The Master of Health, Sport and Human Performance at the University of Waikato is a postgraduate Masters Degree designed for students who want to critically examine the complex political, cultural, social, and economic factors that shape sport, exercise, and leisure. You will explore how sociological perspectives, alongside psychological and physiological factors, influence human movement and performance. By grounding your studies in both theory and practice, you will develop the analytical skills to understand the nature of performance in diverse contexts. This programme is ideal if you are looking to advance your professional expertise within the health and sports sectors.
Studied full-time on campus over 18 months, this programme comprises 180 points of 500-level papers, including a core research methods paper and a supervised research project or thesis. You will work in high-tech laboratories at the Grassroots Trust Avantidrome or the Adams Centre for High Performance, gaining hands-on experience through partnerships with elite organisations like the Waikato Chiefs and Cycling NZ. By tailoring your optional papers to your specific interests, you will graduate prepared for professional pathways as an applied exercise scientist, high-performance manager, coach developer, or educator in health and physical education.