ISTAT University

Interested in an exciting career in aviation finance and trading, one of the world's fastest growing and most dynamic industries? You're in the right place.

ISTAT University, or ISTAT U, provides an overview of the many facets of the aviation finance and leasing industry and exposes students to real world concepts and methodologies. The ISTAT U curriculum has been specifically tailored to help prepare students for internships as well as long term career opportunities in the exciting field of aviation finance, leasing and trading. This program covers topics such as:

Aircraft leasing
Risk management
Aviation legal framework
Aircraft funding
Maintenance reserves
Lease negotiation
Transaction modeling

ISTAT U is currently available in a variety of formats both residential and online. These formats offer students the opportunity to earn credit hours (varies by university) and a program completion certificate.

ISTAT University in Partnership with Embry Riddle (ERAU)

At ERAU, students can choose from ISTAT U 1.0 or ISTAT U 2.0. The ISTAT U 1.0 program is an on-campus format, available only to qualified students enrolled at ERAU, Daytona Beach, FL, USA. The two-course format spans two semesters, and students can elect to enroll in January or September of each year. Completion of both courses is required to receive a program completion certificate.

The ISTAT U 2.0 program is available, by way of a web-based format and is facilitated by faculty members at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Daytona Beach Campus through the ERAU Worldwide platform. All course instruction and assignments will be accessible online. The course is asynchronous which means that students will access the modules on their own time. The due dates for assignments and exams will be set in EST, and students from other time zones will have to submit accordingly. There are no on-campus course requirements. Students are eligible to receive course credit (as determined by ERAU) upon completion of the program.

Three courses are offered between October and August:

Course one runs from October – December
Course two runs from January – March
Course three runs from May – August

The three courses must be completed in the specified order as each course is a pre-requisite for the following course. Upon completion of all three courses, students will receive a program completion certificate.

How to Apply

Applications for the 2025 – 2026 ISTAT U 2.0 Program will open soon. Receive updates on when the next application cycle opens by subscribing to our email list.

Subscribe For ISTAT U Program Updates

Admission Requirements

Carefully review the admission requirements to ensure you qualify for ISTAT U 2.0:

Completed an undergraduate (bachelor's) degree within the last three years or are currently enrolled in a graduate (master's) degree program
Undergraduate (bachelor's) and/or graduate (master's) degree must be in one of the following areas of study: business, accounting, finance or economics, or related field of study
No prior professional experience in the aviation leasing or finance industry
U.S. Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) requirement: 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale. Outside of the U.S.: students must hold an academic ranking within the top 25% (75%-100%).

Required documentation to be included in application:

Official transcripts from undergraduate (bachelor's) and graduate (master's) programs
Resume/CV
English proficiency test scores (e.g. TOEFL, etc.) for applicants whose primary language is not English

Tuition

The tuition for the 2025-2026 ISTAT U 2.0 Program is US$5,208 (US$868 per credit hour). If you are interested in receiving scholarship support from the ISTAT Foundation to cover a portion of the program tuition, please be sure to indicate your interest in the application.

Program Dates

FIN 695A: Aircraft Financing I: 20 October 2025 to 21 December 2025
FIN 695B: Aircraft Financing II: 12 January 2026 to 15 March 2026
FIN 695C: Aircraft Financing III: 31 May 2026 to 1 August 2026

For more information on ISTAT University, please contact the ISTAT Foundation Headquarters at foundation@istat.org.

ISTAT University in Partnership with Purdue University

Helping Students Thrive

As a student from a non-finance background, this program definitely helps you gain essential knowledge and build skills crucial to pursuing a career in the aircraft leasing sector. Everyone in the program, from lecturers to ERAU staff, is supportive! Whether you are a seasoned professional, or just planning to start your journey in this field, the program’s dynamic approach and inspiring content will undoubtedly help you achieve your goals and elevate your career to new heights.

– Jaime Martínez, MBA, Georgetown University Completed ISTAT U 2.0 in July 2023

The ISTAT U 2.0 Program provided me with a deep understanding of the fascinating world of aircraft leasing and the wider aviation finance ecosystem. I particularly enjoyed the unwavering support of leading industry executives, who provided unparalleled insights through weekly interviews and presentations. As a graduate of the ISTAT U 2.0 Program, I continue to benefit from a valuable network of likeminded individuals and the course’s excellent reputation. The completion of this course has also opened up attractive employment opportunities, enabling me to apply and showcase my knowledge on a daily basis.

– Basil Gygax, Msc, Cranfield University Completed ISTAT U 2.0 in May 2020

It was a unique experience to be a part of ISTAT University, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The course is structured in such a way that you understand different aspects of the commercial aviation industry through theoretical learning of the basics, but also get the opportunity to meet industry experts and learn from them through their sharing of experiences, guest lectures, topic focused interview videos, tailored case studies and class discussions. Being exposed to professionals in the industry and getting the chance to attend the events that ISTAT hosted was a bonus to the course. It allowed me to network and establish industry relations for a future in aviation. ISTAT U prepared me for the industry and gave me a strong understanding of the workings in commercial aviation leasing and finance.

– Ashwini Krishnan, MsC, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach Completed ISTAT U 1.0 in December 2019