Graduate Diploma in High Performance Sport
Course information for - 2023 entry
- Study mode
- Online
- Duration
- 1 year full-time or equivalent part-time
- Fees (first year)*
$22352 Fee-paying
- Start dates
- ACU Online Term 1 - January, ACU Online Term 2 - April, ACU Online Term 3 - July, ACU Online Term 4 - October
Overview
The Graduate Diploma in High Performance Sport develops your knowledge, understanding and skills needed to enhance the conditioning of high performance athletes. You'll build strategies to optimise individual and team performances, within the context of a multidisciplinary environment and its culture and leadership structures, and to do so in an ethical manner characterised by a concern for respect, equity and social justice.
The high performance sport industry is a global, multi-billion dollar entity that provides employment opportunities for a range of professions, including sport scientists, coaches and managers. In Australia, there are employment opportunities in professional and semi-professional sporting teams, Australian and state institutes of sport, academies of sport, and other sporting organisations. These opportunities extend to the international market.
Professional experience
The Graduate Diploma in High Performance Sport is designed as a program of structured learning that includes relevant professional practice-related learning.
Careers
Examples of the types of work settings the course prepares you for:
- sports scientist
- high performance manager
- strength and conditioning coach
- professional coach
- fitness coach
- rehabilitation coach
- performance analyst
- fitness advisor
- sports science manager
- football or other sport manager
- team manager
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Graduate Diploma in High Performance Sport, a student must complete 80 credit points (cp).
Sample program map
| Year - Study period | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 | Unit 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Four Terms Option Year 1 ACU ONLINE - Term 1 | EXSC510 Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Rehabilitation data-versionlabel=3 > | EXSC652 Contemporary Issues in Sports Science data-versionlabel=3 > | |||
Four Terms Option Year 1 ACU ONLINE - Term 2 | EXSC668 Performance Nutrition data-versionlabel=3 > | EXSC651 Sports Injury Prevention data-versionlabel=3 > | |||
Four Terms Option Year 1 ACU ONLINE - Term 3 | EXSC512 Leadership and Culture in High Performance Settings data-versionlabel=3 > | EXSC513 Data Analysis and Interpretation for High Performance Sport data-versionlabel=3 > | |||
Four Terms Option Year 1 ACU ONLINE - Term 4 | EXSC650 Fatigue, Recovery, Adaptation and Performance data-versionlabel=3 > | *Elective offering | |||
Eight Terms Option Year 1 ACU ONLINE - Term 1 | EXSC652 Contemporary Issues in Sports Science data-versionlabel=3 > | ||||
Eight Terms Option Year 1 ACU ONLINE - Term1 | EXSC652 Contemporary Issues in Sports Science data-versionlabel=3 > | ||||
Eight Terms Option Year 1 ACU ONLINE - Term 2 | EXSC668 Performance Nutrition data-versionlabel=3 > | ||||
Eight Terms Option Year 1 ACU ONLINE - Term 3 | EXSC510 Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Rehabilitation data-versionlabel=3 > | ||||
Eight Terms Option Year 1 ACU ONLINE - Term 4 | EXSC651 Sports Injury Prevention data-versionlabel=3 > | ||||
Eight Terms Option Year 2 ACU ONLINE - Term 1 | EXSC512 Leadership and Culture in High Performance Settings data-versionlabel=3 > | ||||
Eight Terms Option Year 2 ACU ONLINE - Term 2 | EXSC650 Fatigue, Recovery, Adaptation and Performance data-versionlabel=3 > | ||||
Eight Terms Option Year 2 ACU ONLINE - Term 3 | EXSC513 Data Analysis and Interpretation for High Performance Sport data-versionlabel=3 > | ||||
Eight Terms Option Year 2 ACU ONLINE - Term 4 | *Elective offering |
This is a sample program only and units will vary depending on your campus and mode of study. Please refer to the handbook for the prerequisite units and the current listing.
* Elective units to be selected in consultation with the Course Coordinator.
AQF framework
Exit Points
- A student who has completed 40 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, including EXSC510 and EXSC513, may exit with the Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport.
Additional course information
The course is designed to suit a postgraduate clientele that is already in the workforce, as well as graduating students. The course provides flexible learning pathways that can accommodate:
- professional employment commitments;
- national and international students;
- full-time or part-time enrolments;
- exit point with a qualification (Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport); and
- a pathway into the Master of High Performance Sport.
To meet these objectives, the primary design feature is that the majority of the course is delivered in the online mode.
A suite of coursework subjects focus on the preparation and performance of high performance athletes, including technological advances for athlete monitoring, strength and conditioning, fatigue, recovery and adaptation, and injury prevention and management.
Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary foci built into the curriculum will bring together current and new knowledge from allied health professions within the industry, for example, sports psychology, skill acquisition, nutrition and dietetics, exercise physiology, physiotherapy, sports medicine and rehabilitation, including a specialist seminar series of guest speakers from sports science and related fields.
Issues of leadership, culture, and communication in high performance sport setting area addressed, and a foundation of project design and research skills is incorporated into the program with direct application to high performance sporting contexts.
To support these subjects, an intensive on-campus component is incorporated as a four day offering during the course. This component offers students hands-on experience with the latest technology in the industry, while providing the added opportunity to network directly with industry specialists and other students in the course.
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must:
a. hold a Bachelor degree or higher in Exercise Science, Sports Science, Human Movement or a related discipline AND have evidence of relevant industry experience; AND
submit a supporting professional referee’s report regarding suitability for this postgraduate program and/or experience in the industry;
OR
b. hold a Bachelor degree in Exercise Science, Sports Science, Human Movement or a related discipline, with a grade point average of at least 4.8 on the ACU 7 point scale; AND
submit a supporting professional referee's report regarding suitability for this postgraduate program and/or experience in the industry;
OR
c. have completed one of the following ACU degrees:
- Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport
- Graduate Certificate in Performance Analysis
- Graduate Certificate in Exercise Rehabilitation for Sports Injuries
NOTE: Applicants having completed a Bachelor degree (or higher) in a related allied health discipline will be considered, dependent on specific qualifications and evidence of industry experience.
NOTE: Applicants having completed the following ACU Graduate Certificates will be eligible for recognition of prior learning (RPL):
- Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport (40 cp RPL);
- Graduate Certificate in Performance Analysis (20 cp RPL);
- Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport Leadership (20 cp RPL);
- Graduate Certificate in Exercise Rehabilitation for Sports Injuries (30 cp RPL);
- Graduate Certificate in Sports Analytics (20 cp RPL).
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2023 Admission.
English language requirements
Applicants require an academic IELTS minimum overall score of 6.5 (with a minimum score of 6.0 in all bands), or an equivalent acceptable test score as outlined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy (Schedule 3).
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Pathways
Further study
The degree is designed as a pathway into the Master of High Performance Sport.
Fees
Course costs
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of 40 credit points (normally 4 units) per semester.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- the number of units studied per semester;
- the choice of major or specialisation; and
- elective units.
The University reviews fees annually.
A 10% rebate on fees will be offered to domestic ACU graduates (from any faculty) enrolling in full fee-paying postgraduate studies in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Conditions apply.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
Apply for this course
ACU Online Applicants
Applicants for our High Performance Sport courses must also provide a referee report. Your referee can fill out and submit their reference online using the High Performance Sport Referee Report form.
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment.