Master of Sports Coaching
Overview
Develop the knowledge and leadership skills expected in the world of high performance sports coaching. Advance your career and master your craft as an innovative, well-informed sports coach.
Benefit from a unique program, designed by elite coaches, expert academics and world-leading researchers, that offers the most innovative theory and practice in sports coaching.
This 32-unit coursework program is designed for coaches who are accredited through the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme. Depending on your coaching experience, you may also need a degree.
During the program, you'll broaden your understanding of coaching and the coaching environment, reflect on your own coaching experience and develop your awareness of what coaching is. You'll also develop expertise and knowledge in examining and enhancing both athletic and coaching performance across biophysical (e.g. recovery, program management, rate limiters) and sociocultural (e.g. quality coaching practices, emotional regulation, cultures of excellence) domains.
In the final stages of your program, you'll dedicate part of your studies to writing a thesis on an original research topic related to sports coaching. You'll have the freedom to investigate areas of specific significance to your coaching practice.
Program highlights
- Join the longest running online sports coaching program in Australia, educating coaches worldwide for 20 years.
- Enjoy the convenience of flexible, online study and benefit from work-based learning and online collaboration with your peers, program staff and coaches.
- Gain an internationally recognised qualification through a program designed by elite coaches, expert academics, and world-leading researchers.
- Develop your coaching practice through practical, work-based learning approaches that can be tailored to your individual circumstances.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Online study
- Fieldwork
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Recovery and Nutrition for Elite Athlete
- Developing the Elite Athlete
- High Performance Program Management for Coaches
- Performance Psychology for Coaches
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Coach educator
- Coaching director
- Head coach
- Assistant coach
- High performance coach
- Performance director
- Sports development manager
This is one of the best learning experiences I have had in my coaching career. The program is delivered in a user-friendly way for full-time professionals and the content is applicable for coaches of all sports.
The program incorporated many aspects of coaching which I really liked, such as sports psychology and nutrition for elite athletes. It was very specific to my professional coaching life and to the things that I'm interested in and passionate about.
This is one of the best learning experiences I have had in my coaching career. The program is delivered in a user-friendly way for full-time professionals and the content is applicable for coaches of all sports.
The program incorporated many aspects of coaching which I really liked, such as sports psychology and nutrition for elite athletes. It was very specific to my professional coaching life and to the things that I'm interested in and passionate about.
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Entry requirements
Entry requirements
It's possible to complete this degree in 2 years, 1.5 years or 1 year depending on your qualifications and experience.
You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements. You may also be eligible to apply for credit or exemptions to shorten your degree further. You'll graduate with the same qualification no matter how long you take to complete the degree.
2-year degree (32 units of study)
To be eligible to complete the degree in 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:
a bachelor's degree in any discipline plus current coaching qualifications endorsed by a recognised sporting body (e.g. a national sporting organisation) or equivalent plus one year's coaching experience. You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification, or
a current coaching qualification endorsed by a recognised sporting body (e.g. a national sporting organisation) or equivalent, plus five years coaching/high performance sporting experience (see below), comprising -
- 150 contact hours per year; and
- 450 hours per year in planning, preparation, self-reflection and learning, and continuing professional development.
High performance sporting experience means experience in performance sport contexts that are primarily focused on peak performances at major competitions. These contexts will typically be characterised by intensive preparation over prolonged periods involving extensive intervention and interpersonal contact.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
1.5-year degree (24 units of study)
If you have relevant prior learning or experience, you can reduce the number of courses you need to complete and graduate in less time.
To be eligible to complete the degree in 1.5 years full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (only available as full-time study), you'll need:
- a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in sports coaching, exercise and sport sciences, health and physical education, or
- a Graduate Certificate in Sports Coaching from this university;
- You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
1-year degree (16 units of study)
If you have relevant prior learning or experience, you can reduce the number of courses you need to complete and graduate in less time.
To be eligible to complete the degree in 1 year full-time (or part-time equivalent)full-time (or part-time equivalent), you'll need:
- a Bachelor honours degree (or equivalent) in sports coaching, exercise and sport sciences, health and physical education.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
Relevant disciplines for previous qualifications
Relevant disciplines includes sports coaching, exercise and sport sciences, health and physical education
Relevant work experience
Coaching experience as per entry requirements
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
PTE Academic - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Inherent requirements
To complete this degree, you have to meet its inherent requirements by demonstrating essential skills and attributes. Read the inherent requirements before you apply.
Student visas
This program does not meet the eligibility requirements for an Australian Student visa (subclass 500).
To study this program in Australia you will need a temporary visa or residency status with study entitlement. Some programs can also be studied from outside Australia.
Need help meeting the entry requirements?
Additional application information
Additional application information
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$25,280
2025
$25,280
2025
Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $43,200
2025
AUD $43,200
2025
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
FEE-HELP
Domestic students who are accepted into the Master of Sports Coaching pay tuition fees.
FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their tuition fees.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. The program code for the Master of Sports Coaching is 5725.
International students who want to study this program will not be eligible for a Student Visa (subclass 500).
To study this program in Australia, you will need an Australian visa or residency status with sufficient study entitlement. Some programs can also be studied from outside Australia.
This program is available in multiple durations. You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements.
When you apply, select your preferred duration. If you don't meet the requirements for your first preference, we'll automatically consider you for entry into a longer duration.
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Master of Sports Coaching is 5725.
This program is available in multiple durations. You can apply for any duration as long as you meet the entry requirements.
When you apply, select your preferred duration. You can also ask us to consider you for a longer duration if you don't meet the entry requirements for your first preference.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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