The Graduate Certificate includes 3 elements:
A Face-to-Face (F2F) course component: A 4-day face to face on campus orientation and introduction requires mandatory attendance and begins the second Monday in June annually.
Scheduled weekly webinars: between 9 and 15 hours a month (up to 3 hours a week) of synchronous webinars; candidates should also plan for at least 3 hours a week of preparation and homework.
Weekly classes will normally occur on one morning and one evening per week, with the provision that any missed online class will be recorded for later viewing with student assignment to ensure continuity in learning.
On-line course work: Approximately 6-9 hours per month, completed on your own time (“asynchronous”) and will vary per course.
A 4-day face to face on campus orientation and introduction to all courses will start the second Monday in June annually.
All four courses that form the Graduate Certificate will be introduced during the online course:
KIN 515 – Gap Analysis
KIN 585 – Performance Planning
KIN 586 – Coaching Effectiveness
KIN 597 – Application of HP sport
*The 4-day online orientation is mandatory and no exceptions will be made.
The Graduate Certificate earns successful candidates 12 credits towards the 30 credit Master’s Degree. The graduate certificate also provides transfer credit for the NCCP Advanced Coaching Diploma for eligible students who possess NCCP entry requirements. Students must apply for the Advanced Coaching Diploma through the Coaching Association of Canada NCCP locker and selecting CSI Pacific as the designated Canadian Sport Institute. Students are encouraged to apply for NCCP ACD either before or shortly after enrolment in the UBC graduate certificate.
If students lack prior academic experience, NCCP credentials may be assessed for prior learning experience. It is recommended that a minimum NCCP Comp-Dev trained, Level 3 certified, or equivalent accreditation (foreign coaches) is required. NCCP qualifications are weighted in applicant assessment particularly where there may be a lack of formal post-secondary academic standing. Those individuals who apply as a technical leader and may have some NCCP qualification, more weighting will be considered toward prior post-secondary standing in their application.
Students who posses minimum NCCP Competition-Development trained status can apply for transfer credit in the Advanced Coaching Diploma.
No, UBC does not recognize credit for the ACD. However, students who possess ACD will be able to use this qualification in the program admission. Furthermore, the graduate certificate provides 12 academic credits toward the Masters program and therefore all courses must be completed within the HPCTL program.
The KIN 597, Practical Application in High Performance Sport, requires a series of practically based assignments that link to other courses in the certificate program.
The practical environment will be largely student driven, with coaches working in their own training environments or technical leader role within a sport organization. Depending on National Governing body needs and availability, coaches and leaders may have an opportunity to engage national team programming or other high performance experiences unique to their current coaching or leadership context.
All coaches and technical sport leaders will be provided with a mentor who will assist coaches in the practical experiences. Mentors must be approved by the Canadian Sport Institute in conjunction with National Sport Organization or other key sport partners. The UBC course advisor will oversee all mentorship and practicum assessments.
The program is designed for a class of 20 students, however, typical cohort size varies from 14-18 students.
Yes, international students with qualifications equivalent to the Canadian entrance qualifications, and with an English language internet-based TOEFL overall score of 96 and IELTS overall score of 7.0, are eligible to attend (please see admission requirements for additional details).
Yes, both the HPCTL and MHPCTL are offered online on a part-time basis, including a 4 day face-to-face delivery at UBC in June each year. As this is a part-time program, students are not eligible for student loans. However, scholarships may be available through sport organization and CSI Pacific.
*International students will not be issued any student visa as they are not required to enter the country. Students may contact International Student Advising for more information.
The Graduate Certificate will provide you with an in-depth, research-based command of high performance sport, and help you enhance your skills and abilities to become a leading high performance coach or technical leader in Canadian (or international) sport. The curriculum has been developed by experts from the National Sport Organizations, Canadian Sport Institutes, Own the Podium and Coaching Association of Canada to reflect the demands of high performance sport.
You will acquire a university-recognized credential and develop a network of important contacts in high performance sport. Many graduates have been hired into coaching or leadership positions with their national sport organization, university sport, professional sport, or with Own the Podium.
Please see the Tuition tab for more information.
In order to maintain registration in the program, students must register and pay tuition for a minimum 2 courses.
