This degree is no longer offered. You may be interested in other courses in Sports
Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport Leadership
PostgraduateACU-SPL-GCE2022
Course information for 2022 intake
Lead sports organisations to greatness
Sprint towards your future as a leader in professional sport by developing skills in ethics, social responsibility, communication and management. Become a sports professional.
- 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 Leadership
About this degree
Through the successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport Leadership, graduates should be able to:
- Relate expert knowledge of the range of professions working in the high performance sport industry, and the contribution an interdisciplinary team brings to the performance of the athlete.
- Demonstrate capacity to work autonomously and ethically, in a way that is respectful of athletes’ dignity and diversity..
- Apply knowledge of the leadership and culture required to promote performance as well as health and wellbeing in the high performance sports environment for both individual and organisational success.
- Interpret the intersections between cultural factors shaping the high performance sport industry and professional behaviours, including with relevance to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples.
- Maximise effective communicationwithin collaborative, multidisciplinary and international and culturally diverse high performance sports settings.
The high performance sport industry is increasingly focused on developing employees and athletes with strong leadership skills and training in ethics and social responsibility. Proposed regulatory changes within the industry may make these skills a necessity.
This degree is designed to address these industry demands by developing specialist knowledge and skills for leadership and communication in high performance sport settings. The degree addresses its curriculum underpinned by dignity, self-worth and respect for others as a nuance to professionalism that makes such professionals more effective and more highly valued leaders.
The course targets experienced professionals in the High Performance Sport industry. Given these professionals are working, often in national and international contexts, the Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport Leadership is designed to accommodate these commitments. Thus, the major design feature of the course is primarily online. The course is a pathway into ACU’s Master of High Performance Sport and Graduate Diploma in High Performance Sport.
Recommended study pattern
Students are required to follow the pattern of subject 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.
To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 4 subjects from Schedule of Unit Offerings comprising of:
- 3 subjects from Specified Units; and
- 1 subject from Elective Units (to be selected in consultation with the Course Coordinator).
Specified Units:
- Leadership and Culture in High Performance Settings
- Athlete Development and Strategies, Capabilities and Wellbeing
- The Business of High Performance Sport
Elective Units (select 1 from):
- Data Analysis and Interpretation for High Performance Sport
- Project Design for High Performance Sport
- Performing Under Pressure
Award requirements
To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 4 subjects from Schedule of Unit Offerings comprising of:
- 3 subjects from Specified Units; and
- 1 subject from Elective Units (to be selected in consultation with the Course Coordinator).
Choose your subjects
Electives
To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 4 subjects from Schedule of Unit Offerings comprising of:
- 3 subjects from Specified Units; and
- 1 subject from Elective Units (to be selected in consultation with the Course Coordinator).
Elective Units (Select 1 from the following in consultation with the Course Coordinator):
- Data Analysis and Interpretation for High Performance Sport
- Project Design for High Performance Sport
- Performing Under Pressure
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 form and appropriate supporting documents
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 2025:
- 35
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2025:
- 26
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:
- Have completed a relevant Bachelor degree (or higher),
OR
- Have completed a Bachelor degree in a different discipline AND evidence of substantial relevant industry experience; AND
- Submit a proposal alongside their formal application demonstrating evidence of substantial industry relevant experience over a sustained period.
An applicant must comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
International applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
An applicant who has not successfully completed a relevant Bachelor degree (or higher) may apply if they:
- have completed a Bachelor degree in a different discipline AND evidence of relevant industry experience;
OR
- submit a proposal alongside a formal application, demonstrating evidence of substantial relevant industry experience 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 (20cp).
For further information see https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/credit-and-prior-learning.
Career opportunities
Examples of potential employment settings include:
- professional and semi-professional sporting organisations
- international high performance sport organisations
- national institutes (of sport) network
- government and non-government funded sporting programs (e.g. University, Secondary school or post-Secondary school sporting clubs)
- sport and health based research
Examples of potential employment roles include:
- high performance manager
- sports science manager
- professional coach
- sports scientist
- strength and conditioning coach
- fitness coach/advisor
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.