Overview
Our two-year, distance-learning course gives you the chance to grow your elite sports performance expertise, put theory into practice and collaborate with leading sports professionals.
During the course, you’ll learn more about research methodologies and reflective practice, along with gaining critical analysis skills. You’ll also explore effective decision-making and get a better understanding of the motivation, cognitive and behavioural processes that underpin performance.
Study wherever you are
This flexible part-time course is designed to suit busy professionals all over the world, with all modules and seminars delivered online by DCU course members and industry experts. You’ll also work on an independent research project, applying the methodologies and knowledge you’ve learned along the way.
Once you graduate, you’ll have the skills to interrogate and expand your practice and broader practice within your domain. This will allow graduates to develop within their current role, explore opportunities to progress in your field or pursue new avenues of sport performance.
DCU People
This MSc in Elite Sport Performance perfectly combines learning, scientific work and meeting wonderful people and practice-oriented colleagues.
Read more about Jamilon Muelders
Careers & Further Options
Careers
There is an increasing demand for postgraduate study for early and mid-career professionals working in sport performance.
The MSc in Elite Sport Performance will provide students with the opportunity to secure a professional qualification that will allow them to stand out against their peers, and will significantly and positively impact their employability and ability to progress to the next stage of their career.
This course will provide a clear progression route for undergraduate students to complete their studies at Master’s level.
It will also provide mid-career professionals an opportunity for professional advancement in their current or future area of work.
"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."
Entry Requirements
Reflecting the nature of the MSc in Elite Sport Performance, candidates should be working in sport or a related area, or intend to work in the sport domain. Evidence that may be provided by the applicant to support this include one or more of the following:
1. Holding a position or role in the promotion of sport performance or
related area
2. Holding an appointment or professional position in the domain
3. Professional qualifications in the domain, with clear articulation of
intention to progress to work in the domain.
Candidates will be expected to hold a primary Level 8, minimum 2. 2 qualification (NFQ or equivalent) in an area of sport and performance. In line with DCU policy, students who do not have the appropriate level of academic attainment for direct entry may apply for access via the Recognition of Prior Learning process (RPL). All RPL applicants will be invited to interview and required to demonstrate that their learning is comparable in terms of academic training and assessment.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) applicants are required to submit a cover letter along with their application under the Transcripts section of the portal, affirming their intent to apply for RPL. For more information on RPL see here.
As part of the application process applicants may be called for interview.
Due to the specialist nature of this programme, additional criteria may be used to assess suitability to undertake this programme. For further information, please contact the Programme Chair using the contact details above
Programme Structure
The MSc in Elite Sport Performance provides appropriately qualified early-career sport professionals across relevant sport performance disciplines (e.g., sport science and coaching) with the opportunity to acquire advanced subject knowledge in their field.
We offer candidates the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary study that allows them to investigate issues in elite sport performance.
The MSc in Elite Sport Performance enables the development of both broad and specific knowledge bases in sport performance. The interdisciplinarity which constitutes best practice in sport performance domains is enshrined in the programme’s content and delivery. Indeed, the depth of expertise within the School of Health and Human Performance (SHHP) spans the range of disciplines of sport performance (i.e., psychology, biomechanics, physiology, coaching, physical education).
Designed with busy professionals in mind the course is available to professionals from all over the world, and fits with the demands of full-time employment. Enabling students to contextualise their learning within their professional context.
The modules comprise taught modules that deepen students’ understanding of theories and practice of sport performance and develop an advanced understanding of research methodologies and reflective practice, along with critical analysis skills. Critically, the modules provide students, as early career professionals, an opportunity to relate this knowledge and understanding to the elite sport performance context.
The MSc thesis (30 credits, Level 9), involves the completion of a research project.
Formal teaching including the use of online lectures, webinars, seminars, and online activities will be a feature of each module. This synchronous and nonsynchronous online content will be delivered using online platforms/resources including Loop and Zoom.
Semester 1
Planning Skills for Sport Professionals
In this module students will prepare a professional portfolio that details and reflects on their current role working in the sport domain, and a consideration of their professional aspirations and contexts.
Year Long
Learning for Sport Practitioners
This module enables students to examine the research and application of reflective practice, communities of practice and social learning in elite sport performance.
Semester 1
Expertise in Elite Performance
In this module students will examine approaches to the development of elite performance in their own field of practice and as a means to drive elaborative and adaptive thinking, judgement and growth.
Semester 2
Decision Making in Elite Sport Performance
In this module students will deepen their understanding of the decision making literature, the research and practice underpinning how decision making is acquired and the metacognitive skills that underpin effective decision making. Students will explore philosophical (e.g., ethics and values) underpinnings of their own practice, and how it pertains to issues concerned with knowledge and practice in sport.
Semester 2
Research Methods for Sport Practitioners
The aim of this module is to equip students with the knowledge, techniques and skills to critically appraise research, to plan appropriately for research (including ethical considerations and the DCU Research Ethics procedures), and to undertake qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
Semester 2
Evaluating and Planning for Elite Performance
In this module students will deepen their understanding of the literature and theories of the motivation, cognitive and behavioural processes underpinning performance in their sport domain. Students will explore the strengths and limitations of measurement issues in their performance domain as a means of making sense of available data and information.
Semester 2
Organisational Influences on Elite Performance
The aim of this module is to allow students to systematically review the study of organisational culture in sport and how it applies to elite sport performance.
Year Long - Thesis
The MSc Thesis provides students with the opportunity to conceive, synthesise and implement a research investigation into a genuine performance issue within their own sport domain, making use of appropriate methodologies and related knowledge.
Fees and Funding
Fees
How To Apply
- All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal which is available here. Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application.
- Provide Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation if applicable.
- One reference, from an individual in the candidate’s performance domain or an academic reference. Please see application for details.
- 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.
Please note if you are a non EU student and require a study visa, you are not eligible to apply for part-time programmes as study visas are only granted for full-time programmes.
Application Deadlines
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until:
- Closing date for EU applicants is 30th August 2025
- Closing date for Non-EU applicants was 1st July 2025.
Note applicants who require a study visa for the purposes of studying at DCU are advised to apply as early as possible.
All entry requirements should be met before the commencement of the programme.
Application Queries
For EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/eu-postgraduate-taught-admissions or email postgraduateadmissions@dcu.ie
For non EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/international-admissions-undergraduate-and-postgraduate or email internationaladmissions@dcu.ie
Commencement of Programme
The programme commences in September 2025.
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.
DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.
They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.
Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.
DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.
Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.
For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.
The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
DCU Glasnevin Campus
FAQs
Is DCU all one campus?
DCU is a multi campus university - the Glasnevin, St Patrick's and All Hallows campuses. The St Patrick's campus is where the Education courses are taught and some of the subjects from the BA Joint Honours degree. There is a 20-25 minute walk between the campuses but there are buses and bikes available to go between them also.
Click here to see maps of all of our campuses
If I'm studying on the St Patrick's campus, can I use the library and sports centre on the Glasnevin campus?
Yes, all facilities such as sports and accommodation are open for all DCU students to avail of.
Are there libraries in DCU and if they have wifi and work stations?
We have a brand new state of the art four floor library on our St. Patrick's Campus which complements the existing library on the Glasnevin campus. There is free wifi, work stations as well as desktop computers.
Does DCU provide accommodation?
DCU does have on-campus accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and you can find out more and apply via the Accommodation Office webpage.
