Future of Aviation in India: Growth & Jobs to 2047
India's aviation sector by the numbers — UDAN, fleet orders, 141,000 new jobs by 2044, and what the growth actually means for your career timeline.Read more
Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University
Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University
This institute's information is not yet verified
9 Courses
4.0/5
A
Written by Apano Aviationupdated on -
About us
Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) is India's national aviation university, established by an Act of Parliament - the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University Act, 2013 - and operating from a campus near Fursatganj Airfield, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. It functions under the administration of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, and is the only university of its kind in the country dedicated wholly to civil aviation.
The Act empowers the university to award diplomas, degrees and postgraduate degrees across the civil aviation field. RGNAU is envisaged as a premier institution of higher learning within the aviation sector, aimed at producing research that strengthens the Indian aviation industry, and it is forging collaborations with leading international universities and institutions in the aviation domain to bring global knowledge to local requirements.
Its objective is to facilitate and promote aviation studies, teaching, training and research, working alongside industry to raise standards in the operation and management of every sub-sector of aviation. The campus sits adjacent to Fursatganj Airfield, which is also home to the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) - a separate institution, and India's flagship government flying school.
Want to know about Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University ?
Courses
B.Tech
A four-year undergraduate engineering degree in the aviation domain. Admissions for 2026-27 are open.
Course Fees₹6,89,000
BMS (Bachelor of Management Studies)
A three-year undergraduate management degree oriented to the aviation and airline business.
Course Fees₹3,70,000
BBA
A three-year undergraduate business administration degree with an aviation focus.
B.Sc.
An undergraduate science degree in the aviation domain.
BFFC
An undergraduate programme listed under RGNAU's 2026-27 admissions.
MBA
A two-year postgraduate management degree in aviation management, with routes into airlines, airports, travel and logistics.
Course Fees₹4,23,000
PG Diploma in Airport Operations (PGDAO)
A postgraduate diploma covering airport operations and management.
PG Diploma in UAV Operations & Drone Technology
A postgraduate diploma in unmanned aerial vehicle operations and drone technology - one of the few university-level UAV qualifications in India.
Ph.D.
A doctoral research programme across aviation disciplines.
Course Fees₹1,65,000
Gallery
Similar institutes
Free Career Consultation
Not sure where to start? Our experts will guide you on
exams, eligibility, and top institutes
Reviews
Amal Siby
The only aviation university under the Government of India
South Asia's one and only aviation university under the Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation. Good atmosphere for study.
Ruchi Saha
India's first aviation university
It's India's first aviation university - a proud moment, as it could be a key contributor to producing skilled aviation professionals.
Prasanth P.K.
Campus and academic facilities
Excellent campus, stunning academic facilities, calm and quiet atmosphere.
Bhawana Toshniwal
Good campus, poor hostel
The campus is really good, with experienced and very helpful faculty. But I was disappointed to see the facilities students get in the hostel. Food is not hygienic and cleanliness is not maintained. ACs are mounted but not working.
Bhawna Toshniwal
Hostel and organisation still the issue
Expectations were high but I was really disappointed with the organisation, and especially the hostel - unhygienic food and minimal facilities. It should be more organised from an academics point of view. Faculty is least approachable.
Amal Siby
The only aviation university under the Government of India
South Asia's one and only aviation university under the Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation. Good atmosphere for study.
Ruchi Saha
India's first aviation university
It's India's first aviation university - a proud moment, as it could be a key contributor to producing skilled aviation professionals.
Prasanth P.K.
Campus and academic facilities
Excellent campus, stunning academic facilities, calm and quiet atmosphere.
Bhawana Toshniwal
Good campus, poor hostel
The campus is really good, with experienced and very helpful faculty. But I was disappointed to see the facilities students get in the hostel. Food is not hygienic and cleanliness is not maintained. ACs are mounted but not working.
Bhawna Toshniwal
Hostel and organisation still the issue
Expectations were high but I was really disappointed with the organisation, and especially the hostel - unhygienic food and minimal facilities. It should be more organised from an academics point of view. Faculty is least approachable.
