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Australian Catholic University (ACU)

  • 12% international / 88% domestic

Graduate Diploma in High Performance Sport

  • Graduate Diploma

The Graduate Diploma in High Performance Sport equips students with the skills to enhance athlete conditioning and optimize performance in a multidisciplinary and ethical context. It prepares graduates for global opportunities in the high-performance sport industry.

Key details

Degree Type
Graduate Diploma
Duration
1 quarter full-time
Study Mode
Online
Intake Months
Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct
Domestic Fees
$24,659 per year

About this course

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.

Entry requirements

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:

  • 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 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 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 2025 Admission.

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 (see English Language Proficiency).

Study locations

Online

What you will learn

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.

Career pathways

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 structure

To complete the Graduate Diploma in High Performance Sport, a student must complete 80 credit points (cp).Commencing ACU Term 1 - Full-timeYear 1ACU Term 1
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC510Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Rehabilitation
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC652Contemporary Issues in Sports Science
Year 1ACU Term 2
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC668Performance Nutrition
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC651Sports Injury Prevention
Year 1ACU Term 3
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC512Leadership and Culture in High Performance Settings
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC513Data Analysis and Interpretation for High Performance Sport
Year 1ACU Term 4
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC650Fatigue, Recovery, Adaptation and Performance
  • Electives* Elective
Commencing ACU Term 1 - Part-timeYear 1ACU Term 1
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC652Contemporary Issues in Sports Science
Year 1ACU Term 2
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC668Performance Nutrition
Year 1ACU Term 3
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC510Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Rehabilitation
Year 1ACU Term 4
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC651Sports Injury Prevention
Year 2ACU Term 1
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC513Data Analysis and Interpretation for High Performance Sport
Year 2ACU Term 2
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC650Fatigue, Recovery, Adaptation and Performance
Year 2ACU Term 3
  • Coursework UnitsEXSC512Leadership and Culture in High Performance Settings
Year 2ACU Term 4
  • Electives* Elective

Credit for prior study or work

If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.

You can use our credit search tool to see what you might be eligible for. For more information about credit and recognition of prior learning at ACU, follow the link below.

Search our credit database

Learn more about recognition of prior learning

How to apply

Apply now

Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment.

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Health Services & Support courses at Australian Catholic University (ACU).
86.4%
Overall satisfaction
92.6%
Skill scale
86.4%
Teaching scale
82.7%
Employed full-time
$73.1k
Average salary