Master of Applied Human Performance Science (coursework)

The Master of Applied Human Performance Science at the University of Western Australia is a two-year coursework degree for people who want to work with athletes, patients or workers whose bodies are under load. You study how the human body responds to training, injury, heat, altitude, fatigue and rehabilitation. Expect units in exercise physiology, biomechanics, strength and conditioning, motor control, and research methods. You also learn how to run and interpret performance testing, from VO2max and lactate thresholds to force plate and GPS data.

This is a master's degree by coursework, so the structure is a set sequence of units rather than a long research thesis. At UWA, coursework programs run across semesters, and each unit carries a credit point value. You need to pass the required units and accumulate the total credit points for the award. There is usually a research component, a supervised project or capstone, where you design a study, collect data and write it up. Some students use that project to work with a sports team, a clinic or an industry partner. Check the official course page for the exact unit list and credit point totals.

Work-integrated learning is common in this field, and placement or practicum units put you in real settings: professional and community sport, strength and conditioning gyms, exercise physiology clinics, or occupational health. You practise assessing clients, writing programs, monitoring load and reporting back to coaches and health professionals. That supervised hours are what employers ask about at interview. The course suits graduates in exercise science, physiotherapy, human movement, or a related health degree who want to specialise. It also suits people already working in sport or rehab who need formal postgraduate training to move into a senior role.

UWA is in Perth, and the city has strong links to high-performance sport, including AFL, cricket, swimming, rowing and Olympic pathway programs, plus a large mining sector that employs exercise physiologists in worker health and fatigue management. Entry requires a recognised bachelor's degree in a relevant field, and international applicants must meet English requirements. IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common coursework-postgraduate standard at UWA, though some health courses ask for more. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and UWA's own English programs are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 108371J. Graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, and while studying, a student visa allows 48 hours of work per fortnight. Confirm all details on the official UWA and CRICOS pages before applying.

• Exercise physiologist, working in private clinics, hospitals and chronic disease programs, often with accreditation through Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA).
• Strength and conditioning coach, with professional clubs, state institutes of sport, schools and private gyms.
• Sports scientist, collecting and analysing athlete monitoring data for AFL, NRL, cricket, swimming and Olympic pathway programs.
• Rehabilitation specialist, supporting return-to-play and return-to-work after injury, alongside physiotherapists and surgeons.
• Occupational health and injury prevention advisor, in mining, construction and transport, managing fatigue, manual handling and fitness-for-work testing.
• Performance analyst, using GPS, video and force plate data to inform coaching decisions.
• Clinical exercise researcher or project officer, in universities, hospitals and health agencies.
• Health and fitness program manager, designing and running programs for community organisations, defence or corporate wellness.