Pilot Courses in Australia for International Students: CRICOS List of Aviation, Flight Training and Aerospace Programs
Australia has a surprisingly broad range of CRICOS-listed aviation courses for international students. The list is not limited to one pathway or one type of institution. In the current CRICOS course dataset reviewed for this article, aviation-related programs include university bachelor degrees, commercial pilot licence diplomas, helicopter training, flight instructor courses, aviation management, aircraft maintenance, remotely piloted aircraft systems and aerospace engineering.
For students searching for a list of CRICOS courses connected with aviation or pilot training, the database shows that this is a real and active study category. The reviewed dataset includes 139 active aviation-related courses when searching across course names containing terms such as aviation, pilot, flight, flying, piloting, aircraft, aerospace and airport. Within this wider group, there are 50 active courses directly connected with pilot, flight, flying or piloting keywords.
This makes pilot training one of the more specialised but well-represented professional pathways in the CRICOS course list.
What counts as a pilot course in the CRICOS database?
The aviation field in the CRICOS database can be divided into several practical groups.
The first group is made up of university aviation degrees, such as Bachelor of Aviation, Bachelor of Aviation and Piloting, Bachelor of Aviation Management and Bachelor of Aviation with specific flight or pilot streams.
The second group is more vocational and licence-focused. These courses usually appear as Diploma of Aviation programs, especially Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane) and Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter).
The third group includes related aviation careers: flight instructor training, aviation management, aircraft maintenance, remotely piloted aircraft systems and aerospace engineering. These programs are not always “pilot courses” in the narrow sense, but they are important for students comparing the full list of CRICOS courses in aviation.
Examples of CRICOS bachelor degrees for future pilots
Several Australian universities list aviation degrees that are clearly connected with pilot training or flight operations. These courses are longer than most diploma programs, usually around three years in duration, and they are offered by universities rather than specialist flight schools.
| Institution | Course | CRICOS code | Course level | Duration | Estimated total cost | Location |
| The University of New South Wales | Bachelor of Aviation (Flying) | 017227G | Bachelor Degree | 156 weeks | $331,500 | Kensington, NSW |
| University of South Australia | Bachelor of Aviation (Pilot) | 088880B | Bachelor Degree | 159 weeks | $122,900 | Mawson Lakes / Parafield Airport, SA |
| University of South Australia | Bachelor of Aviation (Flight) | 095900M | Bachelor Degree | 159 weeks | $125,300 | Mawson Lakes / Parafield Airport, SA |
| RMIT University | Bachelor of Aviation (Pilot Training) | 108797E | Bachelor Degree | 156 weeks | $234,879 | Melbourne / Point Cook / East Bendigo, VIC |
| RMIT University | Bachelor of Aviation (Pilot Training) | 111190K | Bachelor Degree | 156 weeks | $234,879 | Melbourne / Point Cook / East Bendigo, VIC |
| Swinburne University of Technology | Bachelor of Aviation and Piloting | 093354D | Bachelor Degree | 156 weeks | $250,320 | Hawthorn, VIC |
| Central Queensland University | Bachelor of Aviation (Commercial Pilot) | 097033M | Bachelor Degree | 156 weeks | $218,771 | Cairns, QLD |
| Holmes Institute | Bachelor of Aviation (Flight) | 112849H | Bachelor Degree | 156 weeks | $199,067 | Melbourne, VIC |
These examples show that aviation degrees are available in several states, including New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland. The dataset also shows very large differences in estimated total cost. For example, the UNSW Bachelor of Aviation (Flying) is listed at $331,500, while the University of South Australia Bachelor of Aviation (Pilot) is listed at $122,900.
For students using a list of CRICOS courses to compare aviation options, this cost difference is one of the first filters to check.
Commercial Pilot Licence diploma courses
The most direct pilot-training keyword in the database is Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane). This is one of the most common aviation course names in the reviewed CRICOS dataset.
