Bachelor of Aviation (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems)

Launch your remote pilot career at one of the top 20 universities in the world.* The Bachelor of Aviation (RPAS) will prepare you to work across a wide range of industries and applications – with more opportunities emerging every day.  

This new course has been designed in close collaboration with industry and is the third undergraduate program in our suite of aviation degrees. Through a combination of classroom and experiential learning, our industry-leading teaching staff will give you the foundational knowledge and problem-solving skills to lead the sector into the future.  

A Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) is any unmanned aircraft which is piloted from a remote pilot station, such as a commercial drone, and the flight systems that support it. The dynamic nature of the RPAS sector gives graduates the freedom and confidence to pursue a path aligned to their interests. Current applications include remote piloting for emergency services, defence, surveying, entertainment and more. Opportunities will only multiply as the sector matures, and UNSW Aviation graduates will be well-positioned to lead the charge. 

^{*QS World University Rankings, 2024}

Discover the possibilities of an exhilarating career as a qualified commercial drone pilot. This is one of the first university courses of its kind, taught by UNSW's globally-recognised School of Aviation. Gain the technical expertise and practical skills to operate remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) for a wide range of applications.

Over this three-year full-time program, you'll complete a total of 144 units of credit (UOC). This includes core courses (126 UOC), prescribed electives (6 UOC) and general education courses (12 UOC).  

The academic program includes courses in aeronautical knowledge, aviation transport, drone information systems and commercial navigation. In addition to theoretical studies, you'll complete a practical training component of up to 40 crewed flight hours (aeroplane) and up to 40 uncrewed flight hours (RPAS),with a range of multi-rotor and fixed-wing equipment. The RPAS-specific flight hours includes 20 hours of flight training as well as up to 20 hours of commercial experience with our leading industry partners. You will acquire a respective Recreational Pilot's Licence (RPL) and Remote Pilot Licence (RePL).  

You'll also have the opportunity to utilise 6–12 UOC of electives in work placements through the UNSW Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program. The WIL program allows students to gain real-world aviation industry experience and foster networks and connections with industry partners.