Diploma of Exercise and Sport Science
UndergraduateUND-ESS-DIP2025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Build foundations in movement and healthy living
An introductory sports course designed by industry professionals. You’ll cover topics in health and exercise related to human bodies and wellbeing. Build key skills in sports science, including using data and technology for better outcomes.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 2 Feb 2025,
- 6 July 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 1 year full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 8
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Diploma of Exercise and Sport Science
About this degree
Upon successful completion of the Undergraduate Diploma (Exercise & Sport Science) graduates will be able to:
- Interpret and apply knowledge across the sub disciplines of exercise and sport science.
- Assess health behaviours and conditions, human movement and skills to evaluate and prescribe exercise programs in healthy populations across a range of exercise settings.
- Apply research skills for evidence-based practice that enhances professional knowledge, including the ability to compile, critically evaluate and communicate the scientific rationale for professional decision making and service delivery.
- Exemplify professional and ethical standards in practical, interpersonal and theoretical contexts and conduct that is sensitive to client diversity and equity.
- Understand how technology is used in sport for key areas such as biomechanics and exercise physiology and apply this to measure health and performance.
- Apply valuable basic data analysis skills in Excel to record and understand how health and performance can be improved and monitored.
Improving health and wellbeing through exercise and physical activity is increasingly important in today’s sedentary world. This program aims to introduce students to methods used in exercise science to assess health status, provide basic exercise delivery, and understand the beneficial effect on human physiology. The program also introduces students to key skill areas in exercise and sport science including biomechanics, exercise physiology, basic data analysis, and technology in sport. It is a pathway to university study in the field of exercise and sports science at The University of Notre Dame, Australia and develops the necessary tertiary skills to succeed.
Recommended study pattern
You must complete a minimum of 200 Units of Credit chosen from the subject below :
- Research and Writing in Exercise Science
- Functional Exercise Anatomy Application
- Health and Exercise Performance Testing
- Fundamentals of Exercise Programming
- Performance Methods in Exercise and Sport Science
- Exercise and Healthy Living
- Technology and Data Analysis in Exercise and Sport Science
- Chronic Disease and Exercise Management
Award requirements
To be eligible for the award of Undergraduate Diploma of Exercise and Sport Science students must complete a minimum of 200 Units (8 subjects) of Credit chosen from compulsory courses.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $23,863
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
The University of Notre Dame Australia is committed to delivering an excellent student experience, alongside a high standard of teaching, research, and training. As a leader in ethical education, Notre Dame aims to develop students’ critical reasoning and their ability to make ethical decisions—crucial skills to progressing their careers and leading purposeful lives. At Notre Dame, students navigate their future with an ethical education online.
Learn more about UNDA.
Explore UNDA courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 37
Entry requirements
To be eligible for admission to the Diploma of Exercise and Sport Science applicants must meet the following specific requirements:
• Complete at least four undergraduate-level subject from a recognised institution ; OR
• Complete UNDA tertiary preparation program
Successful completion of recognised secondary school with ATAR score of at least 75.
Successful completion of a recognised VET Certificate IV.
Provide the Special Tertiary Admission Test score of at least 140 (written English) and 135 (multiple choice)
Defined as the successful completion of secondary education or a 2 undergraduate subjects in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada or the Republic of Ireland.
Certificate IV or higher from an Australian registered training organisation.
STAT.
Students who have English as an Additional language and are admitted on the basis of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessment, or an equivalent English language proficiency assessment, are only admitted if they have attained an overall IELTS (or equivalent) score of 6.0, with no individual band score below 6.0.
All English language tests are valid for two years from the date of completion.
Applications for Advanced Standing and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be considered and reviewed on a case by case basis by UNDA's Student Administration.
Career opportunities
The Diploma of Exercise & Sport Science is a great program for candidates looking for an introduction to sport science. Or those looking to upskill, as well as to enter university via an alternative pathway, and applications are invited from all prospective students seeking an alternative entry pathway, from school-leavers to mature-age students.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Exercise Physiologists | N/A^ | N/A^ |
Fitness Instructors | N/A^ | Up 9.7% |
Physiotherapists | $75K to $93K | Up 37.6% |
Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials | $60K to $74K | Up 3.2% |
^ There is no data available
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
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Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
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