These courses are usually shorter than bachelor degrees. Many are listed between 44 and 74 weeks, although some are longer. They are offered by specialist aviation colleges, aero clubs and training providers.
| Institution | Course | CRICOS code | Duration | Estimated total cost | Location |
| Flight Training Adelaide | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane) | 109204E | 104 weeks | $66,947 | Parafield Airport, SA / Wellcamp, QLD |
| Tristar Aviation Company | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane) | 109199H | 48 weeks | $59,945 | Mentone, VIC |
| Basair Australia | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane) | 109198J | 44 weeks | $85,000 | Archerfield, QLD / Bankstown, NSW |
| Royal Victorian Aero Club | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane) | 109195A | 74 weeks | $86,000 | Mentone, VIC |
| AAPA Victoria | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane) | 109212E | 60 weeks | $70,000 | Forest Hill, NSW / Mitchell Park, VIC |
| TVSA Pilot Training | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane) | 109220E | 60 weeks | $94,000 | Parwan, VIC |
| Learn to Fly Australia | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane) | 109225M | 62 weeks | $94,450 | Mentone, VIC |
| Oxford Aviation Academy Australia | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane) | 119508F | 54 weeks | $103,790 | Moorabbin Airport, VIC |
| Schofields Flying Club | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane) | 117641F | 52 weeks | $194,248 | Bankstown Aerodrome, NSW |
| Inbound Aviation | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane) | 119218E | 48 weeks | $114,650 | Wellcamp, QLD |
This section of the CRICOS database is especially useful because it gives concrete course names rather than broad aviation categories. A student searching for a list of CRICOS courses for commercial pilot training can see provider names, CRICOS course codes, course durations, locations and estimated costs in one place.
Helicopter pilot courses
The CRICOS database also includes helicopter-focused pilot training. These programs are less numerous than aeroplane commercial pilot licence courses, but they are clearly present.
| Institution | Course | CRICOS code | Duration | Estimated total cost | Location |
| A.M.T. Helicopters | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter) | 111807D | 27 weeks | $83,949 | Caboolture, QLD |
| Flight Training Adelaide | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter) | 113819F | 45 weeks | $89,921 | Parafield Airport, SA |
| Bankstown Helicopters | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter) | 114060G | 47 weeks | $87,815 | Bankstown Aerodrome, NSW |
| Aeropower | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter) | 116446F | 56 weeks | $107,339 | Bankstown Aerodrome, NSW / Kippa Ring, QLD |
| Koolardie Aviation | Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter) | 117210G | 27 weeks | $113,700 | Rowes Bay, QLD |
For students comparing aviation pathways, the helicopter segment is a separate and very specific part of the list of CRICOS courses. It should not be mixed automatically with aeroplane pilot training, because the course titles, providers, locations, durations and costs differ.
Flight instructor and advanced pilot programs
Some CRICOS aviation courses are designed for students who are looking beyond initial pilot training. The database includes flight instructor programs and advanced pilot-in-command training.
| Institution | Course | CRICOS code | Course level | Duration | Estimated total cost |
| Flight Training Adelaide | Advanced Diploma of Aviation (Pilot in Command) | 0101213 | Advanced Diploma | 32 weeks | $49,058 |
| Flight Training Adelaide | Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor) | 102531B | Diploma | 23 weeks | $31,722 |
| Royal Victorian Aero Club | Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor) | 119281J | Diploma | 24 weeks | $42,000 |
| Airways Aviation Education | Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor) | 115559E | Diploma | 27 weeks | $38,750 |
| TVSA Pilot Training | Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor) | 106689C | Diploma | 30 weeks | $33,850 |
These courses are important because they show that the CRICOS aviation category is not only about first-entry pilot training. There are also courses for more advanced aviation roles and instructional pathways.
