Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring
Join a live webinar to find out more
Start dates: September 2024 / September 2025
Part time: 3 to 5 years
Location: Distance learning
Department(s): Oxford Brookes Business School
Find a course
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.
Attend an open day or webinar Ask a question Order a prospectus
Why Oxford Brookes University?
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
Network and discuss your work with staff, alumni and students within ICCaMS and beyond. Engage with the Coaching and Mentoring community, including professional bodies
Flexible distance learning through online delivery with regular intensive blocks of study available via on-campus or synchronous virtual attendance
Range of coaching and mentoring, and related topics supported. Regular milestones to support progression and timely completion of doctoral award
Opportunities to present work in progress and gain feedback from the OBBS research community. Staged development of research knowledge and skills through modules/workshops
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.
Course details
Course structure, learning and teaching.
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.
If you choose 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 deepen your practice. You’ll be closely supported by your tutors as you build your research skills and deepen your academic abilities.
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.
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.
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
Larissa Thurlow
"Thesis title: Supervision for team coaches: The issues, challenges and experiences and what those may indicate about the capabilities needed for supervisors to be fit for this role"
Benita Mayhead
"Thesis title: Duty of care of the executive coach"
Mike Sailsman
"Thesis title: Exploring the usefulness of incorporating neurofeedback training and mobile EEG technology into the coaching process"
Christine Vitzthum
"Thesis title: How do coaches and organisational stakeholders approach coaching to support gender diversity?"
Mitaali Katoch
"Thesis title: Survival learnings of family-run fashion firms: Expanding the significance of organisational adaptation and environmental selection in organisation studies"
Bozkurt Cendey
"Thesis title: Phenomenological research on user experiences of AI coaching"
Janine Roberts
"Thesis title: Working with emotions in leadership coaching"
Mike Livingstone
"Thesis title: How meaningful and useful is the concept of the Life Space in Executive Coaching"
Sebastian Fox
"Thesis title: Team members' and team coaches' perceptions of the most productive parts of their sessions"
Thesis title: Supervision for team coaches: The issues, challenges and experiences and what those may indicate about the capabilities needed for supervisors to be fit for this role
Dr Benita Mayhead
Thesis title: Duty of care of the executive coach
Thesis title: Exploring the usefulness of incorporating neurofeedback training and mobile EEG technology into the coaching process
Thesis title: How do coaches and organisational stakeholders approach coaching to support gender diversity?
Thesis title: Survival learnings of family-run fashion firms: Expanding the significance of organisational adaptation and environmental selection in organisation studies
Thesis title: Phenomenological research on user experiences of AI coaching
Thesis title: Working with emotions in leadership coaching
Thesis title: How meaningful and useful is the concept of the Life Space in Executive Coaching
Thesis title: Team members' and team coaches' perceptions of the most productive parts of their sessions
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.
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.
Related courses
Entry requirements, specific entry requirements.
There are two entry points for the Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring (
Graduate entry
For graduate entry into the five-year DCM programme you should normally have a good honours degree, plus three years' minimum experience in coaching/mentoring.
Direct entry
For direct entry into the later stage of the DCM programme you should have an appropriate master’s level qualification, with a merit profile and a minimum of five years’ experience of coaching/mentoring.
Depending on entry stage 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 2024 entry. This programme has a limited number of places so early applications are advisable. Applications received by mid June 2024 will be considered for September 2024 entry with late June/July 2024 interviews scheduled. For further details on the DCM programme, including our information pack, module descriptions, funding information, FAQs, guidance on completing a research proposal, reference forms and staff profiles please email Dr Omar Abou Hamdan [email protected] or [email protected]
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 international and 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.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements .
Credit transfer
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.
How to apply
Application process.
- Complete your research proposal
- Compile a personal/motivation statement and identify relevant members of the ICCAMs team who may be interested in your proposal
- Gather your supporting documents (listed below)
- 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.
Application 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
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.
Compulsory costs
Additional costs | Amount (£) |
---|---|
The continuation fee, where it is payable is compulsory, but not applicable to Masters by research or PhD by Published Work, detailed as follows: |