MA Coaching and Mentoring

This is one of only a small selection of professional coaching and mentoring programmes in the UK. Coaching and mentoring is an emerging discipline within the field of human resource development and is recognised by many organisations as a more efficient and effective way of recognising and developing the potential of their employees. The MA is designed for professional coaches and mentors, OD consultants, human resource development specialists and other HR professionals, as well as managers and those in other professions who find that coaching and mentoring is becoming an increasingly important part of their professional and people development roles. You will explore the theoretical frameworks and models used in learning, coaching and mentoring, personal development, executive coaching and action learning. You will develop your understanding of occupational psychology and a range of psychological and socio-cognitive issues. Through the action-learning framework, you will be able to self-evaluate, and critically reflect upon your skills as a coach and mentor and on your problem-solving, goal-setting and observational skills. You will also have the opportunity to develop your research skills and carry out evidence-based research in the coaching and mentoring field, in an area of your choice.

This pioneering degree will give you the knowledge and skills to become an effective professional coach and mentor working within a variety of organisational contexts.
It will give you the underpinning theory of what tools, techniques and models are available and encourage you to consider what may work best in different contexts.
Evidence-based discussions and plenty of opportunities to put theory into practice will allow you to enhance your professional practice.
It will raise your self awareness of your own coaching and mentoring skills and in doing so will build on your strengths and enhance your own personal toolkit of coaching and mentoring skills.

You will normally be over 23 years old and have worked as a manager or professional coach and mentor for a minimum of two years (this may be as part of your HR or managerial role). You will need to hold a degree or degree equivalent qualification. Mature students without the above qualifications, but who have significant coaching and mentoring experience, are welcome to apply – in such cases, admission to the programme will be based on an evaluation of your ability to contribute to, benefit from, and achieve the award. Additionally, you will need to demonstrate that you have the opportunity to practice your coaching and mentoring skills.

• Principles and Theory of Learning, Coaching and Mentoring
• Research in Management Studies
• Coaching Psychology
• Coaching and Mentoring in Practice
• Corporate, Executive and Professional Coaching
• Dissertation