Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring

DCM

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Start dates: September 2024 / September 2025

Part time: 3 to 5 years

Location: Distance learning

Department(s): Oxford Brookes Business School

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Overview

We designed this course for experienced coaches/mentors looking to deepen their knowledge, show commitment and contribute to the evidence base of the field.

The Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring programme develops the capabilities needed to become a researcher and leader in the field and foster excellence in your practice. We will challenge you to build on your existing expertise and push the boundaries of your knowledge so you can:

  • operate at the highest level in coaching, mentoring and personal development
  • develop confidence in providing facilitation and consultancy
  • be competent in researching the field.
  • Our teaching staff have specific research interests in coaching and mentoring or related fields. We also invite specialists to provide further expert input.

To complete your doctoral thesis, the course includes:

  • doctoral thesis training (taught modules and workshops)
  • design of original empirical research
  • professional expertise and scholarly inquiry

This is a part-time, distance learning course, delivered by the International Centre for Coaching and Mentoring Studies.

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Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Academic support

    Benefit from a supervisory team of experts to support your work

    You will also be joining a centre with an international team, who are experienced and research active

  • Employability

    Network and discuss your work with staff, alumni and students within ICCaMS and beyond

    Engage with the Coaching and Mentoring community, including professional bodies

  • Adaptive Learning

    Flexible distance learning through online delivery with regular intensive blocks of study available via on-campus or synchronous virtual attendance

     

  • Supported Progression

    Range of coaching and mentoring, and related topics supported

    Regular milestones to support progression and timely completion of doctoral award

  • Varied Assessment

    Opportunities to present work in progress and gain feedback from the OBBS research community

    Staged development of research knowledge and skills through modules/workshops

  • Accreditation(s)

    The Coaching and Mentoring Programme is accredited with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). Upon completion of the Certificate Stage of the Programme, students typically obtain accreditation as Senior Practitioners with EMCC. Students need to be members of the EMCC and pay their own accreditation costs although these fees are at a much discounted rate.

    • EMCC Global

Course details

Course structure

The course is designed as a three or five-year, part-time programme.

During the first two stages of the course you will focus on the taught level seven and eight components of the curriculum. This normally takes three years to complete. You will then move on to the third stage, the thesis, which usually takes a further two years to complete.

Stage One (Graduate entry stage) - six level 7 modules (20 credits each) plus a 60 credit Research project module (same as MA Coaching and Mentoring)

Stage Two - three level 8 modules (20 credits each) plus one non-credit bearing level 8 modules which must be passed

Stage Three (Direct entry) - research project registration and ethical approval with structured thesis workshops guiding students towards completion. At the draft submission stage students will have the opportunity to engage in a mock viva.

The direct entry version of the course can be completed in three years, with level seven exemptions, for existing masters qualifications. At this entry point you complete the level eight taught modules before moving onto the thesis research stage.

Student studying with laptop and headphones

Learning and teaching

If you chose the on-campus mode of study for the MA stage (Graduate entry), you’ll learn at the Headington campus. Your learning will combine whole-day intensive sessions, and online and independent learning. On-campus sessions are on intermittent Saturdays, supported by regular online seminars. 

If you choose to do the course via distance learning, you’ll learn via interactive and high-quality online resources. At the MA stage (Graduate entry) the distance learning mode of study includes live online seminars on Fridays. At the DCM stage (Admission with credit) you’ll participate in live online seminars on Fridays and each semester there will be a block of sessions that you can join synchronously. 

Your learning will be visual, written and verbal - with equal emphasis on written and visual work. Each module builds upon the last, helping you meaningfully deepen your practice. You’ll be closely supported by your tutors as you build your research skills and deepen your academic abilities.

Assessment

You will be assessed on a variety of coursework assignments and a thesis at both Stage 1 and stage 3. Progress to stage 2 depends upon a satisfactory merit profile and merit thesis at level 7.

To progress to the third stage of the course, you must successfully complete assignments based on methodological taught modules at level 8. The final doctoral thesis (60,000 words) is examined by traditional viva voce (oral examination) by an internal, and at least one, external examiner.

