Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring

DCM

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Start dates: September 2025 / September 2026

Part time: 3 to 5 years

Location: Distance learning

School(s): Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery

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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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Students talking on the way to a lecture

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.

Course details

The course is designed as a part-time, distance learning programme over 3 or 5 plus years. The first two stages focus on taught level 7 and 8 modules, and usually 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) - comprises two years of part-time study covering six level 7 modules plus a research project module (same as MA Coaching & Mentoring). With level 7 exemptions, for existing masters qualifications the direct entry point allows candidates to complete in three years.

Stage Two (Direct entry) - comprises one year of part-time study covering four level 8 modules and doctoral supervision.

Stage Three - comprises a minimum of two years of part-time study focused on the development and execution of a research project. You will be supported through doctoral supervision, structured workshops and practice viva opportunities.

Student studying with laptop and headphones

This programme has been designed as a distance learning where you will learn via interactive and high-quality online resources. At the DCM stage (admission with credit) you participate in live online seminars. Each semester, has an intensive 3-5 day block of sessions you can join synchronously or attend on campus. You are supported supervisory team throughout Stage Two and Three of the DCM.

Your learning will be visual, written and verbal - emphasising written work. Each module builds upon the last, helping you to deepen your practice. Your tutors will closely support you as you develop 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.

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.

Careers

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

You 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

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"

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"

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.

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.

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

Dr Judie Gannon

Professor Tatiana Bachkirova

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 the 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 2025 entry. This programme has a limited number of places so early applications are advisable. Applications received by mid June 2025 will be considered for September 2025 entry with late June/July 2025 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 oabou-hamdan@brookes.ac.uk or bus-researchdegrees@brookes.ac.uk

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 23rd June 2025 for September/October 2025 entry. We cannot guarantee that applications submitted after this date can be considered for Autumn 2025 entry.