Master of High Performance Sport

Domestic International 

Course information for
2026 entry
  • 2025 entry
  • 2026 entry

Duration
1.5 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Fees (first year)*

$26896 Fee-paying

Start dates
ACU Term 1 , ACU Term 2 , ACU Term 3, ACU Term 4

Overview

The Master of High Performance Sport includes relevant, professional practice-related learning, independent research and project work, and an opportunity for an industry-based internship. This degree can also provide you with a pathway into further research study, for example a PhD.

A series of study units focus on the technological advances for athlete monitoring, advanced principles of strength and conditioning, and the relationships between fatigue, adaptation, performance and injury. The application of this knowledge to the planning and delivery of meaningful interventions for athletes to enhance performance and reduce the likelihood of injury and illness is essential for a professional working in the high performance sport environment. This includes using appropriate techniques of analysis to accurately interpret competition and training information, with advanced information literacy skills to communicate ideas and outcomes.

New to the Master of High Performance Sport in 2026, you can choose to enhance your skills further with our specialisations in coaching or sports analytics. 

Find out more:

Coaching

Sports Analytics

Course details

Course structure

Course map

Open all

Please note: Course maps are subject to change.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - No Specialisation - Full Time Option 1: Major Research Project

Students may commence the Master of High Performance Sport throughout the year.

Students who commence in ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4 or studying out of sequence, should contact the Course Coordinator to confirm course map.


+ The Major Research Project units (EXSC654 Part A and EXSC655 Part B) are a 12-month commitment. Students must have a GPA ≥5.5 in the first 8 units of the MHighPerfSport degree to be considered for EXSC654 and EXSC655.

  • Specified UnitsEXSC510Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Rehabilitation

    Unit offered ACU Term 1 and ACU Term 3

    10 cp
  • Specified UnitsEXSC513Data Analysis and Interpretation for High Performance Sport

    Unit offered ACU Term 1 and ACU Term 3

    10 cp
  • Specified UnitsEXSC650Fatigue, Recovery, Adaptation and Performance

    Unit offered ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4

    10 cp
  • Specified UnitsEXSC668Performance Nutrition

    Unit offered ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4

    10 cp
  • Specified UnitsEXSC512Leadership and Culture in High Performance Settings

    Note: This unit is only offered in ACU Term 3

    10 cp

  • See Elective list on the Course Enrolment Guide Unit Offering Tab.

    Elective unit options may be available in other ACU terms.

    Please refer to your Course Enrolment Guide for details.

    10 cp
  • Specified UnitsEXSC651Sports Injury Prevention

    Unit offered ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4

    10 cp

  • See Elective list on the Course Enrolment Guide Unit Offering Tab.

    Elective unit options may be available in other ACU terms.

    Please refer to your Course Enrolment Guide for details.

    10 cp

All units are delivered in Online Unscheduled mode.

Elective unit options may be available in other ACU terms. See Elective list on the Course Enrolment Guide Unit Offering Tab for details as to electives offered and availability.


* Elective units to be selected in consultation with the Course Coordinator

+ The Major Research Project units (EXSC654 Part A and EXSC655 Part B) are a 12-month commitment. Students must have a GPA ≥5.5 in the first 8 units of the MHighPerfSport degree to be considered for EXSC654 and EXSC655.


Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - No Specialisation - Part Time Option 1: Major Research Project

Students may commence the Master of High Performance Sport throughout the year.

Students who commence in ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4 or studying out of sequence, should contact the Course Coordinator to confirm course map.


+ The Major Research Project units (EXSC654 Part A and EXSC655 Part B) are a 12-month commitment. Students must have a GPA ≥5.5 in the first 8 units of the MHighPerfSport degree to be considered for EXSC654 and EXSC655.

All units are delivered in Online Unscheduled mode.

Elective unit options may be available in other ACU terms. See Elective list on the Course Enrolment Guide Unit Offering Tab for details as to electives offered and availability.


* Elective units to be selected in consultation with the Course Coordinator

+ The Major Research Project units (EXSC654 Part A and EXSC655 Part B) are a 12-month commitment. Students must have a GPA ≥5.5 in the first 8 units of the MHighPerfSport degree to be considered for EXSC654 and EXSC655.


Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - No Specialisation - Full Time Option 2: Minor Project and 2 Electives

Students may commence the Master of High Performance Sport throughout the year.

Students who commence in ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4 or studying out of sequence, should contact the Course Coordinator to confirm course map.

All units are delivered in Online Unscheduled mode.

Elective unit options may be available in other ACU terms. See Elective list on the Course Enrolment Guide Unit Offering Tab for details as to electives offered and availability.


* Elective units to be selected in consultation with the Course Coordinator

Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - No Specialisation - Part Time Option 2: Minor Project and 2 Electives

Students may commence the Master of High Performance Sport throughout the year.

Students who commence in ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4 or studying out of sequence, should contact the Course Coordinator to confirm course map.

All units are delivered in Online Unscheduled mode.

Elective unit options may be available in other ACU terms. See Elective list on the Course Enrolment Guide Unit Offering Tab for details as to electives offered and availability.


