Associate Degree of Aviation

The Associate Degree of Aviation is a two-year qualification for people who want to work in aviation but do not need, or do not yet want, a full three-year bachelor degree. It sits at level 5 on the Australian Qualifications Framework, between a diploma and a bachelor degree. You study the same first-year and second-year material a bachelor student would cover, and if you later decide to continue, many Australian institutions let you apply for credit towards a related bachelor degree. Credit is counted in units of study and credit points, so ask Holmes Institute exactly how much would carry across before you enrol.

What you actually study

Aviation is a broad field, so the units usually split into three groups. First, the operational side: how aircraft fly, how they are maintained, how airports and airspace work, and the regulations that govern them. Second, the commercial side: airline and airport management, aviation economics, safety management systems, and the customer and logistics side of running an operation. Third, the general professional units, communication, mathematics, business and law, that every associate degree carries. Holmes Institute delivers its courses in trimesters rather than semesters, so you typically take three study periods a year instead of two. That is worth knowing because it changes the pace and the fee schedule.

How the qualification is structured

An associate degree is normally 16 units over two years of full-time study, with each unit worth a set number of credit points. The exact unit list, the credit point value of each unit, and whether a capstone or industry project is included are set by the institution, confirm these on the official Holmes Institute course page and on the CRICOS register entry for course code 112847K. Aviation is a field where work-integrated learning matters, so expect some form of industry project, simulation work or placement as part of the degree. The CRICOS register is also where the published tuition figure sits, and it is the number you should check rather than any figure quoted second-hand.

Who it suits

This degree suits school leavers who want an aviation qualification without committing to three or four years, and people already working around aircraft, freight or airports who want a formal qualification behind their experience. It also works as a stepping stone: finish the associate degree, then articulate into a bachelor with credit. International students should note the English requirement, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the usual undergraduate standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself, so you may need to meet both. While studying, a student visa generally allows 48 hours of work per fortnight, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Check current rules with the Department of Home Affairs.

• Airline and airport operations roles, ground operations, dispatch support, crew scheduling and rostering
• Aviation safety and compliance officer, working with safety management systems and regulatory documentation
• Airport terminal and airside coordination, including baggage, ramp and passenger services
• Air freight and logistics coordination with freight forwarders, integrators and cargo handlers
• Aviation customer service and reservations, including call centre and airport counter roles
• Maintenance planning and stores support in aircraft maintenance organisations
• Defence, government and regulatory support roles in aviation agencies
• Pathways into further study, a bachelor degree with credit, then roles in aviation management, flight operations or aerospace engineering