Program Overview

Overview

Being an effective professional coach or mentor is about more than learning techniques and behaviours. Our approach at Oxford Brookes, developed over more than 20 years of coach education, puts you at the centre of your practice.

We focus on helping you to develop your unique coaching style. Learning about the latest insights and developments in coaching and mentoring will give you a range of perspectives to inform your approach. You'll understand what makes you effective in the professional relationship and what you bring personally to your practice.

You might be completely new to the area, already an established coach or a consultant wanting to add coaching to your portfolio. Wherever you’re starting from, this course will build on your skills and self-awareness to be a better coach or mentor. And our highly experienced team at our specialist centre is on hand to give you expert input and dedicated supervision.

When you look back at the end of the course, you’ll see a significant shift in your development.

Why Oxford Brookes University?

• Optional exit points
• Top researchers
• Focus on your niche
• A vibrant community
• Accreditation(s)

Course Details

Course Structure

As well as covering the fundamental principles of coaching and mentoring practice, you’ll gain vital experience of acting as a coach/mentor where you can apply different methods and techniques. The feedback you’ll get from supervisors and volunteer clients will help you reflect and identify areas for growth. And the practice modules with 1:1 supervision are an opportunity for you to develop even further.

At the diploma level, you’ll focus either on the latest psychological research exploring new ideas around the ways people change. Or you’ll investigate the process and issues in setting up a formal coaching or mentoring scheme. You’ll carry out an evaluation of a programme in an actual organisation.

Your dissertation at MA level gives you the opportunity to delve deeper into a topic of your interest with a piece of investigative or literature-based research, supported by your colleagues and supervisor. This research element will help you to develop your skills as a reflective practitioner and contribute to the knowledge base which informs current coaching and mentoring practice.

Learning and Teaching

You’ll learn via interactive and high-quality online resources and participate in live online seminars.

Your learning will be a mix of learning activities which will emphasise interactive discussions, class exercises and the use of slides and other materials. Each module builds upon the last, helping you to deepen your practice. You’ll be closely supported by your tutors as you build your research skills and deepen your capacity to be a reflective practitioner. You could also apply to take the Professional Doctorate in Coaching and Mentoring upon successful completion of the MA.

Assessment

You will be assessed on a variety of coursework assignments and a dissertation. There are no exams.

Study Modules

The modules listed below are for the master's award. For the PGDip and PGCert awards your module choices may be different. Please contact us for more details.

Taught Modules

• Coaching and Mentoring Practice Fundamentals (20 credits)
• Transformational Learning and Adult Development (20 credits)
• Psychotherapeutic Dimensions of Coaching and Mentoring: (20 credits)
• Advanced Coaching and Mentoring Practice (20 credits)
• Psychology of Coaching and Mentoring (20 credits)
• Coaching and Mentoring in Organisations (20 credits)
• Research in Coaching and Mentoring (compulsory for students completing the full MA)

Independent Study

• Independent Study (may be work-based or theoretical)

Final Project

• Dissertation (60 credits)

Research

The master's programme is taught through the International Centre for Coaching and Mentoring Studies. At the forefront of coaching and mentoring research, the Centre’s academic team consists of leading educators and researchers in the field.

Our journal, annual conferences and professional network OBCAMS (the Oxford Brookes Coaching and Mentoring Society) offer excellent opportunities to students, academics and practitioners for the dissemination and sharing of research and ideas.

Our Research areas include:

• Philosophical underpinnings of coaching
• Developmental, leadership and team coaching
• Resilience
• Embodiment
• Transfer of learning
• The coaching relationship
• Ethics
• Managing mentoring schemes

Teaching staff have research interests and expertise in coaching and mentoring, and related fields. Visiting speakers from business and industry provide further input.

You can attend events from the Oxford Brookes Coaching and Mentoring Society (OBCAMS), which meets monthly. It attracts outside speakers and presenters from all areas of coaching and mentoring.

Careers

As one of our graduates, you’ll be recognised as having a high level of expertise which will give you credibility and help you establish your reputation in the field.

By the end of the programme, you’ll have developed as a well-informed, critically oriented and creative coach/mentor. You may choose to build your practice in different areas – executive coaching, life coaching, wellbeing, consultancy, education, youth work or other contexts. As a senior manager, you may have decided to work on your coaching skills in your day-to-day role.

Even if you’re not going directly into coaching or mentoring, you’ll find your employment opportunities will be enhanced by your greater self-awareness and insight into the subject, as well as the variety of new contacts formed during the course.

And if you’re passionate about further applying knowledge to practice, you can take your professional expertise to the next level with our Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring Programme. You can also continue your practitioner-oriented career with our Advanced Programme in Coaching Supervision.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of a second-class honours degree (2:2) in any academic discipline, or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution or equivalent professional or other qualification, and at least two year’s relevant professional experience.
• Exceptionally, applicants who can show that they have qualifications or experience or both that demonstrate that they have alternative knowledge and capabilities equivalent to those possessed by holders of the qualifications listed above, may be admitted with dispensation from the requirement to possess those qualifications.
• Entry will also be subject to one satisfactory reference.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS minimum level 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing, and 5.5 in listening and speaking) or equivalent
• If you have completed your undergraduate degree in the UK (at least one full year of study) you will automatically meet our English language requirements

Tuition Fees

• Home (UK) distance learning: MA - 2 Years: £15,000; PGDip - 15 months: £11,000; PGCert - 8 months: £6,650
• International distance learning: MA - 2 Years: £15,000; PGDip - 15 months: £11,000; PGCert - 8 months: £6,650

Funding Your Studies

• Postgraduate Master's Loan - England

Additional Costs

• It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required.
• Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills)
• Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs)
• Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41.
• Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes.