The Post-Graduate Diploma in Career Coaching offers initial professional training for those aiming to work as Career Coaches or in related areas. The programme enables students to acquire the knowledge, skills, attributes and confidence to operate as effective practitioners.

The programme combines theory and practice. Topics include: theoretical approaches, practical tools, interview skills training and the opportunity to choose from modules covering career theory, advanced practical skills and a range of other coaching specialisms such as health. The MA programme offers the opportunity to further develop learning through research activity and to enhance employability.

This programme is the only one of its kind in the UK and will combine academic rigour with practical skills to ensure that all graduates are both highly effective and credible coaches. The School has a strong reputation in both coaching and career guidance, so students from the career coaching will benefit from excellent teachers from different backgrounds leading to a balanced and comprehensive programme. With 1.6m redundancies predicted in the next few years, and a new all-age career guidance service starting in April 2012, there are likely to be many opportunities for career coaches in the coming years.

Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Career Coaching programme should normally possess a degree of a recognised University or equivalent. Applicants without formal qualifications who possess substantial experience in an appropriate field and can demonstrate confidence about taking academic and practical study may be admitted onto the postgraduate programme. Applicants can choose to enrol for the award of postgraduate certificate. Applicants for MA would normally have completed the p/g Dip Career Coaching or an equivalent post graduate qualification.

All applicants are required to attend a selection interview at the University and to provide satisfactory references

The University of East London actively promotes and celebrates equality and diversity and positively welcomes applicants regardless of race, gender, disability, sexuality, age, religion or social class.

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS (or equivalent) at 6.5 is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.

Students that apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.

The programme is taught through lectures and seminars, with a sustained emphasis on an interactive approach to teaching and learning. Skills workshops are offered for practice-based skills, with high quality digital recording facilities for learning and assessment.

All programmes are continuously assessed: there are no exams but students must complete assessed work for each module. Assessment requirements include a range of professionally relevant activities in addition to the more traditional essays, reports and case studies. We also assess how students evaluate their own performance, through reflexive practice. Feedback will be in line with UEL policy and always be used to promote student learning. The MA is assessed through the research dissertation.

Participants are encouraged to actively engage in coaching, and to reflect on their practice within their Reflective Coaching Log. This should be a continuous process throughout the programme. The MA programme offers valuable opportunity for continuous professional development.

Students undertake independent project work as part of the Diploma study and complete a research dissertation for the MA. Students are encouraged to present their work in the professional domain, and to publish where appropriate.

The Postgraduate Diploma will enhance students’ standing in the professional area, particularly with development of all age guidance service. In line with government agenda of outsourcing services, fully qualified independent coaches will have potential to play an important role in the market. The MA can be used to further demonstrate CPD.

The programme team’s European research and consultancy enriches the students’ learning.

With the qualifications we would anticipate students would be able to work as career coaches either independently or with professional organisations offering coaching services including outplacement organisations and Higher Education Careers Services.

It is anticipated that many students on the programme will already work in the area of career guidance, coaching or consulting and successful completion of the programme ensures they have broadened their skill base and further developed their understanding of the theories and principles as they apply to career coaching and secured a post-graduate qualification.

All UEL students have access to a range of support services. Students will be provided with handbooks, modular booklets as well as semester timetable to ensure all programme requirements are transparent. The Career Coaching programme provides timetabled meetings for group tutorials. In addition, each student is allocated a personal tutor. There are formal progress reports at the end of each semester on the full-time programme, and midway through the part time pathway. The programme team make positive efforts to ensure students take full opportunity of the offer to provide feedback on drafts of written work and academic tutorials. Students on the MA will be allocated a research supervisor.

All students have access to computers , printers and recording facilities. During induction you will be offered session to introduce library facilities as well as on-line resources.

Close links with practitioners in the field permits a wider input on current practice. The programme team’s European research enriches the students’ learning. The tutors on this programme come from both career guidance and coaching backgrounds which will ensure that students gain a balanced, comprehensive and specialist understanding of the field. A full resource pack will be available for each student to use in their professional practice.