MSt in Coaching

Watch the recording of our MSt in Coaching Information Session from our Master's Open Week 2024.

The Masters in Coaching has also been developed in response to demand from qualified and experienced coaches who are seeking advanced training that complements and extends the existing University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) provision of entry level qualifications focusing on coaching knowledge, practice skills and professional standards.

The Cambridge MSt differentiates itself from existing master’s programmes offered by other higher education institutions in the UK by focusing on (a) evidence-based models of psychological coaching; (b) professional applicability beyond specific sectors and domains, such as mentoring, education or career coaching, to include the full range of coaching contexts; (c) an inter-disciplinary approach that challenges students to develop a wide ranging curiosity of thought and research; (d) advanced critical thinking and problem solving skills that results in robust academic writing and research output, commensurate with a world-leading institution.

Educational aims

The MSt aims to produce graduates who:

• develop high levels of expertise as advanced practitioners of coaching through engagement with current theoretical and methodological approaches and by learning through practice and reflection on that practice
• advance their coaching practice through originality and experimentation with evidence based creative approaches suitable to a range of contexts
• use contemporary theory and philosophy to develop and enhance advanced coaching practice through engagement with psychologically informed approaches
• have the ability to critically explore and evaluate different psychologically informed approaches to advanced coaching practice
• engage with and analyse current and future developments within the field of coaching
• develop inherent curiosity and advanced critical thinking and research skills relevant to advanced practitioners in contemporary and future coaching scenarios in a range of contexts
• feel safe to explore and experiment with new approaches, honestly reflect on their development and freely provide and receive feedback on their professional practice to enable the development of their authentic and unique coaching identity fit for the future of coaching

Learning outcomes

By the end of the programme, students will be able to demonstrate the following:

Knowledge and understanding

• Specialised, advanced knowledge of psychological models relevant to advanced coaching practice, to include neuroscience and systems approaches.
• Critical engagement with and evaluation of the evidence base for effective coaching practice and measurement of outcomes.
• Extensive understanding of a specialised field within coaching.
• Detailed understanding of contemporary and future trends and issues in coaching and their implications for the coaching profession.
• Advanced awareness of self and identity as a coach and the impact of culture, values and ethics on advanced coaching practice.
• Advanced knowledge of research methodology.

Skills and other attributes

By the end of the programme, students will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Critical review of advanced theoretical discourses from a multi-disciplinary perspective.
• Development of new, creative approaches and concepts in response to contemporary issues and developments within coaching.
• Highly developed research, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Design and execution of investigations to explore contemporary and future areas of theory and practice.
• Selection of and critical evaluation of research methodology.
• Advanced specialised (life or executive) evidence based and psychologically informed coaching skills for complex and evolving contexts.
• The ability to reflect on the application of contemporary thinking to specific areas of coaching and the value of different reflective models to reflect on practice.
• Critical sensitivity to the ethical implications of developments and issues within coaching and impact on advanced practice.

Continuing

Successful completion of the MSt at a high grade may allow students to progress to a PhD either at the University of Cambridge or another institution.

Graduate employability and career destinations

It is expected that candidates accepted onto the programme will either have an established coaching business practice or working as professional coaches within an organisational context. However, by undertaking further learning and development in coaching by a highly respected institution will implicitly improve a person’s marketability and / or employability.

Student Support

Depending upon your needs, a variety of support opportunities are available to you including wellbeing support sessions, short-term counselling, and study skills support sessions. Find out more in our student support webpages.

Expected academic standard

Applicants for this course will normally have achieved a UK 2.1 honours degree or overseas equivalent.

If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

We are able to consider 'non-standard' applicants who do not meet the standard academic criterion. In such cases, you will need to produce evidence of relevant and equivalent experience, and your suitability for the course.

Expected coaching standard

In addition to the academic requirement, applicants need to (a) hold a coaching qualification at Level 4 or above; and (b) have at least three years of practical coaching experience. Prospective students must provide a transcript of their coaching qualification and suitable evidence of coaching experience.

Language requirement

If English isn’t your first language, you will be required to submit evidence that you meet the University’s English language requirement before you are admitted.

Please see full details on the University Language Requirement webpage.

Language requirements for this course are below:

• IELTS Academic: Overall band score of 7.5 (with a minimum of 7.0 in each individual component)
• TOEFL Internet: Overall score of 110 (a minimum of 25 in each individual component)
• C1 Advanced: Grade  A or B (with at least 193 in each individual element), plus a Language Centre assessment.
• C2 Proficiency: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200, with no element lower than 185)

There are no exceptions to this requirement and, if you are offered a place on the course, it will be subject to you meeting this requirement.

Visa information

Students registered on a part-time Master of Studies (MSt) will be able to attend the short teaching sessions with a visitor status in the UK. Entry to the UK as a visitor has a number of expectations and restrictions which you should consider carefully.

Further information is provided on the International Students website and prospective students are advised to read this in full.

Students attending sessions taking place at intervals across the year with a visitor status are expected not to remain in the UK for extended periods. The majority of study must be undertaken outside the UK and generally students will be required to leave the UK at the end of each session and return for the next. As a visitor on a course of more than 6 months, it is not possible to make the UK your main study location or residence, or make frequent or successive visits to stay in the UK for extended periods.

