Coaching & Sports Performance - Kerry
The Coaching and Sports Performance programme aims to develop, from evidence-based theory and practice, the students’ ability to lead physical activity, to coach athletes (individually and in teams), and manage sports teams and individual athletes.
| Award Name | Degree - Ordinary Bachelor (Level 7 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Munster Technological University |
| NFQ Level | Level 7 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Ordinary Bachelor (Level 7 NFQ) | Major | Munster Technological University | Level 7 NFQ |
Duration
3 years full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Score the necessary CAO points and meet Leaving Certificate Minimum entry requirements
5 Subjects
Subjects O6/H7 5
Subjects H5 0
Maths Grade 06/H7
English or Irish Grade O6/H7
Certificate of Fitness required
Garda Vetting
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Minimum entry requirements may be satisfied by the results of more than one Leaving Certificate. The minimum entry requirements may be varied for non-standard applicants and holders of QQI-FET awards.
2nd Chance Maths Exam
Some students who apply for MTU courses may not achieve the required entry standard in Maths through the Leaving Certificate examination. For such applicants, the University offers a second chance to reach the required entry standard through a MTU Maths Exam.
This second chance facility allows applicants (depending on their results in the MTU Maths Exam) to gain entry to courses with an Ordinary Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard and (with a higher level of performance) courses with a Higher Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard.
Common Bonus Points Scale for Higher Level Maths
A bonus of 25 points is awarded to applicants who achieve a grade H6 or above in higher level (HL) Maths.
Formula:
All students presenting H6 or above in HL Maths will have 25 points added to their score for Maths.
The six highest subject points scores will then be counted to achieve a cumulative points score, as is normal practice. The bonus points will only be relevant in cases where the subject HL mathematics (including bonus points) is scored as one of the candidate’s six best subjects for points purposes. Consequently, if HL mathematics (cumulative points score) is not among these six subjects, the bonus points will not be included in the total points score. Bonus points will be awarded irrespective of the year in which the examinations were taken.
Foundation Maths
A minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths fulfils the minimum entry requirements in Maths for the following programmes
A minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths fulfils the minimum entry requirements in Maths for the following programmes
MT 571 BA in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 574 BA in Social Care
MT 654 HC in Arts in Hospitality Studies
MT 655 HC in Arts in Culinary Studies
MT 971 BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 974 BA (Honours) in Social Care
Maths is not required for entry to:
MT 575 BA in Community Development
MT 572 BA in Early Childhood Education & Care
MT 820 BA (Honours) in Contemporary Applied Art (Ceramics, Glass, Textiles)
MT 821 BA (Honours) in Fine Art
MT 822 BA (Honours) in Photography with New Media
MT 823 BA (Honours) in Visual Communications
MT 931 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Guitar
MT 932 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Bass Guitar
MT 933 BA (Honours) on Popular Music - Keyboards
MT 934 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Drums
MT 935 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Voice
MT 936 BA (Honours) in Music
MT 938 BA (Honours) in Musical Theatre
MT 939 BA (Honours in Theatre and Drama Studies
Although not a requirement, if an applicant achieves a minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths, this grade is recognised for entry and CAO points are awarded as follows: F1 = 20 points, F2 = 12 points.
Full details of the minimum entry requirements for courses are outlined on the relevant course webpage. Applicants are advised to check the relevant subjects, tests, portfolios, and dates very carefully. In particular, there are early assessment procedures for some courses.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Holders of the LCVP apply in the normal way through the CAO. Points are awarded on the same basis as for the Leaving Certificate. The link modules ‘subject’ may not be used to meet the minimum entry requirements.
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP
The LCA subjects do not meet the minimum requirements for entry to MTU full-time courses. Holders of Leaving Certificate Applied qualifications may wish to proceed to a FET-QQI course and in turn apply to third level on the basis of their FET-QQI award.
Careers / Further progression
Employment Opportunities
This degree programme is intended for prospective students interested in pursuing a career in areas such as:
• High-level fitness instruction and personal training businesses, for teams, professional athletes or private individuals
• Sports management in elite and professional club contexts
• Commercial sales and/or sales management in the sports and fitness sector
• Coaching, coach tutoring
• Sports development, talent development, athlete and team conditioning
Further Studies
Suitably qualified Level 7 graduates are eligible to progress to year 4 (final year) of the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Coaching and Sports Performance.
Further information
September 2026
16
Entry 2026
Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Overview
The Coaching and Sports Performance programme aims to develop, from evidence-based theory and practice, the students’ ability to lead physical activity, to coach athletes (individually and in teams), and manage sports teams and individual athletes. Graduates will also have the knowledge, skills, competence and first-hand experience to design and lead strength and conditioning programmes and to design and lead performance training programmes.
Graduates will be able to safely, and within context, advise on performance-related nutrition, apply the principles of sports psychology in context, and apply ancillary techniques in recovery from exercise, injury management or others in support of optimal sports performance and recovery.
The strength of the programme delivery model is that students experience a significant amount of applied practical time during their studies. The applied practice elements include independent studies, workshops, group discussions, activity leadership sessions, client (group and individual) engagement, and other activities that provide authenticity to the students’ experience.
Our students are regular players on the University’s teams in a variety of sports and through a variety of University society and volunteering activities. The department in general is known for its valued contribution to the health, fitness and leisure industry nationally, where the department is involved in establishing sectoral standards and educational policy change.
The Department of Health and Leisure Studies is a registered REPs Ireland provider. REPs Ireland (www.repsireland.ie) uses industry standards that have been developed and published by the European Health and Fitness Association to determine eligibility of individual exercise professionals for entry to the REPs Ireland register.
What will I study?
First Year at a Glance:
• Exercise Science – Anatomy and Physiology: the aim of this module is to explain the structure of the human body and how physiological systems contribute to overall body function
• Physical Education and Coaching Studies: enables students to critique human movement in order to facilitate learning and development in others across a range of movement contexts
• Introduction to Performance Training: provides a detailed understanding of the factors that affect performance, the components of field-testing and training methodologies for performance in the areas of speed, agility and flexibility
• Independent Studies: the aim of this module is to enhance student’s ability to coach human movement. Students will also gain a coaching qualification in a sport of their choice
• Activity Leadership – Weights: this module focuses specifically upon trends in the fitness industry and to bring students to a level of competence in the planning, delivery and evaluation of individual and group exercise sessions
• Exercise Science – Sports Psychology and Motor Learning: the goal of this module is to introduce and apply skill acquisition, motor learning and motor control in the context of sport and physical activity
Eimear Foley
Department of Health and Leisure Studies
Tel: +353 (0)66 714 4168
Email: eimear.foley@mtu.ie