Tertiary degree · Level 8 · Sport

BSc (Hons) Applied Sports Performance and Coach Education starting in Cork

A four-year degree in sports coaching and performance. You start in Cork with a Level 5 sports year, then move to UCC. It suits sporty students who want to coach or analyse athletic performance.

How tertiary degrees work: you apply directly to the further education college, not through the CAO, and you don't need CAO points. You start in the further education college and then move on to the university or technological university to finish the full degree. Applications usually open early in the year; 2026 closing dates ranged from March to May.

Key facts

How long
4 years (Year 1 at Cork College of FET, Years 2-4 at UCC)
Award
BSc (Hons) Applied Sports Performance and Coach Education (UCC)
Where you study
  • Year 1: Cork College of Further Education, Tramore Road Campus, Cork City (plus weekly lectures at UCC) → Years 2–4: University College Cork

Entry requirements

  • Six Leaving Cert subjects: H4 in one subject, H5 in a second, O3 in Maths
  • Three more subjects at O6/H7, one of which must be English
  • Mature applicants must be 23 by 1 January of the application year
  • English: B2 (CEFR) if not first language (e.g. IELTS 6)
  • Garda vetting required (done by the college in Year 1 and UCC in Year 2)
  • To progress to Year 2: full QQI Level 5 award at overall Merit and a pass in UCC module ED1200

How to apply

Apply directly to Cork College of FET, Tramore Road Campus (Cork ETB), not through the CAO. No application link is given on the page.

Tramore Road Campus course page ↗ UCC programme page ↗ Official page on nto.hea.ie ↗

What you'll learn

  • Anatomy, physiology and exercise science
  • Coaching practice, pedagogy and coach education
  • Performance analysis and data analytics in sport
  • Sports medicine, nutrition and wellbeing
  • Work placements in coaching or sports performance settings

Where it can lead

  • Sports coaching
  • Sports development
  • Performance analysis
  • Athlete support
  • Postgraduate study (e.g. MSc Physiotherapy at UCC)

Useful Leaving Cert subjects

Biology, LCPE, Physics, Home Economics

These help with the content of the programme; they are not entry requirements unless listed above.

Apprenticeships in Sports and related courses

Not sure which route suits you?

Our CAO Interest Test matches you to course areas, and now shows apprenticeships and tertiary degrees in your strongest areas too.

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Information from the National Tertiary Office (nto.ie), checked November 2026. Details can change, so always confirm on the official page before applying.