Career Coaching and Coaching Psychology MSc

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. If you are 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 as a career coach or consultant.

Why choose this course?

* This course 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 to coaching helping you to develop and maintain high-quality, ethical coaching practice supported by independent supervision.

* The MSc offers you a unique opportunity to apply for a coaching placement in Birkbeck's Careers Service where you can implement your learning in a real-life context and receive regular group support in developing your practice.

What will I 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.

You will undertake a deep exploration of the helping relationship and learn skills to critically evaluate theory, research and practice and undertake applied career or coaching research.

You will investigate pragmatically and critically how coaching works in organisations and have the opportunity to apply for a placement with the Birkbeck Careers Service.

Our Postgraduate Certificate offers you access to progress to the MSc and 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 will I learn?

You will be taught by experienced career and coaching psychologists in lectures and seminars. A key component of this course is the specialist skills workshop days run by coaching professionals in which you develop in-person coaching skills in small groups. Alongside this, you will work in online digital practice groups and in small case discussion groups.

The course is available to study part-time with evening classes and some weekend study.

Highlights

* After gaining either the MSc or Postgraduate Certificate you will meet the 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.

* 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.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this course you will have gained 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 coaching, career coaching, consulting, mentoring and human resources and talent management.