Bachelor of Applied Science
Sport & Recreation
A course by
Otago Polytechnic
A practical, problem-based Bachelor’s degree focusing on sport, exercise, and health. Includes projects, industry placements, and options to specialise in areas like advanced sport, exercise, health, or massage, plus communication and leadership skills.
In-person study
Face-to-face learning in a physical classroom setting
Dunedin, Dunedin
It will take a total of 3 years
This course requires 40 hours per week
Core skills this course teaches
Develop advanced knowledge in sport, exercise, and health
Demonstrate a comprehensive and practical understanding of principles across sport, exercise, and health disciplines.
Complete community-based practical projects
Apply knowledge and skills in real-world settings through community placements and projects.
Specialise in advanced area of applied science
Choose and gain advanced understanding in sport, exercise, health, or massage.
What You're Signing Up For
Otago Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Applied Science provides broad and practical skills in sport, exercise, and health, integrating academic knowledge with hands-on projects in the community and industry settings. In the first year, students complete community projects and develop core theoretical and leadership knowledge. Second-year students choose a specialty in Advanced Sport, Advanced Exercise, Advanced Health, or Advanced Massage, complete further community projects, and electives. The third year is focused on capstone projects and advanced topics. Special streams in massage and health enable registration with Massage New Zealand, while exercise graduates can register with the Register of Exercise Professionals. Graduates are well-prepared for employment in regional sports trusts, gyms, health promotion, and sporting organisations, or for further study at the postgraduate level.
Course Content
- Anatomy and physiology
- Coaching and leadership
- Motor learning and biomechanics
- Health initiatives
- Applied science in communities
- Concepts of exercise
- Personal and professional development
- Professional practice (various levels)
- Applied sport sociology (elective)
- Coaching in the community (elective)
- Nutrition and psychology for performance (elective)
- Behaviour change in applied science
- Exercise in communities (elective)
- Functional assessment and clinical reasoning (elective)
- Pathology for applied science (elective)
- Noho Marae and Kawa Whakaruruhau
- Research for applied science
- Special topics (theory/practice, electives)
- Leadership in applied science
- Entrepreneurship
- Capstone - project delivery
What you need to know first
NCEA Level 3 with 14 credits at Level 3 or above in each of three NZQA approved university entrance subjects
10 Literacy credits at Level 2 or above (5 in reading, 5 in writing)
Numeracy credits at Level 1 or above (specified achievement standards or prescribed unit standards)
Level 4 qualification on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) with at least 60 credits
Successful tertiary study equivalent to 50% of first-year workload
Equivalent professional experience
Police vetting required under Children’s Act 2014
For international applicants: Secondary school qualification equivalent to NZ NCEA, and English language proficiency (IELTS 6.0 academic, no band <5.5 or NZ University Entrance or equivalent)
What sort of industry will this job lead to
Sport
Exercise
Health
Future employment opportunities might be
Practitioner in professional sports, exercise, or health organisations
Regional sports trust roles
Commercial gyms
Health promotion organisations
Sporting organisations
Rehabilitation specialist (massage stream)
Exercise professional
Otago Polytechnic is known for high quality, hands on learning that leads to strong outcomes. With excellent student satisfaction, high graduate employment rates, and a commitment to sustainability, it’s a place where practical skills meet purpose. Their award winning programmes span design, fashion, creative arts, trades, health, and business, giving you real experience and real confidence for whatever comes next.