Master of Human Performance Leadership

Learn from AUT’s renowned sport and recreation academics and industry-experienced practitioners. The AUT Online Master of Human Performance Leadership is an applied programme for professionals moving from technical or practitioner roles into leadership positions in high-performance, high-stakes sectors like sport, defence, emergency services and other applied performance domains.

You’ll develop advanced expertise in the physiological, psychological, relational and cultural dimensions of human performance in dynamic environments where cognitive and physical demands intersect. This programme equips leaders who apply systems thinking, use data and emerging technologies, and lead in ways that are ethical and culturally responsive.

Through interdisciplinary coursework and a practice-based capstone, you’ll graduate prepared to optimise performance, strengthen resilience and wellbeing, and step into advanced leadership roles.

The programme is open to professionals from diverse backgrounds who aspire to lead at the highest levels of performance. Whether you’re a practitioner, coach, mid-career manager, consultant or organisational leader, you’ll gain the capability to optimise resilience, wellbeing and results in high-stakes environments, and step into advanced leadership with the confidence to influence people, systems and outcomes.

100% online: Study from anywhere, anytime, with no need to attend campus
Tailored for busy professionals: Balance work, life and study with a flexible, part-time structure
Your experience counts: Your professional expertise is valued – if you have sufficient work experience but no degree, you can still qualify
Personalised support: Access expert guidance and resources when you need them, seven days a week

Why choose the AUT Online Master of Human Performance Leadership?

Designed for high-performance sectors: Step up from specialist to strategic leader in sport, defence, emergency services and other high-stakes environments.
Interdisciplinary and applied: Integrates physiology, psychology, cultural fluency, and leadership through real-world case studies and work-integrated learning.
Data-driven and future-focused: Apply analytics, performance technologies, and AI to make timely, evidence-based decisions in dynamic settings.
Culturally responsive practice: Engage with Māori and Indigenous frameworks to build psychologically safe, high-trust performance cultures.

APPLY ENQUIRE

Entry requirements
What you study
Career opportunities
Related programmes

This programme is currently only available for domestic students.

If you already have a university degree

A bachelor’s degree, graduate diploma or professional qualification

And

3 years of relevant professional experience

If you don’t yet have a university degree

7 years of work experience

Including

3 years of relevant professional experience

Your experience counts

At AUT Online, we value your professional expertise. If you have relevant work experience but no undergraduate degree, you can still take the next step toward achieving your goals with our Master of Human Performance Leadership programme.

Not sure if you qualify? Enquire now to discuss your eligibility.

Designed for future-focused professionals, the AUT Online Master of Human Performance Leadership equips you to lead people and teams in complex, high-stakes environments by blending performance science, psychology, cultural fluency and innovative leadership.

The programme is delivered across trimesters and consists of six 30-point courses, taken one at a time. Designed specifically for online learners, the programme balances flexibility with a clear structure that supports success and completion.

In this programme you will:

Integrate performance science, psychology and team dynamics to optimise individual and collective performance.
Apply systems thinking, foresight, and scenario planning to lead through uncertainty and change.
Use performance technologies, analytics and AI to inform evidence-based decisions in complex environments.
Strengthen wellbeing and resilience with evidence-informed strategies for sustainable performance.
Lead ethically and culturally by engaging Māori and Indigenous knowledge systems and practising human-centred, data-sovereignty-aware decision-making.

Courses

Graduates of the AUT Online Master of Human Performance Leadership will be ready to lead confidently in high-performance, high-stakes environments with advanced expertise in performance leadership, cultural intelligence and evidence-based decision-making.

Potential career paths include:

High-performance leadership roles in sport and tactical domains (performance lead, high-performance manager, coaching director).
Command and leadership positions in defence and emergency services, including officer or unit leader pathways with responsibility for teams.
Human performance strategist or leadership advisor in high-performance domains.
System-level leadership and consultancy roles for practitioners or managers advancing to strategic positions that optimise resilience, performance and organisational outcomes.

Not ready to commit to a full master’s programme? Start your journey with one of our shorter programmes:

Both programmes provide a strong foundation in leadership, psychology, team dynamics and performance optimisation.

Courses completed in these programmes can be credited toward the Master of Human Performance Leadership, giving you the flexibility to progress when you’re ready to advance your leadership skills.

Quick facts

Programme code:

ON1095

Level:

Points:

180

Duration:

2 years part-time

Delivery:

100% online

Starts:

23 Feb 2026
13 Jul 2026

Key trimester dates

Fees

Domestic:

Full fees: $13,000 (for 180 points)
Student services levy (additional, for 180 points): $1,787.40

Fees are calculated for the full indicative programme cost (180 points), based on 2025 fees, which are reviewed annually.

This online programme is currently not available for international students.

Enquire about the AUT Online Master of Human Performance Leadership here today.