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Graduates may be eligible for Level 2 accreditation with ASCA
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Learn from industry professionals.
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You’ll graduate with 200 hours of real-world industry experience.
Bachelor of High Performance Sport
Course information for - 2025 entry
Offered at 4 locations
- Duration
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2.5* or 3 years, or part-time equivalent
*To complete this course in 2.5 years, students must commence in Semester 1 and complete several units in the summer and winter terms, outside the standard two semesters each year.
- CRICOS Code
- 096799F
- IELTS
- 6.5 minimum overall score (with a minimum score of 6.0 in all bands)
- Fees (first year)*
- $27504
- Start dates
- February 2026, July 2026, February 2027, July 2027
Overview
At the heart of high performance sport is the conditioning of the athlete, with the aim of optimising individual and team performance and keeping them at the top of their game. You will gain skills in sports performance and analysis, exercise programming, and strength and conditioning of athletes. You’ll learn to design and deliver programs that enhance athletic performance and reduce the likelihood of injury and illness.
Professional experience
You’ll graduate with a minimum of 200 hours real-world industry experience.
Work placement
To be a competent exercise scientist and strength and conditioning coach, students must be able to transfer the knowledge and skills they’ve learnt to a professional context with increasing autonomy and confidence. Your professional experience will allow you to apply your learning to help support clients’ and athletes’ needs, operate in an ethically responsible manner and communicate effectively. By undertaking a practicum you’ll meet the Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) professional practice requirements for Exercise Science accreditation and exercise scientist and strength and conditioning accreditation (level 2).
We’re connected to a huge range of sporting organisations including the Australian Institute of Sport; AFL, NRL and A-League clubs; Tennis Australia; and America’s NBA. With us you’ll get outstanding opportunities for industry placement and future employment in Australia and around the world. Students have recently completed internships at AFL clubs such as Essendon FC and Melbourne FC, A-league clubs such as Sydney FC Academy, Queensland Cricket, Tennis Australia, and in sports departments at Brighton Grammar School and Xavier College.
Students have completed tasks such as assisting in coaching athletes in gym sessions, prescribing exercises for athletes and monitoring their technique, managing and operating specific performance analysis equipment, testing, assessing and collecting data from elite athletes to create reports for athletes and coaches.
Visit the faculty’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) webpage to view opportunities in high performance science.
Professional recognition
This degree has 'qualifying accreditation' status with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) for the Strathfield, Melbourne and Brisbane campuses. Please note that ESSA requires all individuals seeking initial accreditation to meet ESSA's English Language requirements. Graduates are eligible to apply for Level 2 accreditation with the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association.
After completing their entire first two years of study, students can apply for registration with Fitness Australia to become a personal trainer.
The Bachelor of High Performance Sport offered at our Blacktown Campus is identical to the programs at our other campuses which are working towards accreditation. Accreditation is expected for Blacktown in 2023, once the first cohort is in its final year.
Careers
Our graduates have pursued careers in:
- the AFL
- the NRL
- Super Rugby
- A-league
- professional sporting organisations
- national sporting organisations
- national institutes of sport
- state institutes or academies of sport
- state sporting organisations
- small business in the health and fitness industry
- academia
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of High Performance Sport, a student must complete 240 credit points (cp).
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
Additional course information
Classes
Class sizes: Your class size will depend on the unit you are studying and if that unit is taught across different degrees. Most of the time units that are core to your degree will have smaller classes. The tutorial, lab and workshop class sizes are normally capped at 20 students.
Contact hours: Most units will require you to attend two to four hours of classes each week in the form of a lecture, tutorial, lab or workshop on campus. Some of these may be online and you will be required to watch, read, listen and interact with the materials provided as an alternative to attending face-to-face classes. Therefore, if you are a full-time student taking four units in a semester that will add up to four x units by four hours (maximum) = approximately 16 hours required on campus or engaging in content. Per semester each unit requires approximately 150 hours of work which includes scheduled classes and/or online engagement with learning activities, self-study and preparation of assessment tasks.
Sample assessments
High performance sport sample assessment examples:
Each unit has three assessments per semester.
Assessment 1 (30 per cent): Laboratory report
Assessment 2 (30 per cent): Practical assessment task
Assessment 3 (40 per cent): Exam If the unit has a final exam it is counted as part of the three assessments. Assessments have different weighting percentages towards your overall mark. A single assessment cannot be worth more than 50 per cent of your assessment total. The format of assessments is different for every unit and will be explained by your lecturer in the unit outline and at the start of the semester.
Overseas study available
There are international study opportunities within sport and exercise science including high performance sport.
High performance study tour
Location: USA
Travel dates: September – October
Rome semester
Four units delivered through a condensed eight-week schedule to eligible second- and third-year students.
Travel dates: August – October (dates and times may vary each year).
Community engagement and professional practice
Location: Timor Leste – Baucau and/or Vanuatu - Port Villa
Travel dates: mid-June – end July (each trip is approximately three weeks)
Grants/Funding: New Colombo Plan grants for travel to Timor Leste and Vanuatu are valued at $3,000 each.
