There are two pathways available for both full and part-time students within the MA in Career Development and Coaching Studies: Route A and Route B. It is not necessary to finalise your preferred route at the time of application as this can be confirmed later.

Route A

Route A consists of 6 x 20 credit modules and a 60 credit Dissertation module (15,000 words). It provides a full training for working as a career development professional.

Route B

Route B consists of 3 x 20 credit modules, a 100 credit Dissertation module (25,000 words) and 1 x 20 credit module from the list of Route B options below. It is designed for individuals with some experience of career development support or those wishing to pursue independent research in the field of career development and coaching studies.

This MA can be completed full-time or part-time. 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 dates). Assignments are project-based and follow each workshop.

Multiple Start Dates
The full-time route starts every October, and takes one year to complete. The part-time route starts in April or October, and take up to four years to complete. Both routes begin with a mandatory induction the day before the Career Development Theories module.

Full-time (P-L561)
The full-time MA is completed over 12 months. You will attend a series of 6 workshops during the year, starting with the Career Development Theories module. We welcome applications to the full-time route from both national and international students.

Part-time (P-L561P)
A flexible approach is adopted for people wishing to study part-time, to enable attendance for those with full-time work or other responsibilities. You will start with the Career Development Theories module and attend between 2 and 6 workshops per year depending on how quickly you wish to move through the MA. This route is not suitable for international students requiring a Tier 4 Visa. Such students are advised to consider the full-time route.

This course is designed for applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. This includes individuals who are currently involved in career development and coaching support, individuals who wish to work in these areas and/or those who are interested in the study for personal interest. The University's standard entrance requirement is an undergraduate degree graded at 2:2 in any discipline*. Equivalent professional qualifications can also be considered.

Applicants must be able to produce written work of a good standard.

*If you have alternative qualifications and relevant experience, you are welcome to discuss these with the course team.

Overseas Applicants:

We have welcomed students from a range of countries including the UK, Ireland, Norway, France, Germany, Romania, Slovenia, USA, China, Oman, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Mongolia and Australia. You are invited to discuss the course options available with the course team.

Former students have gone on to publish and disseminate their work in a range of academic and professional contexts. Our graduates occupy a range of relevant roles in the private and public sectors. PhD opportunities are available at Warwick within the Centre for Lifelong Learning and the Warwick Institute for Employment Research.

You will attend a Research in Professional Project workshop (see dates) and are allocated a dissertation supervisor. The workshop and supervision are provided to assist participants with undertaking an initial literature review, constructing research questions and designing a research strategy. There is a considerable experience available within the course team and most topics connected with career development and coaching can be pursued.

Both route A and B described above enable direct entry to the MA. It is also possible for students to register for the PG Diploma or PG Certificate CDCS and then transfer to the MA.

To apply for this course you will need to apply through postgraduate admissions

See Course fees and funding for more information. View potential additional fees

Further module information

More information on core and optional modules is indicated below. Detailed module information is available by clicking on the relevant module title e.g. aims, learning outcomes, syllabus, teaching and assessment.

Route A or B modules:

Route A modules: optional - choose three from the list below

Route B modules: optional - choose from one of the below

*The modules mentioned above may be subject to change. Please read our terms and conditions for more detailed information.