Career Development and Coaching Studies (PGDip)

Three students from diverse backgrounds sitting on the staircases talking to the person next to them

Course code

P-L567

Start date

April and September

Duration

Up to 3 years part-time

Qualification

PGDip

Led by

Centre for Lifelong Learning

Location

University of Warwick

Course code

P-L567

Start date

April and September

Duration

Up to 3 years part-time

Qualification

PGDip

Led by

Centre for Lifelong Learning

Location

University of Warwick

Meet us

Download our prospectus Link opens in a new window

Apply now

Find out more about our Career Development and Coaching Studies taught Postgraduate Diploma at Warwick

The Career Development and Coaching Studies PGDip will support your journey as a creative and reflective career development practitioner. Warwick's Centre for Lifelong Learning will provide you with a thorough grounding in the skills and knowledge required for your career.

Course overview

The Postgraduate Diploma provides a thorough training for today’s career development professional. It is approved by the Career Development Institute (CDI)Link opens in a new window as meeting the qualification requirement for the UK Register of Career Development ProfessionalsLink opens in a new window. The course consists of six 20-credit modules.

Course structure

Multiple Start Dates
The course starts in April or October.

Flexible Approach
This part-time PG diploma can be completed over a period of between 14 and 36 months. A flexible approach is adopted to enable attendance if you are based overseas and/or with full-time work or other responsibilities. Each 20 credit module is taught via a blend of workshop-based and distance learning. The workshops take place at the University of Warwick, usually over two days (See Modules and Key Dates). You will start with the Career Development Theories module and attend between two and six workshops per year depending on how quickly you wish to move through the course.

Watch the following video from course director, Wendy Pearson.

This video was filmed in 2023.

Accreditation

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:2 in any discipline.

Or
Level 7 Postgraduate Award from the Centre for Lifelong Learning
Or
Significant professional experience/current employment in a relevant field of work + level 4-6 cognate qualification in a related field + related academic/employer reference.

This course is designed for applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, including individuals who are currently involved in career development and coaching support, and individuals who wish to work in these areas. If you have alternative qualifications and relevant experience, you are welcome to discuss these with the course team. You must be able to produce written work of a good standard.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

Band B
Overall IELTS (Academic, UKVI or Online) score of 7.0 and minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

Student VISAs

The University of Warwick is not currently sponsoring students on part-time courses, including part-time courses that are akin to distance learning, with a Student visa.

Therefore, we will not be able to produce a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for a part-time course.

Please visit our visa pages and read the guidance provided to see if your visa permits study at The University of Warwick.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Modules

Core modules

Please note all dates are provisional and will be confirmed later in the timetabling process once you are enrolled on the course.

For 2023/24 entry, please see 2023 CDCS Modules and key dates.

Module code

Module title

Credits

CE 951

Career Development Theories

CE 952

Career Coaching

Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

Module code

Module title

Credits

CE 953

Career-related Learning

CE 954

Employability and Labour Markets

CE 955

Career, Vocation and Calling

CE 944

Careers in Organisations

CE 956

Research in Professional Practice

Progression

Many students progress from the PG Diploma CDCS to the MA CDCS.

Teaching and learning

Teaching

This course has a blend of workshops and virtual learning.

Class sizes

Class size is usually between 10-40 students dependent on the module.

Typical contact hours

Each module typically consists of in-person workshops combined with independent learning using on-line study materials, links to key readings, and online webinars.

Assessment

Modules are assessed through a combination of assignments (5,000 word projects) and case studies.

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

Reading Lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platform. 

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue. 

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.

Careers

Your career

Our graduates occupy a range of relevant career development roles in the private and public sectors in the UK and internationally. Former students have gone on to publish and disseminate their work in a range of academic and professional contexts. PhD opportunities are available at Warwick within the Centre for Lifelong LearningLink opens in a new window and the Warwick Institute for Employment ResearchLink opens in a new window.

About the Department

Centre for Lifelong Learning (CLL)

For more than 30 years, the Centre for Lifelong Learning has been a centre of expertise in the education of lifelong learners in different contexts. It has a focus on enabling adult learners to achieve their personal and professional goals by accessing a Warwick education, irrespective of background.

Our departmental research strategy focuses on four interconnected themes: concepts of lifelong learning; people-focused professions; wellbeing and identity; participation and collaboration. We seek to enthuse staff, students, and the wider community with this vision. More information is available on our website.

Find out more about us by visiting our website.Link opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

Our Postgraduate Research courses

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are normally payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. However, this course is part of the Centre for Lifelong Learning department which follows a non-standard fee structure. Full fee details are listed via the 'Find your course fees' button below.

Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Scholarships and funding

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

How to apply

Apply to the course

This course has two entries a year. The April & October 2025 applications are now open.

Apply for April 2025 course

Apply for October 2025 course

Read our notes on how to apply

How to apply

Applications are now open for courses that start in September and October 2025.

Applications will close on 2 August 2025 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

How to apply for a postgraduate taught course

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After you’ve applied

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Applicant Portal

Track your application and update your details.

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Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

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Ask questions and engage with Warwick.

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Online applicant event

Before you apply, see if you could come onto an online event to meet course teaching staff and like-minded applicants. Ask any questions you have about studying this course, and get personalised guidance to see if this is the right option for you.

There is no session scheduled at the moment.

Explore ways to connect with us

We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

Warwick hosted events
Postgraduate Fairs
Live chats
Talk and Tours
Department events

2024 entry

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

See 2024 entry »

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

8th in the UK

in the Guardian University Guide 2025

6th Most Targeted University

by the UK's top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd)

69th in the World

out of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations (QS World University Rankings 2025)

Page Updates

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history.

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2025 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

CLL Centre for Lifelong Learning

Career Development and Coaching Studies (PGDip)

Find out more about our Career Development and Coaching Studies taught Postgraduate Diploma at Warwick

Scholarships and financial support

Living costs

Meet us

After you’ve applied

Meet us

Applicant Portal

Meet us

Admissions statement

Meet us

Join a live chat

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

8th in the UK

6th Most Targeted University

69th in the World

5th best student city in the UK

Gold standard teaching

92% of our research

Page Updates

About the information on this page