UBSCHATPPON-2023-4-F - L-Università ta' Malta

Course Title

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Air Transport

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

4 Years

240 ECTS

Mode of Study

Part-time Online

Information for International applicants

Refer to the list of country-specific qualifications

The Course shall be open to professional air transport pilots who are licensed to fly turbine powered aircraft who:

satisfy the general requirements for admission as specified in the Admissions Regulations, and are in possession of a pass at Advanced Matriculation Level in Physics or a comparable qualification or
are applicants considered as "Adult Learners" (mature applicants) in terms of paragraph (c) of regulation 6 of the Admissions Regulations and must be in possession of those qualifications and/or experience that would satisfy the Institute Admissions Committee and the University Admissions Board that they have reached the academic standard required to follow the Course with profit. Such applicants shall be required to submit with their application a letter written in English giving their motivation for applying for the Course, together with a copy of their Curriculum Vitae (C.V.).

The Board may require applicants in terms of paragraph (b) to follow and pass a number of additional study-units to make up for the missing requirements. Such study-units will be offered to applicants against a fee.

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Applications for our February and October intakes have been officially open since the third week in November. You can submit your application online. The deadlines for submission of applications vary according to the intake and courses. We encourage all international applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible. This is especially important if you require a visa to travel and eventually stay in Malta.

You can compare your national qualifications to the local requirements by visiting our qualifications comparability webpage. Access more information about our admission process and English language requirements.

The University of Malta has student accommodation on campus called Campus Hub. Campus Hub is just a 2-minute walk from the main campus. For more information, visit the accommodation website.

Our dedicated team at the student recruitment office is here to support you every step of the way. From the moment you start your application to the moment when you receive your decision letter, we're here to assist you. If you have any questions or need further information, don't hesitate to reach out to us. You can contact us at info@um.edu.mt, and our team will be more than happy to help.

After you receive an offer from us, our International Office will assist you with visas, accommodation and other related issues.

If you are a professional pilot licensed to fly turbine powered aircraft, seeking to develop or strengthening your career path through formal university education and qualification, then the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Air Transport will help you to achieve that goal. This part-time course is offered jointly with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is part of a dual degree programme that will award you with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics. You will be enrolled with both Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide and the University of Malta and will graduate from both universities with the two awards. The programme structure and delivery is specifically tailored for the combined needs of the professional pilot and airline industry, allowing you to continue working as a professional pilot whilst studying at your own pace and to immediately apply the learning outcomes at your place of work to the benefit of your organisation.

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Air Transport is a part-time, fully on-line programme for professional pilots licensed to fly turbine powered aircraft who seek to develop or strengthen their career path through formal university education and qualification. It is offered jointly with EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University and is part of a dual degree programme that will also award students a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics. You will be enrolled with both Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide and the University of Malta and will graduate from both universities with the two awards. Clickhere for further details on the Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics.

Combining the strengths of the American and European tertiary education systems, the dual degree programme provides you with a deeper scientific understanding of the technology that underpins air transport whilst developing their skills in leadership and management. You will also learn the legal and business principles behind the business models adopted in the air transport industry.

The dual degree programme recognises the training undertaken by professional pilots as prior learning and awards credits towards the award of the two degrees. It specifically builds on the knowledge gained in this training to provide you with a broader and deeper education that is of direct relevance and provides the edge to the professional pilot, both in the air and on the ground, whether in the cockpit, on the ramp or in the office environment.

The programme structure and delivery is specifically tailored for the combined needs of the professional pilot and airline industry, allowing you to continue working as professional pilots whilst studying at your own pace and to immediately apply the learning outcomes at your place of work to the benefit of your organisation.

Communication and Academic Skills Programme

The communication and academic skills programme complements students’ main course of study. It introduces them to writing and presenting as situated within academic contexts sensitive to specific disciplines and develops their competences for future careers.


Semester 2 (February 2024 - June 2024)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

AET1901*	Private Pilot Operations (ASCI121)	10 ECTS
AET1911	Pre-Calculus for Aviation (MATH111)	6 ECTS
AET1912	Applied Calculus for Aviation (MATH112)	6 ECTS


Summer Period (July 2024 - September 2024)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

AET1004*	Theory of Flight	4 ECTS
AET1121	Principles of Flight 1	6 ECTS
AET1905	English Composition (ENGL123)	6 ECTS

Students are required to choose one compulsory study-unit from the below:

AET1906	Studies in Rhetorical Theory (ENGL143)	6 ECTS
AET1907	Technical Report Writing (ENGL221)	6 ECTS
AET1908	Business Communication (ENGL222)	6 ECTS
AET1909	Collaborative Writing and Presenting (ENGL223)	6 ECTS
AET1910	Creative Writing (ENGL355)	6 ECTS
AET1913	Speech (SPCH219)	6 ECTS


Semester 1 (October 2024 - January 2025)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

AET1002*	Private Single Flight	4 ECTS
AET1902	Introduction to Aeronautical Science (ASCI202)	6 ECTS

Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) Students are required to choose one elective study-unit from the below:

AET1903	Computer and Network Technologies (CYBR235)	6 ECTS
AET1904	Introduction to Computing for Engineers (ENGR115)	6 ECTS

* Students who are licenced to fly turbine powered aircrafts shall not be required to follow these study-units.

