Studies

The program is delivered at the facilities of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science (TEFAA) in Komotini, Democritus University of Thrace, and requires limited in-person attendance for the total training time; the rest of the educational process is completed via distance learning. The duration of studies leading to the Postgraduate Diploma of Specialization (M.D.E.) is three (3) semesters.

More specifically, the program requirements are:

First semester (intensive courses)

  • Two three-day sessions (one in November and one in January each year, Friday–Saturday–Sunday) are delivered in person, with everyone physically present at the program location.
  • The remaining lectures are conducted via distance learning (recorded lectures, asynchronous lectures, and synchronous discussions via a forum) throughout the semester.
  • Winter semester exams take place during the first two weeks of February (online).

Second semester (intensive courses)

  • One six-day session in March or April each year (usually Tuesday–Wednesday–Thursday–Friday–Saturday–Sunday) is delivered in person, with everyone physically present at the program location.
  • The remaining lectures are conducted via distance learning (recorded lectures, asynchronous lectures, and synchronous discussions via a forum) throughout the semester.
  • Spring semester exams take place during the first two weeks of June (online).

Third semester

The candidate chooses either:

  • completion of a Master’s Thesis, or
  • attendance/completion of the Internship (Practical Training).

These activities may be carried out either at the program location (TEFAA in Komotini) or at a location chosen by the candidate, and they cover the entire third semester, provided that the candidate has completed the obligations for six courses from the first two semesters (attendance and successful examination).

Distance-learning course cycle

Distance-learning courses (recorded content, asynchronous teaching, and synchronous forum discussions) take place throughout the academic year, as follows:

Recorded lectures

Lectures are pre-recorded and can be watched during the delivery week, at whatever day and time the student is able.

Asynchronous teaching

With “asynchronous teaching,” candidates can attend a specific distance-learning lecture independently of one another, hosted on a designated website within a special online platform.

Synchronous communication

With “synchronous distance communication,” the instructor and students connect via computer on pre-scheduled days and times during the semester and hold discussions to address questions arising from the courses, with two-way verbal communication and simultaneous visual contact.

In addition, postgraduate candidates have the ability to access the Central Library of Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) from home, and can obtain modern online (on-line) and offline (off-line) electronic information either via the internet or through the information databases of university libraries and libraries of other departments.