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Sports, exercise, science, diploma, fitness, course

Sports Science Diploma Level 6+

BTEC HND Sport and Exercise Science

About The Course
This is a 2-year full-time diploma PLC course in Sport, Exercise, Health, Nutrition, Rehabilitation and Sports Psychology. It offers you the opportunity to study for a diploma in all areas of Sports Science.

This course can act as a standalone qualification, or it can act as an access course where it can offer you an excellent opportunity to progress to one of our degree link courses. In some cases, advanced entry may be possible.

So if you want to study for a degree in Physiotherapy, Sports Rehabilitation and Therapy, or Sports Science, completing this Diploma in Sports Science at Inchicore College can help you gain direct access to these degree courses.

Reasons to choose Sports Science:

  • Perhaps you would like to work in the sports field but are still unsure of the area in which you would like to work.
  • You have chosen to start a new pathway in your life or want to upskill and begin a new career path.
  • Choose this pathway if you have not achieved the required Leaving Certificate points to gain access to your preferred degree.
  • Our team of highly qualified practitioners in physiotherapy, rehabilitation, P.E. and gym instruction, field-based testing and health and sports science will help you choose the right career pathway to suit you.
  • Inchicore College of Further Education is has been leading Sports and Fitness Education in Dublin for over 40 years and is part of the City of Dublin Education and Training Board.

Turn your passion for Fitness into a career at Inchicore College.

Course Coordinator: Karen Parkinson

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What you will study

Subjects Year 1:

  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Biomechanics
  • Fundamentals of Sport & Exercise Psychology
  • Injury Prevention
  • Nutrition
  • Psychology
  • Physical Activity, Lifestyle & Health
  • Professional Skills
  • Training, Fitness, Testing

Subjects Year 2:

  • Advanced Nutrition
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Psychology for Performance
  • Research Project
  • Sport & Exercise for specific groups
  • Sport Rehabilitation
  • Technology in sport

Course content may be revised for educational or organisational reasons.

Certification

BTEC Higher National Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science

NCEF (Year 2)
National Certificate in Exercise and Fitness

NCEF CEHF University of Limerick accredited Gym Instructor Qualification

NCEFNCEF Certificate in Exercise & Health Fitness

The Certificate in Exercise and Health Fitness accredited by the University of Limerick qualifies you to supervise and instruct on the gym floor including cardio, machine weights and free weight.

You will also be qualified to teach group exercise classes in:

  • Circuit Training
  • Body Conditioning
  • High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
  • Studio Fitness, Exercise to Music
  • Step Training
  • Resistance Training

(NCEF Certificate from University of Limerick)

Visit www.ncef.ie/fitnessinstructor for more info.

Entry Requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements

Leaving Certificate: O6/H7 in 4 subjects plus at least one O2/H6. Subjects must include English.
QQI Level 5 Award with a Merit profile in a related discipline.
Equivalent qualifications will be considered

Mature Applicants

Mature applicants who have relevant industry experience and may not meet the above requirements are welcome to apply.

Progression Opportunities and Career Prospects

Progression Opportunities

There are four main progression routes into the sports industry to choose from, depending on what are you are interested in. All of the routes are well established and have been tried and tested by previous graduates of this course.

Sport and Exercise Science Course Progression

Sport and Exercise Science Course Progression

The BTEC Higher National Diploma is recognised in over 110 countries around the world for employment and by higher education institutions as a qualification for advanced entry onto an undergraduate degree.

Graduates can avail of the opportunity to further their education by gaining entry to third level degree courses in many different universities and colleges in Ireland, UK and in Europe.

For example, graduates of this course have progressed on to higher education degrees at:

  • Physiotherapy at Hanze University, Groningen, Amsterdam
  • Physiotherapy at Eindhoven, Amsterdam
  • Sports Injuries and Athletic Therapy at SETU Carlow, TUS Athlone
  • Sports Science at TUD.
  • P.E. at St. Mary’s, Strawberry Hill, London

Learners have gained advanced entry onto the second year of Sports Management at TUD.

Universities may allow advanced entry onto the second or third year of a degree, and agreements can include credit transfer, articulation and case-by-case admission. Learners should be aware that university admission criteria are always subject to change and remain at the discretion of the institution. Learners should take time to understand the course entry requirements for subject, year and grade before applying.

Career Prospects

Graduates of this course are very successful at gaining employment in the sport industry. Types of employment include:

  • Sports Leader Performance Developer
  • Exercise, Health & Lifestyle Sports Development Officer
  • Leisure Development Officer
  • Strength and conditioning coach

If a student progresses to Degree level at a University, the opportunities for employment expand even further to include careers in Sports Therapy, Rehabilitation, Fitness Centre Management, Sports related physiotherapy and Nutrition

Student Stories

Louise Gibbons

Louise Gibbons

“While in Inchicore I became a more confident person and learned to believe in my abilities. The staff were very approachable and didn’t mind taking that extra bit of their own time to help me out and keep me on track. I got to take part in a work placement at a physiotherapy clinic. The skills I learned in the course really showed through and helped me secure a part-time job in the clinic.

Currently I am in my second year of Sports Rehabilitation and Athletic Therapy at SETU Carlow, this is a very popular course at the Institute. On completion of my Sports Rehabilitation and Athletic Therapy in SETU Carlow I will be applying to do a postgraduate physiotherapy course in UCD.”

 

The skills I learned in this sport and exercise course really showed through and helped me secure a part time job.