MSt in Coaching

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 ICE 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

• 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.

Expected academic standard

Applicants are expected to have achieved at least a 2.i honours degree from a UK University or an equivalent standard from an overseas institution. Applicants with international qualifications can check the equivalence guidelines for your country: International Qualifications check

There is provision to accept non-standard applicants who do not satisfy the standard academic criterion. Such applicants must produce evidence of relevant and equivalent experience and their 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

The language requirement for speakers of English as an additional language is below. For guidance, you may wish to consult the Postgraduate Admission's language calculator for an estimate of your language requirement. 

• IELTS Academic: Overall score of 7.5 (a minimum of 7.0 in each individual component)
• TOEFL Internet: Overall score of 110 (a minimum of 25 in each individual component)
• CAE: Grade A or B (with at least 193 in each individual element) plus a Language Centre assessment
• CPE: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 in each individual element)

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.

Fees

The course fee can be paid across the two years of the course in eight equal instalments, and the combined graduate fee includes College membership. The fee status of EU nationals for 2021 entry onwards will be International by default until the UK government announce further details and amendments of the current regulation. EU students should regularly check for updates at: www.cam.ac.uk/eu 

Please note that there may be small additional fees payable to a College for specific services provided; for further information please contact the College directly once you have a confirmed place.

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

Home fees:

Year 1 - £8,925

Year 2 - £8,925

Overseas/ EU fees:

Year 1 - £15,630

Year 2 - £15,630

ICE fees and refunds policy

Funding

Information regarding Professional and Career Development Loans can be found here -  Sources of government funding and financial support. 

For information on a loan from Student Finance England for course fees and a contribution towards living costs, please see funding.

The Institute of Continuing Education does not offer any of its bursaries for this course.

Read the MSt Application Guide to find out more about the application process and what you need to do and consider as a potential applicant. If you have any questions about the application process, contact our Admissions team: mst.admissions@ice.cam.ac.uk.

Using AI in your application: when completing an application, you should note the following restrictions and risks of using AI tools: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/how/ai-postgraduate-applications

If you have an academic query related to the course that you wish to discuss prior to application, please contact Dr Andrea Giraldez Hayes (Course Director) via coaching@ice.cam.ac.uk

Supporting documents

You will be required to provide 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 ICE, 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.

When are applications considered?

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.

Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQs). Please do read through these and you should find the answers to most questions. However, if you still cannot find what you are looking for then please click on, the ‘ASK A QUESTION’ link at the top right of this page to send the course team a message and we will respond as soon as possible.

Applications

When are the opening and closing dates for applications?

Applications are now open and close on 4th April 2025. 

Late applications will not be considered. We encourage all applications to be submitted as early as possible, to avoid any possible technical difficulties with submission. 

Are any places offered before the application deadline?

No places will be offered before the deadline. All applications submitted by the deadline will be considered.

I have question about my application, who should I contact?

For any queries or information about the admissions procedure, making an application or your application - please contact the admissions team by clicking on the link top right on this page.

For academic related queries, please contact Dr Andrea Giraldez Hayes (Course Director) via coaching@ice.cam.ac.uk

Please direct all other queries to the course administration team by clicking on the link top right on this page.

When will I hear back about my application? 

Candidates who proceed to the second stage of the application process will be interviewed by two Academics who will then decide on the outcome. Interviews are likely to take place in May 2025 with successful candidates being informed from June 2025. 

What references do I need to include in my application? 

The criterion for acceptance includes letters of recommendation from two referees who can provide academic or professional references. Only references officially evidencing the institutional affiliation of an academic referee will be accepted. Professional references should be from a person eligible to provide valuable information regarding your coach practice using, where possible, a professional email address.

If you have previously studied the Certificate or Diploma in Coaching with ICE, you may list your Tutor as a referee.

If you have been out of education for some time and you are not able to obtain an academic reference, please provide two professional references. 

Do I need to know my dissertation topic when I apply?

No. When you start the course, it is helpful for you and the teaching staff to know the broad area in which you wish to ground your research. You will develop your thinking as you progress during the first year of the course and will submit your research proposal towards the end of Year 1.

How many applicants are likely to be successful?

