Aerospace Engineering, Air Navigation, Cybersecurity
Established in 1933, NAU is one of the world s leading aviation universities. It provides comprehensive training in aerospace engineering, air transport operations, cybersecurity, and related fields.
The National Aviation University, NAU, in Kyiv is the leading aviation university in Ukraine. It was founded in 1933 as the Kyiv Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers, and it received the status of a national university in 2000. It has about 25,000 students and 3,000 staff, and around one student in ten comes from abroad. The main campus is on Liubomyra Huzara Avenue, in the west of Kyiv, near the Zhuliany airport and the aircraft plants of the capital, with its own laboratories, workshops and an aircraft park.
NAU trains engineers, pilots, air traffic controllers, airport managers and aviation lawyers. Its institutes and faculties cover aerospace engineering, air navigation, electronics, information technology, transport and logistics, cybersecurity, economics and management, law, international relations and language studies. The university has a flight academy and a training centre with simulators, and it works with Ukrainian airlines and aircraft manufacturers.
Kyiv is the home of the Antonov Company, which designed the An-225 Mriya, the largest aircraft ever built, and the university has long supplied engineers to the aerospace sector. Research includes aircraft design and maintenance, aerodynamics, navigation, unmanned aerial systems, materials and aviation safety. Unmanned aircraft have become an important field of study and development in recent years.
Ukrainian applicants enter through the national multi-subject test and compete for state-funded places or pay contract fees. Foreign students normally pay a contract fee, and many begin with a preparatory year in Ukrainian. Fees vary by programme, so check the current tariff. Teaching is in Ukrainian, with a number of programmes in English. Since 2022, teaching has been adapted to wartime conditions, with a mix of online and in-person classes, so check the current situation before applying.
Kyiv has lower living costs than Western Europe. The university provides dormitories and sports facilities, and the metro and buses connect the campus to the centre.
Domains taught:
Aerospace, Automation, Data Analytics, Logistics, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, Telecommunications
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Partnerships with ICAO, EASA, IATA, and over 100 universities and aviation companies globally.
Research:
Research in aerodynamics, aircraft design, air traffic control systems, avionics, space technologies, and cybersecurity in aviation.
Famous Alumnis:
Leonid Kuchma (honorary), Oleg Antonov (collaborated)
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
3000
Current students***:
25000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
150000
Pros
Leading aviation university, strong international recognition in its field, modern training facilities including simulators and an airfield.
Cons
Highly specialized, competitive for aviation programs.
In terms of fields, National Aerospace University Kharkiv Aviation Institute is the nearest neighbour, with aerospace, automation and mechanical engineering again at the core; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Think of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University when aerospace and software engineering is the priority: it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers chemistry and physics as well.
Lviv Polytechnic National University follows much the same lines as this university, with mechanical engineering and software engineering as common ground, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers geotechnics and civil engineering as well.
Where this university leans on logistics, telecommunications and automation, Ukrainian State University of Railway Transport does the same, and it covers transportations and electrical and electronics as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 9,000 students against roughly 25,000 here.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
If this institution is on your list for aerospace, automation and mechanical engineering, Moscow Aviation Institute in Russia deserves a comparison, because it is slightly smaller, at about 20,000 students against roughly 25,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Saint Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation in Russia is the nearest foreign match on aerospace, telecommunications and automation; it is smaller, enrolling about 13,000 students against roughly 25,000 here, and is also a public institution.
For aerospace, telecommunications and automation outside the home country, Shenyang Aerospace University in China is a natural reference; it covers transportations and optics as well, and is slightly smaller, at about 20,000 students against roughly 25,000 here.
Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics offers an international parallel to this institution, with aerospace, telecommunications and automation as common ground; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
For logistics, telecommunications and mechanical engineering outside the home country, Linköping University in Sweden is a natural reference; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers industrial design and computer vision as well.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is NAU?
At 1 Liubomyra Huzara Avenue in Kyiv, Ukraine.
When was it founded?
In 1933, as the Kyiv Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers. It received national university status in 2000.
How large is it?
About 25,000 students and 3,000 staff.
What does it train?
Engineers, pilots, air traffic controllers, airport managers and aviation lawyers.
What does it teach?
Aerospace engineering, air navigation, electronics, information technology, transport and logistics, cybersecurity, economics and law.
Does it have simulators?
Yes. The university has a flight academy and a training centre with simulators.
Which aerospace company is in Kyiv?
The Antonov Company, which designed the An-225 Mriya.
How do foreign students enter?
They normally pay a contract fee, and many begin with a preparatory year in Ukrainian. Check the current tariff.
In which language are courses taught?
Mainly in Ukrainian, with a number of programmes in English.
How has the war affected teaching?
Since 2022, teaching has been adapted with a mix of online and in-person classes. Check the current situation before applying.
Aerodynamics, Aerospace, Aviation, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Research and Development, Robotics, Simulation
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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