* Elective units to be selected in consultation with the Course Coordinator.

Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - No Specialisation - Full Time Option 3: Internship and Two Electives

Students may commence the Master of High Performance Sport throughout the year.

Students who commence in ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4 or studying out of sequence, should contact the Course Coordinator to confirm course map.

All units are delivered in Online Unscheduled mode.

Elective unit options may be available in other ACU terms. See Elective list on the Course Enrolment Guide Unit Offering Tab for details as to electives offered and availability.


* Elective units to be selected in consultation with the Course Coordinator

Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - No Specialisation - Part Time Option 3: Internship and Two Electives

Students may commence the Master of High Performance Sport throughout the year.

Students who commence in ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4 should contact the Course Coordinator to confirm course map.

All units are delivered in Online Unscheduled mode.

Elective unit options may be available in other ACU terms. See Elective list on the Course Enrolment Guide Unit Offering Tab for details as to electives offered and availability.


* Elective units to be selected in consultation with the Course Coordinator

Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - No Specialisation - Full Time Option 4: Minor Project and Internship

Students may commence the Master of High Performance Sport throughout the year.

Students who commence in ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4 or studying out of sequence, should contact the Course Coordinator to confirm course map.

All units are delivered in Online Unscheduled mode.

Elective unit options may be available in other ACU terms. See Elective list on the Course Enrolment Guide Unit Offering Tab for details as to electives offered and availability.


* Elective units to be selected in consultation with the Course Coordinator

Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - No Specialisation - Part Time Option 4: Minor Project and Internship

Students may commence the Master of High Performance Sport throughout the year.

Students who commence in ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4 or studying out of sequence, should contact the Course Coordinator to confirm course map.

All units are delivered in Online Unscheduled mode.

Elective unit options may be available in other ACU terms. See Elective list on the Course Enrolment Guide Unit Offering Tab for details as to electives offered and availability.


* Elective units to be selected in consultation with the Course Coordinator

Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - Coaching Specialisation - Full Time

Students may commence the Master of High Performance Sport throughout the year.

Students who commence in ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4 or studying out of sequence, should contact the Course Coordinator to confirm course map.

All units are delivered in Online Unscheduled mode.

* The Topic selected for EXSC656 Minor Project must be a Coaching related topic.

**The Placement arranged for EXSC657 Industry Internship must be in a Coaching related field


Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - Coaching Specialisation - Part Time

Students may commence the Master of High Performance Sport throughout the year.

Students who commence in ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4 or studying out of sequence, should contact the Course Coordinator to confirm course map.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - Sports Analytics Specialisation - Full Time

Students may commence the Master of High Performance Sport throughout the year.

Students who commence in ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4 or studying out of sequence, should contact the Course Coordinator to confirm course map.

All units are delivered in Online Unscheduled mode.

* The Topic selected for EXSC656 Minor Project must be a Sports Analytics related topic.

**The Placement arranged for EXSC657 Industry Internship must be in a Sports Analytics related field


Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Commencing ACU Term 1 - Sports Analytics Specialisation - Part Time

Students may commence the Master of High Performance Sport throughout the year.

Students who commence in ACU Term 2 and ACU Term 4 or studying out of sequence, should contact the Course Coordinator to confirm course map.

All units are delivered in Online Unscheduled mode.

* The Topic selected for EXSC656 Minor Project must be a Sports Analytics related topic.

**The Placement arranged for EXSC657 Industry Internship must be in a Sports Analytics related field


Prerequisites (Pre:) are other units that you must have passed before enrolling in the unit. 

Incompatibles (Inc:) are units similar to this unit. If you have previously passed an Incompatible unit, you are not able to enrol in this unit.

Graduate statement

Insight

As a graduate of the Master of High Performance Sport at ACU, you have personal insight into your role as a sports professional, grounded in a deep understanding of athlete performance, wellbeing, and ethical considerations. Throughout the course, you cultivated critical self-awareness, cultural respect and learning autonomy, enabling you to embrace change and growth in the rapidly evolving field of high-performance sport. As you advanced your knowledge and skills in strength and conditioning, fatigue management, performance and injury prevention, you discovered a need to seek truth and meaning in optimising athletic performance while upholding the principles of justice, equity, and human dignity. This aligns seamlessly with ACU's mission to enable flourishing lives and foster thriving communities, as you will be equipped to enhance the lives of athletes and contribute to the ethical advancement of the sports industry.

Empathy

As a graduate of the Master of High Performance Sport at ACU, you appreciate and value human dignity and diversity, essential in the multifaceted world of high-performance sport. The course enhances your ability to empathise with athletes from diverse backgrounds, fostering deep reflection on the physical, psychological, and cultural aspects of high-performance sport. You have gained insights into Indigenous Knowings and Perspectives, enabling you to engage respectfully with Australia's First Peoples in sporting contexts, while also developing the skills to work effectively with athletes and colleagues from various cultural backgrounds. This holistic approach to sports science and athlete management aligns seamlessly with ACU's mission to promote human dignity and the common good, preparing you to contribute positively to the sporting community and society.

