Health & Performance Science
BSc (Hons) (NFQ Level 8)
Course Video
Curricular information is subject to change.
Open AllThis Level 8 Bachelor of Science degree course produces graduates who pursue careers across a variety of settings, including high performance sport, clinical professions (e.g. physiotherapy, dietetics, medicine) and scientific research in sport and health sciences. Students develop a range of skills at the interface of science, sports performance and health across the lifespan.
Modules studied on the Health & Performance Science degree include:
First Year
- Anatomy
- Health and Fitness
- Biochemistry
- Physics
- Exercise Physiology
- Theory of Coaching
- Strength & Conditioning
Second Year
- Laboratory Skills
- Sports Psychology
- Biomechanics
- Research Methods
- Exercise Prescription
Third Year
- Behaviour Change
- Sports Injury Management
- Skill Acquisition
- Statistics
- Practical Case Study
- Molecular Exercise Science
- Research Thesis
Students attend lectures and small group practical classes. Practical classes take place in both the UCD High Performance Gym and an exercise physiology laboratory, which is British Association of Sports and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accredited.
Assessment is through a combination of end-of-trimester written examinations and continuous assessment. In your final year, you will also undertake a group based research thesis.
For detailed information on subject content click here.
You may be interested in the following Blog posts: Why study UCD Sports & Performance.
Health & Performance Science students can apply to study abroad for a trimester in the USA, Australia and New Zealand, through one of the Sport & Exercise exchange agreements.
When you graduate, you’ll be skilled in the prescription and management of therapeutic exercise interventions in healthcare and sporting settings. You’ll also be an expert in the analysis and evaluation of human sports and exercise performance. Graduates can find employment in:
- Sport and exercise consultancy
- Health promotion
- Professional athlete or team support
- Exercise physiology
- Strength and conditioning
- Education and research
Graduates are also eligible to apply for MSc and PhD programmes in the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science.
“The BSc Health & Performance Science degree laid a strong foundation for me to pursue a career in high-performance sport as a sports scientist. There was a strong emphasis on both individual and practical group work in the course that challenged my ability to think critically and work collaboratively. The degree acted as a catalyst for me to pursue further education in UCD in the forms of a Prof Dip, MSc and PhD. To this day, I still have great connections with former students, lecturers and mentors from my time in UCD..”
Peter Tierney, Graduate
UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science
Belfield,
Dublin 4
Email: performance.science@ucd.ie
