General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

This course is designed for applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. This includes individuals who are currently involved in people development and coaching support, line managers wanting to take a coaching approach to leadership, and 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. If you have alternative qualifications and relevant experience, you are welcome to discuss these with the course team. 

Applicants 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 A
• IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0.

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.

Core modules

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

Year 1

CE9B3-20 Listening, Questioning and Direct Communication

This module provides you with comprehensive knowledge of the foundation skills and theoretical perspectives required for coaching in a range of contexts. Linked to professional competencies, this module is designed to develop systematic theoretical knowledge, skills in practice, and self-awareness, focusing on three fundamental coaching elements: Active listening, Powerful Questioning, and Direct Communication. The module will also focus on how listening, questioning and direct communication are fundamental to developing the working and learning alliance, and consider the integrated nature of coaching.

CE9A8-20 Establishing Trust and Building Relationship

This module provides you with a comprehensive view of the skills and knowledge required to build and maintain an effective coaching relationship. You will develop detailed theoretical and practical knowledge about integrity, confidentiality, respect, support, and challenge, while holding the coachee in “unconditional positive regard.”

CE 9B2-20 Ethics and Standards in Coaching

This module provides you with comprehensive knowledge of the ethics and standards required in professional coaching, as well as maintaining high levels of professional practice through supervision and continuing professional development.

Year 2

Choose any three of the following modules:

CE9B1-20 Use of Self and Coaching Presence

This module provides you with a comprehensive knowledge of the theoretical basis for developing a deep awareness of what is happening within self and for the coachee during a coaching conversation. You will develop a systematic knowledge and comprehensive understanding of ‘coaching presence’ and through self-awareness, develop confident and creative professional practice.

CE9A9-20 The Coaching Process

This module provides you with a comprehensive view of the key skills and theoretical knowledge required to manage the coaching process, facilitate progress for the coachee, and to congruently address issues that are counter to the achievement of the coachee’s (and sponsor’s) objectives.

CE955 Career Vocation and Calling

This module enables you to develop knowledge and understanding of classic and contemporary perspectives on career, vocation, and calling and to integrate and apply these perspectives with career development and coaching in a variety of contexts and practices.

CE9B6 Leadership and Team Coaching

This module will provide you with comprehensive knowledge of the skills and theoretical perspectives relating to leadership and team coaching. The module is designed to develop systematic theoretical knowledge, skills in practice and self-awareness, focussing on coaching in organisations in which leadership coaching and team coaching will be used. This is not sector specific, and so the material is generalisable to private, public, not for profit, large or small organisations, and aims to give you the skills and knowledge that can be applied in any organisational context.

CE956 Research in Professional Practice

To develop an understanding of research methods necessary to complete a small-scale research project related to professional practice including literature review, research questions, research strategy, sources, evaluative framework, reflexivity, and dissemination.

Year 3

Dissertation on a subject of your choice

Your studies will be supported by the module leaders, experts in their topic, as well as a personal tutor who will work with you throughout the course.

Teaching

The course takes a coaching approach to learning. 

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course students will be able to:

• Demonstrate comprehensive specialist knowledge and mastery of techniques relevant to coaching.
• Demonstrate systematic understanding and critical analysis of coaching research, theories and practice, which can be applied in practice and are adaptable to the context and sensitive to the coachee's needs.
• Take a self-reflective role to develop self-awareness and to critically examine personal and professional experience, evaluate strengths and development needs.
• Draw on theoretical concepts and relevant literature giving appropriate evidence and examples to discuss the essential components of effective coaching.

The content of our coaching courses has been informed by the professional coaching bodies' competency frameworks, including the Association for Coaching (AC), the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) International Coach Federation (ICF). This ensures that our courses are focused on developing coaches in line with internationally recognised standards of best practice.

Class sizes

A maximum of 21 students.

Assessment

Modules are assessed through a combination of assignments (5,000 word projects) and case studies. Dissertation A (60 credits) consists of a 15,000 word dissertation (100%). Dissertation B (100 credits) consists of a more in-depth 25,000 word dissertation (100%). Typically, the dissertation is focused on a topic of your choice and includes an initial literature review, research questions, methodology and findings.

Accreditation

The course is accredited by the Association for Coaching, so after logging the appropriate number of coaching hours, you be an accredited coach with the AC, as well as holding a MA from one of the top 10 universities in the UK. 

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 when you join us.

Your career

The University of Warwick is one of the UK's leading universities. Our postgraduate coaching courses will develop you as a credible expert coach so you will be able to build a career in coaching, in the context of your choice. Alternatively, you will be able to apply your coaching skills within your organisation, such as HR professionals, and line managers to enhance your leadership skills and improve individual and team effectiveness, so supporting promotion potential. 

As well as developing your coaching skills and knowledge, the course will help you develop a strong network formed through the shared experience, which can be of on-going support after the course has finished. 

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

• Career Coaching (PGA)
• Career Development and Coaching Studies (MA)
• Career Development and Coaching Studies (PGCert)
• Career Development and Coaching Studies (PGDip)
• Career Development Theories (PGA)
• Career Education, Information and Guidance in HE (MA)
• Career Education, Information and Guidance in HE (PGCert)
• Career Education, Information and Guidance in HE (PGDip)
• Career Development Theories - CEIGHE (PGA)
• Challenges of Careers Work in Higher Education (PGA)
• Coaching (MA)
• Coaching (PGCert)
• Coaching (PGDip)
• Leadership and Team Coaching (PGA)
• Psychotherapy and Counselling (MSc)

Our Postgraduate Research courses

• Open PhD
• PhD in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning
• PhD in Social Policy and Social Work
• PhD in Social Work

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 bursaries

Apply to the course

This part-time course has two intakes each year.

Application for 2024 entry is now closed. However, please go to our 2025 entry webpages to apply for April 2025 or October 2025 course.

Read our notes on how to apply