Imagination

As a graduate of the Master of High Performance Sport at ACU you have developed your understanding of the intricate relationships between human movement, performance, and wellbeing, applying evidence-informed approaches to enhance athletic outcomes. You have acquired advanced skills in strength and conditioning, fatigue management, recovery, and nutrition, alongside critical thinking that enables you to innovate in order to enhance the design, delivery, and evaluation of interventions that reduce injury risks and optimise performance. These skills allow you to ethically contribute within professional sport settings, fostering collaboration and promoting the dignity of athletes while advancing the common good. This aligns with ACU's mission to pursue knowledge and human dignity through education that inspires change, supports thriving communities, and builds an ethical future grounded in faith and reason.

Impact

As a graduate of the Master of High Performance Sport at ACU, you have gained insight into the ethical responsibilities and societal impact of the profession, recognising the potential to enhance athlete wellbeing through evidence-based practices. You have developed advanced skills in leadership, communication, and collaboration, enabling you to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders in the sport, from athletes and coaches to medical professionals and policymakers. These skills will enable you to drive positive change in the field, promoting inclusive, sustainable, and ethically-sound approaches to high-performance sport that respect human dignity, underpinned by appreciation of ways of knowing and learning, and contributing to the common good. This aligns with ACU's mission to pursue excellence in service to others, fostering a commitment to social justice and ethical leadership that extends beyond the sporting arena to benefit broader communities both locally and globally.

AQF framework

Masters (Coursework) - AQF Level 9

Exit Points

  • A student who has completed 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings may exit with the Graduate Diploma in High Performance Sport.
  • A student who has completed 40 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, including EXSC510 and EXSC513, may exit with the Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport.

Additional course information

The program structure also provides the opportunity for elective choices to allow students to tailor the degree to their specific needs. This includes the flexibility to elect additional units in research training to provide students with a pathway into future higher degree research, an opportunity for an industry based internship, as well as additional units from fields such as sports science, rehabilitation, psychology, leadership, management and business. In addition, the program has two specialisations, being Coaching and Sports Analytics, allowing students to refine their elective choices specific to a specialisation that will appear as a bracketed degree on their testamur.

Overseas study available

  • Available to international students not seeking to study on a Student Visa.
  • This course is available to offshore international students.

Entry requirements

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

International students need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must:

a. hold a Bachelor degree or higher in Exercise Science, Sports Science, Human Movement or a related discipline

AND

have evidence of relevant industry experience;

AND

submit a supporting professional referee's report regarding suitability for this postgraduate program and/or experience in the industry.

OR

b. hold a Bachelor degree in Exercise Science, Sports Science, Human Movement or a related discipline, with a grade point average of at least 4.8 on the ACU 7 point scale;

AND

submit a supporting professional referee's report regarding suitability for this postgraduate program and/or experience in the industry.

OR

c. have completed one of the following ACU degrees:

  1. Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport
  2. Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport Leadership
  3. Graduate Certificate in Performance Analysis
  4. Graduate Certificate in Sports Analytics
  5. Graduate Certificate in Exercise Rehabilitation for Sports Injuries
  6. Graduate Diploma in High Performance Sport


NOTE: Applicants holding a Bachelor degree (or higher) in a related allied health discipline will be considered, dependent upon specific qualifications and evidence of industry experience.

NOTE: Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Diploma in High Performance Sport will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of 80 credit points.

NOTE: Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport, Graduate Certificate in Performance Analysis, Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport Leadership, Graduate Certificate in Exercise Rehabilitation for Sports Injuries, or Graduate Certificate in Sports Analytics will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of up to 40 credit points.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2026 Admission.

Applicants with higher education study

You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course. 

If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, we’ll assign you with a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration, and grade point average.

If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.

You can use our credit search tool to see what you might be eligible for. For more information about credit and recognition of prior learning at ACU, follow the link below.

Search our credit database

Learn more about recognition of prior learning

English language requirements

Applicants must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy and require an academic IELTS minimum overall score of 6.5 (with a minimum score of 6.0 in all bands), or an equivalent acceptable test score as outlined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy (see English Language Proficiency).

Inherent requirement

There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.

Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you

Pathways

Further study

The degree is designed with elective options of research training as a pathway to higher degree research, for example, PhD and Masters by research.

Fees

Course costs

Average first year fee*

$26896 Fee-paying

*This is an indicative first-year fee based on the tuition fee rates for a full-time student, using unit enrolment data from domestic students who studied the course in the previous year.

A student’s annual fee will vary depending on factors including:

  • Number of units studied per year
  • Choice of major or specialisation
  • Elective units

The University reviews fees annually.

You can view current course costs and domestic tuition fee rates by unit.

A 10% rebate on fees will be offered to domestic ACU graduates (from any faculty) enrolling in full fee-paying postgraduate studies in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Conditions apply.

Payment options

You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support. 

Explore your options 

Scholarships

You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.  

Search our scholarships  

Apply for this course

ACU Online Applicants

Apply now

Applicants for our High Performance Sport courses must also provide a referee report. Your referee can fill out and submit their reference online using the High Performance Sport Referee Report form.

Deferment

Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment.

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