Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science / Master of High Performance Sport

This is a combined degree. You start with the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, then move into the Master of High Performance Sport. Four years all up, full time. It suits school leavers who know they want to work in sport, and it suits people already working in the industry who want the postgraduate qualification without doing two separate enrolments.

How the four years are structured

Australian universities run most courses on semesters, and this one follows that pattern. You enrol in units of study each semester and each unit carries credit points. The bachelor half covers the science side: exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor control and skill acquisition, anatomy, research methods and strength and conditioning. The master's half takes that further into performance settings, athlete monitoring, load management, data analysis, applied physiology, and the practical business of working inside a high performance programme.

There is a capstone element in the master's stage. Depending on the pathway you take, that is either a research thesis or a substantial applied project. Both mean you finish with a piece of work you can show an employer. Murdoch also uses work-integrated learning, which in sport and exercise science means supervised placement hours with sporting organisations, clinics, gyms or high performance programmes. Placement is where most students work out what they actually want to do.

What you come out knowing

You learn to test and monitor athletes, interpret the numbers, and adjust training in response. You learn to run a session safely and explain why you programmed it that way. You learn research methods well enough to read a study critically and to run your own project. And you learn how to work alongside coaches, physiotherapists and sports doctors, because that is how performance teams actually operate.

Who it suits

It suits students who want to work with athletes rather than the general population, and who are willing to put in the placement hours. It also suits people already in the field, strength and conditioning coaches, exercise physiologists, sports trainers, who want to move into performance roles. Entry requirements, assumed subjects and English proficiency (IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the usual coursework-postgraduate standard) should be confirmed on the official Murdoch page and the CRICOS register, along with tuition, which is published on CRICOS. International students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream.

• High performance sport scientist working with professional or state-level teams
• Strength and conditioning coach in AFL, NRL, cricket, netball, soccer or Olympic sport programmes
• Exercise physiologist in private practice, cardiac or metabolic rehabilitation, or occupational health
• Athlete monitoring and load management analyst
• Sports development officer with local councils, state sporting associations or national bodies
• Performance analyst supporting coaching staff
• Clinical exercise specialist in hospitals and community health services
• Pathway into doctoral study and academic research in sport and exercise science

Employers include professional clubs and franchises, state and national sporting institutes, fitness and performance centres, private allied health clinics, hospitals, schools, and government sport and recreation departments.