Everything you need to know...
-
What is the fee?
Home: See fees section below
International/EU: £17,155 per year -
How long will I study?
3 / 4 Years
-
Where will I study?
-
What are the entry requirements?
-
What is the UCAS code?
A001
-
When do I start?
September 2025
-
Placement year available?
Yes
Course summary
- Develop critical aviation industry skills in sustainability and pricing.
- Study marketing, digital skills, project and talent management.
- Collaborate with industry partners to work on live projects.
- Learn from industry experts and engage with aviation field trips.
- Build your professional network through our extensive links with airlines, airports and aviation agencies.
On this course you’ll learn about the technical aspects of the industry, from aviation law and regulation to safety and security management. You’ll study airlines and airports from both an operational and managerial perspective using specialist simulation software. Whether you plan to work air-side, land-side or directly with airlines, you’ll be fully prepared to hit the ground running.
Number 15 in the UK
We're the 15th best university in the UK for hospitality and tourism courses in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
Sheffield Business School accreditation
Sheffield Business School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and has been awarded the Business School Impact System label by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).
Tourism subject group award
Our Tourism subject group is recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT), the membership organisation for tourism industry professionals and educators.
Top 10 in the UK
This course is ranked 10th in its subject area in the Guardian University Guide 2024.
Student View
Watch student Jake Forrest talk about the BSc Airline and Airport Management course at Sheffield Hallam University.
How you learn
Our teachers have held senior positions in airline and airport management – bringing a wealth of aviation case studies to support your learning. They’re actively involved in applied and impactful research, so you’ll get to understand the latest trends in the global aviation industry.
At every level of the course, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with the industry. Thanks to our extensive network of external partners, you’ll enhance your learning through expert guest speakers and field trips.
You learn through
- Lectures, seminars and workshops
- Field trips and site visits
- Talks and resources developed by our accrediting bodies
- Live projects with external organisations
- Independent study and group work
You’ll develop your knowledge of how the aviation industry interlinks with the environment, climate change, regulatory frameworks and the broader sustainability agenda. You’ll also develop your core business acumen in marketing, people management and finance to make sure you’re industry ready.
We believe you learn best when you engage with the industry first-hand to appreciate the complexities, challenges and rewards of working in the airline and airport management sector. In your final year you’ll apply the knowledge you’ve gained in a client-led consultancy project.
You will be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment through
- Access to our unique student support triangle to help with your personal, academic and career development.
- Access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars, and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments.
Course leaders and tutors
Daniel Connell
Senior Lecturer in Aviation | Programmes Leader for Aviation, Hospitality & Tourism Undergraduate Courses | Professional Statutory & Regulatory Body Lead for Aviation & TourismStaff profile for Daniel Connell, Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University
Applied learning
Work Placements
You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you industry experience to prepare you for your future career – and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV. For example, previous students have secured placements with Swissport and Jet2.
Live Projects
In every year of your course, you’ll have the opportunity to work on live projects to build your skills and professional experience.
Recent students have worked on developing high quality and engaging training content across all five airlines within the TUI group – with a focus on digital training. Others have worked on a white paper development – focusing on Bosnia and Herzegovina national airport infrastructure development needs for KK Aviation Consultancy.
Field Trips
Field trips are an important part of your studies. They're the perfect opportunity to connect with your peers and tutors – as well as to put your theoretical knowledge into context and engage in in-depth discussions about your discipline. Some of the most popular field trips our Airline and Airport Management students have enjoyed have been to local and international airports.
Networking Opportunities
You’ll frequently engage with aviation industry stakeholders throughout the course – and many modules include industry guest speakers. You’ll benefit from a close relationship with the industry through our industry and graduate networks – as well as association with the Institute of Travel and Tourism and the Tourism Management Institute.
Come to an open day
Visit us to learn more about our gold-rated teaching and why we were awarded the highest possible rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
Future careers
The UK aviation industry is the third largest globally and supports the development of many industries and trade in general. The course prepares you for a number of aviation roles including
- regulatory authorities
- safety management
- security management
- airline strategy, marketing and sales management
- airline operations management
- airfield design, safeguarding and regulatory compliance
- airport systems, planning and development
- airport operations management
- corporate social responsibility
- air cargo operations and logistics management
- airspace and air traffic management
- aviation management consultancy
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for
- British Airways
- Jet2
- TUI Group
- Birmingham International Airport
- Doncaster and Sheffield Airport
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course, you work with specialist airline management simulation software.
