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DC202

Sport Science and Health

Course Details

CAO Code:
DC202
Course Type:
Undergraduate
NFQ Level:
8 - Please see www.qqi.ie for further information
Placement:
Yes
Delivery Modes
Full-Time
Minimum Points
511
Duration:
4 yr
Phone:
+353 (0) 1
700 6442

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?

 

Overview

Overview Icon

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. 

Understand the possibilities

You’ll study anatomy, behaviour change, coaching, nutrition, physiology, psychology, sociology and more, understanding these topics as they apply to people of all ages and in contexts from general health through to elite sport performance. To gain on-the-ground experience, you’ll do a six-month INTRA programme work placement in third year.

As a Sport Science and Health graduate, you could go on to work as a performance analyst, performance coach, laboratory technician or health promotion officer. Alternatively, you could go on to a masters or professional doctorate in elite sport, health promotion, strength and conditioning, nutrition, psychology, physiology, physiotherapy or advanced entry medicine.

DCU People

Profile picture of Orla Smith
Orla Smith
Student

DCU topped most of the university rankings for Sport Science and Health, making it an easy decision for me. As an athlete myself, I wanted to work in a practical area of professional sport.


Read more about Orla Smith

Careers & Further Options

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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.

  • 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

DCU graduates are highly sought after by employers. Our Graduates work in environments ranging from large multinationals to SMEs, family businesses and start-ups across every sector.

DCU Careers Service has a number of learning and development initiatives in place for our students, giving them the skills they need for a successful career path.

Go to our Careers site to find out more about career planning, our mentorship programme, skills development and online resources for students when working on CVs and making applications.

Entry Requirements

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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

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 

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

 

Please visit our QQI FET webpage for details on DCU courses, open days, campus tours or school visits.

 

To apply to DCU, please visit www.cao.ie.

 

Applicants that have completed at least one year of study at NFQ Level 7 or 8 at another institution may apply to continue their studies on a similar programme at DCU. There should be substantial overlap in content between the two programmes to be considered for a transfer. The specific criteria for entry may vary for each programme. Results and other supporting documentation must be submitted to CAO by the closing date of 1st July. This is a competitive application process for a small quota of advanced entry places, so early application is advised. Submission of an application does not guarantee an offer. Offers are made on a rolling basis until all places are filled. Please note: Applicants should also consider applying through the appropriate route for first year entry to the programme they are interested in. This application process is only for advanced entry.

International candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to those outlined above. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. For further information on international applications click here.

Course Structure

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

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Fees

Student Contribution.
€3,043 per annum
EU Status Fee
€6,679 per annum
Non EU Fee.
€16,000 per annum

How To Apply

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Applicants presenting EU School Leaving/FETAC Level 5 examinations: Apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1st February or 1st May

To apply for this programme:


Candidates should apply directly here. Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application.

Please provide 

  • Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation, if applicable.
  • If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements.  Please see link http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis up to 1st July. All Non-EU candidates are advised to apply early, as places are limited.

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

Applications are made via the CAO Advanced Entry route which will open on the 06th November to the 1st July.

Life On Campus

Life on Campus
DCU Campus Glasnevin

DCU Glasnevin Campus

FAQs

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What will I study during the Bsc in sport science and health (dc202)?

In this programme you will study Biology, Chemistry, Physics as well as some Mathematics.

 

The INTRA Placement in Sports Science and Health comes in the second semester of third year. While some paid placements are found and offered by the INTRA Office others students prefer to find their own. Placements take place in all aspects of sports science and a number of students go abroad each year. We have found that the INTRA placement helps guide the future career directions of many students and it is not uncommon for students to go back and work in the place they did their INTRA placement.

 

Is it possible to specialise in either sports science or health?

As you progress through the degree there are a variety of sports science, health and multi-disciplinary modules. Students specialise in a number of ways - where they do their INTRA placement, in the selection of their final year project and critically in the final year in the selection of specialist modules.

 

How applied is the bsc in sport science and health course?

The Sports Science and Health degree builds on scientific principles and during the first it year covers many of the sciences again. As you progress through the course it becomes more applied with significant modules in aspects such as Strength and Conditioning, Fitness, Coaching, Performance Analysis, Biomechanics etc. Anyone considering doing Sports Science and Health do need a good grasp and interest in scientific subjects.

 

Intra placements - are these found for you?

The INTRA Placement in Sports Science and Health comes in the second semester of third year. While some paid placements are found and offered by the INTRA Office others students prefer to find their own. Placements take place in all aspects of sports science and a number of students go abroad each year. We have found that the INTRA placement helps guide the future career directions of many students and it is not uncommon for students to go back and work in the place they did their INTRA placement.

 

What is the difference between AT&T and physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy: A more general programme.

Includes treatment of non-musculoskeletal illnesses such as: cardiac and respiratory illness, neurological conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, and many other conditions.

Athletic Therapy and Training: Complete focus is on musculoskeletal injuries, their prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.

 

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?

Students are required to complete a module in both chemistry and a module in physics in the first year of the ATT cand SSH courses. Students who have not completed this subject at LC will still be able to successfully complete the module as part of this course and there is additional support available.