Aviation Management with Pilot Studies - Any thoughts

[Kristoff]

Title says it all.


B.Sc. in Aviation Management/B.Sc in Aviation Management with Pilot Studies

B.Sc. in Aviation Management/B.Sc in Aviation Management with Pilot Studies - DCU Prospectus (http://www.dcu.ie/prospective/deginfo.php?classname=AMPS&originating_school=50)

Any thoughts ?

[BerksFlyer]

You'd probably be better off to look into Leeds University's similar sounding course.

[Irishcanadian]

Do it at Leeds...I did the Aviation Management portion..minus the pilot studies as we couldn't afford it...but if you can go for it..Leeds Uni is awsome

[ABZ777]

Leeds Uni is awsome

I second that! I went to Leeds for Aviation Tech with Pilot Studies. I got my PPL from AFT/Sherburn in the first year and had an absolutely awesome time in the process. I learned a lot, met like-minded best friends and developed some life skills as well! I would even do it again given the chance :)

[Kristoff]

The entry requirement is at an IB equivalent of 38.

At a Business and Communication equivalent of around 35 I doubt admission would be likely. Also, it does cost quite a bit for international students up to 18,000 pounds.

Im keeping my self open to the various paths one could take to get into the right seat, but thanks for the suggestion.

Im considering a Degree + OAA but nothing set in stone as of yet.

[UniFlyBoy]

You are better off staying away, Leeds course a mere shadow of what it used to be and not well supported.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I used to be an external examiner at Dublin Institute of Technology, and as such was a little surprised by this as I'd never heard of it. DCU is a reasonably well regarded young university, but it has no track record in aviation.

However, one can miss stuff. So, the trick with assessing whether a course is likely to be credible is to look at the research activity of the staff delivering it.

So, quick look on the universities site, and we get:

The Aviation Sector and Flying Theory delivered by Dr. Noel Murphy, research interests: Elliptic Curves, Complex Analysis, although he does seem to have a PPL. That is the only aviation related module in year 1.

Year 2 - The Airline Industry: Structure, Standards & Strategies, delivered by ... well actually we have no idea, they don't say. To be fair however, the syllabus they show looks quite sensible.

Year 2 - Airport Operations Management, delivered by Dr. Peter Byrne. Research interests :Supply chain design, analysis and optimisation, environmental impacts of supply chain construction, company outsourcing decision making and costing, industrial operational research. Nothing in his publications list or personal profile otherwise which shows any aviation interest or knowledge.


So up to year 2 it's a general management course, with a little bit delivered by a bloke with a PPL.

The first half of Year 3 is an industrial placement. These are a very good thing. Then...

The second half of third year comprises specialist business modules including supply chain management, business ethics, airport operations modelling and simulation, and aviation safety management.

Choice of Final Year Specialisms - Aviation Management or Pilot Studies
In the fourth year, the programme divides into two streams: some students will opt to pursue training at an approved Flight Training Organisation with a view to qualifying as a commercial pilot (Airline Transport Pilot Licence - ATPL)*; others will choose to follow more specialist studies in aviation management here in DCU

So you can either do some more generic management, or go off to the local flying school and do some flying training.



Frankly, I'd not touch it with a bargepole. You'd be better off just doing a proper management degree plus a PPL. There is a tendency of universities to pursue opportunitist course delivery in subjects that they've no real expertise in, it's unedifying, and this seems such a case.

Or, look at the much more well set up courses at various UK or US Universities. Brunel, Sheffield, Salford and Leeds spring to mind, or even Bucks University which academically is weak, but has an excellent reputation in vocational training and a good tie-up with Wycombe Air Centre.

Do read the following existing threads:-

http://www.pprune.org/professional-pilot-training-includes-ground-studies/403410-modular-v-integrated-merged-look-here-before-starting-new-thread.html

http://www.pprune.org/professional-pilot-training-includes-ground-studies/461312-pilot-training-university-2011-a.html

http://www.pprune.org/professional-pilot-training-includes-ground-studies/487076-do-ppl-first.html

[DCU_Aviation]

Genghis,

I am surprised at your observations based on your previous status as an external examiner in DIT.

The DCU programme has been designed and developed in close cooperation with major players in the aviation industry. The degree was a response to approaches made by the aviation industry to DCU and not the other way around. This was not an opportunistic activity as you describe, but a carefully designed programme based on high level consultation with the industry.

As per the results of this consultation, this programme was designed on a solid management foundation (i.e. a proper management degree) which provides students with the requirements to work successfully both within and outside the aviation industry should they so chose. DIT are in a completley different space in terms of aviation education, thus I am not overly surprised you did not hear of it. It has however been represented at events such as the Flyer exhibitions for the last few years, and higher options etc.

The aviation management modules are taught by a senior aviation delivery team, with the majority at senior managerial level in the aviation industry. For a full list of modules delivered on the programme see Qualification: AMPS - BSc in Aviation Man. with Pilot Studies (http://www.dcu.ie/registry/module_contents.php?function=4&programme=AMPS). Not all module coordinators are those actually delivering the module content (some are for administrative reasons).

In addition, the programme is partnered with an Aviation Management Degree programme in EBS Germany, with student exchange possible in place of work placement.

In the fourth year of the programme students choose to take the aviation management option (which is a similar combination of modules as in previous years but at final year standard) or pilot studies option (where students attend a DCU approved FTO).

In summary this programme has been designed for the aviation industry in consultation with the aviation industry.

[UniFlyBoy]

Just revisited the Leeds Uni Aviation Tech with Pilot Studies course modules. Looks like it has gone from bad to worse. Content diluted with topics that are irrelevant and only ten hours flight instruction:{ What is going on?

[paco]

"Content diluted with topics that are irrelevant"

Well suited to the EASA exams, then. :)