Master of Science in Sports Injuries and Return to Performance Management

STUDY ONLINE · PAYMENT OPTIONS · NOW ENROLLING
Deadline October 20th 2025

Programme Overview

Programme Background

The MSc in Sports Injuries and Return to Performance Management covers and moves beyond the fundamentals of sports rehabilitation and performance science by focusing on significant areas in the applied contexts of sport and exercise. While providing a critical understanding of the early phases of sports rehabilitation and the journey towards the end-stage return to performance, the programme aims to equip students with the knowledge and, importantly, the applied skills to guide and deliver individualised care within best evidenced-based practice guidelines along the rehabilitation continuum. The programme is designed and delivered to enable practitioners to progress within sports rehabilitation and performance contexts. The academic rigour will also allow students to progress to further academic study and academic careers in sports and exercise science, Physiotherapy/Physical Therapy, etc.

Modules covered:

Research Methods & Data Management
This module aims to develop the ability to evaluate different research designs when considering research evidence critically. The module will develop the appropriate skills and capabilities using a range of techniques and research methods to collect and analyse data (both qualitatively and quantitatively) relevant to sport and exercise rehabilitation and return to performance contexts. Students will master the techniques needed to critically appraise published research and carry out a piece of original research. Topics will include the scientific method applied to exercise sciences, literature search techniques, research design, sampling, the organisation of a research project, research ethics, measurement techniques, the analysis of new and extant quantitative data sets, and the effective presentation of results and routes of dissemination.
Reflective Practice & Professional Skills
The module provides a comprehensive understanding of the importance of maintaining legal, regulatory,and ethical standardsandessentialinsight into the variousframeworks adopted in applied work. It aims to develop the ability to work with a range of athletes and sports settingsand to develop, monitor,and evaluate interventionsused in the rehabilitation process. It will also assessthe potential role of emerging approaches to rehabilitation programsand the importance of multi-disciplinary teamwork, leadership,and entrepreneurial skills for a successful career.
Athlete Monitoring & Coaching Technology
This module considers the many and varied approaches to monitoring a performer’s lifestyle, workload, performance metrics, and crucially the options from coaching and monitoring technologies that are used in doing so. Advanced movement, athletic development programmes, and individual exercise enthusiasts are now embracing, with varying degrees of success, technology-based systems to track adaptations to competition, conditioning, training, and recovery stimuli. The operational principles and the role of technology in this process, as well as key validatory procedures of a range of technologies, will be considered and critically assessed.
Movement Analysis and Biomedical Aspects
This module advances the practitioner’s knowledge, understanding and skill competence in gathering meaningful data that assesses posture and movement quality. This means assessing for symmetry, balance and imbalance within specific patterns that are static, dynamic and sport or exercise-specific related. Using both observation skills and technology-based analysis such as video, 2-D and 3-D movement analysis technology, the practitioner will learn to apply such applications to assist and enhance observational analysis. Such skills will facilitate the practitioner to understand the factors associated with natural age-related reductions in performance and disease-related medical conditions. Injury is often an inevitable consequence of sport, exercise and movement involvement. The practitioner may or may not be involved in the acute treatment of injury, however, he or she will play a critical role in seeking to reduce the risk of injury onset. In addition, this module will enable students to identify injury risk factors, to design programmes of exercise that reduce the risk of injury, and programmes that better manage diseased conditions and that facilitate continued involvement in sport, physical movement and exercise
Managing Return to Performance and Upper Body Injuries
This module will explore considerations and concepts of rehabilitation. Contemporary sports injury management and evidence-based rehabilitation approaches of the Upper Body will be examined. This will include strategies to mitigate the risk of injury, principles of sports injury management throughout the return to play continuum, end-stage rehabilitation and return to performance. The course will develop clinical reasoning skills and promote professional adaptability within a multi-disciplinary team. A theoretical underpinning of psychological processes relevant to sport and exercise will aim to address psychological well-being of the athlete during all stages of recovery. The module aims revolve around the evaluation of multi-disciplinary team processes and the building of effective teams to support the rehabilitation and return to performance processes. To critically evaluate the principles or rehabilitation as well as various biopsycho-social approaches in sports injury management and return to performance. To provide clinical reasoning for rehabilitation and return to performance guidelines for common sports injuries to the upper body.
Return to Performance Pathways and Lower Body injuries
This module will explore the various existing practice guidelines, consensus statements and evidence bases that underpin Return to Performance pathways. Contemporary sports injury management and evidence-based rehabilitation approaches of the Lower Body will be considered. Various other considerations and conditions pertaining to the athletic population will be addressed to better prepare the practitioner. The module aims include providing a detailed understanding of planning, implementing, and reviewing of rehabilitation and return to performance pathways and provide guidance on implementing these pathways. To provide clinical reasoning for the rehabilitation and return to performance guidelines for common sports injuries to the lower body. And to educate the practitioner in various conditions and considerations in working within the field of sports injuries and return to performance.

Course Duration

The programme duration is 24 months. This includes:

6 Online Modules (each module is 12 weeks in duration)
On-Site Residential Conference
Final Project (additional 3 months to complete)

A joint programme by:

Setanta and the Irish American University

The Master of Science in Sports Injuries and Return to Performance Management is awarded by Irish American University under its accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, one of the world’s leading accrediting bodies. Furthermore, Setanta Professional Advisory Board, other subject matter experts, and international sporting organisations have informed, reviewed, and approved the programme content. This includes World Rugby, the Titleist Performance Institute, and the NSCA who recognise our programmes and qualifications.

Course Details & Enrolment

Delivery Method

This programme will be delivered part-time via distance learning to allow active professionals to study while maintaining their current commitments. Given that this programme is designed to advance the knowledge of active practitioners, it will flexibly fit into your life.

