This degree is no longer offered. You may be interested in other courses in Sports
Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport
PostgraduateACU-HPS-GCE2022
Course information for 2022 intake
Dive into the world of coaching sports stars
Learn what it takes to condition an athlete – including overcoming hurdles like fatigue and injury. Cover the ethics of testing protocols. Build communication skills to problem-solve with high-performance teams.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Total subjects
- 4
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport
About this degree
Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport should be able to:
- Use specialised technologies and techniques to collect, analyse, interpret and report meaningful data for monitoring the health, performance and training interventions of high performance athletes
- Design and deliver meaningful interventions to athletes that enhance performance and reduce the likelihood (and/or duration) of injury and illness
- Work in an ethical manner that promotes the dignity of the athlete and communicate effectively in high performance sport contexts
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.
The Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport aims to help students develop the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to enhance the conditioning of high performance athletes, with the aim of optimising individual and team performance, 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 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-based students;
- full-time or part-time enrolments; and
- a pathway into the Graduate Diploma in High Performance Sport and Master of High Performance Sport degrees.
To meet these objectives, the primary design feature is that the majority of the course is delivered online.
A suite of coursework subjects focus on the preparation and performance of high performance athletes, including technological advances for athlete monitoring, advanced principles of strength and conditioning, and analysis of performance measures.
Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary foci built into the curriculum will bring together current and new knowledge from a range of professions within the industry. A foundation of analysis skills for interpreting performance data will be incorporated with direct application to high performance sporting contexts.
Recommended study pattern
Students are required to follow the pattern of unit enrolment set out in the relevant Course Enrolment Guide, unless otherwise approved by the Course Coordinator. In all aspects of progress through the course, students will be advised by the Course Coordinator.
For this course students are allowed to enrol in up to 4 subjects per study term. To enrol in more than 3 subjects please contact us.
To qualify for the degree, a student must complete a total of 4 subjects, comprising four of the Coursework Units below. These units are to be selected as stipulated in the Course Enrolment Guide and/or in consultation with the
Course Coordinator, and must include:
Strength and Conditioning for the High Performance Athlete
and
Data Analysis and Interpretation for High Performance Sport.
Specified Unit Offerings include:
- Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Rehabilitation
- Data Analysis and Interpretation for High Performance Sport
Elective units to be selected from:
- Leadership and Culture in High Performance Settings
- Fatigue, Recovery, Adaptation and Performance
- Sports Injury Prevention
- Performance Nutrition
Award requirements
Completion of 4 subjects from the Specified and Elective Units in the Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport
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.
Submission of Application to Course Complete form to ACU
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $10,500
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.
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about ACU.
Explore ACU courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 34
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 29
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
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
OR
- hold a Bachelor degree or higher AND have evidence of relevant industry experience
OR
- submit a resume alongside a formal application, demonstrating suitability for study and evidence of relevant industry experience and/or prior learning over a sustained period.
An applicant must comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
applicants that do not hold a Bachelor degree or higher in Exercise Science, Sports Science, Human Movement or a related discipline may apply if they:
- hold a Bachelor degree or higher AND have evidence of relevant industry experience.
OR
- submit a resume alongside a formal application, demonstrating suitability for study and evidence of relevant industry experience and/or prior learning over a sustained period.
Students must meet English Language requirements as follows:
- IELTS: Overall score 6.5, Individual score of 6.0 in all test
- PTE: 58 with a minimum of 50 in all four communicative skills
- TOEFL: Internet based total of 79: minimum 21 in writing, 18 in speaking, 13 in reading and 12 in listening
- ACU English Language Test: B (65-74%)
- CAE: Overall CAE of 176, Minimum individual score of 169 in all tests
ACU will consider requests for advanced standing based on prior studies to a maximum equivalence of 2 subjects (or 20cp).
For further information see https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/credit-and-prior-learning.
Career opportunities
The degree is designed as a pathway into the Graduate Diploma in High Performance Sport and the Master of High Performance Sport.
Examples of the types of work settings the course prepares graduates for:
- fitness advisor
- fitness coach
- football or other sport manager
- high performance manager
- performance analyst
- professional coach
- rehabilitation coach
- sports science manager
- sports scientist
- strength and conditioning coach
- team manager
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Amusement, Fitness and Sports Centre Managers | N/A^ | Up 18.6% |
Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials | $60K to $74K | Up 3.2% |
Sportspersons | N/A^ | Up 18.6% |
^ 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.