To fly for an airline you need a licence, not necessarily a university degree. Licences are issued by aviation authorities after training at an approved flight school and passing their exams: EASA rules (Part-FCL) in Europe, FAA certificates in the United States, UK CAA licences in Britain. An integrated "zero to first officer" course in Europe takes roughly 18 to 22 months, and at schools that publish prices it often costs more than $100,000. Russian citizens face an extra condition: EU schools may train them only for flying outside Russia on aircraft not linked to Russian persons.
| At a glance | What to know |
|---|---|
| What a graduate holds | A commercial licence (CPL) with an instrument rating plus ATPL theory; the full ATPL follows after 1,500 flight hours |
| Minimum age | CPL 18, ATPL 21 (Part-FCL) |
| Medical | A Class 1 medical certificate for CPL and ATPL |
| English | An English language proficiency endorsement, at least operational level (ICAO Level 4) |
| EASA integrated course | At least 750 hours of theory and 195 hours of flight training at one ATO |
| Price example | BAA Training (Spain/Lithuania), ATPL Integrated with type rating: $125,470 (€110,500) for the whole course |
| USA | ATP requires 1,500 hours; non-US citizens need a TSA security check before flight training starts |
| Russian citizens in the EU | Training allowed only for operating outside Russia on non-Russian-linked aircraft (EASA FAQ) |
The licence matters more than the degree
In many countries outside the former Soviet system, airlines look first at your licence, hours and ratings. That creates two routes:
- Flight school (ATO, Approved Training Organisation). You pay for a course, pass theory and skill tests with the authority and receive a licence. No academic degree is awarded.
- University programme. A three- or four-year aviation bachelor's with a flight component, often delivered with a partner school. Turkish universities run this model under the name Pilotage; see our guide to pilot training in Turkey.
The university route is longer and usually costs more in total, but you get a degree and a fallback career. A flight school gets you to the right-hand seat faster.
Three licensing systems
| EASA (EU) | FAA (USA) | UK CAA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who issues the licence | The aviation authority of the EU state where you sit the exams | The Federal Aviation Administration | The UK Civil Aviation Authority |
| Top licence | ATPL(A): 1,500 hours including 500 in multi-pilot operations | ATP: 1,500 hours, fewer with an aviation degree from an authorised institution | ATPL(A) under the UK version of Part-FCL |
| ATPL theory | An ATO course and exams with the issuing authority | FAA knowledge tests | CAA exams |
| Foreign students | Russian citizens face EU sanctions-based limits (see below) | Mandatory TSA check before training | School admission rules and a UK visa; Russian citizens should get the school's terms in writing |
A licence from one system is not automatically valid in another. Converting FAA to EASA or the other way requires additional exams and checks, so choose your school by the job market you are aiming for.
Integrated or modular within EASA
Integrated ATPL is one continuous course at one school. Part-FCL requires at least 750 hours of theoretical instruction and 195 hours of flight training, up to 55 of which may be instrument ground time. Graduates hold a CPL with a multi-engine instrument rating and passed ATPL theory, often called a "frozen" ATPL until the hours are built. The upside is pace and structure; the downside is a large sum paid on the school's schedule.
Modular training builds the same qualification in stages: PPL, hour building, ATPL theory, night rating, IR, CPL, MCC. You can work alongside and change schools between modules. It usually costs less but takes longer and needs self-discipline.
| Integrated | Modular | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 18–22 months at one school | Usually two years or more, depending on pace and budget |
| Payment | Large instalments under the school contract | Module by module |
| Flexibility | Minimal | High: schools and countries can change |
| Best for | Full-time students who can pay on schedule | People combining training with work or saving up |
What it costs
Prices depend on the country, the fleet and whether a type rating on a specific airliner is included. A verified example on 1 October 2026: BAA Training lists its ATPL Integrated with type rating and base training at $125,470 (€110,500) for the full course, with a $5,680 (€5,000) reduction for PPL holders. Ground school runs at the school's base in Lleida-Alguaire, Spain; the entry assessment is online or in Vilnius. This is one school's price, not a market average.
Budget separately for:
- the Class 1 medical before you start;
- housing and insurance for 18–22 months;
- authority fees for exams and licence issue;
- retests if anything is not passed first time;
- a type rating if it is not in the package (airlines sometimes cover it in cadet schemes, but that is the employer's decision).
For university routes, expect two bills: tuition to the university and a separate flight-training charge. In Turkish Pilotage programmes, our guide shows university tuition from $7,600 a year and flight training of roughly $62,640.
Russian citizens: what EU schools may do
Since 2022 pilot training is governed not only by Part-FCL but also by Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014. EASA, in coordination with the European Commission, has published non-binding FAQs that schools and national authorities follow:
- Allowed when training is for operating outside Russia on aircraft that are not Russian-registered and not owned, chartered or otherwise controlled by Russian persons, for example as an employee of an EU airline.
- Prohibited when the purpose is to fly in Russia, for a Russian carrier or on an aircraft controlled by Russian persons. Training and checking cannot take place in Russia.
- Private licences are allowed on small aircraft with up to four seats and a maximum take-off mass of 2,000 kg.
- EU medical certificates are issued to Russian citizens only for operating non-Russian aircraft.
