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Career Coaching and Coaching Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

This postgraduate course in career coaching and coaching psychology offers you a unique combination of practical training in coaching skills and in-depth study of coaching psychology and career coaching. As a coach, consultant, career or HR professional or psychologist, it will equip you with the skills and knowledge to work with individuals and groups at relational depth. Why choose this course?

  • It is recognised for career development and is accredited by the Association for Coaching.
  • It is one of only a few courses in London that focus on adult career management and coaching with practical coaching skills development.
  • Reflective practice sits at the heart of our approach helping you to develop high-quality, ethical coaching practice.
  • The MSc offers you a unique opportunity to apply for a coaching placement in Birkbeck's Careers Service.
What you will learn This course has a strong focus on skills building and features bespoke skills training days to help you refine your practice. It allows you to develop an evidenced-based and critical approach to psychologically informed coaching and career coaching practice development. The MSc will prepare you to set up your own independent coaching and career coaching practice and develop specialist research knowledge to position your future career. Our Postgraduate Certificate is the starting place if you are an experienced manager or professional looking to explore a transition into coaching or career coaching. If you are an experienced coach you will also have the option of developing your coaching portfolio in lieu of the core skills module. How you will learn You will be taught by experienced career and coaching psychologists. A key component of this course is the highly rated specialist skills workshop days in which you will develop your in-person coaching skills in small groups. Alongside this, you will work in online digital practice groups and in small case discussion groups to develop your coaching practice. The course is available to study part-time with classes taking place in the evening, and some weekend study. Highlights
  • After gaining either the MSc or Postgraduate Certificate you will meet the qualification requirements for entry to the UK Register of Career Development Professionals, the sector equivalent of Chartered Status. Being on the Register proves to employers and clients that you hold a qualification in career development at QCF Level 6/SCQF Level 11 or above, abide by the CDI Code of Ethics, and undertake and record a minimum of 25 hours' CPD per year. Increasingly employers are asking that employees are on this Register.
  • The MSc is accredited by the Association for Coaching so, once you complete the course, you will be able to access their Accredited Certificate in Coach Training accelerated route. The Postgraduate Certificate is also accredited by the Association for Coaching as an Accredited Award in Coach Training.
  • We are renowned for the quality of our teaching in organisational psychology. Our flexible teaching model gives you the freedom to take some modules online and fit your studies around your other commitments.
Careers and employability On successfully graduating from this course, you will have gained an array of transferable skills, including in:
  • coaching
  • reflective practice
  • career management and development (your own and others)
  • critical thinking
  • self-awareness and awareness of the coaching relationship.
Studying this course will prepare you for roles in a range of fields and professions including in coaching, career coaching, consulting, mentoring and human resources and talent management.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Reflective practice assessment for professional practice development and case work to integrate theory and evidence-based practice.

How to apply

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this course is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Entry requirements

Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification. Management development professionals, coaches, psychologists, career professionals and consultants without a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) but with suitable professional qualifications and at least five years' significant management experience in a range of organisations may be considered. Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £4840 Year 1
Northern Ireland £4840 Year 1
Scotland £4840 Year 1
Wales £4840 Year 1
International £7470 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Career Coaching and Coaching Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS