Sport Science: Performance & Health

The Master of Science “Sport Science - Performance and Health” is a consecutive research-oriented study programme. The course consists of four semesters (120 ECTS) and eleven mandatory modules in which different teaching forms are offered (e.g. seminars, lectures and subject-specific practices). The modules are structured in such way that the workload is evenly distributed across the four semesters.

The study programme is further characterized by its interdisciplinarity. All chairs and departments of the Institute for Sports Science are represented in teaching, with the main emphasis being placed on modules given by the chairs for the Psychology of Human Movement and Sport, Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Sports and Health Economics and Movement and Exercise Science.

The illustration Download (German)pdf, 35 kb · de shows the structure of the study programme and to what extent the central concepts (Performance, health, empirical methods and theory) are represented in each module. The figure shows a potential distribution of the modules throughout the four semesters, with the master thesis as the final module in the fourth semester.                                                                                              

Professional competencies

The study programme is characterized by its strong research orientation. Students are able to develop both subject-specific and profession-specific competencies that are essential for the work in interdisciplinary scientific occupational fields. After their graduation they can independently concept research projects in their individual field of interest and implement evidence-based knowledge into practice. Instead of sport-specific practices, the programme focuses on imparting soft skills that qualify for the scientific labour market.

Occupational fields

With its Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programmes the University of Jena offers multiple opportunities to specialize in different scientific branches and to develop a professional profile.

In the following some potential occupational fields are outlined:

 Public sector

• University affiliated (e.g. research, university administration, university hospitals)
• Non-university affiliated (e.g. Max-Planck-Society, non-university research centers, academic support of professional sports, health insurance companies)
• Further scientific qualification (PhD-Position)

Private commercial sector

• IT-sector in the fields of performance and health (e.g. app development, data processing, database management, self-employment)
• Development of measuring systems (e.g. collection, documentation and validation of health data
• Sport administration (e.g. sport associations, olympic sports confederation)

There are many reasons that make the city of Jena and the Master of Science “Sport Science - Performance and Health” an attractive option for the next step in your educational journey. Do not forget, however, to check the German language requirements before considering an application.

1. Attractiveness of the city

The close proximity of university facilities, sports facilities and the university hospital is what makes Jena an attractive city to study and live in. The short distances give students the chance to develop their individual interdisciplinary profile early on.

1. Duration

Despite the high number of enrolled students (1.100 students), the Institute for Sports Science provides the opportunity for a timely graduation. The Institute for Sports Science achieved a leading place in the 2021 CHE-ranking with 92.2% of the bachelor’s students and 83.3% of the master’s students saying that the time they needed for graduation was appropriate.

1. Consultation opportunities

The quantitatively balanced and close relationship of students and lecturers gives the students the opportunity to make use of competent advisory services throughout the course of their studies.

Advisory ServicesExternal link

1. Participation in decision-making processes

The students’ opinions are represented in all important committees and boards of the university. Through the students’ council the students at the institute are able to participate in processes and to democratically contribute to decisions that concern aspects of their experience at university.

1. High-quality teaching

The Institute for Sports Science and their study programmes undergo a regular quality control. Lectures are continuously monitored and regularly evaluated to improve learning outcomes and make sure that teaching goals are met.

1. High-quality research

Multiple research projects in cooperation with interdisciplinary partners from other universities and non-university institutions prove the exceptional research orientation of the Institute for Sports Science. This is for instance demonstrated by the leading position in the category “publications per professor” the institute has taken in the 2018 CHE-rating.

1. Settling-in period

First-year students receive optimal support to ease the process of settling in in their new environment. The university offers freshman days and special online services directed at students that are new at the university, which is why it took a leading position in the category “support at the beginning of the studies” in the 2021 CHE-rating.

1. Alumni club

Staying in contact after graduation and providing support for each other beyond the time as a student is an important principle at the Institute for Sports Science. For this purpose, the Alumni-ClubExternal link organizes reunions, finds jobs and maintains the connection to the institute. 

1. Sports Science in a modern city

The Institute for Sports Science combines expertise from all relevant scientific fields that offer the students the opportunity to pursue their own scientific career: natural-scientific, medical, pedagogic and socio-economic.

YoutubeExternal link

1. Studying and living in Jena

Thomas Röhler, olympic gold medalist, describes his experiences living and training in Jena (German):

YoutubeExternal link