Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring
DCM
Key facts
Department
Oxford Brookes Business School
This course is not available to students classed as International for fees purposes.
Overview
Develop the capabilities needed to become a leader in the field and foster excellence in your professional practice with our Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring.
We designed this course for experienced coaches or mentors looking to deepen their knowledge and show commitment to the field.
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
- develop confidence in providing facilitation and consultancy
- be competence in researching the field.
Our teaching staff have specific research interests and expertise in coaching and mentoring or related fields. We also invite visiting specialists to provide further expert input.
To complete your doctoral thesis, the course includes:
- doctoral thesis training
- design of original empirical research
- professional expertise and scholarly inquiry.
This is a part-time course, delivered by the International Centre for Coaching and Mentoring Studies.

How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
- For graduate entry you should normally have a good honours degree, plus three years' experience in a related field
- If you have appropriate master’s level qualifications and experience, you may be eligible for exemptions from certain elements of the programme.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
Selection process
We are now accepting applications for September 2020 entry. This programme has a limited number of places so early application is recommended.
Applications received in full by 18 October 2019 will be considered for interviews being held in January 2020.
Applications received in full by 31 January 2020 will be considered for interviews being held in April 2020.
Applications received in full by 23 May 2020 will be considered for interviews being held in June/July 2020.
English language requirements
IELTS minimum level 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in the reading and writing components.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
Pathways courses for EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year your fees will increase each year.
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course, if any, are detailed below.
Financial support and scholarships
Learning and assessment
The course is designed as a five-year, part-time programme. The course takes three years to complete, with level seven exemptions, for existing masters qualifications.
During the first stage 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'll then move on to the second stage, the thesis, which usually takes two years to complete.
We deliver the teaching through monthly study days here in Oxford. Your learning will be supported from a distance with regular online workshops and discussions. You will also have the option of individual coaching and academic support over the telephone, by email or face-to-face.

Learning and teaching
The approach of the DCM is cross-disciplinary. You will focus on your own professional development with:
- reflective practice
- individual learning
- peer and group learning activities.
You will also consider pivotal organisational and psychological dimensions of coaching and mentoring in depth.
We deliver the course with compulsory monthly seminars and study days.To progress to the next stage of the course, you must successfully complete assignments based on methodological training during study days.
Research
The International Centre for Coaching and Mentoring Studies is at the forefront of coaching and mentoring research.
Our journal, annual 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:
- philosophical underpinnings of coaching
- developmental, leadership and team coaching
- resilience
- embodiment
- transfer of learning
- the coaching relationship.

After you graduate
Career prospects
Students graduating from the Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring programme can expect to be recognised as experts in their field. This will enhance existing 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 and academic press.
There may be further career opportunities in academia and industry where the highest level of achievement is recognised and rewarded.
Our Staff
Dr Elaine Cox
Elaine's research interests include leadership development, adult learning, cognitive and life-course development, continuing professional development, coaching, mentoring, and research methodologies.
Read more about ElaineProfessor 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 TatianaProgramme 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.