Master in High-Performance Sport
Saarbrücken, Germany
Master degree
DURATION
4 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* University fee 394,30.- EUR/ per semester.
Key Summary
The focus of the M.Sc. High-Performance Sport is on topics of current interest in international elite-level sports: What training methods are used? How do we conduct meaningful performance diagnostics? Which aspects of sport medicine and sport psychology need to be taken into account? What structures exist in the field of international elite sports? How do talent identification and talent development programs work? What does an effective anti-doping strategy look like?
Students on the program also gain a deeper understanding of performance physiology, biomechanics, talent development and social issues in elite sport. They become acquainted with internationally recognized elite training and diagnostic programs and learn to independently plan elite-level training sessions. Other topics covered include performance analysis, leadership and anti-doping measures. Graduates from the program find career opportunities in the global market for professional and high-performance sports, or working in universities at home and abroad, in national or international sport associations and federations and in professional sports clubs.
Saarbrücken is the ideal location for studying this wide-ranging Master's program. Close cooperative ties exist between the Saarland/Rhineland-Palatinate Olympic Training Base and the Saarland Sports Federation.
Degree overview
- 2 years
- full-time
- 120 CP
- Mandatory units "General Aspects: Methods and Basics" (20 credit points)
- Mandatory units "Specific Aspects of Competitive Sport (65 credit points)
- Free elective area (15 credit points)
International exchange options
- University of Groningen (Netherlands; Erasmus+)
- Rejkyavik University (Iceland; Erasmus+)
- University of Technology Sydney (Australia)
- Université de La Réunion (France; Erasmus+)
- Université Jean-Monnet Saint-Etinne (France; Erasmus+)
- Primorska University (France; Erasmus+)
The program is divided into four sections:
- The mandatory section ‘General Aspects: Methods and Basics’ worth a total of 20 ECTS credits
- The mandatory section ‘Specific Aspects of Competitive Sport’ worth a total of 65 ECTS credits
- The free elective section
- and the Master’s thesis worth 20 credits.
The mandatory section ‘General Aspects: Methods and Basics’ consists of the modules "Research and evaluation"; the mandatory section "Specific Aspects of Competitive Sport" includes the modules:
- Medicine and physiology in elite sports
- Biomechanics and motor control
- Training and competition in elite sports
- Social issues in elite sports
- Developing the elite athlete
Graduates of the Master's High-Performance Sport pursue a career either in applied sport or go into academia, usually a PhD program. Recent graduates in the applied field are working in professional football clubs, sport federations and Olympic Training Centers. Students choosing an academic pathway have successfully applied for different PhD programs all over the world.
Career perspectives
The high-performance Master's program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to work successfully with elite athletes, coaches and sporting organizations. It combines basic research and practice in elite sports with a strong international perspective. Students on the program will learn about international methods of elite training and performance analysis, international sport structures and talent identification/development programs as well as strategies for international communications and leadership in elite sports. Graduates from the program can take up higher-level positions in elite sports coaching, performance management, strength and conditioning programs and talent development. They are also qualified to undertake advanced academic research (e.g. doctoral research for a PhD degree).
A top research university that offers a supportive and welcoming study environment
International students at Saarland University enjoy the benefits of small learning groups, spacious lab facilities, excellent supervision and personal contact to academic staff. The departments, institutes, laboratories and libraries are all on campus and close at hand. As Saarland University has quality assurance accreditation, the high quality of its academic programs and the excellent environment for teaching and studying are guaranteed. All degree programs at Saarland University are internationally recognized.
Leisure and cultural activities on and around campus
Saarland University offers students a very wide range of leisure activities, including sports, choirs and orchestras, theatre groups, a cinema and numerous cafés. Although situated in a pleasant woodland surroundings, the main university campus is only ten minutes from the city center. The Center for International Students (ZiS) offers international students an interesting and varied recreational program that includes excursions, guided tours, informal get-togethers and numerous cultural events. The ZiS buddy program is a peer mentoring initiative in which student volunteers from Saarland University help incoming international students to settle in and become acquainted with day-to-day life on campus.
Living in Saarbrücken
Students in Saarbrücken have access to a rich and varied program of cultural activities (theatres, opera, cinemas, clubs and street festivals) while also benefitting from living costs that are lower than in many other university cities in Germany. 'Der Staden' – a park that runs along the banks of the River Saar – is a great place to relax, especially in the summer. The weekend sees lots of visitors from the neighboring Lorraine region of France and from Luxembourg. Saarbrücken's close proximity to France is very noticeable at Sankt Johanner Markt with its cafés and colourful market stalls. And it's sunny, too! Saarland is one of the warmest regions in Germany with some of the mildest temperatures throughout the year.
Discovering the region
Saarland is located in the heart of Europe. France is right on Saarland's doorstep, and you can reach Paris from Saarbrücken in just under two hours. France's Lorraine region is only a few minutes away by car, bus or train and Alsace is also not far. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a mere 80 kilometers away, where the countryside provides plenty of opportunities for long walks or hikes. Whether you fancy having breakfast in Sarreguemines, want to take a stroll through Metz, trace history in Verdun or simply experience the cafés of Place Stanislas in Nancy, all these and other destinations in the region are easy to reach from Saarbrücken.