Learn how to fly, design, build and maintain drones with this programme, specialising in the newest aviation branch.
Discover the broad applicability of drones in sectors such as agriculture, security and events, and acquire your knowledge directly from the research results of our own expertise centre DroneLab.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems is the minor within the major Aeronautical Engineering, and will be your specialisation during the final year of your programme. The use of drones (officially called Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems or RPAS) and the number of applications are increasing rapidly. VIVES even has a real DroneLab, where research has been conducted for years on how drones can be used for various purposes. Drones instead of tractors are no longer science fiction.
The use of drones is essential in today's society, and applications in smart farming, construction, and security will increase rapidly in the coming years. In this specialisation at VIVES, where design, construction, flight, maintenance, various types of operations, applications, and business development come together, you will learn everything about this rapidly growing industry.
What will I learn in this program?
Experienced instructors from the field prepare you to be fully employable from A to Z in the unmanned aviation sector.
- Gain knowledge of the most complex flight situations for integration of manned and unmanned air traffic. The theoretical flight training is at PPL(A) level (Private Pilot License) and approved by EASA-Part FCL.
- Learn to fly: during the practical drone pilot training, you will be trained according to the EASA Open and Specific category level.
- Acquire technological knowledge for designing, building, and maintaining fixed wing, single rotary wing, multirotor drones, and hybrid configurations.
- Gather insights in the industry: during workshops, industry specialists will teach you how drones are used in specific sectors such as smart farming, smart construction, safety & security and events.
- Design the strategic plan that makes a difference within your company.
- Get to know the financial insides: get the hang of the economic aspect through small business projects.
- Visit internationally renowned fairs to broaden your horizons. (optional)
After completing the program, you can answer grounded questions such as:
- What are potential drone applications?
- How much investment do those applications require, both in time and money, and will it pay off sufficiently?
- What does managing a drone project involve?
- What are the intricacies of the available technology?
- When can I fly myself, and when is it better to outsource?
- What is possible operationally/technically/legal-wise?
- How do I stay up-to-date in this rapidly evolving world, even after completing this program?
If you wish to fly a sports plane in the future, you only need to take the PPL exam at DGLV and complete the practical training at a flying club.
If you already have a higher education diploma or a pilot licence, please contact us, as you may be eligible for exemptions.
During your training, you will be involved in the research projects of the DroneLab. This way, we make sure you are always up-to-date on the latest developments in this innovative sector.
This programme can also be taken as a postgraduate course.
Study material
Study material includes books, syllabuses and digital tools you need during your degree.
Study material
Check the syllabus for this course:
- Propeller Technology (Dutch)
Courses and content
Curious which courses and practical components are part of your programme? Find an overview here.
Courses and content
At campus VLOC, you will learn all about airplane, helicopter, and drone technology. In the first year, you will receive a good mix of theory and aviation practice with labs and practice sessions. In the second year, you will also work independently in small groups and learn all about the system structure of an aircraft. In the final year, you will acquire advanced knowledge of modern aviation technology, with the option to explore the world of drones.
Looking for the courses and their corresponding credits? You can find them in this programme's ECTS file. ECTS is short for European Credit Transfer System, the European system for the transfer and accumulation of credits. 1 credit equals 25 to 30 hours of work.
Timetable
Down below you can find an example of a possible timetable. On average, you will have twenty class hours a week.
Timetable
Below you will find an example of what your timetable in the first semester could look like. Since not all courses are taught throughout the entire academic year, not all of them are included in this table. When creating each timetable, we try to minimise gaps between classes as much as possible.
Shaded areas = free moments
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Study material
Check the syllabus for this course:
- Propeller Technology (Dutch)
Studying abroad
Do you love an international challenge? We consider it important to give you the opportunity to gain international experience and broaden your perspective on professional possibilities. If you want to become an engaged global citizen, internationalisation is an essential part of your programme.
VIVES Technology offers all opportunities to give your education an international boost. We help you arrange your experience abroad from start to finish, to make it the best time of your life.
With Erasmus+ you can do an internship abroad. You can also complete your entire last semester of the programme abroad at our partner universities in the ATAERA network.
Discover the world during your studies!
My dream is to deliver packages with small aircraft in the United States. Because my parents want me to be able to repair my own plane if I’m stranded in the middle of nowhere, this programme is entirely my cup of tea.
How much does this programme cost?
Studying isn’t free. Tuition fees, textbooks and syllabuses all add up. Your tuition fee is the amount of money that you pay at the start of your degree. That fee has been officially determined and is the same for every college and university in Flanders.
Starting your degree
You probably still have many questions. Below, select the degree you’ll be taking to find an answer to your question.
Studying
- Airline Pilot
- Industrial Engineering - Aviation
- Master of Industrial Sciences and Technology
Job opportunities
- Drone pilot/technician
- Drone operator/constructor
- Drone data analyst
- Quality controller
- Safety/maintenance/operational coordinator
This study in short
Field of study
Study type
Way of study
Studyroute
Amount of credits
Startmomenten
Language of education
Contacts for this study
Quality
VIVES guarantees the quality of this degree. This is based on the VIVES reference framework and education action plan.