MSc in Existential Coaching

 

Course Description


NSPC is at the forefront of the exciting, emerging field of existential coaching. Our courses were launched in 2010 and are offered as blended learning, so you can complete theory elements online in the comfort of your own home, and attend intensive skills sessions in person in London. Existential coaching is a uniquely philosophical and deeply relational way of examining the paradoxes and challenges of human existence so as to empower clients to move forward in an authentic and reflective way. Drawing on psychotherapeutic literature and on existential philosophy, we teach coaches to work in a holistic way, engaging with the unique world of each client. Existential coaches encourage clients to look at issues such as meaning, authenticity, freedom, choice and responsibility, and how these come into play in their lives. Our trainees learn how to handle emotion in the coaching relationship. We encourage all trainees to go much further than applying coaching frameworks or tools.

The programme covers theory, skills training, placement and research. Prior learning can be granted for modules studied at level 7 covering the same learning outcomes as the NSPC equivalent – this can be discussed at interview stage.

Year one assumes no prior knowledge or experience, building your skills from the ground up. You will start with core competencies such as active listening, and build to a critical understanding of common coaching paradigms, as well as explicitly existential skills. Theoretical learning includes research methods, theories of personal change, and a grounding in existential philosophy.

Year two provides an opportunity to start building a private practice with the support of supervision. You will also complete a research project, with the help of an experienced supervisor. This will be on a topic of your choice, and can take the form of a literature review or a qualitative piece. Students will build on the learning from year two, looking at existential leadership, wellbeing, and social and cultural issues.

For further information on possible learning adaptions we can offer neurodivergent students and students with a disability or chronic health condition, contact [email protected]

This course follows the Middlesex Research Degree Regulations available here: https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/policies/

Useful Links:

What is Existential Coaching?

Video: Exploring Existential Approaches to Coaching

Video: Existential Coaching - Working with Values, Imagery and Narratives

Application Deadlines:

  • January Cohorts - application deadline is the 30th November
  • September Cohorts - application deadline is the 1st August

Information on our open days can be found here: nspc.org.uk/course-directory/open-days/

Programme of Study


Year 1

  • Theories of Personal Change

    • This module provides students with an opportunity to develop an individual understanding of personal change. Furthermore, the module critically evaluates the modern concept of personality as an explanation for many Western theories of personal change.

  • Existential Perspectives on Human Issues (online)

    • This module provides students with an overview of the existential approach and the philosophical and psychological underpinnings of human values, meaning and creative responses to anxiety. 

  • Overview of Research Methods (online
    • This module will provide an understanding of the contribution of research to the growth of knowledge and the effectiveness of practice. It will give the student a grounding in research approaches, with particular attention to the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative and quantitative approaches.
  • Skills in Existential Coaching (3 terms face-to-face)
    • The module is run over 3 terms, lasting for one full academic year. This will include empathic listening, responding, and identifying issues, values and beliefs, working with silence, reflecting back, paraphrasing, summarising, clarifying, and challenging. Some theoretical learning is included to ground your practitioner skills, examining different existential and humanist theoretical frameworks and key philosophers.
    • Students will have the opportunity to give and receive feedback from both their fellow students and the tutors. These skills will be reviewed each term, with different emphasis, affording trainees the means to develop their proficiency.
    • Students will be asked to work with their own material in the course of these exercises, and the depth and nature of these disclosures will be the responsibility of each individual.  Issues of confidentiality will be clarified at the initial class meeting.
    • Term three will outline traditional coaching frameworks, essential skills and tools for existential coaching, and skills from other popular coaching traditions such as NLP.

Year 2

  • Social, Cultural and Ethical Issues (online)

    • This module will enable students to be able to make appropriate decisions about consent, confidentiality, discrimination, exploitation, fairness, duty of care, and other ethical and moral quandaries in professional practice. This module will also ask students to consider how we encounter difference which is essential in building awareness of unconscious bias and in developing cultural competence.

  • Existential Coaching and Existential Leadership (face-to-face)
    • This module will provide students with a focused approach to existential thinking and practice, covering the ideas of existential thinkers. The application of philosophical ideas to the practice of coaching will also be addressed, with particular focus on leadership issues.
  • Wellbeing and Health (online)

    • This module provides students with an understanding of the role of positive psychology and other theoretical approaches to well-being within an overall strategy of improvement of quality of living.

  • Supervision of Practice (3 terms online)
    • During the second year of the programme all students are required to commence seeing clients in private practice. Students will be given support in establishing their practice and rigorous assessment of their professional performance will be carried out. Supervision will be provided by the New School, where supervision groups will have no more than six students and will be staffed by experienced clinical supervisors. Supervision at the New School will provide existential input to the student's practical work.
  • Research Supervision and Final Project (15,000 words)
    • NSPC will provide supervision of the student’s independent research towards their final project. Student will research an aspect of existential coaching that is of personal and professional interest to them and to produce a well written final project of 15.000 words to Masters’ standards, which makes a contribution to the coaching literature.


Accreditation and Careers

This programme is quality assured by Middlesex University and you will receive a Middlesex award on successful completion. You can view the Middlesex Research Degree Regulations here.

Successful completion of this 2-year programme leads to a sufficient number of hours of training and coaching practice for candidates to be able to apply for membership of the International Coaching Federation and various other coaching qualification schemes via the portfolio route.

Our graduates almost all go into private practice, which they being to set up in year two of the programme. Many hold additional roles in academia as authors and lecturers.



Fees 2024-25

 

 Fees are subject to annual inflationary increases

Year of course 

Units to be completed in year 

Fee payable per year  

(if no units have to be repeated) 

1 

6 units over 3 terms 

£6840 

2 

9 units over 3 terms 

£10260 

 

Validated Courses Additional Charges  

Application Fee 

£50 non-refundable 

Acceptance Deposit 

£100 which will be deducted from the initial invoice when you start the course. It is non-refundable if you do not start. 

APEL  

Fee is only applicable if your claim for prior learning is approved and will replace the tuition fee for that unit. 

£200 per submission 

Coaching, Mentoring and TherapyAt own expense  

Instalment Plan 

£20 per Unit 

Late changes to Course Plan  

£50 

Professional registration 

At own expense  

Books 

At own expense 

Please note : Students on validated programmes are not eligible for Student Finance or DSA



Entry Requirements

  • A Bachelors degree in any field, or a higher degree such as a PGDip (equivalent experience may be acceptable)
  • Fluent English: IELTS level 7 or above in all categories (or equivalent)
  • Personal suitability to be determined at interview
  • Reliable internet connection


How You Study

The course is delivered via blended learning. This consists of online theory modules via Moodle, face-to-face skills modules in NW London, online research supervision and online supervision of practice. With 25% of attendance carried out face-to-face, this course is easy to fit around a busy life, and is accessible to those living far from London or with caring commitments.

Theory modules are asynchronous, except for a weekly chat to be decided between group members. Students work through weekly materials online, posting and discussing in the forum with the group and tutor. A weekly quiz ensures that you are absorbing the materials.

Face-to-face skills modules take place over 5 consecutive days. There are 5 skills modules in total over the two years.

Placement supervision is provided via group video chat on a weekly basis in year 2 of the programme.

Research supervision is provided from year 2, and can be done in a number of ways depending on what best suits both student and supervisor, but usually takes the form of email and video chat.

Students may take up to 4 years to complete should they need additional time.

It is possible to exit the programme early with either a PGCert or PGDip award, however, this may affect professional registration.

MIddlesex University

logo

Open Days

Are you interested in any of our courses?, why not come along to one of our virtual open days!. You can meet the team and ask any questions. We'd love to see you!