- Conversion or validation of a Russian licence into an EASA licence is in practice blocked because it requires contact with the Russian licensing authority.
A school may ask where you plan to work and decline if the purpose does not fit these conditions. The school and the national authority of the training country decide. Finland's Traficom, for instance, sets out its own rules and allows training for students sponsored by an operator unaffected by the restrictions.
These FAQs concern Russian citizens. Kazakh citizens follow the standard admission and visa process; citizens of other CIS countries should ask the school whether any country-specific restrictions apply to them.
United States: TSA check and visas
A non-US citizen may not start flight training in the US until the Transportation Security Administration has completed a security threat assessment and issued a determination of eligibility (Flight Training Security Program, 49 CFR 1552). Schools must confirm this via the TSA portal and stop training immediately if TSA finds a candidate ineligible. A student visa is also required; it is issued by a US consulate and its type depends on the programme. Check the current visa route for your nationality on the US embassy website early.
A US ATP requires 1,500 hours. Graduates of an aviation bachelor's degree from an institution authorised by the FAA can obtain a restricted ATP with 1,000 hours, and associate-degree graduates with 1,250. Student status does not give the right to work as a pilot in the US.
Going back to Russia or Kazakhstan
Under Article 53 of the Russian Air Code, crew functions on a civil aircraft are performed by persons holding a certificate issued by the civil aviation authority, and flight crew undergo mandatory medical examination (Article 53.1). A foreign certificate is recognised as valid in Russia only if it meets the international standards Russia recognises and the federal aviation rules (Article 55). A foreign licence therefore does not by itself open the way to a Russian airline: the federal aviation rules, Rosaviatsia and the employer determine what checks are needed. Note also that an EU school cannot issue an EASA licence if the training is intended for work in Russia.
In Kazakhstan licensing is handled by the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan. If you want to work for a Kazakh airline, ask the regulator and the employer which foreign licences and courses they accept before choosing a school.
Entry requirements
Almost every school checks the same things:
- Class 1 medical — obtain it before paying. Without it you may pay for a course you cannot finish.
- English — your licence carries a language proficiency endorsement, and schools often test English at entry.
- Maths and physics at school level; many ATOs run an entry test and interview.
- Age — you can start earlier, but CPL is issued from 18 and ATPL from 21.
- Visa documents — proof of funds, insurance, an invitation from the school.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a school before choosing a market. An FAA licence suits the US, but you will need to convert it for Europe.
- Paying before the medical. The Class 1 certificate is checked before you fly.
- Counting on a quick job without work rights. A student visa does not let you work as a pilot in the training country.
- Ignoring sanctions rules. Russian citizens should confirm in writing on what terms a school will train them and issue the licence.
- Comparing prices without comparing contents. One package includes a type rating and housing, another only flight hours.
Timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 12–18 months before | Pick the job market, the licensing system and the format |
| 9–12 months before | Pass the Class 1 medical, strengthen English and maths |
| 6–9 months before | Compare 3–4 schools on package contents, fleet, weather and schedule; take the entry assessment |
| 3–6 months before | Sign the contract, apply for a visa, complete the TSA check for the US |
What we do and who decides
Country and school shortlisting, requirement checks and admission documents are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The flight school or university decides on admission, the consulate on the visa, the aviation authority on the licence and, in the US, TSA on the security check.
Related programmes: aeronautical engineering and air traffic control. For legal ways to pay from Russia, see how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
FAQ
Yes. An EASA, FAA or UK CAA licence requires training at an approved flight school, exams and a medical certificate, not a degree. A degree gives a fallback career but is not needed for the licence itself.
An integrated ATPL course takes about 18 to 22 months. The modular route usually takes two years or more. After either, you must build up to 1,500 flight hours for a full ATPL.
As one example, BAA Training's integrated ATPL with type rating costs $125,470 (€110,500) for the whole course. Modular training is usually cheaper. Add the medical, housing, insurance and authority fees.
According to EASA's FAQ, yes, if the training is for working outside Russia on aircraft not linked to Russian persons. Training to fly in Russia or for Russian carriers is prohibited. The school and national authority make the final decision.
TSA must complete a security threat assessment under the Flight Training Security Program before training starts, and you need a student visa. Without work authorisation you cannot work as a pilot in the US after graduating.
Not directly. Under the Air Code, crew need a certificate from the civil aviation authority and a medical examination, and a foreign licence is recognised only if it meets the international standards and federal rules Russia applies. An EU school also cannot issue a licence for training intended for work in Russia.
Sources
- Part-FCL (Regulation 1178/2011), UK version: ATPL, CPL and ATP integrated course
- Part-MED: Class 1 medical for CPL and ATPL
- EASA FAQ: aircrew training and licensing — restrictive measures Russia
- Traficom (Finland): training and checks of Russian nationals
- 49 CFR 1552.7: flight training provider responsibilities
- 14 CFR 61.159 and 61.160: ATP flight time
- Russian Air Code, Articles 53–55
- BAA Training: ATPL Integrated pricing
- Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan
ECB reference rate of 30.09.2026 (latest published on the check date, 01.10.2026): €1 = $1.1355. Amounts rounded to $10.
Choosing a training route and school for your profile is provided under an agreement with StudyU; the school or university makes the admission decision. To start, send us a request.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
