Coaching MA

Find out more about our Coaching taught degree at Warwick

Page Updates

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

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. 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 this web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module CatalogueLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window (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 the current year of study and not the year you are applying to, meaning costs could differ in your 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

P-L58A

MA

3 years part-time

April and September

Centre for Lifelong Learning

University of Warwick and Distance Learning

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.

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.

A maximum of 21 students.

Each module typically consists of 2 days of intensive, attendance-based workshops combined with some independent learning using on-line study materials, links to key readings, online webinars and tutorial support.

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.

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.

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

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

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.

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 (20 credits)

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 (20 credits)

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 (20 credits)

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 (20 credits)

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 (20 credits)

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 (20 credits)

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 (20 credits)

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 (20 credits)

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 (60 or 100 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.

There are two possible routes: 

• Route A: choose 3 optional modules and a 60-credit dissertation. 

• Route B: choose 1 optional module and a 100-credit dissertation. 

Previously, a selection of the following options have been offered: 

• Career-related Learning 
• Organisations and Labour Markets 
• Career, Work Experience and Employability 

• Career, Vocation and Calling 

Support from the Department

There is significant support available through your personal tutor, teaching team, the extended course team and student support team in the Centre for Lifelong Learning.

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

This is a holding content block which does not currently display on the page. To make it live, update the copy above, change the Title to remove the brackets, and delete this sentence.

Apply to this course

This course has two entries a year. The October 2025 applications are open, which will close on 15 September 2025.

Apply for October 2025 course

Read our notes on how to apply