Introduction
The master's programme in Sports Technology is an interdisciplinary collaboration between KTH and GIH (The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences), Sweden's two leading actors in their respective fields of science. The programme provides a unique understanding of the areas of sports science and engineering. Graduates will acquire the skills to develop new technologies for both measuring sports performance and advanced healthcare.
Sports Technology at KTH
The two-year master’s programme in sports technology provides an interdisciplinary background in sport science and engineering. This provides the best conditions for asking the right questions and finding the most exciting answers regarding measurement, simulation, and analysis of sports performance, health and medical care.
Technically, Sports Technology focuses on the measurement, simulation, and motion and performance analysis. The programme consists of traditional engineering courses in electrical engineering and mechanics to provide technical skills. The programme also includes courses focusing on entrepreneurship, innovation and design. These courses are complemented by a course in sport and health science, which is read at GIH. A course in physiology to provide the medical and scientific breadth is included. The interdisciplinary nature of the programme ensures skills in cooperation and dialogue with different groups as well as the ability to handle social, economic and environmental issues.
Sports Technology involves choosing from an extensive selection of available courses followed by a degree project. Through project work, opportunities are offered to develop knowledge in formulating objectives and questions, seeking scientific literature and training presenting work both orally and in writing. These project works are often done in close collaboration with researchers and companies within the field.
Upon completion of the programme, the student can influence and conduct improvement and development work in the field of sports technology. The labour market largely consists of small enterprises, specialised in specific products, and the expanding field also offers good possibilities to start one’s own business. The education also provides a good foundation for research studies in the field of technology and health.
This is a two-year programme (120 ECTS credits) given in English. Graduates are awarded the degree of Master of Science. The programme is given at KTH Campus and KTH Flemingsberg in Stockholm by the School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (at KTH).
Topics covered
Sports technology, sport science, biomechanics, electrical engineering, mechanics, health and sport instrumentation, project management, entrepreneurship, innovation and design.
Career
The labour market and society's needs of engineers with knowledge about how to measure, simulate and analyse human movements and achievements are enormous. Such knowledge gives the prerequisites for creating a sustainable society, where everyone can live a healthy and valuable life regardless of age and with different physical and mental conditions. Engineers with these skills will be required in several social sectors in sports, health care, rehabilitation and in several different types of technology companies.
The examples of technology companies that have a clear sports profile are extended and are becoming even longer. Some of the most famous companies are Suunto, Precor, Sports Tracker, Garmin, Silva, Adidas and Nike. Wearables in the form of training clocks, activity meters, cameras, etc. are a clear product range in which engineers from our master's programme will be able to provide the essential and necessary knowledge.
In Sweden, there is a growing array of companies that operate in this area. For example, Racefox makes sports analytics apps for skiers and runners, Qinematic who develops video analysis of human motor skills, and Challengize, which uses performance measurements to create challenges to inspire and motivate a healthier everyday life.
The knowledge students acquire through the programme will also be attractive in many other contexts. Alternative career paths after graduation may include work assignments in ergonomics, design of disability aid, public health, healthcare, computer games industry, VR/AR and vehicle safety.
After graduation
Research and Development Engineer, Project Manager, Analytical in Health and Sports, Consultant, PhD student.
"I think that living and studying in another country and interacting with people of different nationalities and backgrounds makes you improve both professionally and personally."
Nicolo from Italy
Sustainable development
Graduates from KTH have the knowledge and tools for moving society in a more sustainable direction, as sustainable development is an integral part of all programmes. The three key sustainable development goals addressed by the master's programme in Sports Technology are:
3 Good Health and Well-being
4 Quality Education
8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
The goal of the programme is to measure, simulate and analyse human movement outside a laboratory, which is a necessity to provide health, wellbeing and medical care solutions outside the hospital. It is also as crucial in ergonomics to detect hazards in the working environment.
Faculty and research
Our research within sports technology aims at helping athletes to:
measure their performance in a more detailed way than what is possible with just a stopwatch or a tape measure. This may involve measuring the force exerted by a kayaker in a paddle stroke, or the mechanical energy consumed an athlete during a run,
calculate the optimal performance. In every sport, there are many accepted truths about how different movements should be performed. Our task is to defy or confirm these truths by using mathematical models,
and to perceive their performance in real-time. This is done through so-called "augmented feedback"; a runner can, for example, receive audio information describing how the running stride looks.
Admission requirements
To be eligible for the programme, you must have been awarded a bachelor's degree, be proficient in English, and meet the programme-specific requirements.
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish bachelor's degree, or equivalent academic qualifications from an internationally recognised university, is required. Students who are following longer technical programmes, and have completed courses equivalent to a bachelor's degree, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Students in their final year of undergraduate studies may apply and, if qualified, will receive a conditional acceptance. These applicants must include a written statement according to the instructions given by University Admissions. Students in the final year of undergraduate studies at a Swedish university do not have to provide a written statement in order, if qualified, to receive a conditional acceptance. They must, however, have completed 150 ECTS credits in the bachelor’s programme by 1 February.
English proficiency
English language proficiency equivalent to (the Swedish upper secondary school) English course B/6 is required. The requirement can be satisfied through a result equal to, or higher than, those stated in the following internationally recognized English tests:
TOEFL Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1-6) in written test, a total score of 575.
TOEFL ITP is not accepted.
TOEFL iBT internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0-30) in written test, a total score of 90
IELTS Academic/IELTS UKVI: A minimum overall mark of 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5
Cambridge ESOL: Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Certificate in Advanced English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (Certificate of Proficiency in English)
Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB): Minimum score of 90
The University of Michigan, ECPE (Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English)
Pearson PTE Academic: Score of 62 (writing 61)
The language requirement can also be fulfilled through previous university and upper secondary school studies. More information on recognized English tests, previous studies, and required documents is provided by University Admissions.
Specific requirements for the master's programme in Sports Technology
A bachelor’s degree, corresponding to at least 180 ECTS credits, in Engineering Physics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics or equivalent. Courses in Mathematics, Physics, Computing and Electronics equivalent to at least 60 ECTS must be included in the degree. The 60 ECTS must contain:
Mathematics, corresponding to at least 20 ECTS credits.
Mechanics, corresponding to at least 9 ECTS credits.
Computing, corresponding to at least 14 ECTS credits.
Electronics, corresponding to at least 9 ECTS credits.
Application documents
Your application is not complete without the required supporting documentation. The following general and programme-specific documents must therefore be included in the application in the specified order:
General documents
Certificates and diplomas from previous university studies
Transcript of completed courses and grades included in your degree
Proof of English proficiency
A copy of your passport including personal data and photograph, or other identification documents
Specific documents for the master's programme in Sports Technology
Letter of motivation including a degree project proposal
CV
Letters of recommendation
