Businesses in airline manufacturing and flight control, among others, may hire students who have studied aviation. This field deals with the practical aspects of air travel, such as design, use and environmental impact. It also includes study in engineering and physics.

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.