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 112-120
This must include at least 64 points from 2 A Levels or equivalent BTEC qualifications. For example:
- BBC-BBB at A Level
- DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma
- Merit overall from a T level qualification
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies
GCSE
- English language or literature at grade C or 4
- Maths at grade D or 3
GCSE equivalents
- Level 2 Literacy or Functional Skills Level 2 English
- Level 2 Numeracy or Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
• entry with prior credit - we consider applications for direct entry to the final year from those holding Higher National Diplomas or equivalent qualifications
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
We welcome applications from people of any age. We may be flexible in our normal offer if you can show a commitment to succeed and have the relevant skills and experience. This must show that you will benefit from and finish the course successfully.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Aims:
Students will develop academic skills for successful completion of Level 4 and progression to further undergraduate study, and skills for lifelong learning. These skills will be applied to a live brief relevant to their sector
Indicative content:
- Understand the importance of academic research and referencing.
- Learn to effectively read, analyse, evaluate and synthesise academic literature.
- Apply the development of study skills to academic report and essay writing.
- Engage with an external organisation and apply research and analytical skill development to identify and articulate solutions to a current organisational challenge.
- Practice and develop verbal and digital communication skills.
- Identify and act upon development needs and recognise progress.
- Undertake and reflect upon a range of study skills activities.
Aims:
This module introduces the fundamental aspects of data analysis, accounting concepts and applications. Students will learn how data is used to assess what drives financial performance and to forecast future financial scenarios. The module will enable students to develop the level of knowledge of accounting practices, management accounting, finance and data management and analytics needed to oversee and analyse financial transactions and gather and interpret data.
Indicative content:
- Data Analysis and key concepts
- Introduction to Basic Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Costing
- Budgeting
- Interpreting financial statements
- Cash flow statements
- The difference between cash and profit
- Financial ratios
- Sources of finance
- The stock market
- Use of financial and non-financial information to make decisions
- Presenting financial information
Aims:
The module will provide an analytical introduction to the structure, fundamentals and legal frameworks which characterises and governs airlines and airports nationally and internationally. It will provide an underpinning knowledge base to develop understanding of the operation complexities of the industry including with respect to the environmental impact of the aviation industry.
Indicative content:
- an introduction to the structure and operating characteristics of the airline and airport industry
- analysis of the major organisations and stakeholders associated with airline and airport operations management
- development of the international aviation industry from national, regional and global perspectives
- legal and legislative frameworks such as international aviation law, The Chicago Convention and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), EU aviation law and US air law and regulations
- the responsibilities of the National Aviation Authorities, Health and Safety Agencies and bilateral safety and security regulations
- analysis of the spatial nature and characteristics of aviation
- introduction to aviation business models
- environmental impacts of aviation e.g. climate change & aviation's contribution
- regulatory and institutional framework e.g. EU ETS (European Emission Trading Scheme), noise and land use planning, Local Air Quality
- technological and operational improvements e.g. aircraft design, materials, sustainable fuels, flight approaches
Aims:
Students will develop the core knowledge and understanding of consumer behaviour and the supply chain relationships in the international aviation industry. They will develop and apply the understanding of marketing principles to the international aviation industry (airlines and airports).
Indicative content:
- Principles of marketing
- Marketing mix
- Ethical management of consumer data
- International air travel demand
- Market segmentation and meeting diverse customers’ needs
- Consumer motivation and behaviour
- Consumer decision making processes
- Aviation supply chain and B2B relationship management
- Corporate Social Responsibility and marketing
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Aims:
The aim of this module is to enable students to identify, analyse and understand the key aspects of airline operations and pricing management and their implications for successful airline management.
