Airport and Aviation Management
Airport and aviation management is the study of how airports and airlines are operated, governed, and developed as commercial enterprises within one of the world's most safety-critical and internationally regulated industries. Airports are complex logistical environments handling millions of passengers, tonnes of freight, hundreds of aircraft movements, and thousands of employees every year, while airlines must optimise routes, manage fleets, price seats in dynamic markets, and maintain safety standards across global operations. The management of these organisations demands commercial acumen, operational precision, and a thorough understanding of the regulatory and safety frameworks that govern civil aviation.
At University College Birmingham you will study this two-year full-time programme with a typical entry tariff of 32 points. The two-year format delivers the essential content of an aviation management education in a focused and efficient structure, making it accessible to students who want to enter the industry relatively quickly or who wish to add formal qualifications to existing experience. Across the programme you will study airport operations, airline commercial management, aviation safety and security, the economics of the air transport industry, ground handling and passenger services, and the international regulatory frameworks set by bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation and national aviation authorities.
The practical, industry-oriented emphasis of UCB's programmes gives the course a direct relevance to the realities of professional practice.
Graduates from airport and aviation management programmes work across the industry in operational, commercial, and administrative roles, including airport operations coordination, airline commercial management, ground handling supervision, passenger services, aviation safety and compliance, and cargo management. The sector employs airport managers, operations coordinators, airline route planners, ground staff supervisors, and aviation safety officers. Further study in aviation management, business administration, or logistics is a route taken by those seeking to progress to senior management roles within the industry.