Program Overview

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Sport Science and Health

Overview

Are you passionate about sport? Can you imagine supporting an elite athlete to the heights of their career or helping to coach a team to be among the best in the world? That’s exactly what many of our Sports Science and Health graduates do, while many others make a massive impact in the community, helping people of all ages to enjoy and benefit from sport and exercise.

During this course, you’ll learn how to enhance health and human performance, and how to advocate for and champion a healthy, educated and active society. You’ll encounter a range of teaching methods, including practical sessions, and develop key skills you can use in any career, including creative and critical thinking.

Careers & Further Options

Careers

You may opt for further study in related areas, including physiotherapy, nutrition, clinical exercise, strength and conditioning, coaching and education.

Our INTRA programme provides six months of paid, relevant work experience to students. This will give you a genuine competitive edge with employers when you graduate.

The course provides a broad foundation of knowledge, skills and experience for those wishing to pursue employment in:

• Sport (e.g. coaching, sport development, sport science support, sports industry)
• Health (e.g. health promotion, cardiac rehabilitation, corporate health advisor)

Several graduates from the course are employed as sports development officers at local, regional and national levels. They are involved in a variety of roles, including the development and implementation of programmes and strategies linked to increasing participation, improving skills, coaching development and improving the standards of coaching practice.

There are growing opportunities for graduates to gain employment as sport coaches. Coaches are required to have the capacity to improve and develop individual and team performances. Graduates who are employed in coaching have a broad understanding of all aspects of sports performance in a particular sport and, in addition to their degree qualifications, will normally hold coaching qualifications in that sport.

Graduates of the course also work as exercise consultants on specialist programmes in the gymnasium, sports or fitness clubs to help their clients to meet their goals and administer appropriate methods of assessment. After compiling and interpreting the results of this assessment, they design a suitable exercise or training programme. This could be of a technical, physiological or psychological nature.

The course will also provide you with opportunities for further study in a wide variety of related specialist areas, including physiotherapy, nutrition, clinical exercise, strength and conditioning, and coaching and education.

There are also opportunities for postgraduate study.

Career Areas

• Coaching
• Health (e.g. health promotion, corporate health advisors, exercise specialists)
• Recreation - public and private sector
• Education/Physical Education
• Medicine
• Nutrition/Dietetics
• Physiotherapy
• Occupational therapy
• Graduate studies – taught and research
• Business

Entry Requirements

Leaving Cert

In addition to the general entry requirements for admission to the university the following entry requirements apply

• Minimum of O4 or H6 in Mathematics and minimum of O4 or H6 in one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics with Chemistry or Agricultural Science

GCE A Level

In addition to the general entry requirements for admission to the university the following entry requirements apply

• GCE A Level D or GCE AS Level C or GCSE C Mathematics and GCE A Level D or GCE AS Level C or GCSE C in one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics with Chemistry or Agricultural Science

FET Level 5

Please visit our Admissions webpage for details on course requirements or how to apply to DCU.

Mature Applicants

Mature entry is a competitive process. Applicants must demonstrate:

• a genuine interest in the programme(s) they are applying for
• academic experience and competency in their chosen field of study
• an ability to engage and succeed on the programme

All applicants must complete a statement of interest to be considered for the mature application route.

For further guidance on the mature application process please see the CAO Website

Additional Criteria

This programme requires evidence of competency in Mathematics and one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics with Chemistry or Agricultural Science, which would equate to a O4/H6 in these subject areas. This requirement is essential for this programme. Applicants can show their strength in this through formal examinations e.g. school leaving examinations, QQI-FET, access programmes, or other third level qualifications. If applicants don’t have any relevant examinations, they may be able to meet the requirements through their work and life experience, applicants must give examples of this experience to demonstrate their competency in these areas in their personal statement.

Course Structure

Year 1

• Physiology for Health Sciences
• Chemistry
• Psychology
• Sport and Exercise Physiology
• Motor Control and Learning
• Performance Analysis in Sport
• Introduction to Exercise Science
• Conditioning Science: Theoretical Approaches
• Applied Health Related Fitness
• Physics
• Adapted Physical Activity

Year 2

• Introduction to Research Methods
• Sport and Exercise Nutrition
• Conditioning Science 2
• Sport Psychology
• Anatomy and Functional Anatomy
• Integrated Sport and Exercise Physiology
• Genetics and Health
• Sociology of Sport
• Sport and Exercise Biomechanics 1
• Physical Activity Psychology
• Conditioning Science 3: Delivering Performance

Year 3

• Clinical Exercise Physiology
• Coaching and Inclusion Studies
• Applied Exercise and Health Psychology
• Injury and Illness in Athletics
• Sport and Exercise Biomechanics 2
• INTRA

Year 4

• Clinical Exercise Physiology
• Research Methods
• Research Project

Year 4 Options (select two)

• Talent Development and Sports Systems
• Exercise as Medicine – Theory and Practice
• Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Exercise and Sport Science
• Business Planning

Fees and Funding

Fees

• Full time: Student Contribution €3,043 per annum, EU Status Fee €6,679 per annum, Non EU Fee €16,400 per annum

How To Apply

Applicants presenting EU school leaving examinations (EU, EFTA & UK)

• Apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1st February or 1st May

Applicants presenting examinations from outside the EU

• To apply for this programme: Candidates should apply directly here.

Mature Applicants

• All mature applicants apply through the CAO by 1st February. For further information and for special application procedures for mature students, please click here

Advanced Entry

• EU applications are made via the CAO Advanced Entry route which opens on the 05th November to the 1st July.

Life On Campus

Life on Campus

At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.

Campus Life

Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.

Accommodation

Information about accommodation each of our three campuses can be accessed here.

Student Supports

We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.

FAQs

Programme FAQs

• What will I study during the Bsc in sport science and health (dc202)?
• Is it possible to specialise in either sports science or health?
• How applied is the bsc in sport science and health course?
• Intra placements - are these found for you?
• What is the difference between AT &T and physiotherapy?
• How detailed are the science subjects in the sports science course and would it be manageable if I didn't do biology/chemistry/physics for LC?

Faculty FAQs

• Is DCU all one campus?
• If I'm studying on the St Patrick's campus, can I use the library and sports centre on the Glasnevin campus?
• Are there libraries in DCU and if they have wifi and work stations?
• Does DCU provide accommodation?