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1. Study
2. Adult Continuing Education
3. Study At ACE
4. Part-time Masters Programmes
5. Personal and Management Coaching

Course Fact File

Code	MSCPMC
Duration	2 Years - In Year 1 you complete the Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) in Personal and Management Coaching, and building on this, in Year 2 you complete the MSc
Teaching Mode	Distance Learning, Part-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info.
Qualifications	MSc
NFQ Level	Level 9
NFQ Award Title	Major
Fees	Year 1: €6,800; Year 2: €3,800 See Fees and Costs for full details.
Closing Date	Round One: 26 June 2026
Venue	In Year One of the MSc there are two types of offerings of this online blended programme. One is predominantly online based with just two face to face classes, over the two years in Cork (Online Part Time). The second is predominantly a face to face classroom based delivery in Cork with some online classes (UCC Campus Part Time). Year 2 is delivered fully online.
Start Date	September 2026

Course Outline

This programme will equip graduates to implement coaching in diverse settings such as Business, Human Resource, Leadership Development, Training, Education, Management, Life Balance, Personal Coaching, Health Care, Social Care, Career Coaching, Sports Coaching, Performance, Change Management, Positive Psychology and Wellbeing.   

Coaching is now recognised as a key component in increasing performance, achieving goals and optimising personal and group effectiveness. Existing models of coaching are now being applied in wider contexts and in emerging new settings. This programme will assist students in developing new skills to meet increasingly complex life and management challenges and in practising these coaching skills to the highest standards.

Upon completion, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a critical awareness of the role of relationship in the coaching conversation or intervention.
• Implement an integrated approach to Coaching drawing on appropriate approaches and coaching models
• Evaluate the different types of Coaching interventions required within Business, Management and Personal Coaching
• Implement Coaching in the development of effective Leadership and within the process of managing change
• Practice cognitive behavioural coaching and understand the role of psychology in the coaching process
• Practice and integrate emotional intelligence in their coaching process through effective self-management, mindfulness, and heightened personal and social awareness
• Employ coaching skills to build resilience and wellbeing in self and in others
• Demonstrate research skills and integrate evidence-based practice into the practical use of Coaching
• Draw on reflective practice as a means of learning and develop effective writing skills with the use of journal keeping
• Coach within ethical and professional boundaries following an established code of ethics and supervision

Please see below an introductory video about the course. 

Course Queries

For Academic Queries, Timetable Queries and Course Content Queries not listed in the above, please contact the Programme Coordinator, Dr Pat O Leary at p.oleary@ucc.ie.  

For Online Application Support please click here. 

If you require further assistance with your online application please contact the Programme Administrator Noreen Delea at n.delea@ucc.ie. 

Additional Teaching Mode Information

Delivery Mode Option 1 (Predominantly Classroom-based delivery)

Students can choose to complete this programme in a predominantly face-to-face classroom environment on the UCC Campus with some online lectures.

Year 1 modules Post Graduate Diploma (PG Dip)

• AD6003: Coaching Practicum (20 credits)
• AD6006: Cognitive Behavioural Coaching (5 credits)
• AD6016: Research Methodology and Reflective Analysis (5 credits)
• AD6808: Coaching Structures and Competencies (10 credits)
• AP6049: Systemic Psychodynamic Coaching with Teams and Individuals (5 credits)
• AP6050: Business and Management Coaching for Leadership, Change and Organisational Development (5 credits)
• AP6056: Building Workplace Resilience in Self and Others (10 credits)

Year 2 modules MSc

• AP6051: Dissertation in Coaching (30 credits)

Delivery Mode Option 2 (Online/Blended delivery)

Alternatively, students can choose to complete this programme in a predominantly online environment with some face-to-face classroom workshops. All face-to-face classroom deliveries on this option will be based in Cork, with a total of 2 classroom-based workshops over the two years.   

Year 1 modules Post Graduate Diploma (PG Dip)

• AD6011: Coaching Practicum (20 credits)
• AD6013: Cognitive Behavioural Coaching (5 credits)
• AD6017: Research Methodology and Reflective Analysis (5 credits)
• AD6809: Coaching Structures and Competencies (10 credits)
• AP6053: Systemic Psychodynamic Coaching with Teams and Individuals (5 credits)
• AP6054: Business and Management Coaching for Leadership, Change and Organisational Development (5 credits)
• AP6056: Building Workplace Resilience in Self and Others (10 credits)b

Year 2 modules MSc

• AP6055: Dissertation in Coaching (30 credits)

Course Practicalities

For the predominantly classroom-based offering lectures take place on UCC campus, Cork on Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm to 9.30pm, with occasional weekend workshops.

Blended online delivery classes take place on Monday evenings 6.30pm - 9.30pm, with occasional weekend workshops. Contact the programme coordinator to request the 2026/2027 schedule. 