Included in the module are the following areas of study:
- Aircraft acquisition
- The airline operational planning process (fleet and route planning)
- Approaches to airline schedule optimisation (schedules, crewing, maintenance)
- Managing ground and air handling operations and in-flight service
- Cargo management
- Supply channel management
- Airline demand characteristics
- Airline pricing strategies
- Airline fare structure
- Seat inventory control
- Revenue performance monitoring
- Distribution channel management
- Quality management for airlines
- Managing disruption and service recovery
Aims:
The aim of this module is to provide opportunities for students to prepare for and experience work environment(s) relevant to their sector and reflect on and hone personal and professional skills relevant to graduate employment including legal context, leadership, responsibility and accountability with due consideration of the sector-relevant, policies, procedures and culture. It is expected that the students will undertake the equivalent of 120 hours of work experience and professional development activities to enhance their understanding of the sector and plan their career.
Indicative content:
Module content may vary in response to the changing professional landscapes but could include:
-
Process and procedure to support the employment lifecycle
-
Standards of ethics, conduct and performance
-
Training, personal and professional development; emotional intelligence
-
Use of relevant sector-specific digital technologies to support personal and organisational development
-
Leadership, followership and mentorship
-
Managing conflict individuals, teams, and organisations; Managing group dynamics
-
Ethical practice relevant to profession; equality, diversity, inclusivity in the workplace and corporate social responsibility (sector-specific economic, environmental and social value)
-
Understanding organisational culture, human resource management, talent and performance management, managing diversity in organisations, understanding stress and building resilience, employee wellbeing and developing empathy
-
Highly skilled employment opportunities which could include work experience and/or an enterprise residency
-
Identifying enterprise opportunities and responding to those
-
Engaging with external CPD and PSRB opportunities
-
Maximising exposure to the world of work and professionals through site visits, field trips, attendance to professional conferences and engaging with guest speakers
-
Undertaking volunteering work
-
Engaging with career fairs and assessment centres
The aim of this module is to develop students’ research skills to enable them to successfully design an independent research project. Students will critically reflect upon research to develop understanding and researching skills.
Indicative content :
- How to conduct a literature review and identify gaps in current knowledge of topical subjects
- How to write a literature review
- How to articulate a research aim and objectives
- Research philosophy and associated methodologies
- Plan qualitative and/or quantitative research as relevant to the chosen research aim
- How to analyse qualitative and quantitative data
- Conduct a risk assessment
- Consider the research project’s ethical implications
- Reflect on the limitations and ethical dimensions of the research design
- Understand the differences between academic and industry practitioners’ data/market intelligence requirements in tourism and hospitality
Elective modules
Module summary
Language study will develop your self-confidence, and intercultural skills. It will give you new opportunities for learning and working across cultures. Language skills are highly sought after by employers and give you a real advantage in whatever you hope to do in the future.
You will study your chosen language at the appropriate level based on your existing language ability – please refer to the individual module descriptors for each language and level for further details on the teaching and assessment.
This module is for undergraduate students to study abroad in their second year, Semester 2 (only for courses that offer this option). With this module, you can spend a semester at one of the University’s approved partner institutions worldwide – from Europe to the Americas, Asia Australia or Canada. Study Abroad plays an important role in the University's commitment to an engaging, challenging, and thriving learning culture. It offers opportunities to experience other academic cultures and foster intellectual maturity while enhancing co-curricular skills and students' long-term employability. Study abroad for credit is permitted on existing university-approved courses only. Students are awarded credits and grades at the partner institution, which are converted into Sheffield Hallam credits and grades on return and included in the Sheffield Hallam degree classification. Please check and refer to the webpage “How study abroad works”. You must submit a Learning Agreement outlining the modules you will be taking at the partner institution. The Learning Agreement will be signed off by your academic tutor to ensure that the Learning broadly covers the Learning Outcomes set out in your course curriculum during your study abroad.
The module aims to equip students with the knowledge, understanding and skills to manage key airport operations with high efficiency, effectiveness and safety.
Indicative content:
- operations management principles
- airports and airport systems
- landside and airside operations - passenger, cargo, logistic and airfield
- outsourcing and ground handlers
- airport customers and stakeholders
- airport facilities management
- airport service quality
- airport issues and challenges
- technological development
- the future of airports
Year 3
Optional modules
Module aim:
The aim of this module is to enhance students’ professional development through the completion of and reflection on meaningful work placement(s).