Teaching

The taught units are as follows:

Psychological Coaching  

This unit sets out the landscape for the course that advocates a psychological mindedness approach to coaching, irrespective of the coaching context in which students operate.

Practical Philosophy for Coaching

This pivotal unit provides students with the opportunity to reflect on and contemplate their coaching practice through a philosophical lens. The aim of the unit is to not only provide insight and clarity on what has been studied so far but to also provoke healthy challenge and debate to students’ understanding of the coaching landscape.

Evidenced-Based Coaching

This unit moves students’ thinking and attention from pure psychologically based models to those that are more evidenced based. The unit intention is to help students to develop the competence to challenge that evidence base critically and rigorously.

Neuroscience and Coaching 

This unit builds on the previous units and helps to strengthen students’ competence in critical and analytical thinking as more scientific evidence is presented to them about coaching related issues in the context of the emerging interest and understanding of brain research.

Coaching in Systems

This unit develops the idea that coaching does not happen in isolation and argues for coaches to take a systemic approach to coaching that ultimately yields greater benefits to all those potentially affected by the outcomes of the coaching process.

Emerging Trends in Coaching

This unit builds on the learning gained from Evidence Based Coaching and can be considered a synthesis of the content of all the units studied so far. The actual content of this unit is informed by contemporary and emerging research studies.

Dissertation - Research Methods: Theory and Practice

This unit consists of 3-days Research Methods taught provision with additional online support followed by the Dissertation plus supervision.

Assessment

All units on the course use summative assessment approaches designed to ensure experiential learning and work-based real-life relevance. Approaches may include, but are not limited to: short answer questions, essays, evaluative studies of problem-based scenarios, group presentations, critical analysis of literature and case studies, research proposals and research dissertations. All unit assessments are the equivalent of a 3000-4000 essay.

The dissertation examination shall include a research project of 12,000 words.

Residential dates

Year 1

Unit 1: 1-5 September 2025

Unit 2: 12-16 January 2026

Unit 3: 27 April - 1 May 2026

Year 2

Unit 4: 7-10 September 2026

Unit 5: 7-10 December 2026

Unit 6: 15-18 March 2027

Fees

The fees for 2025-27, which include College membership, are: 

• £8,925 per annum for Home students (total £17,850)
• £15,630 per annum for Overseas students (total £31,260)

The fee can be paid across the two years of the course, normally in eight equal instalments. All fees for Year 1 must be paid in full in order to progress to Year 2.

You will be expected to cover the application fee (£50 online) and any costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence during the course and residential sessions in Cambridge. 

Funding

We do not currently have any scholarships or bursaries for this course. 

We recommend that you explore any potential funding well in advance of the application deadline. See our External funding page for more information.

All applications are considered on a gathered field after the closing date. While there is no advantage to submitting your application early, we would recommend you do not leave submission until the last minute to avoid any technical difficulties.

Supporting documents

You will be required to provide the following supporting documents as part of your application:

Undergraduate degree certificates & transcripts

• A transcript is a list of all the courses you have taken during a programme of study, with the result you obtained, and with the credit value if applicable.
• If you have other academic qualifications (i.e. postgraduate qualifications) you have the option to provide these.
• All documents should be translated to English if applicable.

Evidence of coaching qualification & practical experience

Applicants are required to hold a coaching qualification at Level 4 or above, please upload a certificate and transcript of your coaching qualification and suitable evidence of 3 years practical coaching experience.

Personal Statement

Applicants are required to provide information about their motivation for applying for the course and to outline relevant practical coaching experience (please do not exceed 1000 words).

CV or Resume

Please provide a standard, two-page professional CV. This enables us to gain an understanding of applicants’ professional history; practical coaching experience should be outlined in your personal statement (see above).

Employer letter of support

Applicants are expected to have support from their employer in undertaking the MSt. This can be provided either at the time of submitting your application or when an offer is made; the letter must:

• state your employer supports you undertaking the MSt, and
• state they will facilitate your attendance at the residential sessions
• be on company letterhead, emails will not be accepted, although the letter can be sent as an attachment

If you are self-employed, please provide a letter (on your company letterhead) stating that you are self-employed and can attend the residential periods.

Please provide a standard, two-page professional CV. This enables us to gain an understanding of applicants’ professional history; practical coaching experience should be outlined in your personal statement (see above).

References

You will need to provide the details of two referees. These should be one academic and one professional reference. If you have previously studied the Certificate or Diploma in Coaching with PACE, you may list your Tutor as a referee.

You will be asked to provide email addresses for your referees so that they can submit their reference via the online referencing system, so it is important for you to ensure that your referee is able to provide a reference for you before you submit your application form. For professional references, please ensure that the email address given is a professional one wherever possible.

Interviews

All short-listed applicants will be invited to interview with two members of the academic team. Interviews are anticipated to take place in May 2025 and will be held using video conferencing tools such as Zoom.

College membership

Students on the MSt in Coaching will become members of a University College. Please do not approach colleges directly regarding membership, the course administrative team will do this on your behalf. Further information will be provided should you be offered a place on the MSt.

To find out more about College membership, see the most recent ‘Meet the Colleges’ recording. 

When completing your application, please note the University restrictions and risks of using AI tools.