Australian Catholic University

What you'll study

This online graduate diploma covers core applied aspects of high-performance sport, combining contemporary sport science with practical delivery and professional practice. Typical study areas include:

• Performance analysis and monitoring – methods for tracking athlete load, interpreting metrics and using data to inform planning and intervention.
• Strength and conditioning principles – programming for power, speed and resilience across athletic populations, and considerations for periodisation and recovery.
• Applied coaching and athlete development – advanced coaching practice, talent identification, skill acquisition and long-term athlete development frameworks.
• Sports nutrition, injury prevention and athlete wellbeing – applied approaches to fuelling, rehabilitation pathways and psychosocial support within high-performance systems.
• Leadership, governance and professional practice – managing a high-performance program, ethical practice, stakeholder engagement and policy considerations.
• Research methods and evidence translation – principles of applied research, critical appraisal of sport science evidence and translating research into practice.
• Applied capstone or practicum – project-based work or supervised applied practice linking theory to real-world high-performance settings (placement arrangements vary for online students).

Modules are delivered online with a mix of lectures, case studies, applied assignments and opportunities for interaction with experienced practitioners. The emphasis is on translating scientific and technical knowledge into effective day-to-day practice in high-performance environments.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally required to hold a recognised bachelor degree in sport science, exercise science, coaching, physiotherapy, kinesiology or a related discipline. Candidates with substantial professional experience in coaching or applied sport roles may be considered on a case-by-case basis, typically supported by a CV and referee reports.

International applicants must meet ACU's standard English language requirements for postgraduate study. Specific admission conditions or prerequisite units may be set for applicants whose prior study differs from the programme’s foundational content.

Career prospects

Graduates develop competencies suited to roles within high-performance sport organisations, professional clubs and national sporting bodies. Common career pathways include:

• High-performance coach or assistant coach
• Performance analyst or data specialist
• Strength and conditioning practitioner
• Talent development and pathway coordinator
• Performance support practitioner (e.g. sport scientist, wellbeing coordinator, rehabilitation liaison)
• Sports administrator or program manager within elite sport systems

The diploma also provides a pathway into further postgraduate study (master’s by coursework or research) for those interested in advancing research skills or moving into academic and high-level applied research roles.

Why study at Australian Catholic University

ACU combines applied teaching with research-informed sport science and strong industry links. The university’s sport programs are taught by academics and practitioners with experience in elite sport, and students benefit from connections to local and national sporting organisations, placement opportunities and contemporary online learning platforms.

Studying online at ACU allows working professionals to maintain employment while engaging with flexible, practice-focused content designed to be directly applicable to high-performance contexts. The university’s emphasis on ethical practice, athlete welfare and evidence-led coaching supports graduates to operate effectively across multidisciplinary high-performance teams.