Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences - Kerry
Graduates will have an honours bachelor of science degree and a variety of discipline- specific professional certifications. Students are expected to become sufficiently competent practitioners to become eligible for professional fitness instructor registration in group exercise, gym instruction, and personal training.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Munster Technological University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Munster Technological University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Score the necessary CAO points and meet Leaving Certificate Minimum entry requirements
6 Subjects
Subjects O6/H7 4
Subjects H5 2
Maths Grade 06/H7
English or Irish Grade O6/H7
Certificate of Fitness
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
Graduates work in health and leisure centres, in health promotion units, in spa/ wellness centres, in coaching and team sport settings, in performance training, exercise programming, hotels, with disability service providers, in clinical settings, in the private/entrepreneurial area, in local sports partnerships and governing bodies of sport, in swimming pools, and in the great outdoors.
Inclusive Sport and Physical Activity specialism graduates are health and leisure professionals with a specialist knowledge and experience in working with people with disabilities.
Physical Education Studies with Business specialism graduates work within the school environment, and also in youth work, adult education and broader community sport and leisure settings.
Health, Sport and Exercise Sciences specialism graduates develop, influence and advocate for policy, provision and practice in a range of sectors, while maintaining health, wellbeing and fitness and optimal performance as central paradigms of their careers.
Further Studies
Suitably qualified Level 8 Honours graduates are eligible to progress to the MSc in Applied Exercise for Health at MTU Kerry North Campus or to research at either master or PhD level. Graduates of the level 8, Physical Education Studies with Business stream, will be eligible to apply to a number of Professional Master of Education (PME) programmes in Ireland or similar postgraduate teaching programmes in the UK. Within Ireland, graduates will be eligible to apply for the PME in Physical Education in the University of Limerick, or a PME in business offered in a number of third level institutions nationally. Alternatively, students may apply for the merged PE and Business PME offered by the University of Limerick.
Further information
September 2026
35
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
This honours degree provides you with the skills to launch an exciting career as a professional in health, fitness, sport and leisure sectors. It involves the study of six major subject areas, five of which are common to all students: Exercise Science, Health Studies, Activity Leadership, Physical Education, and Professional Practice. For the sixth subject area, students study either ‘Education in Aquatics’ or ‘Outdoor and Experiential Learning’. All course material is delivered through a mix of applied theory and practice. This blend of teaching and learning approach prepares the student to be competent and confident in their practice as a health professional.
The first two years of the programme are generic and cover a broad range of areas of study which provide a foundation for a range of careers in the health, exercise and sports industries. At the end of second year, students enter Health, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Inclusive Sport and Physical Activity or Physical Education Studies with Business streams which allows students to begin to specialise in third year. There is also a 12- week work placement in third year, which can be completed with a local, national or international service provider.
Graduates will have an honours bachelor of science degree and a variety of discipline- specific professional certifications. Students are expected to become sufficiently competent practitioners to become eligible for professional fitness instructor registration in group exercise, gym instruction, and personal training. They will gain internationally recognised qualifications in aquatics including swim/aquatic teaching, aqua fitness, lifeguarding and inclusive aquatics from the Education in Aquatics module.
What will I study?
First Year at a Glance:
• Exercise Science – Anatomy and Physiology: the aim of this module is to explain, through principles and concepts of physiology and anatomy, the structure of the human body and how physiological systems contribute to overall body function
• Physical Education and Coaching Studies: the aim of this module is to enable students to critique human movement in order to facilitate learning and development in others across a range of movement contexts
• Activity Leadership: this module aims to bring students to a level of competence in the planning, delivery and evaluation of individual and group exercise sessions in the exercise to music and gym environments with healthy adults using a whole-part-whole approach
Eimear Foley
Department of Health and Leisure Studies
Tel: +353 (0)66 714 4168
Email: eimear.foley@mtu.ie