Graduate Diploma of Applied Sport Science

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year

2025 course information

Award granted Graduate Diploma of Applied Sport Science
Deakin course codeH607
Faculty

Faculty of Health

Campus

This course is only offered Online with on campus intensives

Duration1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Course Map - enrolment planning tool

These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025:

Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8

Course sub-headings

Course overview

The Graduate Diploma of Applied Sport Science prepares you to lead and manage high performance teams. Combine training in advanced sport science, performance analysis and strength and conditioning, and benefit from professional development opportunities that take your career forward.

Want the career benefits of postgraduate study without having to commit to a longer degree?

The Graduate Diploma of Applied Sport Science is designed for busy professionals looking to progress their career in the sport science industry. You can study while you work and complete your degree online in just one year (full-time).

The course prepares you for both the technical and managerial aspects of high performance sport. Build specialised skills in sport science, performance analysis and strength and conditioning; and complement these skills by boosting your management capabilities through studies in leadership, culture development and continuous improvement. These management skills don’t just make you more employable, they give you a recipe for team success and allow you to develop your support staff, as well as your athletes.

The curriculum is underpinned by science and research – just one of the reasons why Deakin has been the #1 sport science school in the world for four years running*. You’ll graduate with the ability to critically evaluate and apply research to make confident, evidence-based decisions in your role. Better still, you will have direct access to academics with expertise in a broad range of sport science fields. This includes specialist researchers within Deakin’s multidisciplinary Centre for Sport Research (CSR) and Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN). Draw on their professional experiences when solving complex sport science problems and leverage their industry connections to start forming your own.

The course is made up of eight of the 10 units from Deakin's Master of Applied Sport Science. After completing the course, you may choose to further enhance your qualifications by continuing on to the Master of Applied Sport Science, with only two further units to complete.

*Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments 2021, 2022, 2023

Indicative student workload

As a student in an online course with on campus intensives in some units in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend at least 11-13 hours per unit every week participating in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals, placements and online interaction online. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time. Teaching, placements and assessment tasks may take place outside of Deakin University teaching periods.

Professional recognition

We are recognised as an industry provider for the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA).

Upon completion of the Graduate Diploma of Applied Sport Science or Graduate Certificate of Strength and Conditioning, you will meet the theoretical and practical skills gained through HSE724 Strength and Conditioning for High Performing Athletes and HSE725 Advanced Training Design for Sport for Level 2 ASCA accreditation. You would be required to provide ASCA with evidence of an article of publication standard for the Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning (JASC), and practical coaching experience, to meet the eligibility requirements for Level 2 accreditation.

For more details and to view the application form, visit ASCA.

Career opportunities

The course prepares you for career growth in the industry. Graduate with a sought-after combination of sport science and managerial skills that set you up for success in roles such as:

  • high performance manager
  • sport performance analyst

Depending on other professional accreditation, graduates could work as a strength and conditioning coach, sport performance analyst, a sport scientist or sport performance manager.

If you are looking to pursue further study, you may wish to articulate into the Master of Applied Sport Science after completing this course.

Participation requirements

HSE721, HSE724, HSE725 and HSE726 have on campus intensives. Intensives are typically delivered up to 5 days.

Domestic students must attend HSE721, HSE724 and HSE725 intensives on-campus at Deakin University. HSE726 can be completed on campus at Deakin University or online.

International students must attend HSE724 and HSE725 intensives on campus at Deakin University, Australia or at Universiti Sains Malaysia. HSE721 and HSE726 intensives must be completed either on-campus at Deakin University, Australia or online (video conferencing). International students who wish to complete intensives in person are recommended to attend all intensives in Trimester 3 and refer to the visa information under 'Additional course information' section.

Pathways

Master of Applied Sport Science (H707)

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Applied Sport Science (H507)
Graduate Certificate of Sport Performance Analysis (H514)
Graduate Certificate of Strength and Conditioning (H513)

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

Apply advanced knowledge of sport science to sport performance related problems including key principles, concepts and research strategies.

Communication

Select and use appropriate modes of communication to transmit evidence based sport science knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences with a view to inform, motivate and effect change at the individual and organisational level.

Digital literacy

Use digital technologies to locate and disseminate information, ideas and resources related to sport science to specialist and non- specialist audiences.

Critical thinking

Critically analyse complex theoretical and technical information related to a range of specialised sport science contexts.

Problem solving

Apply advanced cognitive and technical skills to autonomously analyse, generate and transmit solutions to complex sport science problems.

Self-management

Employ high-level personal responsibility, accountability and autonomy to demonstrate expert judgement and adaptability to familiar and emerging challenges confronting sport scientists.

Teamwork

Contribute to an interdisciplinary team and establish constructive relationships, with a range of stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes and to advance sport science across the broad spectrum of contexts.

Global citizenship

Engage in professional and ethical practice that demonstrates personal autonomy, awareness of, and adaptability to, diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts in sport sciences.

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Diploma of Applied Sport Science students must pass 8 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate: 

  • DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
  • 8 credit points of core units

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary. 

Course structure

Core units

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)

HSE070Exercise and Sport Laboratory Safety (0 credit points)

HSE720Athlete Development and Performance Management

HSE721Management and Leadership in High Performance Sport ^

HSE722Evidence Based Practice for Sport Science

HSE723Program Evaluation for Sport Science

HSE724Strength and Conditioning for High Performing Athletes ^

HSE725Advanced Training Design for Sport ^

HSE726Notational Analysis of Sport Performance ^

HSE727Time and Motion Analysis of Sport Performance

^ These units have practical Intensive components. Please refer to ‘Participation requirements’ section for further information.


Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.