Rome Campus
Intensive unit delivery of Motor Control and Learning
Travel Dates: June – July (during winter semester break)
Learn more about faculty-based Short-Term International Study Experiences (STISE) in sport and exercise science.
** These experiences are all subject to travel restrictions.
Entry requirements
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.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at year 12 level, or equivalent.
| State | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
New South Wales | Assumed Knowledge: English (Standard) – Band 3, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE); Mathematics (any) OR one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics |
Queensland | Assumed Knowledge: English (Units 3 & 4, C) , one of General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Health or Physical Education (Units 3 & 4, C) |
Victoria | Prerequisites: Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or 25 in English other than EAL. |
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2025 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.
View transparency admission information
International applicants
If you’re an international applicant you’ll need the equivalent of an Australian Year 12 Certificate.
Find the equivalent qualification for your country
You’ll also need to comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy , including the English Language Proficiency requirements.
If you’re an international student completing one of the following qualifications, you will need to apply for admission through your local Tertiary Admission Centre (TAC) and be assessed on your performance in these studies (i.e. your ATAR or equivalent):
an Australian Year 12 qualification (either outside or in Australia)
an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3.
Adjustment factors
If you’re currently completing Year 12 you may be eligible for adjustment factors that can boost your rank and help you get into your desired course.
Adjustment factors may be applied to your TAC application if you study particular subjects, attend schools geographically close to our campuses or in certain regional areas, apply as an elite athlete or performer or meet certain other criteria.
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
Pathways into course for international applicants
If you don’t currently meet the direct entry requirements for admission to your chosen program, don’t worry. Our range of pathway programs can help you build the language proficiency, academic skills and confidence you need to succeed.
Find out more about English language programs
Further study
Further study options at ACU include:
· Bachelor of High Performance Sport (Honours), and postgraduate opportunities in a variety of programs listed below.
Graduates are eligible to apply for admission to:
- postgraduate studies in high performance sport
- postgraduate studies in clinical exercise physiology courses, if seeking exercise physiology accreditation
- further study in other allied health professions
You can read more about our postgraduate programs in sport and exercise science
Fees
Course costs
- Unit fee: $3438
- Average first year fee: $27504
- Estimate total cost: $82512
The tuition fees quoted above are for commencing students in the current year who undertake a normal full-time load. The Unit Fee is based on a 10cp unit. Fees are reviewed annually.
Tuition fees for continuing students may increase by up to 3 percent each year for the minimum duration of the course as provided on your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE). Students who continue to study beyond the minimum duration will have the relevant annual commencing rate applied to their fees for subsequent study periods.
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.
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.
How to apply
International applicants
Direct application
Apply nowInformation on the application procedure
International students undertaking an Australian Year 12 qualification should apply through the relevant tertiary admissions centre.
Deferment
Yes. See Defer your offer.
Students with a Student Visa will need to complete the program in minimum duration, study at least one subject on-campus each semester and must not undertake more than 33% of the program online.
Staff Profile
Dr Ryan Timmins
Senior Lecturer in the School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Dr Ryan Timmins is the course coordinator of the Bachelor of High Performance Sport degree. After completing his PhD in 2015 focusing on hamstring muscle architecture and its role in injury and response to training interventions, he has continued to provide athlete injury consultancy to elite sporting teams. This has involved the assessment and reporting on various factors which may be associated with a range of injuries. He also provides input into program design and athlete management when addressing these factors with numerous industry stakeholders. Dr Timmins’ research focus is on sports injury prevention and rehabilitation practices that are applicable to sporting environments and realistic with their applications. He has been invited to speak at elite sporting organisations including Arsenal Football Club, Leicester City Football Club, Manchester City Football Club as well as Welsh and Scottish Rugby Union Associations. Furthermore, he has been an invited speaker at the European Congress of Sport Science, Aspetar Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Hospital, Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre and at the first Copenhagen Hamstring Injury Seminar.
Dr Alyse Wilcox
Dr Wilcox is the course advisor for the Bachelor of High-Performance Sport in Melbourne and the national course coordinator of the Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science & Bachelor of High Performance Sport honours programs. Dr Wilcox lectures in the sport, health, and exercise psychology units in both the undergraduate postgraduate programs. Her interests are in research in career transitions of athletes, including the experiences of dual career athletes as well as research in athlete wellbeing and performance.
Dr Wilcox is a registered psychologist and has extensive experience working in high performance sport settings. Her most recent roles were as the club psychologist for the Melbourne and Hawthorn Football clubs' AFLW programs. She has a passion for both teaching and working as a psychologist in high performance sport.
Testimonial
“I chose the Bachelor of High Performance Sport because it offers something more than just exercise and sports science. It offers an opportunity to learn how we can help our best athletes become even better. I aspire to work with these athletes and know that I’m helping to shape the current and future generations of sportsmen and sportswomen.”