Bachelor of Aviation – BAv

Massey is the only place in New Zealand where you can turn your passion for aviation into a university qualification. We are not only an internationally recognised pilot training facility but we also give you a broad knowledge of the global aviation industry.

You will not just train to be a professional pilot, but to become a ‘flight deck manager’ with a university education and an in-depth understanding of the aviation industry.

Find out more about the Air Transport Pilot major in ‘Specialisations’.

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

• Massey University entry requirements

Specific requirements

This is a selected entry qualification. This means there are a number of extra requirements you must meet.

To enter the Bachelor of Aviation, you must pass NCEA Level 3/Year 13 or equivalent in an ‘English-rich’ subject in order to demonstrate your ability to write a formal extended essay. These include 1 of the following:

• classical studies
• English
• geography
• history
• history of art
• media studies
• religious education (RE)
• business studies
• biology
• economics.

We highly recommend that you have passed Mathematics (Calculus) and Physics at NCEA Level 3/Year 13 or equivalent.

When you first apply online you need to:

• provide a CV including academic and work history
• have completed a trial flight
• provide any information of circumstances in your past personal or professional life that might make you ineligible to train for, or hold, a professional pilots licence in New Zealand (see below for more information).

If you already have a NZCAA Class One Medical Certificate please also upload a copy with your application. But this is not essential for your initial application.

There are 2 more stages to the application process:

Stage 1

You will take and pass an online ‘ADAPT’ test. See below for information.

Before Stage 2

Before you will be considered by selection board in Stage 2, you will have:

• taken at least 1 trial (experience) flight
• pre-booked your medical appointments (with both a CAANZ approved medical examiner and optometrist).

Note: you must allow enough time to undertake all the medical and vision assessments required for a NZCAA Class One Medical Certificate so that you will have been issued this certificate no later than 1 week prior to your course commencement.

Stage 2

Your application will be assessed, and you may then be invited to the ‘selection board’. This involves:

• taking part in a panel interview
• passing pilot aptitude assessments - including a flight simulator aptitude test, psychometric and physics tests
• completing 2 writing tasks: English language competency tests (an essay and a vocabulary test) and a multi-choice / short answer mathematics assessment.
• completing a 'Fit and Proper Person' declaration that you know of no barrier to being issued a 'Fit and Proper Person' (F&P) clearance by the CAANZ.

Before you start

Once you are successful in gaining a place in the Bachelor of Aviation qualification you will also need to complete further tasks. These include:

• providing evidence of holding a current CAANZ Class One Medical Certificate,
• providing evidence of meeting the University’s academic and English Language regulations (international students )

Selection Board

Selection boards are held twice each year:

• Beginning of October (and December, if required) for a Semester One start
• Late May/early June for a Semester Two start.

Once you apply for this qualification you will be advised of the exact date of your selection board appointment.

CAANZ Class One Medical Certificate

You must obtain a CAANZ Class One Medical Certificate before being confirmed into the Bachelor of Aviation. If you do not already hold a current Class One Medical Certificate you must arrange to book your medical appointments with both a CAANZ - approved medical examiner and optometrist, allowing enough time to complete same before your degree commences.

If you have a CAANZ Class One Medical Certificate please upload a copy with your application.

Application closing date

Applications for a Semester One start close on 1 November for domestic students and 1 October for international students, for study commencing the following year.

Applications for a Semester Two start close on 1 May for domestic students and 1 April for international students, in the year of study.

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards. Where English is not your first language, you must have achieved an Academic IELTS of 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or equivalent.

• Massey University English language requirements.

ADAPT Test

As Massey is an Air NZ Preferred Flight Training Organisation all prospective candidates must complete the ‘ADAPT’ pilot pre-screening tool.

Candidates will receive a code to complete the ADAPT assessment following payment. Payment for the assessment must be made in advance through the Massey University student portal.

You are required to meet a satisfactory standard in this test in order to be invited to the next stage of the selection process.

Trial flights

If you are living in New Zealand, you are required to have taken at least 1 trial (experience) flight before your selection board appointment is confirmed. This is to give you an understanding of what it is like to fly in a small aircraft. Trial flights experiences can be flexible (eg taken at any New Zealand flight training organisation), with pilot friends, or at the annual Massey University Aviation Open Day.

‘Fit and Proper Person’ (FPP) assessment

Are there any circumstances in your past personal or professional life that might make you ineligible to train for, or hold, a professional pilots licence in New Zealand? If so, please provide a Ministry of Justice and / or a Ministry of Transport report. This information should be uploaded when submitting your application. This information will be confidential to those staff assessing your qualification.

Once enrolled you will also be required to apply for a 'Fit and Proper Person' (FPP) assessment. This is to comply with the Civil Aviation Act 1990, Section 9. You must provide an up to date criminal convictions report and obtain an offence history report from Land Transport NZ, or from any other country resided in over the last 5 years.

You will be required to declare any traffic or criminal offences at your selection board appointment. This will enable us to advise you if there may be a barrier to your gaining the required FPP approval from the NZ Civil Aviation Authority in future which will then prevent you from being able to continue your flight training.

During the qualification the obligation continues

Once you are assessed as having FPP status it is your obligation to maintain this status. For example, if you gain a conviction for drunk driving (or other serious or serial offending) that breaches the 'Fit and Proper Person' criteria whilst on this qualification, and you lose your FPP status, your training will be unable to proceed.

Short or long term disability, including learning disability, or health issues

If any of the above apply to you, please upload a summary of what these are, how they are being managed and any support you believe you may need during your study/training. Your responses are confidential to University staff processing your application.

Application deadlines for the Air Transport Pilot

Prior learning, credit and exemptions

For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:

• review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
• contact us through the Get advice button on this page.

English language skills

If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

Meeting requirements for industry membership

To become a pilot you will need to complete this qualification, comprising a total of 480 credits as outlined on this page.

At the completion of 360 credits in this qualification, you will have met the requirements for the award of a New Zealand Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) with Multi-Engine and Instrument Rating, plus hold credits for all New Zealand Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) Theory examinations.

You will also need to complete:

• 1500 hours of flight experience
• a flight test in an aircraft of 5700kg or greater.

Maximum time limits for completion

There are maximum time limits to complete this qualification. If you do not complete within the maximum time, you may be required to re-apply for the qualification if you wish to continue your studies.

The Bachelor of Aviation is normally completed in 3 years of full-time study. If you are granted any extensions during your studies, the maximum time to complete this qualification is 6 years.

• Look for information under ‘Completion Requirements’ in the regulations for this qualification
• Contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.