M. Sc. High Performance Sport

About the programme

The international Master of Science High-Performance Sport is hosted by the Institute of Sport Science and the Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine at Saarland University in Saarbruecken (Germany). It aims at qualifying sport scientists for jobs in professional and performance-oriented sport and for academic positions that focus on research fields relevant for high-performance athletes. This international Master´s program has a regular duration of four semesters in which 120 ECTS (often referred to as ´Credit points´or CP in German) must be gained. The programme is accredited as a full-time, on-site degree programme. The number of participants is limited. In total, 20 places are available, and students can usually begin the Master´s programme at the winter semester of each year (October to March). Students with an undergraduate degree in sport science or related fields are allowed to apply.

The international M.Sc. High-Performance Sport aims at improving the scientific approach to elite sports, in particular by offering courses in advanced research methods and statistics Furthermore, it gives insights in other sport science disciplines. Graduates have the opportunity to gain sport- and discipline-specific knowledge and experience which are deemed important for future appointments in the sport science support and/or academia. Among other topics, they will be familiarised with international methods of elite training and performance analysis, international sport structures and talent identification/development programs as well as strategies for international communications and leadership in elite sports.

Erasmus collaborations are established with the Liverpool John Moores University (United Kingdom), the University of Groningen (Netherlands) and the UCS Institute of Sport and Health (Irland). Besides the Erasmus opportunities Saarland University has several international partnerships within and outside of Europe. In general exchanges outside of Erasmus are organised for research projects, especially the master thesis.

The degree is divided in the mandatory units “Generic aspects: Methodology and Basic Theories” as well as the elective units “High-Performance Sport”. Modules within “Generic aspects: Methodology and Basic Theories” include advanced courses on Research design and analysis, Statistics, Organisation and Quality assessment. Within the elective units “High-Performance Sports” students have to choose two out of the following core modules:

  • Medicine and exercise physiology in high-performance sport
  • Strength and conditioning in high-performance sport
  • Sport psychology in elite environments
  • Socio-economics of elite sport

Mor information on the study programme can be found

Here…

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much are the tuition fees?

There are no tuition fees at Saarland University, however, an enrolment fee of currently 394,30€ has to be paid to Saarland University for each term (summer: April-September; winter: October-March). The fee includes a public transport travel pass for students („Deutschlandticket“) covering the use of the public transport in whole Germany (regional trains only) for 6 months. Enrolled students benefit from further privileges such as reduced fees for the food provided by the refectory.

When is the next intake?

The next regular intake will be the winter term 26/27 (application deadline: 15th of July 2026). Please note that all applications must be submitted via the online application portal of the university (SIM, https://www.unisaarland.de/studium/bewerbung/master.html), which opens early June. Applications submitted via email will not be accepted. All necessary information regarding application requirements as well as documents can be found on the degree programme website: https://www.uni-saarland.de/studium/angebot/master/hpsport.html.

How can I apply?

All applications must be submitted via the online application portal of the university (SIM, https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/study/application/master.html), which opens early June. Applications submitted via email will not be accepted. All necessary information regarding application requirements as well as documents can be found on the degree programme website: https://www.unisaarland.de/studium/angebot/master/hpsport.html

What undergraduate degree do I need?

As mentioned on the degree programme website an undergraduate degree in sport science or a related field is mandatory for admission. Equivalence of other degrees will be decided by the examination committee of the department after submitting the application. A proof prior to submission is not possible. All undergraduate grades will be transferred into the German grading system via the modified Bavarian formular, which can also be found online. Please note, that achieving the minimum grade for admission (2.5 in the German system) does not guarantee acceptance. As we only have limited places available a ranking will be created based on the final grade, practical experience and motivation of all applicants. At the end the 20 best students will be accepted to the programme.

What language certificates are accepted?

We accept standardise tests (e. g. TOEFL, IELTS) or an undergraduate degree achieved in an English-speaking country. Equivalence of other certificates must be decided by the examination committee of the sport science institute after submission of all documents.

Are there scholarships available for international students?

Saarland University does not provide any scholarships. You can check the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as they provide several scholarships for international students.

How do I transfer my undergraduate degree grade into the German grading scale?

Applicants do not have to transfer their undergraduate degree grade into the Germany system. All grades will be transferred by us via the modified Bavarian formular, which can also be found online. Please note, that achieving the minimum grade for admission (2.5 in the German system) does not guarantee acceptance. As we only have limited places available a ranking will be created based on the final grade, practical experience and motivation of all applicants. At the end the 20 best students will be accepted to the programme. Please provide detailed explanations of the grading system at your university – especially the minimum grade to pass and the best grade possible. Please note, if you do not provide an overall grade / GPA we cannot consider your application.

Where can I apply for student dormitory?

The Studierendenwerk im Saarland oaers rooms and apartments in student dormitories. An overview of the available dormitories in Saarbrücken is available online: https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/global/welcome-center/accommodation/dormitoriesstudierendenwerk.html

Is it possible to defer my admission to the sumemr term, in case my visa application process doesn’t allow me to be in Germany until October?

In case of Visa delays it is possible to arrive in Germany after the start of the winter term. Please be aware that enrolment, including payment of the enrolment fee is mandatory to keep the admission. Unfortunately, it is not possible to keep the admission and enroll later. The only option we have is to delay the actual start of the degree for students with a delay in the visa process.

Can I apply if I do not have my final undergraduate certificate?

Yes, it is possible to apply with the current transcipt of records. Please be aware that the evaluation of the application will be based on the overall GPA (final grade) submitted until the 15th of July 2026. In case of acceptance, the final certificate has to be uploaded in the SIM system until the 31st of January 2027.