Program Overview

Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Sports Coaching is designed to support the ongoing development of practicing coaches. This 8-unit program is offered externally and requires internet access. It is available for part-time study only, with a duration of 1 year.

Program Highlights

• Join the longest running online sports coaching program in Australia, educating coaches worldwide for more than 20 years.
• Enjoy the convenience of flexible, online study and collaboration with your peers, program staff, and coaches.
• Gain an internationally recognized qualification through a program designed by elite coaches, expert academics, and world-leading researchers.
• Develop your coaching practice through practical, work-based learning approaches that can be tailored to your individual circumstances.

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for entry, you'll need:

• A bachelor's degree (or equivalent), plus current coaching qualifications endorsed by a recognized sporting body (e.g., a national sporting organization) or equivalent and one year's coaching experience.
• You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
• OR
• A current coaching qualification endorsed by a recognized sporting body (e.g., a national sporting organization) or equivalent, and five years coaching/high performance sporting experience, comprising:
  • 150 contact hours per year, and
  • 450 hours per year in planning, preparation, self-reflection, and learning, and continuing professional development.
• High performance sporting experience means experience in performance sport contexts that are primarily focused on peak performances at major competitions. These contexts will typically be characterized by intensive preparation over prolonged periods involving extensive intervention and interpersonal contact.
• Applicants who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander who meet the minimum entry requirements for this program will be offered a place. On admission to the program, you will need to provide evidence of your Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status.

GPA Equivalent

Select where you studied and your qualification to see the GPA equivalent you need to be considered for this program.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
• TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21, and speaking 19.
• PTE Academic - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub-bands.
• BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
• CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub-bands.
• OET is not accepted.

Fees and Scholarships

Indicative Annual Fee

Approximate yearly cost of tuition (8 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.

• Domestic: $14,076 (2026)
• International: AUD $22,896 (2026)

Government Assistance

• FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their tuition fees.
• Centrelink support: The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.

Scholarships

You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships.

How to Apply

Applying Online

All international applications should be submitted to UQ. The program code for the Graduate Certificate in Sports Coaching is 5444.

• International students who want to study this program will not be eligible for a Student Visa (subclass 500).
• To study this program in Australia, you will need an Australian visa or residency status with sufficient study entitlement. Some programs can also be studied from outside Australia.

Important Dates

• The closing date for this program is:
  • To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
  • To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.

What You'll Study

At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:

• Quality Coaching: Understanding, Informing, and Advancing Practice
• Sport Science: Anatomy, Biomechanics, Physiology
• Movement and Performance Analysis
• Applied Sports Psychology for Coaches

Career Possibilities

Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:

• Coach educator
• Coaching director
• Head coach
• Assistant coach
• High-performance coach
• Performance director
• Sports development manager

Inherent Requirements

To complete this degree, you have to meet its inherent requirements by demonstrating essential skills and attributes. Read the inherent requirements before you apply.

Student Visas

This program does not meet the eligibility requirements for an Australian Student visa (subclass 500).

• To study this program in Australia, you will need a temporary visa or residency status with study entitlement. Some programs can also be studied from outside Australia.