Strength and Conditioning

Entry requirements

a second class honours degree or better in sports science or cognate area from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or

(ii) an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification; and

(b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent);

In exceptional circumstances, as an alternative to (a) (i) or (a) (ii) and/or (b) and/or (c), where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.

Months of entry

September

Course content

As a profession, strength and conditioning has seen substantial growth in the past 40 years. Strength and conditioning coaches, in collaboration with athletic trainers, physiotherapists, nutritionists, sport scientists, and other allied professions, are now commonly part of a team that provide
support services to athletes.

The knowledge base that is utilised by strength and conditioning coaches cuts across anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, and sport psychology. Developed to reflect the guidelines published by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), key stakeholders from industry have also been consulted to help formulate a needs-led curriculum. You will cover topics including principles and practice of strength and conditioning, nutrition and exercise metabolism, optimising exercise, programme design, motor cognition and performance, applied statistics and conduct a research project.

Employment opportunities for aspiring strength and conditioning coaches exist in government-funded organisations such as schools, colleges, universities, national/state institutes of sport, and privately funded professional organisations and with individual athletes.

Information for international students

English language requirements for international applicants

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.