Aviation management: for students who want the industry, not the cockpit
Not every aviation student is looking for a pilot licence. The reviewed CRICOS dataset also contains aviation management courses. These programs are more relevant to airline operations, airport-related business, aviation administration and management roles.
| Institution | Course | CRICOS code | Course level | Duration | Estimated total cost | Location |
| Swinburne University of Technology | Bachelor of Aviation Management | 093355C | Bachelor Degree | 156 weeks | $139,770 | Hawthorn, VIC |
| Swinburne University of Technology | Bachelor of Aviation Management / Bachelor of Business | 093356B | Bachelor Degree | 208 weeks | $186,360 | Hawthorn, VIC |
| Griffith University | Bachelor of Aviation Management | 092428K | Bachelor Degree | 104 weeks | $138,358 | Nathan, QLD |
| Griffith University | Master of Aviation Management | 083653J | Masters Degree | 78 weeks | $88,432 | Nathan, QLD |
| Griffith University | Master of Aviation Management | 117152A | Masters Degree | 104 weeks | $88,858 | Nathan, QLD |
| Southern Cross University | Bachelor of Business (Aviation Management) | 089780J | Bachelor Degree | 156 weeks | $84,000 | Bilinga, QLD |
| Department of Training and Workforce Development | Diploma of Aviation (Aviation Management) | 0101214 | Diploma | 52 weeks | $19,775 | Jandakot, WA |
| Brighton Pacific | Diploma of Aviation (Aviation Management) | 0101215 | Diploma | 52 weeks | $16,200 | Blacktown / Ultimo / Upper Mount Gravatt |
This part of the list is useful for students who want to work in aviation but are not specifically looking for pilot training. It also gives article readers a broader understanding of aviation as a study category, rather than treating every aviation course as a flying course.
Aircraft maintenance and technical aviation courses
The dataset also includes technical aircraft-related courses. These are not pilot courses, but they belong to the wider aviation ecosystem and may be relevant to students comparing aviation careers.
| Institution | Course | CRICOS code | Course level | Duration | Estimated total cost | Location |
| Aviation Australia | Certificate II in Aircraft Line Maintenance | 098989F | Certificate II | 32 weeks | $24,950 | Brisbane Airport, QLD |
| Aviation Australia | Diploma of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering - Mechanical TB1 | 110041J | Diploma | 95 weeks | $57,500 | Brisbane Airport, QLD |
| Aviation Australia | Diploma of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering - Avionics TB2 | 110042H | Diploma | 95 weeks | $57,500 | Brisbane Airport, QLD |
These examples show why a broad list of CRICOS courses can be more useful than a narrow keyword search. A student who begins with “pilot courses” may also want to compare aircraft maintenance, avionics, aerospace engineering or aviation management before choosing a final study direction.
Remotely piloted aircraft systems
A newer aviation-related direction in the database is remotely piloted aircraft systems. One clear example is listed by UNSW.
| Institution | Course | CRICOS code | Course level | Duration | Estimated total cost | Location |
| The University of New South Wales | Bachelor of Aviation (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) | 114591B | Bachelor Degree | 156 weeks | $237,000 | Kensington, NSW |
This is not a traditional commercial pilot licence pathway. However, it belongs in the aviation course landscape because it reflects the growing separation between crewed flight training and remotely piloted aviation systems.
Aerospace engineering courses in the CRICOS list
The aviation-related dataset also contains aerospace engineering programs. These courses are not pilot training programs, but they are relevant to students interested in aircraft design, aerospace systems, aviation technology or engineering research.
Examples include:
| Institution | Course | CRICOS code | Course level | Duration | Estimated total cost | Location |
| Monash University | Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering (Honours) | 052603J | Bachelor Honours Degree | 208 weeks | $232,730 | Clayton, VIC |
| RMIT University | Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace Engineering) (Honours) | 079776K | Bachelor Honours Degree | 208 weeks | $205,128 | Bundoora / Melbourne, VIC |
| RMIT University | Master of Engineering (Aerospace) | 088786M | Masters Degree | 104 weeks | $100,586 | Bundoora / Melbourne, VIC |
| University of Adelaide | Master of Engineering (Aerospace) | 071199C | Masters Degree | 104 weeks | $105,330 | Australia |
| University of Adelaide | Graduate Diploma in Engineering (Aerospace) | 071209F | Graduate Diploma | 52 weeks | $52,665 | Australia |
| Adelaide University | Master of Engineering (Aerospace) | 117973H | Masters Degree | 104 weeks | $114,930 | Adelaide, SA |
| UNSW | Doctor of Philosophy (Aerospace Engineering) | 085748G | Doctoral Degree | 208 weeks | $197,000 | Canberra, ACT |
For article readers, this distinction matters. A pilot course prepares a student for flight-related training. Aerospace engineering is an engineering pathway. Both can appear in an aviation-focused CRICOS search, but they should be compared as separate study goals.
