Overview

The aims and objectives of this programme, which includes a professional strength & conditioning (NSCA) qualification, reflect our commitment to the development of insightful, competent, critical and reflective sports performance practitioners who have the following dispositions, skills, and content knowledge:

• Display originality and insight in the field of strength and conditioning for team and individual sports.
• Demonstrate the skills of utilising video notational analysis to provide feedback to individuals participating in strength sports and/or in a strength training environment.
• Understand nutritional planning for elite sports performance.
• Understand psychological principles underlying elite sports performance and demonstrate the application of psychological skills training to optimise sports performance
• Construct a variety of integrated training practices combining sport-specific skills and related conditioning challenges to optimise player development and progression.
• Demonstrate an appreciation of current research within the area of speed sports.
• Organise and perform lab and field-based skills related to research on selected human movement activity and defend the results.
• Graduates will develop a sound understanding of the physiology, psychology and biomechanics background behind sports performance for speed, endurance, team and strength sports.

Contact Details

Course Director: Ian Kenny PhD
Biomechanics Research Unit
Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences
University of Limerick
Ireland
Phone: +353 (0)6123 4308  
E-mail: ian.kenny@ul.ie

Graduate Profile

The MSc in Sports Performance, the first programme of its kind in Ireland, is now accredited and certifies its students in the following:

• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
• International Society of Performance Analysis in Sports (ISPAS) Video Analysis
• International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK)
• Irish Red Cross ‘Cardiac First Response’ (AED)

Programme Content

*a graduate diploma exit point is available for those students who do not wish to undertake the MSc Research Dissertation, and students who may wish to progress to a structured PhD within UL.

Module Descriptions

Scheduling

Classes will be block-scheduled with alternating blocks in years 1 and 2 to aid work release for part-time students. Part-time Mon/Tues year one and Thurs/Fri year two. All classes Mon-Fri between 09.00-18.00See course director for further detail.  Psychology pathway will only run if a threshold minimum number of students opt for it.

Entry Requirements

An undergraduate degree, 2.2 honours (Level 8 - National Qualifications Authority of Ireland) or higher, with preference given to applicants with related subjects such as health, sports science, physical education, nutrition, physiotherapy, anatomy or human biology. Relevant work experience in sport will also be advantageous.

Entry to the programme will be based on the result of a written application and appropriate academic references. There will be no interview.

RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) entry will be available for those without a related degree.

Garda clearance will also be required for this programme.

What to include with your application

• Qualification transcripts and certificates
• English language qualification(s) if English is not your first language
• Certified English translation of your transcripts/certificates where the original transcripts are in a language other than English
• A CV (Curriculum Vitae)
• Scanned copy of any laboratory, sports/coaching related certification or workshop attendance
• A copy of your birth certificate (long document)

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of either prior successful completion of a degree qualification taught through the medium of English or meet one of the criteria below (no longer than  two years prior to application):

Acceptable English Language qualifications include the following:

Matriculation examinations from European countries where English is presented as a subject and an acceptable level is achieved

• Irish Leaving Certificate English –Ordinary Level Grade D or above
• TOEFL – 550 (paper based), 213 (computer based), 80 (internet based)
• IELTS – Minimum score of 6.5* for Business, Arts, Humanities or Education programmes. Minimum score of 6.0* for Science, Engineering, Informatics or Electronics programmes *with no less than 6 in any one component.
• English Test for English and Academic Purposes (ETAPP) – Grade C1
• GCE ‘O’ level English Language/GCSE English Language – Grade C or above
• University of Cambridge ESOL –Certificate of Proficiency in English - Grade C / Certificate in Advanced English Grade A
• GCE Examination Boards – Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations – Grade C / Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate – School Certificate Pass 1-6 / University of London Entrance and School Examinations Council – School Certificate Pass 1-6

Results in examinations other than those listed above may also be accepted as meeting our English language requirements. Contact the International Education Division for advice.