Department of Engineering

Aviation

My Studies

 

Key subject areas

Innovative aircraft construction

You will immerse yourself in various aspects of aircraft construction, especially light-weight design. The focus is on the use of light-weight and high-tech materials along with new production processes such as 3D printing. In addition to calculations, design and simulation, you will also work on thermodynamics and aerodynamics and gain practical experience in our institute’s icing wind tunnel. The topic is rounded off with a class on the issues of certification and approval. Once you have completed this section, you will be in a position to apply your technical expertise directly with an aircraft or systems manufacturer.

New aircraft systems

We will provide you with the expertise required to create complex flight systems that are indispensable for modern aircraft: from turbo-jet engines to digital avionics to electronic flight control systems. Focus is also placed on unmanned aerial vehicles. Key elements in this include data buses, computer systems and flight controllers which process the sensor data and send the corresponding commands to electrohydraulic or electromechanical actuators. You will get to know the relevant systems and elements and their functions in detail. You will also further develop your knowledge of alternative, sustainable propulsion technologies. You can apply this knowledge in the practical setting of the Aerospace Engineering Lab.

Sustainable aviation management

You will acquire relevant knowledge on sustainability efforts in the fields of propulsion technology and flight operations as well as safety and certification in aviation. The management of large-scale projects in the aviation industry, for airlines and airports, environmentally-friendly air traffic, maintenance management and supply chain management are also core topics of the course. Your know-how about the special features of the aerospace industry will enable you to work in aerospace companies in the areas of development, production, maintenance and training. All of the course content is taught in English because the aviation industry operates at an international level.

What specialisations are available?

Aeronautical engineering

Calculation, design and simulation are the main elements in the construction of aeroplanes, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Building on a Bachelor’s programme in an engineering subject, you will expand and deepen your knowledge of aeronautical engineering. In the first and second semester you will be able to choose specific technical courses from the lists of elective subjects and thus set your own individual focus. In addition, collaborating in the student JOANNEUM AERONAUTICS team offers you the opportunity to work on the construction of an aircraft with others and to extend your technical knowledge.

Aviation management

Despite the strong emphasis on the technical aspects of aeronautics, the programme also gives you the opportunity to deepen your knowledge of aviation management. To do this you will have to choose business courses in the first and second semesters. You can further specialise as part of the internship and Master’s thesis. If you choose this area of focus, you will gain a skills profile similar to an industrial engineer.

Research & Development

In the first two semesters you can also participate in the current research activities of our Institute as part of our elective subjects. You can thus acquire additional scientific methods and skills and, after the first semester, you will be able to work on demanding tasks in the aviation sector. This is an ideal preparation to start a career in companies working primarily in the field of research and development.

Study mode, self-study and attendance

Study mode

During the semester, courses usually take place from Monday to Friday. Occasional courses on Saturdays are exceptions and are announced in good time. E-learning units are also planned into a number of courses. Courses in the fourth semester are held as a block.

Self-study

Engaging and familiarising yourself with technical course contents requires a comparatively high level of time and effort. Self-study always depends on students’ commitment and ambition.

Attendance

There is compulsory attendance in all courses of FH JOANNEUM. As a rule students are allowed to miss 20% of the units in each course per semester. If you miss more than 20%, you will fail the course and won’t be able to sit the first examination. The head of degree programme has the final decision about the consequences of absence as well as exceptions to compulsory attendance.