• Postgraduate
  • Apprenticeship

Senior Leader in Aviation Management

PgDip Level 7
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Overview

Overview

The Senior Leader in Aviation Management apprenticeship course has been designed to support your career progression, preparing you to carry out managerial roles within the aviation industry.

You will study with a cohort of experienced professionals, building your network and giving you insights into best practice.

Therefore, you will explore issues that significantly impact organisations by working with others and building on personal experiences and comparing and contrasting with those of cohort members.

Additional benefits of studying this course include:

  • engagement with industry
  • developing transferable skills in research design, project management and leadership 
  • collaboration with other industry leaders to further skills and career development prospects
  • opportunity to develop academic research skills to gain further understanding of management roles within organisations.

MSc Aviation Management Top-up

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship (successful completion of the end point assessment), there is an opportunity to achieve a Masters in Aviation Management at no extra cost.

Please note, this course is subject to approval and course content could change.

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Select a start date below to see relevant course information:

Start date:

View apprenticeships standards End Point Assessment
Requirements

Requirements

Requirements for apprentices
  • An honours degree 2.2 or equivalent.
  • Relevant work experience, a minimum of two years postgraduate work experience in a managerial, professional or technical role.

English and Maths

Before taking the end-point assessment, all apprentices on apprenticeships at level 3 and above must achieve level 2 English and maths (equivalent to GCSEs at grades A* to C or 4 -9). You can take these qualifications at the university while on the apprenticeship.

If you do not have evidence of these qualifications, then we strongly recommend you achieve these before you start the apprenticeship.

For applicants living in London*, we have free courses - see information here:

Open the door to new career possibilities with our free courses in Maths and English (uwl.ac.uk)

*You must be able to meet the eligibility criteria.

If you have an overseas qualification, we will check this for its UK equivalency during your application and let you know what you may need to do to meet the requirement.

We will consider those applicants that do not meet the standard entry criteria but have significant work experience.

Eligibility

All apprenticeships starting from 1 August 2021:

Eligibility is subject to Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Apprenticeship Funding Rules. Over the duration of the apprenticeship, you must meet the eligibility requirements in place at the time, including:

  • Have the right to work and study in England
  • Spend at least 50% of your working time in England; and
  • Are a UK citizen and have been ordinarily resident for the last three years in the UK or meet one of the following immigration statuses:

UK and Irish Nationals: have been ordinarily resident in the UK or EEA for the three years before the first day of the start of the apprenticeship.

EEA nationals: have either pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme; and have been ordinarily resident in the EEA, Gibraltar, or the UK for at least the previous three years before the first day of the start of the apprenticeship.

*Non-EEA nationals: you are eligible if you have permission from the UK government to live in the UK, (not for educational purposes) and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the previous three years before the first day of the start of the apprenticeship.

* You must meet the UK government’s eligibility criteria for apprenticeship funding: 

Where an applicant for an apprenticeship does not hold a UK passport as a British citizen, these requirements state that you must have an immigration permission in the UK that allows you to study and will cover the length of the whole apprenticeship in full without you needing to extend your visa or immigration permission during the apprenticeship.

Please check the guidance for further clarification, particularly for information on:

  • Family members of UK and EEA nationals
  • Individuals with certain types of immigration status and their family members
  • Asylum seekers
  • Other immigration status.

You can also contact the Student Admissions Team admissions@uwl.ac.uk if you require further clarification.

Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

This apprenticeship course will focus on leadership skills from a strategic perspective and is designed for aviation managers who take lead responsibility for people, projects, operations and/or services to deliver long-term organisational success.

A PgDip in Senior Leader Aviation Management Apprenticeship would attract:

  • Mid-to-Senior Aviation Professionals: Managers and executives seeking formal qualifications for career advancement
  • Aspiring Leaders: Experienced individuals aiming for senior roles in aviation
  • Corporate Managers: Professionals in large aviation firms seeking strategic leadership skills
  • Government and Regulatory Personnel: Employees in aviation oversight roles looking to enhance management expertise
  • Military Personnel: Officers transitioning to civilian roles or enhancing military aviation leadership
  • Aviation Consultants: Consultants aiming to bolster their credentials.

It is applicable to managers from all levels and is designed to provide access to development opportunities for as wide a range of individuals as possible. 

This includes individuals who wish to become professional managers, as well as those who may already have developed practical experience but who want to further develop their theoretical understanding of management skills. 

Much of the learning is developed through the establishment of collaborative learning communities of course participants and tutors which you will become part of. 

Your understanding is developed around the key skills, processes and practices of business, leadership and management. Solutions to real problems are suggested, discussed and analysed within the learning community with the support of tutors and fellow learners.

MSc Aviation Management Top-up

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship (successful completion of the end point assessment), there is an opportunity to achieve a Masters in Aviation Management at no extra cost.