A work placement will provide students with opportunities to experience the realities of professional employment and experience how their course can be applied within their chosen industry setting. The placement will:
-
Allow student to apply the skills, theories and behaviours relevant and in addition to their course
-
Enable students to enhance their interpersonal skills in demand by graduate employers – communication, problem solving, creativity, resilience, team work etc.
-
Grow their student network and relationship building skills.
-
Provide student with insights into the industry and sector in which their placement occurs
-
Help student make informed graduate careers choices.
Indicative Content:
In this module students undertake a sandwich placement (min 24 weeks / min 21 hours per week) which is integrated, assessed and aligned to their studies.
Their personal Placement Academic Supervisor (PAS) will be their key point of contact during their placement and will encourage and support students to reflect on their experience, learning and contribution to the organisation they work for.
To demonstrate gains in professional development, students will be required to share their progress, learning and achievements with their Placement Academic Supervisor and reflect on these for the summative piece of work.
Final year
Compulsory modules
Module Aim:
To prepare students for a career as a professional in festival, entertainment, hospitality, tourism and aviation management by providing an opportunity to work on a company-based project or their own venture, focusing on the application of business and management skills within an organisational context. Students will either respond to a project brief, analyse and interpret information to develop a suite of enterprising solutions which are sustainable and financially viable or develop their own venture and business plan. In doing so, students will reflect on their personal and professional development.This module encourages students to develop, synthesise and apply knowledge and experience gained in previous levels of study.
Indicative content:
- The nature of consultancy/role of the consultant
- The tender process
- Business models
- Consultancy project planning and management
- Data collection and analysis for consultancy purposes
- Effective communication and relationship management
- The application of appropriate frameworks (and industry experience) to understand stakeholders, organisations, and the contemporary business environment
- Identifying enterprise opportunities and responding to those
- Change management and leadership
- Financial appraisal of the solutions developed
- Personality theory and team roles
- Reflection on current knowledge, achievements, skills, abilities and aptitudes in relation to graduate employability and improving career potential
- Introduction to as wide a range of situations as possible to allow students the opportunity to experience decision making situations and to develop relevant skills in the area from the viewpoint of managers and other stakeholders
- Taking a professional and ethical approach to consultancy with sustainability and inclusivity (among other principles) in mind
Aims:
Students will develop and apply the key strategic management principles and tools to the management and development of airlines and airports. The module will enable students to further develop their existing knowledge in the areas of business environment analysis, human resources management, financial management, operations and environmental impact management relative to the strategic context of airline and airport businesses.
Indicative content:
- Airport master planning, including airport systems, land and airside capacity planning and dynamic strategic planning
- Strategic management concepts, processes, and models
- Changing global and business environments and the implications for airlines and airports
- Responsible airport development
- Situation analysis-based strategic planning
- Strategic purpose, organisational culture, ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in aviation
- Creating and sustaining strategic competitive advantage through value creation
- Aviation environmental impacts and airline and airport business level mitigations.
- Impact of aviation (airport and airlines) development on local communities
- Assessment & management of environmental impacts
- Sustainable aviation - key factors towards a sustainable future of the aviation industry e.g. demand, technology
Aims:
This module will enable students to identify and analyse the key safety and security issues in the aviation industry and critically examine how airlines and airports manage such issues.
Indicative content:
- development of commercial aviation safety
- safety deficiencies, hazards, risks and consequences
- human factors in aviation safety
- safety management system (SMS)
- the role of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB)
- security policies and procedures
- emergency planning and procedures
Elective modules
Module summary
Language study will develop your self-confidence, and intercultural skills. It will give you new opportunities for learning and working across cultures. Language skills are highly sought after by employers and give you a real advantage in whatever you hope to do in the future.
You will study your chosen language at the appropriate level based on your existing language ability – please refer to the individual module descriptors for each language and level for further details on the teaching and assessment.
Aims:
The module aims to engage students to identify a research question and to design and develop a research method to investigate this question presenting results in an academic research project format.
Indicative content:
- Critical appraisal of academic research literature and the logical synthesis of this into a literature review
- How to articulate clear research aim and objectives
- Critical appraisal of research methods and approaches
- How to source, analyse and synthesise qualitative and/or quantitative data
- Ethics in research
- Risk assessment
- Developing research skills and presenting research outcomes which demonstrate academic rigour
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year). These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year)
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Business School (PDF, 255.6KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
