The National Aerospace University «Kharkiv Aviation Institute» stands out as a leading educational institution in Ukraine for aviation and space engineering. Throughout its existence, KhAI has produced approximately 60,000 engineers, with over 80% of higher education specialists in the Ukrainian aerospace industry being KhAI graduates.
The National Aerospace University «Kharkiv Aviation Institute» is one of the oldest and most renowned aviation schools in Europe, actively developing new technologies in science and a system for training highly qualified specialists in various fields — from the design, production, and testing of aircraft, rocket and space systems, satellites, and UAVs to electronics, control systems, IT, data science, and cybersecurity.
History
Kharkiv Aviation Institute was founded in 1930 and initially had two faculties – aircraft construction and engine construction. At the time of its foundation, KhAI had only 12 teachers and 69 students. The development of the institute was extremely rapid. Already in 1932, the first passenger aircraft in Europe with a KhAI-1 landing gear, developed by teachers and graduate students of KhAI, took off. Planes and gliders, created at the institute, set world records.
In 1932, under the leadership of Professor of the Department of Aircraft Design Joseph Grigorovych Nemana, an initiative group of KhAI employees and students created a high-speed aircraft project, which was called “KhAI-1”. In 1934, for the first time, the glider “Osaviakhimovets of Ukraine” or ” KhAI -4″, the creation of which was led by Pavel Georgiyovych Banning, took off. It was he who proposed a unique hydraulic communication system between the front and rear landing gear, which made it possible to simultaneously remove and release three wheels in flight. In 1935, the engineer of KhAI, and in the future the general designer, Arkhyp Mikhailovich Lyulka, developed and designed the first domestic turbojet engine RTD-1.
Restoration of the destroyed KhAI buildings after II World WAR took almost 8 years. At the same time, the educational process was improved, new departments were created, and the program of scientific research was expanded. In the late 40s, the first experiments on explosion stamping were conducted. In 1953, KhAI began work on the creation of jet burners for drilling hard rocks, and a wind tunnel was built. In connection with the development of rocket technology, training of specialists in its design and production was started, and the radio engineering faculty was opened.
In the 60s, KhAI established a laboratory for the use of pulsed energy sources in industry, a laboratory for the study of long-term strength of aircraft structures. By 1980, new faculties were opened – aircraft control systems and rocket and space technology. The institute was named after M. E. Zhukovsky in 1978 for outstanding achievements in the field of training highly qualified specialists and in scientific research, and in 1980 KhAI was awarded the Order of Lenin.
In June 1967, KhAI students built and successfully tested the unique KhAI-20 aircraft, which was honored with awards by VDNH of the USSR.Two years later, gibcolet KhAI-21 is created in KhAI, the prototype of the current moto-hang-glider. KhAI-21 was successfully demonstrated at exhibitions in the USA and Canada.
With the formation of independent Ukraine in 1991, KhAI became the only institute in the country that provides comprehensive training of specialists for the aerospace industry. In 1992, for the first time in the history of KhAI, he began training foreign citizens. In August 1998, the State Aerospace University named after M. E. Zhukovsky “KhAI” was established on the basis of the Kharkiv Aviation Institute. According to the Presidential Decree of Ukraine No. 1059 dated September 11, 2000, “On Granting National Status to Certain Higher Education Institutions”, the university was granted national status. In accordance with the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine No. 401 dated March 3, 2025, “On the Renaming of the National Aerospace University named after M. E. Zhukovsky ‘Kharkiv Aviation Institute'”, the university was renamed to: National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute”.
University Today
Today, National Aerospace University «Kharkiv Aviation Institute» is the largest aerospace center in Ukraine, implementing joint projects with universities, research centers, and industrial companies from Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Morocco, and many other countries. The university is a co-executor of the Alpha International Space Program, as well as research projects with firms in the USA, Japan, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands and China.
Now the University occupies a separate territory of the city in the Forest Park area of about 25 hectares, on which there are 8 academic buildings, 2 research institutes, scientific laboratories, a library with a fund of 920,000 volumes, a campus, a sports complex, a dispensary, canteens.
As an international high-tech aerospace hub and an active participant in EU research and academic programs, the National Aerospace University is open to bilateral cooperation with new partners. Research teams of National Aerospace University «Kharkiv Aviation Institute» are actively involved in bilateral international cooperation in fields such as aviation, space exploration, automotive engineering, mechanical engineering, ICT, energy, and many others. The university regularly carries out research projects commissioned by or in collaboration with leading research and industrial organizations from countries across Europe, Asia, North and South America, Australia, and beyond.
The university is popular among international students. Currently, over 1,000 international students from 50 countries are studying at the university in various fields.
National Aerospace University «Kharkiv Aviation Institute» is a recognized scientific center whose activities are focused on innovative developments in aviation, space exploration, and other high-tech industries. The university has experience collaborating with such organizations as AIRBUS, ONERA, Thales Alenia, Boeing, EOARD, IAI, AVIC, and others. National Aerospace University «Kharkiv Aviation Institute» has gained international recognition in various research fields thanks to its deep understanding of both current societal needs and future opportunities. This understanding forms the foundation of the university’s interdisciplinary research strategy.
Faculties
Faculty of Aircraft Engineering
Faculty of Aviation Engines
Faculty of Aircraft Control Systems
Faculty of Rocket and Space Engineering
Faculty of Aircraft Radio Electronic Systems
Faculty of Program Engineering and Business
Faculty of Humanities and Law
Faculty for International Students
Accommodation
At the National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute”, international students have the option to reside on campus in comfortable accommodations designed to support their academic journey. Each on-campus dormitory offers two-bedroom units equipped with essential amenities for student living. Every unit has two beds, spacious wardrobes, study desks, bookshelves, and chairs, providing a conducive environment for both rest and study. The on-campus accommodations include bathroom facilities, ensuring students’ convenience and comfort. Each floor has a fitted kitchen, complete with a cooker, for students to prepare their meals and enjoy communal cooking experiences with fellow residents.
While on-campus housing offers convenience and a sense of community, some students prefer off-campus accommodation options. It includes renting a flat or apartment in the vicinity of the National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute”. Off-campus housing provides international students with the opportunity to experience independent living within close proximity to campus facilities and resources. National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute” strives to ensure all students have access to safe, comfortable, and conducive living environments that support their academic and personal growth throughout their university journey.