Master of Strength and Conditioning 18 months Postgraduate Programme By La Trobe University |TopUniversities
Subject Ranking

# =47QS Subject Rankings

Programme Duration

18 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

46,600 AUDTuition Fee/year

Application Deadline

26 Feb, 2026Application Deadline

Programme overview

Main Subject

Sports-Related Subjects

Degree

Other

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

If you've always wanted to work with athletes – or you're a current practitioner who'd like to enhance your skills – La Trobe's Master of Strength and Conditioning offers a unique opportunity to excel in this high-demand field as a qualified strength and conditioning coach.

Enhance your career as you learn the latest skills and knowledge on strength, speed and endurance. You'll study with expert academics and industry leaders as you learn how to work with elite, professional and amateur athletes – and help enhance their performance. You'll investigate and work with diverse athlete populations, including para-athletes, able-bodied athletes, and athletes of different ages and cultural and gender identities.

This course was developed in collaboration with the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA), so you'll learn the latest best practice. Our academic staff have a wealth of recent industry experience, and many have held positions with professional sporting teams, and state or national institutions. They have worked closely with development athletes through to Olympic medallists.

Immerse yourself in La Trobe's state-of-the-art sport and exercise facilities in Melbourne, including our Strength and Conditioning, Biomechanics, Physiology and Performance Analysis Labs. Located in La Trobe Sports Park, they boast the latest technology and research facilities. La Trobe Sports Park is also the new home to Rugby Victoria, Football Federation Victoria and Australia's women's national soccer team, the Matildas.

You'll benefit from both in-person and online learning. This flexible course includes four separate week-long blocks of intensive face-to-face classes and experiences in the first year, two of which are timed to coincide with the Australian Open and the AFL Grand Final. If you live interstate, it's a fantastic time to visit Melbourne – one of the world's top sporting cities – and meet likeminded professionals while you strengthen your skills and experience.

Take advantage of La Trobe's connections to Melbourne's top sporting organisations and work directly with athletes from professional clubs and our extensive partner network in your second semester. You'll also complete an applied industry project or research thesis as part of your studies, which will open up a pathway to further research and study in this exciting field.

You'll graduate confident, experienced and ready to take your coaching career to the next level – both here in Australia and sporting organisations around the world.

You'll learn:

  • How to assess and develop strength, power, speed, agility and endurance qualities
                  Learn how to design and implement training plans to improve the physical characteristics of athletes in preparation for competition.
  • High-performance management
                  Learn how to work in high-performance environments and explore the principles underpinning an athlete's success. You'll learn how to design and deliver training plans across a range of sports and performance levels.
  • Coaching
                  Learn how to develop meaningful relationships with the athletes you work with and understand how to work with other stakeholders who can help improve their performance.
  • Research methods
                  Plan and execute research projects that focus on strength and conditioning practice.

Programme overview

Main Subject

Sports-Related Subjects

Degree

Other

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

If you've always wanted to work with athletes – or you're a current practitioner who'd like to enhance your skills – La Trobe's Master of Strength and Conditioning offers a unique opportunity to excel in this high-demand field as a qualified strength and conditioning coach.

Enhance your career as you learn the latest skills and knowledge on strength, speed and endurance. You'll study with expert academics and industry leaders as you learn how to work with elite, professional and amateur athletes – and help enhance their performance. You'll investigate and work with diverse athlete populations, including para-athletes, able-bodied athletes, and athletes of different ages and cultural and gender identities.

This course was developed in collaboration with the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA), so you'll learn the latest best practice. Our academic staff have a wealth of recent industry experience, and many have held positions with professional sporting teams, and state or national institutions. They have worked closely with development athletes through to Olympic medallists.

Immerse yourself in La Trobe's state-of-the-art sport and exercise facilities in Melbourne, including our Strength and Conditioning, Biomechanics, Physiology and Performance Analysis Labs. Located in La Trobe Sports Park, they boast the latest technology and research facilities. La Trobe Sports Park is also the new home to Rugby Victoria, Football Federation Victoria and Australia's women's national soccer team, the Matildas.

You'll benefit from both in-person and online learning. This flexible course includes four separate week-long blocks of intensive face-to-face classes and experiences in the first year, two of which are timed to coincide with the Australian Open and the AFL Grand Final. If you live interstate, it's a fantastic time to visit Melbourne – one of the world's top sporting cities – and meet likeminded professionals while you strengthen your skills and experience.

Take advantage of La Trobe's connections to Melbourne's top sporting organisations and work directly with athletes from professional clubs and our extensive partner network in your second semester. You'll also complete an applied industry project or research thesis as part of your studies, which will open up a pathway to further research and study in this exciting field.

You'll graduate confident, experienced and ready to take your coaching career to the next level – both here in Australia and sporting organisations around the world.

You'll learn:

  • How to assess and develop strength, power, speed, agility and endurance qualities
                  Learn how to design and implement training plans to improve the physical characteristics of athletes in preparation for competition.
  • High-performance management
                  Learn how to work in high-performance environments and explore the principles underpinning an athlete's success. You'll learn how to design and deliver training plans across a range of sports and performance levels.
  • Coaching
                  Learn how to develop meaningful relationships with the athletes you work with and understand how to work with other stakeholders who can help improve their performance.
  • Research methods
                  Plan and execute research projects that focus on strength and conditioning practice.

Admission Requirements

Academic entry requirement

Prerequisites

Successful completion of an Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent).
Specialisation - compulsory: Sport and/or exercise science and/or related field

OR

A strength and conditioning qualification endorsed by a recognised body (e.g. Australian Strength and Conditioning Association, National Strength and Conditioning Association, United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association) or equivalent, plus five years' experience (full time equivalent) in the provision of training to athlete populations.

Evidence required to support application as follows:

i) Professional portfolio: A curated portfolio of work demonstrating applied expertise, problem-solving, and communication skills in the provision of training to athletes. It may also include examples of educational resources developed; AND

ii) Written Statement of Academic Readiness: A 1000-word personal statement addressing:
• Professional background and achievements
• Motivation for postgraduate study
• Reflection on learning from practice and application of theory
• Specific examples of critical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, or problem-solving; AND

iii) Professional Endorsements: Letters of support from:
• Senior colleagues
OR
• Academics or educators who can comment on intellectual capacity and work quality

26 Feb 2026
1.5 Years
Feb

Tuition fees

Domestic
35,600 AUD
International
46,600 AUD

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