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 28 July 2022.
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
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 September 2022 with successful candidates being informed by November 2022.
What references do I need to include in my application?
The criteria for acceptance includes letters of recommendation from two referees who can provide academic or professional references; where possible, academic references are desirable. Only references officially evidencing the institutional affiliation of the referee with be accepted.
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. References which arrive from personal email addresses are not accepted.
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 FHEQ 4 or above; and (b) have at least three years of practical coaching experience.
(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.
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. However, due to the ongoing situation with the global pandemic of Covid-19, it is not possible to guarantee that the MSt will be run entirely in-person. Assuming in-person study is possible you will need to:
a. Attend, in person, all the Residential periods; and
b. Be eligible to study in the UK