For the next cohort, we are anticipating a group of 20 students.

Eligibility

What are the entry requirements to the course?

You can find out the entry requirements to the course under the ‘Entry Requirements’ tab above.

I am an International Student - do I have the relevant qualifications to be considered for the course? 

Please check the equivalence guidelines for your country: International qualifications.

I do not meet the academic criteria - can I still apply for the course? 

In addition to those with the standard entry requirement of a 2i or above in their first degree, we welcome applications from students with lower marks in the first degree than the standard requirement. However, all applicants need to (a) hold a coaching qualification at Level 4 or above; and (b) have at least three years of practical coaching experience.

I do not hold a coaching qualification at Level 4 or above but think my formal coach training is equivalent. How can my application demonstrate this?

You should review the contents of our Certificate in Coaching, including the learning outcomes available in the Course Guide, and provide details of how your coach training or credentials are equivalent. An example of this may involve mapping evidence you have had to provide to an accrediting body (e.g ICF, AC or EMCC) against the certificate content.

You can view details of the Certificate in Coaching here.

Does the Level 4 coaching qualification (or equivalent) need to come from a university?

No, but your coaching qualification content should equate to the content of our Certificate in Coaching and have some form of assessment that has successfully been achieved.

You can view details of the Certificate in Coaching here.

Does completion of the or Diploma in Coaching offer automatic progression to the MSt?

No, completion of the Certificate or Diploma does not offer automatic progression to the MSt. Applicants to the MSt are expected to be advanced practitioners with a minimum of 3 years practical experience, therefore we would not expect students to join the MSt until they have built up their coach practice to an advanced level.

(Why) Do I need to do complete a language test? 

Evidence of English language proficiency is a University requirement, and rigorously applied. Even those applicants who may have obtained previous degrees in English may be required to take a language test, as the University’s regulations are time dependent. It is imperative that applicants check in advance, and if necessary, arrange for appropriate testing, as they must comply before taking up any offer of admission. Any English language proficiency test needs to have been completed within the last 3 years. 

The University's main graduate admissions office website has a language calculator, https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/international/competence-english which you may find helpful at this stage of the application process. 

The Admissions team will only make a formal assessment of whether or not an applicant will be required to provide additional evidence of their current English language proficiency after they receive an academic decision to accept your application from the department. It is best to check yourself ahead of this in order to give yourself enough time to take a test if required.

Do I need a Visa, and if so, how do I obtain one? 

Please see the information on Visas from the International Student Office at Cambridge here:  https://www.iso.admin.cam.ac.uk/visa-advice-service 

With the change in the rules after Brexit, am I, as a European citizen, considered an overseas, or a UK student? 

The fee status of EU nationals for 2021 entry onwards will be International by default until the UK government announce further details and amendments of the current regulation. EU students should regularly check for updates at: http://www.eu.admin.cam.ac.uk/

Progression and Credits

Do the Certificate and Diploma in Coaching courses offer an automatic progression to the MSt course? 

The Certificate and Diploma courses do not offer automatic progression to the MSt. However, successful completion of the Certificate or Diploma course will aid progression to the MSt, as they offer substantive engagement with the discipline of coaching, and experience in rigorous academic writing. 

Can I transfer credits from my current university?

We do not currently accept any transfer of credits from other universities.  

What College will I join?

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.

Teaching delivery

Do I need to attend in person? 

This is an in-person course and attendance is compulsory at each of the Residential periods in Cambridge. The programme is delivered via a combination of face-to-face teaching, delivery through a virtual learning environment [VLE] and self-directed learning. You will need to:  

a. Attend, in person, all the Residential periods; and  

b. Be eligible to study in the UK  

What study commitment is required outside of the residential sessions?

Each unit is spread over a 11 or 12-week period. Following the residential there will be a series of synchronous and asynchronous events facilitated via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).  However, there will also be ample time allowed for self-study within each 11 or 12-week period. A schedule of events will be shared with you during the residential.

How intensive are the residential sessions?

Each residential teaching day is divided into approximately 4 x 1.5-hour sessions and students are expected to attend all of the residential days. While you are in Cambridge for the residentials, you may also want to take the opportunity to make the most of the libraries in-person.