Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences

Brief description of the programme:

The MSc in Specialist Coaching (Sports Coaching) is a postgraduate programme designed to develop advanced coaching expertise grounded in scientific, pedagogical and practical principles. It equips students with the knowledge and skills to plan, deliver and evaluate high-quality coaching across performance levels.

The curriculum is structured around key interdisciplinary areas, including Sport Sciences, Health Sciences, Education Sciences and Psychology, Social Sciences, and Organisation and Management Sciences, complemented by a thesis and a range of Elective Courses.

Structure of studies

Number of credits:

Language requirements

• TOEFL 513 / IELTS 5.5 /oral examination, TOEFL IBT test score of 66 (issued in the last two years)
• Certificate of any standardised international English language exam corresponding with Hungarian B2 at the Bachelors level and C1 at Master’s level issued by an accredited language centre/ academic institution.
• In case the student has completed his/her previous level of studies in English, proof can be uploaded about the fact that the language of instruction was English, issued by the institution.
• If the uploaded document(s) do(es) not meet the above-mentioned requirements, the University relies on an online language interview.

Academic requirements

Bachelor’s degree relevant for the Master studies. Transcript of records of Bachelor studies.

Programme educational objectives:

The MSc in Specialist Coaching (Sports Coaching) programme at Széchenyi István University is designed to equip graduates with the knowledge, skills and professional attributes necessary for successful careers in coaching and athlete development in a national and international sport environment. Our programme educational objectives (PEOs) are as follows:

PEO#1: Graduates will be able to design, periodise, and evaluate evidence-based training and competition programmes for competitive and high-performance athletes.

PEO#2: Graduates will be able to integrate sport science testing, monitoring and performance analytics into coaching decisions to optimise performance, health and recovery.

PEO#3: Graduates will be able to lead and communicate effectively within multidisciplinary environments, supporting athlete development through pedagogical and psychological coaching competencies.

PEO#4: Graduates will demonstrate ethical, inclusive and safeguarding-aware professional conduct, and will engage in continuous professional development and innovation in coaching practice.

Student Outcomes:

The programme defines seven SOs (1) to (7) to guide student development as follows:

1. Apply advanced sport science knowledge (physiology, biomechanics, training theory) to assess performance and plan interventions.
2. Plan, implement and evaluate training and competition programmes using periodisation, long-term athlete development and individualisation principles.
3. Use data from testing, monitoring and video/performance analysis to support evidence-based coaching decisions and athlete feedback.
4. Apply pedagogical, communication and sport psychology skills to facilitate learning, motivation, confidence, resilience and team dynamics.
5. Identify and manage injury-prevention, load-management and recovery considerations, cooperating effectively with medical and performance-support staff.
6. Demonstrate ethical leadership, safeguarding awareness and responsible decision-making in athlete-centred coaching environments.
7. Engage in reflective practice, research literacy and lifelong learning, adapting coaching practice to emerging evidence and technologies.

Job opportunities:

Graduates may work as specialist coaches in sport clubs, academies, federations and professional teams; as talent development and pathway coaches; as performance analysts/coaching support staff; as strength and conditioning / performance-support coordinators (within their professional scope and institutional regulations); as programme or project coordinators in sport organisations; and as coaches in international sport environments. The MSc also provides a strong foundation for doctoral studies and further international coaching qualifications.

Important information:

Applicants to the Master's Degree Programme in Sports Coaching must select one of the sports disciplines offered by the programme. As a condition of admission, applicants must provide documented evidence of appropriate professional proficiency, sport-specific knowledge and/or practical experience in the chosen sport, as the programme builds upon existing sport-specific competencies.

The range of sports disciplines offered may change over time. For current information, please contact the programme mentor.

Subject matter details:

Please find here the subject list of the program

How to Search for Your Programme’s Subjects:

1. Open the link.
2. Click "EN" to change the language.
3. On the right side, click "Language" and choose English.
4. Start typing your programme name.
5. Click Search to find the results.