How much do CRICOS pilot courses cost?
The reviewed database shows a wide price range.
Among the examples found:
- Commercial pilot licence aeroplane diploma courses range from around $59,945 to more than $190,000 in estimated total course cost.
- Helicopter commercial pilot licence diploma courses range from around $83,949 to $113,700 in the listed examples.
- Bachelor-level pilot or flight degrees range from around $122,900 to $331,500 in the listed examples.
- Aviation management programs can be much cheaper or comparable, depending on level and provider.
- Aerospace engineering degrees and postgraduate programs vary significantly by university and level.
The main conclusion is simple: the cheapest aviation course in the CRICOS list is not necessarily a pilot course, and the most expensive aviation course is not always the longest. Students should compare course level, provider type, training purpose, location and estimated total cost together.
Where are pilot courses located?
The reviewed CRICOS database shows aviation and pilot-related study locations across several Australian states.
Examples include:
- New South Wales: Kensington, Bankstown Aerodrome, Forest Hill
- Victoria: Mentone, Melbourne, Point Cook, East Bendigo, Moorabbin Airport, Parwan
- Queensland: Cairns, Archerfield, Brisbane Airport, Caboolture, Wellcamp, Kippa Ring, Bilinga
- South Australia: Mawson Lakes, Parafield Airport
- Western Australia: Jandakot
- Australian Capital Territory: Canberra
This is another reason why a searchable list of CRICOS courses is useful. Aviation programs are often tied to specific airports, training facilities or technical campuses, so location is not just a lifestyle factor. It can be part of the course structure itself.
Bachelor degree or diploma: which aviation pathway appears more often?
In the reviewed aviation-related dataset, the two largest course-level groups are:
| Course level | Number of active aviation-related courses |
| Diploma | 66 |
| Bachelor Degree | 36 |
| Bachelor Honours Degree | 8 |
| Masters Degree by Coursework | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 5 |
| Graduate Diploma | 4 |
| Masters Degree by Research | 4 |
| Doctoral Degree | 4 |
This distribution shows that aviation in the CRICOS database is not only a university subject. Diplomas are especially important in pilot training, aircraft maintenance and aviation management.
How students can use the CRICOS list for aviation research
A student comparing pilot courses should not search only for the word “pilot”. The database shows that relevant course names may include:
- aviation
- pilot
- flight
- flying
- piloting
- commercial pilot licence
- helicopter
- aeroplane
- aircraft
- aerospace
- remotely piloted aircraft systems
- aviation management
- aircraft maintenance
A narrow search for “pilot” may miss Bachelor of Aviation (Flying), Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor), aircraft maintenance courses, remotely piloted aircraft systems and aviation management degrees.
For this reason, the best approach is to use a broader list of CRICOS courses first, then narrow the results by course purpose.
Key takeaways
The reviewed CRICOS dataset confirms that Australia has a broad range of aviation-related courses for international students. The list includes direct pilot training, commercial pilot licence diplomas, helicopter pilot courses, university aviation degrees, flight instructor training, aviation management, aircraft maintenance, remotely piloted aircraft systems and aerospace engineering.
For students who want to become pilots, the most relevant course titles are usually:
- Bachelor of Aviation (Pilot)
- Bachelor of Aviation (Flight)
- Bachelor of Aviation (Flying)
- Bachelor of Aviation and Piloting
- Bachelor of Aviation (Commercial Pilot)
- Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane)
- Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter)
- Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor)
For students who want the aviation industry but not necessarily cockpit training, the CRICOS list also includes aviation management, aircraft maintenance and aerospace engineering programs.
A complete list of CRICOS courses is therefore essential for comparing aviation study options in Australia. It helps students see not only the obvious pilot courses, but also the wider ecosystem of aviation programs connected with airports, airlines, aircraft, flight training and aerospace technology.