Facilities and Services
| Statutory Status | Established by an Act of Parliament - the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University Act, 2013 - and physically established in 2018 |
| Administration | Operates under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India; India's only university dedicated wholly to civil aviation |
| Degree-Awarding Powers | Empowered by statute to award diplomas, degrees and postgraduate degrees across the civil aviation field |
| Programmes | B.Tech, BBA, BMS, B.Sc and BFFC at undergraduate level; MBA, PG Diplomas in Airport Operations and in UAV Operations & Drone Technology, and Ph.D. |
| Campus | Near Fursatganj Airfield, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh - adjacent to IGRUA, India's flagship government flying academy |
| International Collaboration | Building partnerships with leading international aviation universities and institutions |
FAQ's
What is RGNAU?
Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University is India's national aviation university, established by an Act of Parliament (the RGNAU Act, 2013) and operating under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It is the only university in India dedicated wholly to civil aviation.
When was it established?
Constituted by the Act of Parliament in 2013, and physically established in 2018. It is not connected to any organisation founded in the 1990s, and some listings carry incorrect founding information.
Is RGNAU a flying school? Can I get a CPL there?
No. RGNAU is a degree-granting university awarding diplomas, degrees and postgraduate degrees. It does not run commercial pilot licence training. The flying school at the same location is a separate institution - the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA), India's flagship government flying academy, which is where CPL training at Fursatganj takes place.
What courses does RGNAU offer?
At undergraduate level: B.Tech, BBA, BMS, B.Sc and BFFC. At postgraduate level: an MBA, a PG Diploma in Airport Operations, a PG Diploma in UAV Operations & Drone Technology, and Ph.D. research programmes.
What does RGNAU cost?
RGNAU publishes fee details within individual admission notices rather than as a single table. Third-party listings report a range of about Rs.1.42 lakh to Rs.6.89 lakh across programmes: B.Tech approximately Rs.6,89,000 to Rs.7,78,000 for four years, BMS about Rs.3,70,000 for three years, MBA about Rs.4,23,000 for two years, and Ph.D. about Rs.1,65,000. Check the current admission notice for your programme.
How does a university degree compare to an AME licence or a CPL?
They are different routes. An AME licence qualifies you to certify aircraft as airworthy; a CPL qualifies you to fly commercially. RGNAU's degrees qualify you for engineering, management, operations and research roles across the aviation industry, including airport and airline management. Choose by the job you want, not by price.
What is the drone programme?
A Postgraduate Diploma in UAV Operations and Drone Technology - one of the few university-level UAV qualifications in India, and notable given how quickly Indian drone regulation and commercial use are expanding.
Where is the campus?
Near Fursatganj Airfield, Fursatganj, Amethi district, Uttar Pradesh 229302, in the Raebareli-Amethi area of central Uttar Pradesh.
What do students say?
RGNAU holds 4.3 from 132 Google reviews as of August 2026. Reviewers consistently praise the campus, the academic facilities and the significance of studying at a national aviation university. The recurring criticism, raised independently across several years, concerns hostel conditions - food hygiene, cleanliness and non-functioning air conditioning - and one recent reviewer also found faculty hard to approach. Apano publishes both.
How do I apply?
Through the admission notices published on the university's own website for each programme and intake year. Admission cycles for 2026-27 are open across B.Tech, BBA, BMS, B.Sc, BFFC, MBA, the PG diplomas and Ph.D.
What should I check before applying?
Inspect the hostel in person given the consistency of that feedback, confirm the fee from the current admission notice rather than third-party listings, and be clear that you are applying to the university and not to IGRUA if flight training is your goal.
Latest Articles
Pilot Vacancy in India 2026: Airline-Wise Hiring Guide
India employs 11,775+ pilots across 6 airlines per Lok Sabha data. Real hiring numbers by airline, the FDTL story explained, and how to apply.Read more
IGRUA 2026: Courses, Fees, Admission & Scholarships
IGRUA's real CPL fee is ₹55 lakh, not ₹45. Full breakdown of courses, fees, entrance exam, eligibility and the truth about scholarships.Read more