The programme is 70% online, with the 30% face-to-face occurring on campus and taking in the more applied and practical elements of what is a hands-on field of study.

The on-site conference takes place at Setanta campus locations during the 84-week programme. The ‘residential’ block takes place over 5 days and offers a unique opportunity to advance your practical knowledge, learn from the expert lecturing faculty, and engage in peer-to-peer learning from your practitioner class mates. The locations of these face-to-face components are one of the most unique aspects of the programme delivery, being based at Setanta’s high performance centres in Ireland and the UK. This provides exposure to the application of course content in elite performance environments.

Final Project and Assessment

You will submit a final project following the completion of the six online modules. During the online element, you will receive guidance and mentoring from a tutor who will assist you in the selection of a final project.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MSc in Sports Injuries and Return to Performance Management, students will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and competencies in the following areas:

The ability to critically evaluate the current knowledge, theory, and evidence base relevant to sports rehabilitation and performance.
To develop advanced knowledge skills and capabilities required for an effective practice to deliver early to end-stage sports rehabilitation and a graded return to performance.
To understand mechanisms of injury, principles of diagnosis, clinical assessment, investigation, treatment, and principles of rehabilitation of common sports injuries.
To evaluate sports rehabilitation and performance approaches in the broader discipline of sport and exercise science and to integrate methodologies in an interdisciplinary manner.
To utilise a range of appropriate practical techniques to enable a range of solutions to address the challenges of the rehabilitation journey, optimising the return to performance pathway.
To evaluate and apply appropriate research methods applicable to approaches adopted in sports rehabilitation and performance.
To have the capacity to apply relevant ethical, legal, safety, and professional practice standards and to maintain the appropriate professional scope of practice boundaries.
To engage in evidence-based practice, evaluate practice systematically, and participate in injury auditing and review of procedures employed at all stages of the rehabilitation process.
To understand the role of audit and review in quality management, including quality control, quality assurance, and the use of appropriate outcome measures.
To attempt to mitigate the risk of injury or re-injury along the return to performance continuum.
To communicate effectively (verbally and non-verbally) with a range of audiences and to disseminate their work in a range of appropriate formats.
The ability to synthesise information from multiple sources into comprehensive and appropriate support systems.
To be able to reflect on one’s practice critically and to develop a professional identity.

Entry Requirements

Setanta College is committed to providing accessible and inclusive pathways to postgraduate education, while ensuring that applicants are prepared to successfully engage with postgraduate study. To this end, the following entry routes are available:

1. Academic Qualification Route (Direct Entry)
Applicants who have completed undergraduate studies (i.e. Bachelors degree or a qualification at Level 6 on the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) or equivalent) are eligible for direct entry to the programme.

2. Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) Route
Applicants who do not hold an undergraduate degree (EQF level 6) may still be considered for entry if they can demonstrate:

A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in sport, fitness, health, or a related performance domain.
Relevant experience may include time spent as an athlete, coach, instructor, mentor, or practitioner across amateur or professional settings, community-based programmes, or performance environments.
Evidence of reflective practice, ongoing professional development, and the capacity to engage with academic content.

All RPEL applicants will undergo an individual assessment process to determine suitability.

3. Additional Documentation (Discretionary)
In some cases, particularly where applicants are applying through the RPEL route or hold a qualification from a non-cognate area, the College may request:

A Letter of Interest, outlining the applicant’s motivation, relevant experience, and goals.
A brief interview to discuss the applicant’s background and fit for the programme.

This step is intended to support the applicant and ensure readiness for study at Masters level (EQF level 7).

* Note: Applicants who are not deemed suitable following interview will be provided with a tailored entry pathway to the programme of interest. This may include:

Completing a programme at a more appropriate level of study (e.g., EQF Level 5 or 6), or
Undertaking a bridging programme specifically designed to support academic and personal success at Masters level of learning (EQF Level 7).

4. English Language Proficiency
Where English is not the applicant’s first language, proficiency must be demonstrated by one of the following:

IELTS: Minimum overall score of 6.5, with no individual component below 5.5
TOEFL iBT: Minimum score of 88
EF SET: Minimum score of C1

* Note: Other tests may be accepted. If you completed an alternative language assessment than those listed above, please enquire for acceptance.

Recognition and Accreditation

Setanta College holds a number of academic accreditations alongside industry recognitions. From a European perspective, Setanta College has programmes that are validated by Quality Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the Irish governmental accrediting agency. QQI programmes are recognised globally under various European and EU initiatives, which offers graduates a significant advantage globally. In North America, Setanta holds provisional State Authorisation to operate as a higher education institution in the USA under approval from the Commission of Independent Education (CIE) of the Florida Department of Education. Also, from a US perspective, this programme is regionally accredited by the Irish American University under their award of accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), one of the world’s leading accrediting bodies and the accreditors of a large number of US Ivy League schools.

Fees & How To Apply

Tuition for Complete Programme

€9,750

Annual Intakes: March & September

To secure your place on the MSc in Sports Injuries and Return to Performance Management programme, you can pay a deposit of €500 and choose from five payment options, including paying in full, per module, or through instalments. See below for the full list of options:

Deposit €500 | Remainder Before Course Start Date
Deposit €500 | 50% Before Course Start Date and 50% Before Commencing Module 5
Deposit €500 | 6 Equal Installments Paid Before the Start of Each Module
Deposit €500 | 4 Installments of 25% before Modules 1,3,5,7
Deposit €500 | 18 Equal Monthly Installments

IMPORTANT: There is no automatic entry onto the Programme. To be considered for the Master of Science in Sports Injuries and Return to Performance Management, please complete the Application Form by clicking the button below:

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