Diploma of Exercise and Sport Science
UndergraduateUND-ESS-DIP2024
Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 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.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- 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 Sport & Exercise 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.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
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
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.