Assessment

Continuous assessment based on academic essays, reflective assignments, coaching competencies and presentations.

Who teaches this course

Staff of the School of Applied Psychology, Coaching Practitioners who deliver life coaching and organisational coaching regularly in diverse settings and Staff of Adult and Continuing Education. 

Why Choose This Course

This Masters in Personal and Management Coaching which was established in 2012, expands your theoretical knowledge of coaching and develops the skills and approaches needed to grow as a professional coach. Whether you are new to coaching or an established coach, this programme will support you in building strong relationships, developing potential and fostering resilience and wellbeing in yourself and in others. This programme will examine Coaching Psychological frameworks that support both individual change and organisational development. It explores positive psychology and strengths-based interventions and incorporates evidence based mindfulness practices. Students develop an understanding of a range of psychological perspectives that contribute to their coaching style and professional development.  

The use of wellbeing coaching is explored from both the perspectives of self-care and care for others. Coaching to support, empower and communicate effectively, even during critical moments of stress and challenge, is integrated into the programme. Our aim is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to support people and organisations in flourishing. It combines empirical research on coaching with the practical skills and competencies you need to apply this expertise in contemporary society.

This programme will support you in developing your own private coaching practice and, as a consultant practitioner, in identifying and researching areas of specialisation that complement your particular area of interest within the coaching domain. 

Requirements

Programme Entry Requirements:

Applicants must:

• Hold an NFQ Level 8 honours degree or level 8 Higher Diploma, in which at least a second class honours was awarded or hold an appropriate professional qualification with at least two years’ significant experience in coaching or management with senior professional responsibility
• Submit an application statement:
  • Min. 200 words
  • Outlining the reasons why you wish to undertake this programme
• Supply two written references (One reference must be a professional reference).
• Attend for interview as part of the application process
  • Final selection of candidates will be subject to the approval of the Programme Team

English Language Requirements: 

All applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency. See the UCC English language proficiency requirements. 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): 

Applicants who do hold the above listed qualifications may be eligible to apply through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). See information on RPL here. 

To be considered, applicants should have relevant professional or life experience related to the programme.

• If you wish to apply via RPL, you must select “Yes” to the RPL question when completing your application in UCC Apply.
• As part of the application, you will be required to submit:
  • A Personal Statement outlining your motivation for applying and detailing relevant work or life experience.
  • Any other relevant supporting documentation evidencing your prior learning - please refer to the RPL Learner Guide for details on appropriate evidence.

Fees and Costs

Total MSc: 10,600 Euro.

Year 1: 6,800 Euro. Year 2: 3,800 Euro

For further information on fees and financial support please click here.

How To Apply

Applications are accepted in two rounds.

• Round 1 closes on 26 June and Round 2 closes on 28 August.
• Please note: if all places are filled by eligible applicants by the Round 1 deadline, the programme will not open for Round 2.
• For round 2, applications will remain open until the final deadline or until all places are filled, whichever occurs first. Early application is strongly advised.

• Application Statement
• Proof of Identity (Birth Cert, Passport or Driver's Licence)
• Passport-style Photograph 
• Curriculum Vitae
• English Language Test Report [if applicable]
• Transcripts [if applicable]
• 50% of the fees are also required to complete your application. 

Create an account or login to UCC Apply (click the 'Apply' button below).

1. Start a new application
   • WHEN ASKED FOR APPLICATION TYPE - YOU MUST CHOOSE: ADULT & CONTINUING EDUCATION
2. During the application on the tab titled Academic Level, under Level Selection, select the following options:
   • Academic Level: Adult Continuing Education (ACE at UCC)
   • Course Type: ACE Part-time Courses
   • Academic Programme: Personal and Mangement Coaching - MSc - Online

A step-by-step visual application guide for this specific programme is available – please email the Programme Coordinator. You can view a general application guide for all part-time programmes here: https://www.ucc.ie/en/ace/helphub/ 

Please Note: If you wish to complete the MSc in Personal and Management Coaching you must first complete the one year Post Graduate Diploma (PG Dip) in Personal and Management Coaching. Once you have completed the PG Dip in year one, you will then be transferred automatically to the MSc programme. 

This year you must therefore begin by applying for the PG Dip in Personal and Management Coaching. When you apply you will have a choice of doing this PG Dip as an 'Online Part Time' or as a 'UCC Campus' delivery. If you wish to do this programme online, with just two face-to-face class days in Cork, choose 'Online Part Time'. If you wish to do this programme predominantly face-to-face in class on UCC Campus choose 'UCC Campus Part Time'.

Once you have completed the PG Dip in year one you will then progress to the one-year MSc programme in year 2. Please click here to apply for the PG Dip in Personal and Management Coaching course. 

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