Total ECTS credits for year 1: 60 ECTS credits


Semester 2 (February 2025 - June 2025)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

AET2124	Principles of Flight 2	6 ECTS
AET2906	Statistics with Aviation Applications (STAT211)	6 ECTS
AET2907*	Meteorology 1 (WEAX201)	6 ECTS


Summer Period (July 2025 - September 2025)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

AET2003*	Instrument and Multi-Engine Pilot Operations	6 ECTS
AET2213	Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS)	6 ECTS
AET2903	Material Science for Engineering (ETEC310)	6 ECTS

Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) Students are required to choose one elective study-unit from the below:

AET2901	Microeconomics (ECON210)	6 ECTS
AET2902	Macroeconomics (ECON211)	6 ECTS


Semester 1 (October 2025 - January 2026)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

AET2004*	Human Performance Limitations	6 ECTS
AET2904	Introduction to Psychology (PSYC220)	6 ECTS
AET2905	Introduction to Research Methods (RSCH202)	6 ECTS

* Students who are licenced to fly turbine powered aircrafts shall not be required to follow these study-units.

Total ECTS credits for year 2: 60 ECTS credits


Semester 2 (February 2026 - June 2026)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

AET3002*	Aviation Legislation 1	6 ECTS
AET3111	Avionics	6 ECTS
AET3902	Financial Accounting (MGMT210)	6 ECTS
AET3903	Principles of Management (MGMT201)	6 ECTS


Summer Period (July 2026 - September 2026)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

AET3123	Aircraft Structures and Design	6 ECTS
AET3904	Human Factors in Aviation Safety (SFTY320)	6 ECTS
AET4001*	Aerial Navigation	6 ECTS


Semester 1 (October 2026 - January 2027)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

AET2200	Aircraft Powerplants	6 ECTS
AET3001*	Advanced Aircraft and Systems	6 ECTS
AET3901	Aviation Legislation (ASCI254)	6 ECTS

* Students who are licenced to fly turbine powered aircrafts shall not be required to follow these study-units

Total ECTS credits for year 3: 60 ECTS credits


Semester 2 (February 2027 - June 2027)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

AET4004*	Aviation Legislation 2	6 ECTS
AET4902	Critical Thinking for Leadership	6 ECTS
AET4904	Mechanical and Structural Factors in Aviation Safety	6 ECTS


Summer Period (July 2027 - September 2027)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

AET3221	Aircraft Systems and Components	6 ECTS
AET4002*	Commercial Flight Planning and Training	6 ECTS
AET4200**	Long Essay (Capstone)	6 ECTS
AET4905	Aviation Safety (SFTY409)	6 ECTS
** Study-unit AET4200 starts during the Summer Period and continues up to the end of Semester 1 (January 2028).

Semester 1 (October 2027 - January 2028)

Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)

AET4003*	Operational Procedures and Advanced Aircraft Handling	6 ECTS
AET4903	Values and Ethics (HUMN330)	6 ECTS

Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints) Students are required to choose one elective study-unit from the below:

AET4901	Applications in Aviation/ Aerospace Law (ASCI404)	6 ECTS
LAW4012	Principles of Law and Aviation Law	6 ECTS

* Students who are licenced to fly turbine powered aircrafts shall not be required to follow these study-units.

Total ECTS credits for year 4: 60 ECTS credits

This programme of study is governed by the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Air Transport - B. Sc. (Hons) - Degree Course Regulations, 2020.

By the end of the programme, you will be able to:

Apply the scientific and technical knowledge gained in the programme when trouble-shooting and making decisions;
Manage cockpit resources more efficiently;
Apply the knowledge in automation and human factors acquired in the programme to interact with automation in the cockpit more effectively;
Identify and assess potential failure paths in flight;
Describe the systems, processes and procedures that are in place to reduce the risk of accident and ensure safety in flight; and
Apply mathematical techniques to data for scientific interpretation.

Apply mathematical techniques to data for scientific interpretation;
Conduct research independently and communicate the results effectively to different audiences;
Relate technical attributes to business interests;
Apply business skills in decision-making;
Adopt a systematic approach in investigation and analysis;
Identify trends that will shape the air transport industry;
Manage projects efficiently;
Communicate effectively in the working environment;
Apply multidisciplinary knowledge and soft skills in leadership.

Non EU Applicants:

Tuition fees for academic year 2023/24 and 2024/2025 amount to Eur 8,000. Fees may be revised for subsequent academic years.

You are viewing the fees for non EU nationals. Switch to EU nationals if you are a national of any country from within the EU/EEA.

This dual degree award from internationally recognised universities will enhance your career opportunities as a professional pilot, providing the edge in the progress of your flying career, such as in promotion to command and other senior roles. It also offers you a greater opportunity of securing office-related appointments that may include management, safety, regulatory, planning, technical and business roles. The award also provides you with a perfect platform to further specialise in the sector of air transport at master's and doctoral levels.