About University

The National University “Kyiv Aviation Institute” traces its origins to aviation courses organised by Kyiv Polytechnic educators in the early twentieth century. Its history as an independent institution began in 1933, when the Kyiv Aviation Institute (KAI) was established on the basis of the Aviation Faculty of the Kyiv Machine-Building Institute under Resolution No. 1815 of the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR dated 25 August 1933 and Order No. 454 of the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet of the USSR dated 26 August 1933. In 1934, the institute was named after K. Ye. Voroshilov.

Classes at KAI began on 15 September 1933 in a building at 51 Lenin Street, now Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street. The institute initially comprised four faculties: General Engineering, Aircraft Construction, Engine Construction, and Aircraft Operations. A flight unit was also established, allowing students to qualify as pilots alongside their engineering studies. Its fleet included U-2 training aircraft and P-5 aircraft. The unit also had gliding and parachuting sections.

The building that housed the Kyiv Aviation Institute from 1933 to 1941

In 1934, the institute established a Research Division. Between 1934 and 1938, it published ten volumes of Proceedings of KAI, featuring research by the institute’s scholars and students. These volumes included 24 scientific articles by Volodymyr Chelomei, then a student and lecturer at KAI, who would later become a General Designer of rocket and space systems in the USSR. Mykhailo Kravchuk, Head of the Department of Mathematics at KAI from 1933 to 1936 and a member of the All-Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, served on the publication’s editorial committee.

In 1935, the institute’s academic focus was revised to concentrate exclusively on training mechanical engineers in aircraft and engine operations. Two faculties remained: General Engineering and Mechanical Operations. On 15 December 1936, professional development courses for engineering and technical personnel began operating with the status of a faculty. The first intake comprised 100 participants. Groups were initially formed for technicians and later for engineers. The courses covered several areas, including aircraft maintenance, aircraft and engine repair, fuels and lubricants, and specialised aircraft equipment. A separate group provided retraining for teachers and instructors from the Civil Air Fleet’s technical colleges and schools.

During this period, the institute was headed by M. S. Korolko (1933), V. M. Podporinov (1933–1934), D. V. Hlinchuk (1934–1935), N. I. Taraniuk (1935–1936), and M. H. Horchakov (1936–1941). From 1939 to 1941, Volodymyr Chelomei, a 1937 graduate of the institute, worked at KAI as a senior lecturer in mechanics and aircraft engine theory.

 A meeting of the KAI Academic Council, 1937

The Stalinist period left its mark on the institute’s development and consolidation. In April 1937, Aeroflot’s management raised the question of closing KAI with the All-Union Committee for Higher Education and the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR. This proposal resulted from inadequate workforce planning, short-sighted technical policy, and an underestimation of technological progress in civil aviation. It was wrongly assumed that the Leningrad Institute of the Civil Air Fleet alone could train highly qualified specialists for the entire Soviet Union.

On 2 June 1937, the authorities in Moscow decided to disband KAI and transfer its students to the Leningrad institute. However, more than 160 final-year students remained in Kyiv to complete their graduation projects. A unit known as the Kyiv Branch of the Leningrad Institute of Civil Air Fleet Engineers was established.

In response, the institute’s management sent detailed, reasoned appeals to the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet, the Committee for Higher Education, the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Ukraine, and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), requesting a review of the closure decision. The new leadership of the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet, headed by Hero of the Soviet Union V. S. Molokov, gave the matter careful consideration.

On 25 June 1938, the Council of People’s Commissars of the Ukrainian SSR adopted Resolution No. 316, “On the Aviation Institute of the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet in Kyiv”. It declared the closure of KAI unjustified, resolved to restore the Civil Air Fleet Aviation Institute in Kyiv, and requested approval from the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR for its reopening at the start of the 1938/1939 academic year. On 15 August 1938, the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet and the Council of People’s Commissars of the Ukrainian SSR received a decision from the Economic Council under the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR authorising the reopening. Under Order No. 254 of the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet, the Kyiv Aviation Institute of the Civil Air Fleet was restored on 20 August 1938. First-year admissions were authorised, and a plan was requested for professional development courses for engineering and technical personnel at KAI. A large group of sixth-year students returned from Leningrad to Kyiv. As a result, KAI’s activities continued almost without interruption.

Nevertheless, the events of 1937–1938 significantly affected KAI’s growth. Its development slowed, and the institute suffered substantial losses. The 1938/1939 academic year began with a small student body: 110 newly admitted first-year students and 70 sixth-year students who had returned from Leningrad to complete their graduation projects.

Under the Charter approved in 1939, the institute comprised one Faculty of Aircraft and Engine Maintenance and 19 departments, including 14 departments of general education and engineering and five specialist departments.