Research

The International Centre for Coaching and Mentoring Studies is at the forefront of coaching and mentoring research. The Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring has operated since 2006.

Our journal (International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching & Mentoring), annual Research and Coaching supervision conferences, and professional network OBCAMS (the Oxford Brookes Coaching and Mentoring Society) offer excellent opportunities for the dissemination and sharing of research and ideas.

Research areas include: philosophical underpinnings of coaching; developmental, leadership and team coaching; resilience; embodiment; transfer of learning; coaching and mentoring and social change; ethics and coaching and the coaching relationship.

Female researcher

Careers

Students graduating from the Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring programme can expect to be recognised as experts in their field. This will enhance existing organisational and freelance careers and create employment opportunities or promotions.

Students are encouraged to publish while on the course and after completion of the thesis.  It is likely that you will continue to write for both the popular practitioner and academic press following your doctoral award. Several DCM alumni have published book chapters and books on their doctoral studies.

There may be further career opportunities in academia and industry where the highest level of achievement is recognised and rewarded.

Student profiles

Our Staff

Dr Judie Gannon

Judie is a senior lecturer and programme coordinator for Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring. She is also Deputy Head of Doctoral Programmes for the Oxford Brookes Business School. Her research interests include coaching and mentoring as forms of social change, the coaching and mentoring relationship, managing coaching and mentoring interventions and activism and social movements in coaching and mentoring, as well as undertaking doctoral studies.

Read more about Judie

Professor Tatiana Bachkirova

Tatiana is Professor of Coaching Psychology my responsibilities include teaching on the MA and Doctorate in Coaching and Mentoring Practice; research and academic supervision of MA and doctoral students; supervision of the coaches for Oxford Brookes programmes.

Read more about Tatiana

Entry requirements

How to apply

Application process

  1. Complete your research proposal
  2. Compile a personal/motivation statement and identify relevant members of the ICCAMs team who may be interested in your proposal
  3. Gather your supporting documents (listed below)
  4. Make a direct application.

If you have any difficulty completing your application, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Supporting Documents

When applying for this programme of study please upload all of the required supporting documents listed below to the online application portal.

We suggest merging your supporting documents into a single PDF file. Please note there are two specifically designated options for you to upload your two references to.

  • copies of your previous degree transcripts and certificates (both undergraduate and postgraduate)
  • a scan of your passport
  • two academic references
  • a 2,000-word Research Topic Proposal (Direct entry) or a 1,000-word Research Topic Proposal (Graduate entry)
  • evidence of funding (we require evidence of personal funds or letter from funder if being sponsored)
  • international students must also provide an English Language Certificate with an IELTS score of at least 7.0.
  • *Please comment in your motivation statement and research proposal upon your ability to access resources (IT, library) which will ensure you can attend relevant online and intensive sessions, and how you intend to manage your time commitment to doctoral studies. 

Applications deadline is Monday 10 June 2024 for September/October 2024 entry. We cannot guarantee that applications submitted after this date can be considered for Autumn 2024 entry.

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) part time
£7,300 (Years 1-2); £8,400 (Years 3-5)

Home (UK) distance learning
£7,300 (Years 1-2); £8,400 (Years 3-5)

International distance learning
£7,300 (Years 1-2); £8,400 (Years 3-5)

Home (UK) part time
£7,650 (Years 1-2); £8,800 (Years 3-5)

Home (UK) distance learning
£7,650 (Years 1-2); £8,800 (Years 3-5)

International distance learning
£7,650 (Years 1-2); £8,800 (Years 3-5)

Tuition fees

2023 / 24
Home (UK) part time
£7,300 (Years 1-2); £8,400 (Years 3-5)

Home (UK) distance learning
£7,300 (Years 1-2); £8,400 (Years 3-5)

International distance learning
£7,300 (Years 1-2); £8,400 (Years 3-5)

2024 / 25
Home (UK) part time
£7,650 (Years 1-2); £8,800 (Years 3-5)

Home (UK) distance learning
£7,650 (Years 1-2); £8,800 (Years 3-5)

International distance learning
£7,650 (Years 1-2); £8,800 (Years 3-5)

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support. 

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.