The number of universities and other organisations that offer a degree in coaching has swelled since the UK's first MA in coaching and mentoring at Oxford Brookes back in 2001. As part of the continuing debate as to whether it's qualifications or experience that count, we sent Mike Levy off to discover whether a coaching degree is worth the effort.

If you have a full year (or two part-time) to spare - not to mention a few thousand pounds in the bank - you may wish to consider taking a masters degree in coaching. You will certainly have a good choice with private providers and universities such as Oxford Brookes and Wolverhampton keen to lure you with a chunky MA or MSc after your name. You can even earn a PhD - the country's first doctors in coaching are out there in the marketplace.

The country's first MA course in coaching and mentoring was launched by Oxford Brookes in 2001. It was the brainchild of Elaine Cox, who still leads the university's coaching courses. According to Dr Kate Gilbert, the university's programme director in coaching and mentoring practice: "The course was developed within the Institute of Education which we think gives it a different guiding philosophy. Other MA and M Sc courses tend to be developed within business schools".

"We have around 100 students on the MA course – all part-time over two years. Unless you already have a postgraduate diploma in coaching, most students work up through the certificate, diploma and finally the MA... We are always oversubscribed."

Dr Kate Gilbert, Oxford Brookes University

Dr Gilbert led the coaching and mentoring degree courses at Wolverhampton before coming over to Oxford Brookes: "We have around 100 students on the MA course – all part-time over two years. Unless you already have a postgraduate diploma in coaching, most students work up through the certificate, diploma and finally the MA".

The courses are certainly popular, "We are always oversubscribed," reports Gilbert. One student actually commutes from Mumbai each weekend! The masters degree seems to attract people of all ages, backgrounds, nationalities and seniority levels. "It is amazing how much informal learning and group mentoring goes on," says Gilbert.

Like all the masters courses, the emphasis at Oxford Brookes is on balancing theory (often with a heavy dose of psychology and statistical research tools) and hands-on coaching/mentoring practice. "In the practice module, we allocate each student a professional coach supervisor. The objective is to develop your own coaching practice, explore new approaches, and appraise differing practical tools and theories. We try to get our masters students out of their comfort zone, but not too much," said Gilbert reassuringly.

Eve Turner is deputy head of communications at the Association for Coaching (AC) and herself an AC accredited coach. Turner has an MSc in Coaching (with distinction) and an MBA. From an AC perspective, Turner says that: "One of the benefits of postgraduate degrees is that they combine rigorous practical study with academic/research work. This is really beneficial for the profession of coaching. However, we must emphasise that this route is not the only one. There are routes which lead to accreditation which can come through a number of bodies such as the International Coach Federation (ICF) or the Association for Coaching. These are the most common routes in the UK. This week the AC is about to hit its 100th person fully accredited by the organisation".

Turner is keen to emphasise that while postgraduate degrees are very useful, they are only part of an increasing 'professionalisation' of the coaching world. So does the award of a postgraduate degree in coaching give the holder any special fast-track towards full accreditation as a coach? "To be accredited as a coach, you have to show a certain number of hours of study. Achieving an MA or M Sc in coaching will obviously help you amass all the hours you need for that aspect of accreditation. However, there are many good training providers offering postgraduate certificates and diplomas in coaching – you do not have to go down the full masters route. There are many excellent providers out there and the AC recognises them. The EMCC (European Mentoring and Coaching Council) also has a very stringent process for achieving accreditation. The BBC's own internal coaching course is also accredited." Turner's point is that when it comes to being accredited as a professional coach, there are many excellent routes and one shouldn't perhaps be blinded by the dazzle of a post grad degree.

"There are many good training providers offering postgraduate certificates and diplomas in coaching – you do not have to go down the full masters route. There are many excellent providers out there and the AC recognises them."

Eve Turner, Association for Coaching

The EMCC do indeed offer quality awards for masters courses (as well as others). Among the providers of MAs and M Scs in coaching recently recognised (July this year) are: Ashridge Business School; i-coach academy; Oxford Brookes University; Performance Consultants and Sheffield Hallam University. PDF.Net (accredited by Middlesex University) offers a short, research-based programme, which enables people with master coach accreditation to be supported through a work-based research project and convert to a full masters degree.

These are not the only providers in the UK but currently the only ones to be awarded the EMCC's European Quality Award. You also do not have to study for a masters degree (usually two years part-time) to gain an equivalent level.
As Eve Turner points out, "Master practitioner level in coaching is equivalent to a postgraduate degree. You don't have to jump through the MA or M Sc hoops".

But aren't employers/clients rather dazzled themselves by someone holding a postgraduate degree in coaching? Turner has her doubts: "Employers are certainly getting more selective in choosing their coaches. It is increasingly common for the bigger companies to run their own assessment days to recruit coaches. HSBC certainly does this".

The point is that discerning clients will not just look at your paper qualification. They want to know what you have to offer that will specifically benefit their people.

"In choosing a coach to come to the selection day, they will ask about qualifications, but they will also want to know who has accredited you as a professional coach – the AC or ICF for instance," says Turner. "They also want to know about the quality and amount of supervision you have had and there are fierce debates going on right now about what constitutes good supervision," she adds. "Many top companies now want to see you in action before they decide to hire a coach." The masters degree may get you part of the way to the assessment centre, but you are going to need a lot more in your kit bag to get that valuable contract.

The PG Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring Practice at Oxford Brookes costs £3960; The PG Diploma in Coaching and Mentoring Practice costs £5940 and The MA costs £7920.

Mike Levy is a freelance journalist and copywriter with 20 years' experience. He is also a writing and presentations coach. He especially loves playwriting and creating resources for schools. Mike is director of Write Start Ltd. For more information go to: www.writestart.co.uk

Read the debate on our Trainer's tip: Qualifications or experience - you decide?