Another cohort of engineers graduated in 1939. No further engineering cohorts graduated before the war, as the restored institute had no remaining senior-year groups. In the pre-war years, the institute became a centre for retraining the Civil Air Fleet’s technical personnel.

In 1939, design work began on a new complex of buildings and facilities for the institute. By the eve of the war, three full year groups were studying aircraft and aircraft engine maintenance, while numerous groups of Civil Air Fleet engineers and technicians attended professional development courses. However, the war of 1941–1945 prevented the institute from restoring all six years of study and resuming the graduation of engineers.

In 1941, wartime events forced KAI to suspend its activities, and the institute was evacuated. It resumed operations only in 1947, under Resolution No. 191 of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated 29 January 1947, with the establishment of the Kyiv Institute of the Civil Air Fleet named after K. Ye. Voroshilov.

Classes resumed at the restored institute’s Faculty of Mechanics on Polova Street. In 1947, 140 students were admitted to the first year and 60 to the second and third years, primarily former students of the Kyiv Aviation Institute whose studies had been interrupted by the war.

The institution subsequently underwent several name changes:

Kyiv Institute of the Civil Air Fleet — 15 February 1962;

Kyiv Institute of Civil Aviation — 15 September 1964;

Kyiv Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers — 20 May 1965;

Kyiv Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers named after the 60th Anniversary of the USSR — 1982;

Kyiv Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers — 1991;

Kyiv International University of Civil Aviation — 20 April 1994;

National Aviation University — 11 September 2000;

State University “Kyiv Aviation Institute” — 7 November 2024;

National University “Kyiv Aviation Institute” — 6 February 2026.

On 9 November 1950, approval was granted for the overall construction budget of the Kyiv Institute of the Civil Air Fleet and for Kyiv City Council’s allocation of a site at 197 Borshchahivska Street, now 1 Liubomyra Huzara Avenue.

Classes in the newly constructed building began in 1957

From 1954 to 1975, the institute was headed by Mykola Holeho, a 1938 KAI graduate. He made a significant contribution to the construction of the academic complex, the development of its facilities and equipment, the organisation of research, and the formation of its academic staff.

In 1953, Oleg Antonov, Chief Designer of the Design Bureau of the Ministry of Aviation Industry, began teaching a course in aircraft design at the institute. He later became a General Designer, a member of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and a State Prize laureate. Under Order No. 82 of the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet of the USSR dated 5 April 1956, Antonov was appointed to the institute’s Council.

On 13 October 1966, by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Kyiv Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour “for successfully fulfilling the objectives of the seven-year plan for training highly qualified engineering and research personnel for civil aviation, and for developing and implementing significant research in aviation technology”.

Between 1967 and 1971, a Research and Simulation Centre headed by O. I. Kukhtenko was established at the Kyiv Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers as part of the state programme to develop a spacecraft capable of taking a Soviet crew to the Moon, landing a person on its surface, and returning them to Earth. The centre developed the Sirius spacecraft landing-module simulator, which was installed at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. Cosmonauts used it to practise visually guided lunar landings, take-off from the lunar surface, and docking with the main spacecraft in lunar orbit. The simulator was later modified for the Apollo–Soyuz programme, enabling Soviet cosmonauts and American astronauts to practise rendezvous and docking procedures for their joint mission.

From 1975 to 1988, the institute was headed by Oleksandr Aksonov. On 10 September 1985, the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) awarded him the Edward Warner Award, comprising a gold medal and a certificate of honour, for his outstanding contribution to international civil aviation. He became the first recipient of this award in Ukraine.

For its contribution to training international specialists, the Kyiv Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers received the Order of Peace and Friendship of the Hungarian People’s Republic (1975), a commemorative medal from the Ministry of Education and Upbringing of the Polish People’s Republic (1978), the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius, First Class, of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria (1980), and the Order of Solidarity of the Republic of Cuba (1985).

On 12 April 1990, in accordance with a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, a memorial plaque was installed on the institute’s building in honour of Volodymyr Chelomei, General Designer of rocket and space systems and a 1937 graduate of the Kyiv Aviation Institute. The institute’s staff also received the Academician V. M. Chelomei Diploma for achievements in training scientific and engineering personnel in aviation and astronautics.

In 1994, the institute became the Kyiv International University of Civil Aviation. In 1996, the university introduced a four-level qualification structure: Junior Specialist, Bachelor, Specialist, and Master.

In March 1998, the ICAO European Subregional Aviation Security Centre opened at the university, with ICAO Council President A. Kotaite attending.

In recognition of its nationally and internationally acknowledged achievements and its significant contribution to higher education and science in Ukraine, the university was granted national status under Decree No. 1059/2000 of President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma dated 11 September 2000. It was renamed the National Aviation University (NAU).

The Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum of Ukraine was established at the university’s aviation technical base and remains part of its structure. It is Ukraine’s largest historical and technical museum, with a collection of nearly 70 aircraft and helicopters.

On 25 September 2008, the university received certification confirming that its quality management system for educational services and research complied with the ISO 9001:2000 standard.

On 17 February 2012, the 15th anniversary exhibition “Modern Education in Ukraine — 2012” took place at the Ukrainian House National Centre. The National Aviation University received a gold medal in the category “Career Guidance for Young People: Current Trends and Development Prospects”. In 2012, the university had 25,000 students.

On 14 April 2016, at the 19th International Specialised Exhibition “Education and Career — 2016” and the “Education Abroad” exhibition of international educational institutions, NAU received the honorary title “Leader of Higher Education in Ukraine”. As a winner in the thematic competition, it was also awarded a Grand Prix and a diploma.

On 20 December 2020, the university officially opened its Simulator Training Centre, established as part of a state investment project.

In the 2020/2021 academic year, 23 research papers by young researchers from the National Aviation University received first-, second-, and third-place diplomas at the All-Ukrainian Competition of Student Research Papers across fields of study and specialities.

On 13 October 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Order No. 921, “On the Reorganisation of the National Aviation University”, providing for the division of NAU into the State University “Kyiv Aviation Institute” and the Ukrainian State Flight Academy.

On 28 August 2024, the NAU Academic Council approved the participation of NAU, and KAI as its legal successor, in a pilot initiative of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. This included expanding the powers of the Supervisory Board to support the university’s development. At the same meeting, an overwhelming majority supported changing the institution’s legal form from a budget-funded institution to a state-owned non-profit enterprise. This change will enable the university to attract additional funding and invest in equipment, teaching laboratories, and infrastructure. In turn, it will allow the State University “Kyiv Aviation Institute” to accelerate the establishment of research and teaching laboratories and introduce additional educational programmes.

On 6 February 2026, Presidential Decree No. 101/2026 granted national status to the State University “Kyiv Aviation Institute”.

The National University “Kyiv Aviation Institute” (KAI) currently comprises nine faculties offering higher education programmes in the following fields:

Faculty of Aerospace Engineering

• E6 — Applied Physics and Nanomaterials
• G3 — Electrical Engineering
• G4 — Energy Production
• G9 — Applied Mechanics
• G11 — Mechanical Engineering
• G12 — Aircraft and Spacecraft Engineering
• J6 — Air Transport 

Faculty of Air Navigation, Electronics and Telecommunications

• F7 — Computer Engineering
• G5 — Electronics, Electronic Communications, Instrumentation and Radio Engineering
• G7 — Automation, Computer-Integrated Technologies and Robotics
• G12 — Aircraft and Spacecraft Engineering

Faculty of Health Sciences

• C4 — Psychology
• E1 — Biology and Biochemistry
• E2 — Ecology
• G1 — Chemical Technologies and Engineering
• G2 — Environmental Protection Technologies
• G21 — Biotechnology and Bioengineering
• G22 — Biomedical Engineering
• K10 — Civil Safety
• I10 — Social Work

Faculty of Computer Science and Technology

• F1 — Applied Mathematics
• F2 — Software Engineering
• F3 — Computer Science
• F5 — Cybersecurity and Information Protection
• F6 — Information Systems and Technologies
• F7 — Computer Engineering
• G7 — Automation, Computer-Integrated Technologies and Robotics

Faculty of Architecture, Construction and Design

• B2 — Design
• E4 — Earth Sciences
• G17 — Architecture and Urban Planning
• G18 — Geodesy and Land Management
• G19 — Construction and Civil Engineering
• G20 — Publishing and Printing

Faculty of Management, Finance and Marketing

• C1 — Economics and International Economic Relations
• D1 — Accounting and Taxation
• D2 — Finance, Banking, Insurance and the Stock Market
• D3 — Management
• D4 — Public Management and Administration
• D5 — Marketing
• D7 — Trade
• J2 — Hotel and Restaurant Business and Catering

Faculty of Transport and Logistics

• J6 — Air Transport
• D3 — Management

Faculty of Humanities and Arts

• B10 — Philosophy
• B11 — Philology
• B13 — Library, Information and Archival Studies
• C2 — Political Science
• C4 — Psychology
• C5 — Sociology
• C7 — Journalism
• D5 — Marketing
• I10 — Social Work and Counselling

Faculty of Law and International Relations

• C1 — Economics and International Economic Relations
• C3 — International Relations
• D8 — Law
• D9 — International Law
• J3 — Tourism and Recreation
• K9 — Law Enforcement