While not ideal, coaches can register and complete individual courses over two years. Students who wish to intermittently engage the program must:
- Meet minimum requirements for entry into the Graduate Certificate
- Complete KIN 515 Gap Analysis in the first year
Attend residential component for each course that is registered (i.e. multiple residential requirements).
Students unable to complete all requirements within the academic year will be subject to re-engagement fees as established by UBC. Normally a student will be granted 6-month period to submit all course requirements after the end of the course. Students unable to complete the requirement after 6-month extension will be withdrawn from the course.
Candidates will normally have a Bachelor’s degree in Human Kinetics, Physical Education, Kinesiology or other related field of study with one of the following:
- A minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC) in third- and fourth-year level courses.
- Academic standing with at least 12 credits of third- or fourth-year level courses in the A grade range (80% or higher at UBC) in their field of study.
Alternatively, applicants may be considered for admission who do not meet the academic requirements stated above, but who have had significant formal training and relevant professional experience, and/or otherwise possess demonstrable knowledge or expertise that would prepare them adequately for successful study in the graduate certificate program.
Prior Experience
In addition, candidates will normally have:
- 5 years of coaching experience, including coaching athletes at the national or provincial level, or involvement in major game (Canada Games to Olympic games), or 5 years as a carded National Team athlete
- National Coaching Certification Program qualification at level 3 or “Competition Development”, and
- recommendation of the National or Provincial Sports Organization
For more information, please see How to Apply.
Yes, special admission into graduate studies will be considered for candidates who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership potential and impact in their coaching careers, but may lack formal academic (undergraduate) training or credential. These candidates will need to demonstrate the drive to excel and the intellectual capability required to succeed, where ability to progress in the program will be assessed within the graduate certificate.
In addition, evidence from the application will weigh the following criteria for consideration:
- Previous academic standing
- NCCP qualification
- Coaching or leadership experience
- Level of athlete coached
- Major games experience
High performance coaches who may be lacking formal academic experience are encouraged to apply.
Targeted coaches may be able to access financial assistance through their NSO, Work BC, or other provincial work related subsidies. CSI Pacific may offer incentive based funding to coaches who demonstrate ability to complete program requirements and meet eligibility requirements. Students entering the first year of the Masters program may be eligible for the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and Mikulec Family Award for Sport Coaching which is given on an annual basis based on the following description:
Awards totalling $2,000 have been made available through an endowment established by the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and Mark Mikulec (B.Ed. 1967) and Barb Mikulec (B.Ed. 1969), for outstanding domestic students entering the Masters in High Performance Coaching and Technical Leadership degree. Recipients must have outstanding academic achievement in the HPCTL Graduate Certificate, be a Charter Professional Coach of the Coaching Association of Canada and be currently coaching or in a leadership position supporting high-performance athletes. The Canadian Sport Institute Pacific is an Olympic and Paralympic training environment in British Columbia. One of its mandates is to develop coaches through formal education and by providing life services and collaboration opportunities to improve athlete performance within the Canadian high performance sport system. Mark and Barb Mikulec wish to support future leaders in athletics as they work to advance and develop their coaching skills. The awards are made on the recommendation of the School of Kinesiology, in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. (First award available for the 2020/2021 winter session).
Both the HPCTL and MHPCTL programs are not eligible for government funded loan assistance. Students are responsible for checking with the financial assistance office for further information. Students may also contact their financial institutions to find out if they may be eligible for student's line of credit.
These awards will be assessed based on the quality of applicant which includes assessment of 1. Prior Academic Experience and 2. Prior Learning Experience. Prior Learning Experience includes level of NCCP qualification, level of athlete coached, years of coaching experience and major games involvement. Applicants will be notified of award upon acceptance into the program.
Students interested in the MHPCTL must apply to the HPCTL Graduate Certificate and successfully complete this program before being recommended for admission to the MHPCTL program.
We hope to inform all applicants by mid April of the committee's decision, whether or not they are accepted into the program. Applicants will be informed by email (from the email contact provided in the application).
Yes, the tuition, education, and any textbook amounts will allow you to reduce any income tax you may owe.
UBC will provide you with the T2202A slip in January for the total eligible tuition fees paid as well as the months you were enrolled either part-time or full-time. For more info, please see CRA website.