Course subject to approval

Approval is the formal process by which the University ensures that the proposed design, content and delivery of a course will provide a high quality learning experience for all students.

Please note, the course is subject to approval. As such, module content and modules names could change.

Compulsory modules

  • Aviation Consumer Insights

    The Aviation Consumer Insights module at Level 7 is designed to equip senior leaders in aviation management with the essential knowledge and skills to navigate the dynamic landscape of consumer behaviour within the aviation industry. By examining the multifaceted factors that influence passenger choices and expectations, you will gain insights into crafting strategies that drive customer satisfaction, loyalty, and business success. Through a combination of theoretical exploration and practical applications, this module aims to empower you to anticipate market trends, respond effectively to changing consumer demands, and innovate in the delivery of aviation services.

  • Strategic Leadership and Innovation in Aviation

    The Strategic Leadership and Innovation in Aviation module examines the critical role of leadership in driving innovation and strategic development within the aviation industry. You will explore theories, frameworks, and best practices in strategic leadership, focusing on fostering a culture of innovation and leading organisational change in dynamic aviation environments. The aim of this module is to empower you with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to lead strategic initiatives and drive innovation within aviation organisations, ensuring long-term sustainability and competitiveness in the rapidly evolving industry landscape.

  • Talent Dynamics in Aviation

    This module explores the strategic management of human capital within the aviation industry. You will delve into theories, practices, and contemporary issues related to talent acquisition, development, and retention, with a focus on enhancing organisational performance and competitiveness. The aim of this module is to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to effectively manage talent within aviation organisations, fostering a culture of innovation, excellence, and sustainability.

  • Academic Research and Study Skills

    The module aims to prepare you for Level 7 academic studies and research skills. It supports critical thinking to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship. This module will cover a broad range of digital research skills and tools essential for contemporary academic and professional work. In particular, we will address the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and, more specifically, Generative AI. Discussions and activities will focus on how these technologies can be utilised to enhance research efficiency, creativity, and innovation. Ethical considerations and the responsible application of AI tools in research will also be explored to ensure their effective and ethical use.

  • Aviation Business Strategy and Finance

    The aim of this module is to explore the commercial environment in which the aviation industry functions. This includes the regulatory environment which has shaped the strategy and economics of the industry over the last century. You will learn about a range of aviation business models, strategies to improve revenue and reduce cost and analyse and interpret financial reports.    

  • Crisis Management and Business Resilience

    The aim of this module is to understand the process of crisis management within the aviation industry in terms of theory and application. All organisations need to assess the risk, develop a plan and implement processes to manage a crisis. Crises may develop due to external factors or internal failings and organisations and people need to develop resilience. You will have the opportunity to evaluate several strategies and develop your own thoughts and ideas in the context of a changing world.

Teaching & learning

Teaching & learning

students studying in a group

The aim of this apprenticeship is to convert effective operational managers into strategic managers. It will provide a broad foundation of management and business discipline that is strategic and integrated in nature.

This Level 7 apprenticeship will develop your intellectual skills at Masters Level:

  • Ability to manage information
  • Communicate clearly in various media
  • Analyse complex issues
  • Think critically, working with alternative perspectives
  • Solve strategic problems.
A business meeting with a group of five individuals standing in an office space.

How you will be assessed

Most of the modules have only one assessment, which is summative – the marked element of the assessment. There will be several elements within the assessment but they will be work-based and relevant, contextualised to your place of work.

The Apprenticeship End Point Assessment (EPA) for Senior Leader is graded: fail, pass, merit or distinction.

Costs & fees

Costs & fees

Costs for apprentices

Although there are no tuition fees payable by you as an apprentice, additional costs may be incurred which are outside of the apprenticeship levy funding. Please discuss additional costs directly with your employer.

Costs for employers

For employers, the costs of training your apprentice will usually be covered by the apprenticeship levy. Find out more about how apprenticeship funding works.

Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Study & career progression

Study & career progression

A woman wearing a white blouse is giving a presentation to a group of people

The course will focus on leadership skills from a strategic perspective and is designed for aviation managers who take lead responsibility for people, projects, operations and/or services to deliver long-term organisational success. 

It is applicable to managers from all levels and is designed to provide access to development opportunities for as wide a range of individuals as possible. 

This includes individuals who wish to become professional managers, as well as those who may already have developed practical experience but who wish to develop their theoretical understanding of management skills further. 

MSc Aviation Management Top-up

There may be the opportunity to top up your PgDip into a full masters through our MSc Aviation Management Top-up course. This option is free of charge. More details will be supplied during your PgDip studies.

Contact us

Contact us

Janet is wearing a smart stripey jacket and black top. She has pink lipstick and red-brown hair and is facing towards the camera.

Janet Rowson, Head of Degree Apprenticeships

Please get in touch with Janet Rowson to find out more about working with the University of West London as a training provider.

Please get in touch with Janet Rowson to find out more about working with the University of West London as a training provider.

More information