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Coaching (MA) (2026 Entry)

Course code

P-L58A

Start date

April and September

Duration

3 years part-time

Qualification

Led by

Centre for Lifelong Learning

Location

University of Warwick and Distance Learning

Coaching (MA) (2026 Entry)

Course code

P-L58A

Start date

April and September

Duration

3 years part-time

Qualification

Led by

Centre for Lifelong Learning

Location

University of Warwick and Distance Learning

Meet us

Download our prospectus Link opens in a new window

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Find out more about our Coaching taught degree at Warwick

The Coaching MA integrates theory with the practical skills to ensure a rounded approach to coaching. Coaching is nothing without the application of the highest levels of coaching skills, which are informed by evidence-based theory. The MA Coaching will enable you to make a distinctive contribution to the field of coaching through taught modules, skill practice and independent research.

Course overview

The Coaching MA is designed and led by Ian Day, an internationally recognized executive coach, thought leader and co-author of the ground-breaking book Challenging Coaching: Going Beyond Traditional Coaching to Face the FACTS, along with other highly skilled and experienced coaches and tutors. The course encourages independent thought, the questioning of assumptions, development of self-awareness and mastering of an authentic coaching approach suited to the context in which you operate. The course is accredited by the Association for Coaching, and this ensures that our courses are focused on developing coaches in line with internationally recognised standards of best practice.

This Coaching MA is completed part-time over three-years, through three 20-credit core modules in year one, three 20-credit modules in year two and a dissertation on a subject of your choice in year 3. The modules are taught via a blend of interactive workshops and distance learning virtual resource centre available 24/7. The workshops take place at The University of Warwick, usually over two days.

There is no place on this course for lectures, everything we do is with coaching at its heart; the workshops are designed and delivered as team coaching events to role model coaching in everything that we do. Assignments are project-based and follow each workshop.

Hear from our students

Hear from current Coaching students, Sarah and Rehan, talking about their experience on the course.

This video was filmed in 2023.

Entry requirements

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. Our philosophy is 'coaching for all'.

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.

Academic References

We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses, and two academic references for research courses.

You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.

View our guide to academic references.Link opens in a new window

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.

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 Coaching modules & key dates.

Year 1

Module title

Credits

Year 2

Module title

Credits

Year 3

Dissertation on a subject of your choice (60 or 100 credits)

Module title

Credits

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.

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 financial support

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

Living costs

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

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.

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

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.

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

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Apply to this 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 checklist

Our how to apply checklist helps you prepare for your application

Read the checklist

I'm ready to apply

Learn more about the Applicant Portal.

Apply now

Application deadlines

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2026 opens on 2 October 2025.

Applications close on 2 August 2026 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

Useful links

Applicant portal
After your applied
Admissions statement
Join a Live Chat

2025 entry

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

Postgraduate Coaching online taster

Course Director Ian Day will be there to present some live information about studying our PGA, PG Certificate, PG Diploma and MA in the fascinating practice of Coaching. Ask Ian any questions and meet other like-minded potential applicants:

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

See 2025 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 2026 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.

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Coaching (MA) (2026 Entry)

Coaching (MA) (2026 Entry)

Find out more about our Coaching taught degree at Warwick

Scholarships and financial support

Living costs

How to apply checklist

I'm ready to apply

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

Postgraduate Coaching online taster

Explore ways to connect with us

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

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