or OUA course at Swinburne, and you:

are an Australian citizen doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens
are undertaking bridging study for overseas trained professionals and will be living in Australia for the duration of this study
have not exceeded the new combined Help Loan limit.

The HELP limit is the maximum amount you can borrow from the government in your lifetime towards your education costs. It is fixed and cannot be topped up.

Learn more about FEE-HELP

Eligibility for HECS-HELP

You are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan if you have been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for an undergraduate degree at Swinburne or a UniLink course, and you:

are an Australian citizen and doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens.

Learn more about HECS-HELP

Student services and amenities fee

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

The fee shown in the capped amount for 2025.

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365

Learn more about SSAF

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

Learn more about scholarships

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Learn more about scholarships

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents

GD-AV

Search for agents

Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online!

Please note: This external course is not available to on-shore international students holding a student visa.

Course code

GD-AV

Apply directly

Start dates

Location

Last date to apply

Start dates

Semester 2

Hawthorn

30-July-2025

04-August-2025

Start dates

Location

Start dates

Semester 2

Hawthorn

04-August-2025

Overview

Entry requirements

Study structure

Fees & Scholarships

How to apply

Overview

Upgrade your skills

Stretch your career further

Strong industry connections and co-creation

International student visa

Why Swinburne?

Admission requirements

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

Graduate certificate

Graduate diploma

Elective units

Master of Aviation

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

Total fee* ($AUD)

Commonwealth Supported Yearly Fee* ($AUD)

Commonwealth Supported Total Fee* ($AUD)

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

Fees are estimates only

Fees are estimates only

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

SSAF fee* ($AUD)